{The scene open inside Roxi and Keira’s home, which is unusually empty at this point in time. The front door opens, and Roxi and Keira walk in, Keira holding hands with Nate as he walks into the door as well. Keira looks more annoyed than anything as Roxi looks less than enthused herself. They carry their bags into the room and dropping them nearby. Keira sighs and leans her head against the wall with her head resting on her arm.}
Keira – Damn it!
{Roxi also drops her bags and places a hand on Keira’s shoulder.}
Roxi – Hey…
Keira – I should have been better.
Roxi – You did fine.
{Nate looks around for a moment before walking up to Keira and hugging her leg.}
Nate – Mama okay?
Keira – I’m okay, baby. I promise.
Nate – Mama is mad?
Keira – No, I’m not mad. I’m okay. Were you a good boy for Aunt Christine?
Nate – Uh-huh. We watched TV.
Keira – You did? What did you watch?
Nate – Scooby-dooby…
Keira – Scooby-Doo?
Nate – Uh-huh.
Keira – Did you eat?
Nate – Uh… uh-huh… I eated apples.
Keira – Good. You were a good boy.
Nate – Uh-huh.
{Keira leans down and hugs Nate tightly.}
Keira – You were a good boy, I’m proud of you.
Nate – Love you, Mama.
Keira – I love you too.
{Nate turns around walking away and looking around the room.}
Nate – Where’s Busser?
Roxi – Buster and Trixie are in the kennel. We’ll go get them later.
{Nate claps his hands and smiles.}
Nate – Okay!
Roxi – Mama and Mommy need to unpack things, so go to your room and play, okay?
Nate – Okay.
{Nate wanders off as Keira sighs and punches the wall, still frustrated.}
Keira – I can’t believe it went down like that.
Roxi – Keira, it’s okay. You did fine.
Keira – I didn’t win. It feels like I let everyone down.
Roxi – You didn’t let anyone down. You haven’t been in the ring for a while. And you didn’t look like you missed a beat. Plus, it’s Amy, it’s not like it’s a bad thing that it was her.
Keira – Still, I should have been better.
Roxi – Hey, look, its fine. I’m proud of you. You did a great job. Winning isn’t everything.
{Keira finally turns, folding her arms and staring at Roxi.}
Keira – But you know, and everyone knows now, I’m the weak link.
Roxi – Keira! Stop that!
Keira – It’s the truth.
Roxi – Stop it. We are equals. You did perfectly fine for yourself, without me. You’re a hall of fame wrestler, you won world titles. You did that. This one match where you didn’t perform as well as you believe you should have? I’ve had that a hundred times. It does not define who I am, and this night, does not define who you are.
{Keira relents, after a few moments of looking off and then finally sighing.}
Roxi – You and I, we’re a team, and there’s no person I’d rather share success with and failure with, than you.
Keira – I just wanted to do well.
Roxi – You did. Look, Jake got injured, he couldn’t continue. It’s not like Amy decisively beat you. Though, I don’t know what you did after you fought out of sight.
{Keira gives a sly grin and an eybrow raise.}
Keira – Wouldn’t you like to know?
{Roxi shakes her head, a smile forming on her face.}
Roxi – I’ll just have to ask Amy.
Keira – She’s a liar. Whatever she says.
Roxi – I don’t know who you think you’re trying to fool here, because it certainly can’t be me.
Keira – Look, I… I just wanted this to be a success. Now I’ll be lucky if they ever invite me back.
Roxi – Keira, you did fine. So, you didn’t win, Look, I didn’t win my match Sunday either.
Keira – Yeah, what happened there?
{Roxi rolls her eyes.}
Roxi – Don’t really wanna talk about it. The point is, we pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and move on to the next thing.
{Keira turns her head, looking out the window.}
Keira – Maybe there shouldn’t be a next time for me.
{Roxi sighs.}
Roxi – Look, I support whatever choice you make. But don’t let one loss define you, okay? Please? For me?
Keira – … You’re right. You’re right.
Roxi – Thank you.
{Keira eases off the wall, holding her back and neck.}
Keira – I don’t remember being this sore before.
Roxi – Now I’m definitely questioning Amy.
Keira – Oh hush! And what’s for dinner, I’m hungry!
Roxi – What else is new?
Keira – What? It’s been hours!
Roxi – You ate in Dublin, you ate in the airport, you ate on the plane, you ate in the Tampa airport, and you ate in the car on the way home!
{Keira shrugs.}
Keira – Minutes, then.
Roxi – I would just like to unpack, and unwind for a little bit. It’s been a long weekend. Plus, I missed Nate.
Keira – Yeah, I did too.
Roxi – Chris didn’t have any complaints.
Keira – Why would she? She loves him. If we let her, she steal him.
Roxi – Well, she did… you know…
Keira – Yeah, she’s entitled. But I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world. He’s my special little boy.
Roxi – I know that.
Keira – You… still think we should… you know… test him?
Roxi – He’s perfectly normal according to the doctors. He’s exactly as healthy and active as a normal two year old.
Nate – MAMA!
Keira – Baby?
Nate – I need TV!
{Roxi can only chuckle, as Keira rolls her eyes.}
Keira – I’ll be right there.
Nate – Okay!
Keira – Not a word.
{Keira walks away, headed to Nate’s room, picking up her bag along the way. Roxi takes her bag to their bedroom and tosses it on the bed. She unzips the bag, removing ring gear and the like and adding it to the hamper only for the wrestling attire. She heads back after a few moments as Keira brings her back into the ring, and does the same. Keira also walks back to the kitchen, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge.}
Keira – So… what about your match this week?
Roxi – Well, Caleb… I kind of know. I think I met him once or twice. Dani Weston was the Bombshell’s champion for quite a while, so it’s not like she’s new or anything. Stewart Mason, I have never heard of.
Keira – So, you got this, right?
Roxi – We’ll see.
Keira – Well… I believe in you.
Roxi – It’s a chance to meet new people, face new opponents, and learn about your partner. It makes for some interesting stuff.
Keira – You said you met Caleb before.
Roxi – Hung around with Jessie’s crew. So… sort of a “hi and bye” thing.
Keira – Well, don’t you think you should take your own advice there?
Roxi – What do you mean?
Keira – Might wanna visit with Caleb, you know, plan strategy or something.
{Roxi turns her head slightly and narrows her eyes.}
Roxi – Are you sure… you’re Keira?
{Keira burps.}
Roxi – Point taken. Maybe I will visit Caleb. Maybe we can turn this into something more than a half-hearted run.
{Keira takes a swing, shrugging and walking towards the living room.}
Keira – No need to thank me, just make dinner.
{Roxi just shakes her head and chuckles to herself as the scene fades.}
Greetings, SCW!
It’s been a while, hasn’t it?
Honestly, at first, I wasn’t really sure about doing this again. I was content doing my own thing and having left SCW on my own terms and I was content. I mean, I was even willing to simply let the tournament silliness with O’Malley from last year go. It was just to have the chance to wrestle and pay tribute to my dear friend, Misty.
Heck, every time I’ve been in the SCW locker room since then, I’ve instinctively looked for her.
Maybe that’s a bad thing all things considered, but she was my friend.
I sit back and I remember all the fun times. I think of Misty, I think of Melody. I think of James, I think of Amy, I think of Delia, I think of teaming with my wife, and it’s any amazing thing that I don’t want to taint.
Anyway, I was hesistent about doing the tournament this year, not for fear of losing, but for simply being considered a nostalgia act. Here I am, having accomplished everything there was to accomplish in SCW, minus some new championships after I left, being in the hall of fame, having done everything I really wanted to do. I had no desire to really come back and either taint the legecy Team Hero created, or just be pinned as some part-timer coming in for a pay-day or someone trying to relive past glories. Despite those only being a couple of years ago. But you know how things are and people can get. Labels are everything.
But, yet, here I am.
Sure, I have a lot of weight behind my name, Sure, I haven’t fared too well since 2013 in this tournament itself, but I didn’t want that to be a reason either. I wasn’t, and I am not scared of losing in the first round. Not to disrespect my opponents or anything, but for a little bit there, it was kind of like I don’t need to do this.
I had to find something else. Not need, but want.
Normally it’s the other way around with me. I sometimes feel I NEED to do something, but don’t always WANT to. But for this time and this tournament, I WANTED to do it. I wanted to just back into the fray and see if SCW is just a good as the time I left it. I stayed away to raise my son, and I’ve been some privledged and honored that he’s been able to be not only part of my family, but part of the SCW family.
But, things are different now, times have changed.
I look around and see crazy things like Mercedes Vargas is somehow a grand slam champion! What in the world is happening here? When did they happen? Titles are being retired and now there’s SCU and I’m over here looking around going… what? I mean, last year, Keira and I hosted Summer XXXtreme last year and so many things has changed since then.
But one thing hasn’t changed.
That six-sided ring is still a place I call home.
It’s still the same place where I accomplished everything I accomplished in SCW. Every win, every championship, every accolade. The one thing that will always remain the same, is that ring. It doesn’t matter the generation of wrestler, the ring, is home.
And I feel that I’ve been away for far too long.
It’s been too long since I walked through that curtain and felt the way that only happens in SCW. I can walk out anywhere else, but it’s clearly not the same.
Now, realistically, if and when I am eliminated from this tournament, I may not return. Because I don’t really need to hold all the accolades or wins. Stats and records were never really that important to me. Yes, every chance she got, Mercedes Vargas likes to bring up how she surpassed my win record or how she did this faster than me, but if that’s all she’s after, then fine. I’m not after that. I’m just after that rush. The all important rush to be the same woman I was, just a few short years ago.
So that’s why I wanted to come back. I wanted to feel that rush again, and not just for that initial reaction. Not to have some farewell tour or ride a wave of what used to be. No, I wanted to do this, because I am damn good at what I do, no matter where I am. And no matter the year, I can prove to the entire world, that I am as good as I ever was.
And Dani Weston, as great as she is, is about to find that out.
{A new scene opens in Syracuse, New York, Roxi has traveled here to get a chance to meet and chat with her Blast from the past partner. Roxi calmly pulls into the driveway of a house, only to hear the opening chords of Motorheads “Ace of Spades” playing coming from the garage.}
Roxi – Well, he must be in there.
{Roxi goes and calmly knocks on the door, and Caleb’s wife Katie answers the door.}
Katie – Can I help you.
Roxi – Hi, I’m Roxi. I’m Caleb’s partner…
{Katie arches a brow.}
Katie – Partner?
Roxi – Oh, no… nononono. I’m his tag team partner for the tournament. I was just hoping to get a word with him.
Katie – Oh. Garage. Come on.
{Katie calmly leads Roxi into the garage, where Caleb is still headbanging, singing the song as it finishes out.}
Caleb – Rock on!
Katie – Caleb.
{Caleb turns, and sees both Roxi and Katie. He waves and motions for Roxi to come in. There is a full band set up, drum set microphones guitars tuned differently, and basses. Roxi extended her hand and Caleb shakes it.}
Roxi – I’m -
Caleb – I know, you’re Roxi. I’m Caleb.
Roxi – It’s nice to meet you. Looks like we’re partners.
Caleb – Hell yeah. I think we got a good chance to rock some socks off!
Roxi – Well, yeah. I do to.
{Roxi looks around at the set up.}
Roxi – Impressive setup you have here. Where’s the band?
Caleb – Agh… it really didn’t work out.
Roxi – What happened?
Caleb – Band stuff. You fight, you argue like family. Sometimes it just gets to a point where you just want to not be around those people anymore. I put a lot of work into this band and it fizzled.
Roxi – I’m sorry to hear that, but you know, you don’t need to jam along.
{Caleb turns, confused for a moment before a smile crosses his face.}
Caleb – That’s right! You play!
Roxi – Yeah, I mean, if you don’t mind, we can go for it.
Caleb – Hell yeah!
{Caleb walks over to the laptop hooked up and scrolls through some songs.}
Caleb – Any preferences?
Roxi – I mean, we were just jamming out to Motorhead, let’s keep it going.
Caleb – Right on!
{Roxi sits down behind the drum kits, picking up the sticks and messing around for a second, getting a feel for everything.}
Roxi – What ‘cha got?
Caleb – Killed by Death!
{Roxi nods, as the song begins, she begins to drum along to it. As Caleb watches on, almost forgetting to sing as the song starts. Caleb sings along as Roxi plays the drums alongside the song, and the backing of Lemmy helps out quite a bit. Once the song finishes there is a high five between the two partners.}
Caleb – That was awesome! I haven’t had that in a long time!
Roxi – Hey, no problem. I just want you to know that you can trust me, and I need to be able to trust you. Our match is important and I want there to be no questions going in between us about trust or partnership. We’re in it to win it. I’m counting on you as much as you’re counting on me. We need to be a team out there, not just two people teamed together.
Caleb – I gotcha. I’ll be there.
Roxi – You understand the difference, right? It’s going to give us a huge advantage if we can be a team.
Caleb – I understand, sure.
Roxi – That’s good. I can tell you’re eager and full of energy. I want to put that to good use. I know you’ve had experience doing this right?
Caleb – Hell yeah, Sammi and I were mixed tag team champions.
Roxi – Good. Sammi told me about that so I expect things to go smoothly. When we’re here, we can jam and have a good time, but in the ring, we’re going to be sharp.
Caleb – We’re going to be as sharp as the G in “Welcome to the Jungle.”
Roxi – Perfect. Well, now that the ice is broken and we understand each other, let’s rock!
{Caleb laughs as he runs back over to the laptop and throws on “Paranoid” by Black Sabbath The two keep jamming as the scene fades.}
It’s always a crap shoot in this tournament when partners of chosen. Some are clearly more desirable than others, but you play the hand you get dealt. I’m not going to sit here and say I was absolutely thrilled with getting Caleb Storms. After all, he’s tied in with Jessie Salco, and Jessie and I… aren’t exactly on the best terms, considering all the trash she’s talked about me, and especially my family. She insulted my son, so, really, I owe her a punch square in the face for that comment. But nonetheless, for the time being, Caleb Storms is the person I have to depend on to pull his weight and help us win matches, and possibly the tournament itself.
And after meeting with him, I realize he may just be a kid who’s in with some less than great people, but he’s still a kid, and have tons of energy and enthusiasm. And he has experience in this very type of thing. A former mixed tag champion. The things you learn when you get to actually know your partner, you know?
Anyway, the main idea here, is that I have to step into the ring with Dani Weston. Dani has been nothing short of incredible and dominant, in my research around SCW since my departure. You don’t just get to be SCW Bombshell’s champion for no reason. You have to earn it, and obviously, Dani did just that. And when you do by beating Mikah of all people, that says a lot, and when you go on to hold the title for as long as she did, it’s not be accident. She’s good. Very good. Borderline great in my opinion. And I don’t throw praise around lightly, I recognize talent when I see it, and it flows from Dani.
But it seems that now, Dani is directionless. Aimless even. I’ve felt that way after not having things go my way for any period of time. And especially when you lose a title as important and prestigious as the SCW Bombshell’s title. It can cause a person to just drop everything and wonder if it’s even worth it anymore. So, yes, I get it, and I completely sympathize and empathize with those feelings.
And now, here I am, about to face off with this person, and I’m in a no-win situation from a personal standpoint.
I mean, I’m not a heartless person, I don’t want to go out here and just run through Dani like she’s nothing, and leave her worse off than she is now. I’d feel awful about that. On the other hand, I did just explain that I don’t plan on being here for a quick “hi and bye” until next year if the process repeats. No, I, like everyone else involved, intend to win. And I’m not about to just let Dani have a free pass.
Maybe I caught her at a bad time, and really, it wasn’t planned that way and I wouldn’t want to do that to anyone, let alone a person I don’t even know enough to like or dislike. But in itself if what gives me the drive I need. Because it’s the excitement of the unknown. I don’t really know much about Dani as a person, I have no earthly idea who Stewart Mason even is, but I’m trusting Caleb on that front.
It’s just another example of doing what I’ve been doing my entire career, venturing into the unknown, prepared to take on all comers and whatever happens, happens. We adapt and overcome, just like I told Caleb. So I know that we will be prepared to take the fight to Dani and Stewart, and at the end of the day, I’ll be satisfied. Because the one thing I don’t want is for Dani to phone this match. Hard times fall on all of us, but that’s not a reason to give up on everything. Even though I don’t know her personally, I do wish Dani all the best, much as I do everyone who’s still in the tournament.
We’ll just see what happens.
I’m ready for Dani, and Caleb and I, We’re ready to win!
