{Our scene opens with Roxi sitting on the roof of a moderately tall building, looking out and seeing most of the city while she takes a break from her patrol. It looks very peaceful and serene, but just below Roxi is a different story. Below, there are at least 10 people being “Social media influencers” Men and women all with their friends, phones out, looking to find the perfect spot to do something to get the clicks and likes. Roxi only looks on with morbid curiosity as the “influencers” find their spot to pose, put on some dramatic scene or really, just talk very loudly, recording themselves using their phones. Roxi takes a moment to call Vision on her wrist communicator.}
Vision – What’s up LB?
Roxi – Please, please tell me something is going on around town?
Vision – I got nothing. Why? Is something wrong?
Roxi – A lot, actually.
Vision – Oh? What’s going on?
Roxi – I don’t understand people these days.
Vision – You and me both. But I take it you’re talking about something specific.
Roxi – Influencers.
Vision – Like... role models?
Roxi – Goodness I hope not. I hope nobody wants to actively be like these people.
Vision – I don’t know what you mean, then.
Roxi – Oh, right... Influencers are people who make a living on the internet. They attract a huge audience and they go around and find weird places and things to do to make themselves even more famous, but it’s all... it’s all fake. There’s maybe a handful of these people who actually mean a word of what they are doing. It’s all... way too much.
Vision – And this... makes people money?
Roxi – Somehow.
Vision – I think you might need to just step away from this, LB.
Roxi – It’s just stinks. We should be going after the Rejects. We should be tracking them down. We should be finding Amelia.
Vision – And then what?
Roxi – What do you mean, then what? We have to stop them!
Vision – I meant, once you find out what happened to Amelia.
Roxi – I... I’m going to do my job.
Vision – Are you sure?
Roxi – As sure as I can be.
Vision – Well, the edict is out from Captain Freedom. You know the rules just like I do. If you encounter them, everyone has to be alerted. You can’t do this on your own.
Roxi – I know. It’s just... I hate waiting around for something to happen. I end up looking at stuff like this.
Vision – You can’t worry about it too much. This is going to come to a head soon.
Roxi – I don’t know about that. They know we’re on to them. And at the end of the day, they keep killing people. They may be bad people, they may be criminals, but that’s not how heroes work, Vision. You know that.
Vision – There’s nothing else we can really do. We don’t know where they are. We can’t just go around and bust into everything we think could be where they are. We’re not a team a heroes at that point. We’re a mob. And that’s not what we do either, LB.
Roxi – It would beat sitting around while people die.
Vision – You and I both know, that we try our best, but even though we try to save everyone, the truth is, we can’t.
Roxi – And I can’t just accept that.
Vision – Could this just be that you want to have the final say with Amelia.
Roxi – I... No...
Vision – I have never heard you this upset over something other than the time the guild suspended you. And was a personal thing. You cannot make this personal LB.
Roxi – It will ALWAYS be personal with me and Amelia.
Vision – Don’t let them hear you say that. You’ll get booted off this mission even if it means the Guild would be outmanned. Captain Freedom is not about to let you jeopardize it if you’re more focused on personal vengeance.
{Roxi stands up and walks around the roof of the building, not really noticing she’s done exactly what the influencers are doing, just using her wrist instead of her phone.}
Roxi – I said I was going to do my job. And that’s what I’m going to do.
Vision – Fine. But just be careful.
Roxi – Yeah, yeah.
{Roxi looks down as she reaches the edge of the side of the building’s roof, and noticed a light coming from the alley. It’s another person with their phone, taking what looks to be video.}
Roxi – Huh.. That's an odd place to do some influencing. Vision, I’ll have to call you back.
{Roxi again, peers down, focusing on the person in the alley, as they walk around, not saying anything, but trying to find the right area When they step into the light, albeit for a few seconds only, the person is male, and appears to be of teenager age. When they find the right light, they start talking.}
Teenager – Man name is Francis, and I will become the next viral sensation. You may ask how I’m going to do this? the answer is simple.
{Francis is lit up enough to for Roxi to see what he is doing, and he rummages through some kind of bag lay on the ground, from it, he produces a high-powered rifle.}
Roxi – Oh no...
Francis – I am going to be the next big time viral shooter. It may be tomorrow at school, or I may go to the mall, I haven’t decided yet. Not that it really matters, it’s not about the location, it’s about the highest amount of damage I can cause. My goal is at least 20 people.
Roxi – This is not good.
{Francis continues on his manifesto rant.}
Francis – I can’t wait to see the look on all those people’s faces when I start shooting. They’re going to run, and I will have all the power. It’s going to be so great, and I will release this video and maybe one other one, right before I start. I mean, I could go right now and kill these stupid people over there, but nobody’s gonna care. I can’t go viral for that. But a mass shooting? That will go viral!
{Roxi has heard enough and she drops down, surprising Francis who backs away from her in fear and panic. Roxi makes sure not to raise her voice or even speak loudly. She uses a calming tone in her voice.}
Roxi – Relax. I’m not here to hurt you.
Francis – You... you’re like a cop or something?
Roxi – Yeah, or something. You just need to take it easy.
Francis – N... no I’m not doing anything.
Roxi – Francis, your name is Francis, right?
Francis – Y.. Yeah?
Roxi – Well, Francis, I think we need to talk about some things.
Francis – I don’t have anything to talk about. I was just... I wasn’t doing anything.
Roxi – I know, you told me that. But I just want to make sure you’re okay.
Francis – I’m f-ff-f fiine. I’m fine.
Roxi – Are you sure?
Francis – Y..yeah..
Roxi – I don’t know, Francis. You seem to be intent on doing some really bad stuff tomorrow. I’m afraid I overheard that.
Francis – Yeah? So?! That’s what it is for me now! You don’t understand! I need it! They deserve it!
Roxi – And why is that? Why do they deserve it?
Francis – W... Because of what they did to me!
Roxi – Who? What did they do?
Francis – Don’t try and act like you care! You don’t care! I’m just trash to you!
Roxi – No, you’re Francis. I don’t think you’re trash. If I did, I wouldn’t have come talk to you.
Francis – You... you don’t care!
Roxi – Francis, I don’t think you woke up today and decided that you needed to do, what you’re planning to do, just out of the blue. You’ve been thinking about this, right?
Francis – Y..yeah...
Roxi – So, tell me why.
Francis – I don’t want to talk about it! You don’t really care anyway!
Roxi – If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t have come down here and talked to you. That’s what we’re doing right now, talking. And I want to talk to you, I want to learn more about you.
Francis – No you don’t!
Roxi – Sure I do. I was thinking that maybe we could even be friends.
Francis – I don’t need friends. I hate everyone. I hate everything. I'm a reject! I’m just a big nobody. I was always a nobody!
Roxi – You couldn’t always haven been a nobody. You were somebody to someone, right?
Francis – NO! Never! Everyone rejected me! I’m gonna make them pay!
Roxi – What about your mom, your dad?
Francis – THEY’RE THE CAUSE OF ALL THIS!
Roxi – Okay, what happened?
Francis – You wouldn’t understand.
Roxi – Oh, I’ve had my problems with my parents. I bet I’ve got something like your story.
Francis – … No, you don’t...
Roxi – Maybe I do. Let’s see.
Francis – My parents are drug dealers. They kicked me out of the house, Look at me... I’m broke... I’m poor. I don’t even have a place to stay! I’m on the streets! They’re all making fun of me! They deserve to pay! I HAVE NOTHING! I AM NOTHING!
Roxi – I don’t see nothing. I see Francis. A boy who just needs to think about what he’s planning to do.
Francis – I know what I have to do.
Roxi – I can tell you right now, that if you do what you’re thinking about doing, you will go viral, and then... After a little while, you’re just going to be a name. You’ll be added to the list along with everyone else who has done what you’re about to do. You’re going to hurt a lot of people for 15 minutes of fame. It’s not worth it.
Francis – It’s worth it! They need to feel what I feel! Those worms, making me feel like I’m shit! I want them to feel like shit! And then we can all die! And I can have peace!
Roxi – Well, as your friend, I can’t let you do that.
Francis – You’re not my friend!
Roxi – If I wasn’t your friend, I would have said something to the cops after I overheard you. I would have had them arrest you, and then you have to go to all the things that they will make you do, and you wouldn’t even get the chance to turn yourself around, and nobody would understand you, Francis.
Francis – So... why didn’t you?
Roxi – Because Francis, it’s important to me, that you know, that somebody cares. I think we have a couple of options here. You can try and go through with your plan, but I can’t let you do that. You already know about that option and it doesn’t end well for anybody. The other option is, here and now, we get to start all over again.
Francis – What?
Roxi – Sure. It’s never too late to start over. We can consider this, a reset. Okay, I’ve listened to what you said, and I get it. Life has been rough. Beyond rough for you. You have made that very clear. And you’ve come to this fork in the road. I can see how you thought this was a way out. But it’s only going to be temporary. You want to make it permanent? You want to get back at people who made fun of you? You don’t need to do what you think you need to do. You, need to prove them wrong.
Francis – What? How?
Roxi – By doing what they say you can’t. By being better. I bet those people who bully you say a lot of mean things. People say mean things a lot, and they don’t understand how bad they hurt people. But when you rise above that, you win. I look at you, Francis, and I see somebody who can do great things. You may have not gotten off to the greatest start, but that’s not your fault. We can get you right where you should be. But you have to help me.
Francis – He... help you?
Roxi – You’re the only one I can trust to help me with this. We have to work together and you have to trust me on this. Can you do that for me?
Francis – W... W.. What?
Roxi – I know you have a gun in that bag. I saw it. I need you to give it to me. I know what that gun means to you, power, control, and you feel powerless without it, but if you trust me, if you help me, we’ll take that power back. Please.
{Francis looks at the bag, still scared and confused. He slowly reaches for the bag, Roxi not making any sudden moves as Francis pulls the gun from the bag. He holds it close to his chest.}
Francis – I...
Roxi – You don’t need the gun, Francis. Don’t let it fool you.
{Francis stares down at the rifle.}
Roxi – Hey, eyes on me. I’m here, and I’m not gonna leave you. But until you trust me, I can’t help you. Please. I want to help you. But I need your help. I need you. Please.
{Francis begins to tear up. Roxi moves slightly closer, and Francis extends the rifle sideways into Roxi’s hand. She takes it, and places it aside, before hugging Francis tightly, as he starts to cry.}
Roxi – You did it. I knew you could do it. Thank you! You did a good thing. Now, let’s get you what you need. I’m going to do everything I can to help you. You have my word.
Francis – … Really?
Roxi – I promise. I’m proud of you.
{The two continue to embrace as the scene fades.}
{The new scene is at Roxi and Keira’s home, where they return from grocery shopping. Both get out of the car and begin carrying bags into the house. With Keira’s appetite, it’s obviously a lot of groceries. As they continue to walk back and forth, it is obvious they are being watched. Roxi and Keira both stop, looking at the figure who isn’t even trying to hide themselves. Keira walks over to Roxi.}
Keira – What is she doing?
Roxi – She’s getting impatient, like the rest of us. I’ll take care of it.
Keira – Be careful.
{Keira goes back to unloading the groceries as Roxi walks up and confronts the person watching them. It is of course, Lei, a stern look still on her face.}
Roxi – Lei, you need to be patient.
Lei – I'm tired of waiting. When will you do something?!
Roxi – I’m working on it.
Lei – You have been working on it for week now! The mistress could be dead!
Roxi – She could be, or she could alive. But things like this, they aren’t helping.
Lei – YOU, are not helping! You said you would!
Roxi – My hands are tied, Lei. If I run into them, I will take care of it. Until I do, I can’t stop my life just for Amelia.
Lei – You agreed to help find her!
Roxi – I know that. And I will. I can’t just go looking for a fight right now.
Lei – Then I will.
Roxi – They’ll just kill you. And if you want to get Amelia back, attacking them head on is suicide.
Lei – I would rather die with honor then wait like a coward. I will kill them all if I need to.
Roxi – You’re not going to do anything. You’re going to wait.
Lei – If you will not help me, I will do it myself. And then, once I have the mistress back, I will kill you, and your family.
Roxi – Don’t threaten my family, Lei. I told you what I was going to do, and I’ll do it. I can’t just find them magically!
Lei – I have.
{Roxi pauses.}
Roxi – Excuse me? You found them?
Lei – Yes. I have tracked you and your heroes for a long time. They are underground.
Roxi – Well, we kind of figured they were underground. That doesn’t help.
Lei – This last one I followed. They have some sort of power to move faster than human. They reach a certain point, and then when they are alone, they speed off, and I could not follow.
Roxi – Where do they stop?
Lei – A few miles outside of the town. West.
Roxi – How do you know it’s not one of our heroes?
Lei – Because they kill. They rob and steal from other criminals.
Roxi – Sounds like them.
Lei – Then you will help, yes?
Roxi – You meet me tonight. Here.
{Roxi reached into her purse, and pulls out a tracking device.}
Roxi – When you see this person, hit that button. We’ll meet up, and we’ll track this guy, and if he is, who you say he is, we’ll find the rest of them.
Lei – This is your only chance.
Roxi – You have my word.
Lei – Very well.
{Lei simply nods and walks away. Leaving Roxi to shake her head, although she pumps her fist, having a lead. She walks back and sees Keira, having finished unpacking the groceries.}
Keira – Well?
Roxi – She has a lead. But she’s not going to wait much longer. We have to move.
Keira – Finally.
Roxi – She’s gonna find whoever she’s found, and let us know.
Keira – And then we go and end this.
Roxi – Yeah.
Keira – Roxi...
Roxi – What?
Keira – If you get the chance... don’t make the mistake of giving her another chance.
Roxi – We’ll cross that road when we come to it.
Keira – If this goes down, and I have the chance... I will end it.
Roxi – We’re going to need everyone on the same page Keira.
Keira – I don’t care if they kick me out the guild. She’s caused too much damage.
Roxi – I... I’ll deal with it.
Keira – You better.
Roxi – Let’s... just see where it goes.
{Roxi and Keira head to the living room to relax as the scene fades.}
{The new scene opens with Roxi and Keira in costume, waiting patiently for the notice from Lei}
Keira – Do you trust her?
Roxi – We don’t have any other options. They are keeping a low profile, except for this guy, apparently.
Keira – What if it’s a trap?
Roxi – That’s why we have backup.
{It isn’t long before the device activates, and Roxi and Keira follow the trail, finding Lei, standing in an alley in what is the center of the city. They join her.}
Keira – Well?
Lei – He is there.
{Lei points and a man in a hoodie looks around suspiciously, having come to a stop and making sure no one is around. He then raises his arms, and in a flash, he’s seemingly disappeared. Keira instantly takes flight, shooting high above the alley.}
Lei – You see?
Roxi – Yes. Kat, you got him?
Keira – His energy signal is quick, but not that quick. He’s going to... The Balbin Brother Cigar Factory.
Roxi – Right. Thanks.
Lei – We go now.
Roxi – No, “we” are not going anywhere.
Lei – You will not stop me!
Roxi – We're going to take care of it from here. If Amelia is alive... I will bring her back to you.
Keira – The energy signal has stopped at the factory, that’s totally where they are.
Roxi – You have my word, Lei.
Lei – If you fail, I will kill you.
Roxi – Yeah, I heard that before. I’ll be back.
{Roxi soon joins Keira, with Lei rushing to follow them on foot. Roxi looks down at the factory, staring at it for a moment before turning to Keira.}
Roxi – The cigar factory makes sense.
Keira – And it’s right near the Ybor tunnels. It gives them easy access whereever they want to go.
Roxi – Well then... let’s do this.
{Roxi opens up her wrist communicator.}
Roxi – Vision, we have found the Rejects hideout. This is not a drill. It is a pure Code 99.
Vision – We have the alert. Everyone is on the way.
{Roxi ends the call, and turns back to Keira.}
Roxi – Are you ready?
Keira – Of course. Just... do the right thing.
Roxi – I will. I promise you, I will.
{Heroes start arriving as the scene fades.}
“There is a difference between you and me. We both looked at the abyss, and when it looked back at us, YOU blinked.”
Batman (Justice League: Crisis On Two Earths)
Hello SCW.
You know the deal, so there’s really no reason to repeat it at this point. It was already repeated enough and I think the point has been made. All of the time to be like that is now gone. There’s no extra number one contender’s match, there’s no random championship defenses left. It comes to down to one match, at High Stakes. It is obviously not the match I wanted, but this is where we are. I made that mistake and I let Crystal into the match because I didn’t do enough. Period. So, now I’m dealing with the consequences. I had everything planned out so well, and then, there’s one little hiccup and the whole plan goes awry. It’s annoying and now I’m staring at two opponents, instead of one. What was carefully put into place, now has a wrench thrown into it. So, therefore, we must adapt and overcome.
Being the referee for the chaos last Sunday made me think about a lot. But I was there to do a job, and I did it, despite the boys getting a little overzealous, I think I did a good job. I was there to make sure nothing happened, and nothing did happen that would ruin anything at High Stakes. I was actually a little surprised that no one really did anything at all. Nothing. Amber nor Crystal took a swipe at me, or even looked in my direction twice. And that, for all intents and purposes, worked out like it should have. But that is last Sunday, and that is over with.
So, let’s just get started, shall we?
It’s not a secret that I was referring to Crystal as being a wrench in the plan. She was not supposed to be part of this match, but that seems to be the way these days, make enough noise, and have a few things go your way, and you can get involved with anything. I do consider it my fault that Crystal is in this match, and while Crystal may indeed see that as a slight, and I don’t blame her, it’s not a slight. It’s the truth. Prior to that fatal four-way match, Crystal was nowhere near the SCW Bombshell’s championship picture. Whereas I had made my intentions perfectly clear as to want to gain a championship against either Amber or, at the time, Myra Rivers. And I made it my goal to beat every single challenger placed in front of me to stop me from that goal. And I did that. All except one, because I didn’t actually win or lose, that fatal four-way. Instead, I had to make a decision that would cost me short term, but reward me long term. Crystal would have gladly, without hesitation, taken that away from me, and not thought twice about it.
I went ahead and voiced my opinion, and I even did as was advertised, and I did it on Climax Control, and yet, Crystal did not. She had to post a tweet about not doing as was asked and actually helping her own situation, but it didn’t matter in the end, because the triple threat match was made. And, as I feared, and predicted, Crystal is of course, telling all of you that this is where she belongs now. She should be at the top of the card in the main event. Why? Because she also didn’t lose one match. And now every single cliché statement is coming from her about how this means so much to her now, but it is only because she is in the position that she’s in now. It’s a strictly because she found her way into this match, that this championship is all part of a giant redemption arc.
Please, do not be fooled by the new nickname, by the new outlook on life, by the new problems, and new values. It is all the same. It’s all part of the same story we’ve had countless times. I think I would know about this since it has been this way for... at least 8 years. It happens all the time, over and over, and over, and over and this is no different. It’s just worded differently. She is the human equivalent of the Grand Theft Auto trilogy. You can enhance it, remake it, remaster it, but at the end of the day, it’s the same game you’ve been playing for 20 years. The same lines, the same missions. All the time. But at this point, the writers of the Crystal Zdunich saga have lost the plot, because they aren’t even bothering with the issue that is plaguing this series and has since its inception.
Do you want to know the problem with Crystal? The real problem with my good friend, Crystal Zdunich? I will tell you, and again, I can say this, because she no longer cares of what people say about her. Only, she does as she has already stated and seems to have forgotten as she just told Amber that the thing Amber says affects her. The issue is, is that Crystal is almost literally “The Boy who cried Wolf” and so, when there is meaning, when there is actually a sense of genuine truth coming from her mouth, we’re already past the point of taking it seriously. And this is coming from me. Believe me, I tried. I tried for a long, long time to believe that THIS time, THIS is going to be where Crystal finally figures it out and pulls it all together. I wanted to believe in my friend. I wanted to keep giving her the benefit of the doubt. I did it for so long that people openly questioned why I did it. People drug my name down because of my belief that at some point, Crystal would finally get it together. And now? now I look like a fool for doing so. And now I’m hearing Crystal blaming Amber for destroying her motorcycle. Apparently, Crystal only did this, because of what Amber did to her. That’s the only reason. Again, I am not a new viewer to this series, so I know better. And so do a lot of other people. So do most people who have followed Crystal.
You see, Crystal has done so many awful, mean-spirited things to people in the past, without provocation. She has never needed motivation to be full of herself or get one over on people. I know this, I’ve been there, I’ve always been there, Crystal is probably the only one who doesn’t notice this stuff, but I do. She has used, and abused so many people, for her own personal gain. And the thing about all of it is simple: Saying “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have done that” works. But it works, when you’re young. When you don’t know any better. I can forgive, say a 15-year-old kid, who says something dumb, malicious, hurtful and things like that. When you’re 15, you make mistakes.
I cannot give Crystal that same forgiveness, because she’s what... 30? So, for the past 8 years, at least 5 of those years, Crystal has been, and should have been, an adult. This redemption story, should have played out ONCE, and then, Crystal grows, and becomes a better person. Why are we still talking about making amends and asking for forgiveness, when it has been proven that as soon as Crystal has that inch, she will take a mile and then bat her eyelashes like “it’s just me!” She never meant any of it, an she continues to not mean any of it, there’s so many holes in the redemption story, I don’t know why the pretense in still there. At this point Crystal is tripping over her own words, going back on them, and then stepping on them just to make sure everyone understands that she has violated every single person’s trust.
And you may be asking why I am even concerning myself with it at this point. If I know so much, why am I bothering? That’s just the thing. I have been a part of this for almost a decade. And I have been the victim for far too long. I’m just done with this now. I worked for almost 3 months to get this championship opportunity, and then with the snap of her fingers, Crystal is here now, based on happenstance, and now, she wants to get her hands on Amber because of what happened with her and Amber, back in MARCH. I’m sorry but am I hearing all this correctly? Did Crystal not come back and immediately go for the mixed tag team titles, or did I miss something? Where was this in April through August? Crystal went on her merry way, or “on the back burner” as she put it. I’m sorry, but did Crystal not Where was Crystal earning her rematch? Where was this anger and “I need to get my hands on you for what you did to me.” for the last 5 months? Now we’re going to play this game? Now we’re doing that? All of this part of the story is because she is in this match. She had plenty of time to do this, she could have easily tried for her rematch or getting another opportunity, but instead, like a lot of people around here suspiciously, Crystal had to go on hiatus and find herself, yet again. And now, here she is, back in the main event, so the story must be working.
And I have nobody to blame but myself for that.
So, I have to apologize to all of you, that you have to listen to this story one more time. Yes, she no longer cares what people think, even though she does and it’s hurtful. She only does things in retaliation and she’s really sorry she used her own wife to get herself something in return. Except she’s done plenty of awful things before, she’s not going to be sorry about any of the things she’s saying she is, should she win. You see, the win, that makes it all okay. To Crystal, the ends have always, ALWAYS justified the means. So, if Crystal walks out of High Stakes the champion, that means all that was worth it. Then she will again turn around and say “See, this is who I am, I’m embracing it now.” Because she’s getting something out of the deal. This is just another version of the same mixed messages we’ve all been getting for as long as Crystal has been in the ring competing. This goes well beyond Sin City Wrestling. Which, again, I need to apologize for, because if not for me, Crystal wouldn’t even be here, and wouldn’t be in this match.
So, I’m going to everyone a favor at High Stakes, and beat not only Amber Ryan, but Crystal Zdunich. That is the end goal here. That is everything I’m striving for in this match, and I’m not about to let Crystal sneak in the back door and take what she has stumbled into, and yet, I worked so hard for. I’m didn’t do everything I did, to have my “Good friend” greedily, and readily take from the palm of my hand. I’ve given Crystal way too many handouts as it is with our friendship, so I’m going to take her approach, and let her know that in this match, there are no friends, there’s just two people, standing in the way of me becoming the SCW Bombshell’s champion again.
And so, I will move them out of the way.
But, I’m not going to forget the champion herself.
It has been some time since Amber and I were in the ring together. A long time, because, well, not to speak for Amber, but I think we both needed a break. Considering all that happened, and went down, she enjoyed walking, or well, hobbling away for an extended period with a broken ankle. But she got to enjoy the big win. So, there was that. I told Amber, right then and there, that after all that, we would go our separate ways. We would move on to other things, and we did. For one year. One long year, we have not fought one another, we did some really even engage one another, save for a few instances here and there. As she so correctly put it, communication is not the strongest feature of our relationship.
But, that’s okay. We didn’t need to constantly be at each other’s throats over who is better. But let’s understand exactly what happened over a year ago. Amber Ryan came here, and she came here, for me. She can tell you anything she wants to about championships or fame or prestige. She’s already had plenty of those before she came here. She knows that as well as I do. She didn’t come here to be part of the SCW family initially. She came here, to fight me. Right away, she targeted me. It wasn’t Crystal, it wasn’t Evie, it wasn’t Andrea, it wasn’t Alicia. It was me. Everyone else, was second. Amber can tell you a close second if she wants, but at the end of the day, it was me, and it wasn’t even close. And while Amber tried her best to play mind games with me, while she tried to make me the bad guy because I knew what was about to happen, she didn’t win the mind game battle with me. And eventually, she got tired of playing that game, and what happened?
She threw fire in my eyes.
Amber Ryan fired the first shot, not me. Because she knew she needed to. All of those mind games, and everything else, were simply to give her some kind of edge. And when it had the best chance of success, she took it to that level and literally tried to blind me. She tried to take me out, and she failed, because I came back. My eyes healed, and I came back and I played her game. I played her game and I gave her everything she could want in a fight. I just didn’t know that, what the level we were going to play at. I can tell you right now, in all honesty and sincerity, that Amber Ryan beat me up, she beat me down, she flat out kicked my ass. But if Amber is honest with herself, she wasn’t the same either. At Summer XXXtreme in 2020, I was a beaten, and bloody mess, but do you know what I remember most about that match? It wasn’t the chair shots, it wasn’t the blood. It wasn’t even the brass knuckles that Amber had to use to win. No, what I remember most is one look on Amber’s face. One look that told me everything I needed to know. Because that one look, was all I needed to see.
See, if you go back and you watch Summer XXXtreme 2020, you will notice one thing, Amber Ryan threw everything she had at me. Everything she could muster, and she could not keep me down. No matter what she did, I got up. I came back each and every time she knocked me down. She tried everything, and I could barely see from the blood in my eyes, but I tell you right here and now, I saw that look on Amber’s face and it read plain as day to me.
“How?”
Even if it was for a split second, Amber Ryan was questioning herself. Amber was questioning how I was getting up, and questioning if she could keep me down. There was one moment of doubt, and it crossed her face and as quickly as she tried to wipe it away, it was there. And I knew right then and there, that no matter what, I’m going to come forward against Amber Ryan. And that’s what I did.
For SIX MONTHS, Amber and I tore each other apart, and neither one of us were going to back down. Every single time we came within eyesight of each other, we had to fight. We tore apart the backstage, we tore apart the buildings we were in, inside and outside. At the end, I tried to put the whole thing to an end, because I saw what would have happened, and it almost did.
One of us, wasn’t going to survive.
Because I was swearing to myself that if I was blind, crippled, and bleeding, I was going to drag my broken body forward, to fight Amber Ryan. And that’s exactly where we were headed. Amber knows this, as well as I do. At the end of those six months, both of us were in the hospital multiple times, both of us were nearly broken beyond repair. And if, I had not called for last woman standing, neither one of us would be. And at that point, part of me was ready for that outcome. But I understood, after seeing Amber’s face, that she knew that it was going to take more than she could muster to stop me.
Amber Ryan tried to blind me and burn me with fire.
Amber Ryan bloodied me with a chair, and her fists.
Amber Ryan hit me with just about every strike she could think of.
Amber Ryan bruised me with brass knuckles.
But she didn’t get the job done.
Oh yes, Amber Ryan got her hand raised at Summer XXXtreme last year, but it wasn’t because she beat me. She got her hand raised because Drew Patton, believed he was doing the right thing. He stopped the match and he awarded it to Amber. I’m sure Amber is very proud of that, but the fact is, she got her hand raised, but she did not beat me. I think that’s most been lost in all the carnage. And I am happy to remind Amber of that fact.
In fact, in our 3 matches, only one of us, took a pinfall loss, and it wasn’t me. I have beaten Amber Ryan. I pinned Amber Ryan, and she has yet to do it to me. She got a referee stoppage, and well, the last time, she piled everything that wasn’t nailed down on top of me, and even then, even then, she did not stop me. She again, got her hand raised, but at the end of the day, she didn’t keep me down.
And while this triple threat match will do nothing to the 2-1 edge she has over me in singles competition, it is the opportunity in front of me now. I know that Amber watched me for the past 3 months, cut through people, and I know that she wanted this to be one on one as well, but we’re not there, but... it’s been a full year since we clashed, and you know what? I’m ready to fight her again. I told her that if after all the hell we went through, that I would be here. I have taken everything Amber Ryan, in all her brutally vicious glory could dish out, and I am STILL HERE.
I am right here, ready to fight Amber Ryan once again. I wasn’t going to back down last year, and I’m not going to back down now. I am not afraid or intimidated by Amber Ryan. Because I know, I can, and have beaten Amber Ryan. And now, not only will I beat Amber Ryan, I will win the SCW Bombshell’s championship.
It is a championship I have held before, but not for a long time. Why? Because I don’t get picked at random for championship matches. I don’t get to be the mystery opponent for a mid-run championship match. That’s Crystal’s department. She gets those. No, prefer to let the champion know I’m coming, and I go out of my way to earn it. I earned this match, I earned this opportunity, and will NOT let it go to waste.
And believe me, I’m just getting started with both of my opponents.
I'll be back soon.
{The scene picks up where we left off with the other heroes of the Guild arriving. Led of course by Captain Freedom, Mr. Amazing and Lady Victory. Captain Freedom surveys everything before coming up to Roxi and Keira.}
Captain Freedom – Report.
Roxi – Sir, we have confirmation that the Rejects are using the Cigar factory as a base. Due to its central location and proximity to the Ybor tunnels, it makes for maximum coverage. One superhuman was seen entering, and was positively identified as a member of the Rejects.
{Freedom nods, turning to the gathered heroes.}
Captain Freedom – Very well. Alright, you are all always of our protocol and procedure, we will enter this factory, and we are not to be hostile until provoked. We will find any and all citizens and/or hostages and we will bring them to safety. There is no use of lethal force unless an extreme circumstance. We will apprehend these hostiles, and given their powers and abilities, they will be removed using Guild procedures. Understood?
Everyone – Yes sir!
Captain Freedom – Very well. Follow me.
{Captain Freedom leads the group of heroes towards the door of the factory, Roxi quickly turns to Lei.}
Roxi – Wait here.
Lei – Only for so long.
{Roxi is annoyed, by quickly catches up with the group and they head to the door. Captain Freedom brings up a scanner on his mask and visor.}
Captain Freedom – This is it. Let’s move.
{Captain Freedom kicks down the factory door, and surveys the empty, silent factory. He scans the room.}
Captain Freedom – Eyes open. They are here.
{A giant spotlight quickly illuminates the room as a trap door opens, and several members of the Rejects arrive to meet the Guild, lead of course by Captain Invincible.}
Captain Invincible – How are you barge in here!
Captain Freedom – It is time that this ends, Invincible. I will give your group one chance to surrender, or be taken by force.
Captain Invincible – This team will never surrender! We will fight you to the death, and then we will make this world safe from the grip of crime and evil!
Captain Freedom – You always were an extremist. We will not replace one evil with another!
{Roxi looks around while the argument is taking place, not seeing any sign of Amelia. She whispers to Keira.}
Roxi – She's not here.
Keira – Who?
Roxi – Amelia.
Keira – Damn.
Captain Freedom – This is your last chance to come quietly.
Captain Invincible – Never! To battle!
{With that, the fight begins en masse. There are beams and weapons and fists flying all over the place. Roxi however, quickly runs down the trap down, followed by Keira, who is torn on what to do.}
Keira – Where are you going?
Roxi – To find Amelia.
Keira – But everyone is fighting upstairs!
Roxi – I'll be fine! Help them as much as you can.
Keira – LB...
Roxi – I mean it... go!
{Keira sighs but begrudgingly, she heads up the stair to rejoin the fight. When she gets back up top, she has to quickly dodge a small circular beam that put a hold through the wall. Keira looks quickly and sees a member of the rejects with a type of goggles on over his eyes.}
Keira – You... you killed the drug dealer.
Villain – I'll kill a lot more than that. I am Optic, and you are dead.
Keira – We'll just see about that.
{Meanwhile, Roxi has continued down what feels like a labyrinth of turns, but finally comes to a big open area far underground. And she eventually sees Amelia, smiling and sitting on a make-shift throne. She sees Roxi and gleefully waves at her.}
Amelia – You made it!
Roxi – Amelia, what the hell are you doing here?!
Amelia – I decided I liked the look of this place, and I figured I’d stay. It’s cozy.
Roxi – This is not a game, Amelia.
Amelia – Oh, but that’s where you’re wrong. It’s a game! A fun game. And you are going to have to play if you want to win.
Roxi – What are you talking about?
{Amelia stands up and turns to her left, and pulls back a makeshift curtain, revealing Erica/Empathy, strung up like a puppet and hooked to some kind of machine.}
Roxi – What the...
Amelia – I told you, I liked the look of this place. And this sweet little girl here, is helping me take over!
Roxi – What?!
Amelia – Her powers can be harnessed Rox. And so, I’ve taken control of the entire group of these idiots using her. Now I am in charge. I can make them do whatever I want them to do. I have control over their emotions.
Roxi – Erica! You have to stop!
{Amelia chuckles.}
Amelia – Oh, she can’t help herself right now. She only listens to me, because I’m the one who gives her what she wants.
Roxi – You're drugging her!
Amelia – It's so nice, when people make it so easy. The point is, as soon as those people upstairs kill each other, I will take control over what’s left, and as long as Erica here gets her fix... there’s not going to be anyone to stop me. Well, except for you. You have the greatest chance, right here, and now.
Roxi – What are you talking about?
{Amelia sits down again.}
Amelia – Duh, the game we’re playing, Rox! I told you it’s a fun game! And you can easily win! You see, the only way to stop me, the only way, is to kill me.
Roxi – I won’t.
Amelia – Ah, but you don’t have a choice in this game, Rox. You have to play by MY rules, otherwise, a lot more people are going to die. I can amplify this little lady’s power here, and I have been thinking about an experiment. What if... I controlled the entire city?
Roxi – You're insane!
Amelia – Yes, I know, thank you. But flattery won’t score you any points. If I can control the entire city’s emotional state, you know what that means? Wonderful, wonderful anarchy! People will be eating each other at my command! Now, you don’t want that, do you Rox? No, of course you don’t. So... you have to take me out!
Roxi – I'm not here to kill you.
Amelia – You are now. Either you kill me, or I kill... roughly 3 MILLION people. So... what are you willing to give up for your morals?
{Roxi angrily starts marching forward, and Amelia makes a motion with her hand to stop her.}
Amelia – No, no. You take another step, and it’s all going down. I will have this entire city killing each other. You have to make your choice. Of course, you could choose to do nothing. Stand there like a bump on a log and not bore me to death.
Roxi – Was this the plan all along?
Amelia – Well... no. These freaks thought I was someone that had connections to other bad people. I’m more of a solo act, as you know. And all it took was a little manipulation of poor Erica here, and boom. Here I am, queen of the bad guys! It’s great!
Roxi – I don’t know what happened to you, but this is too far.
Amelia – EXACTLY! This is your chance! Prove yourself! Save everybody and stop me! Or... stick by your code, and watch this whole city eat itself! Your choice! I can’t wait!
{Roxi stands there, hands on hips, not really wanting to go through with either option. She stares at Amelia, who is smiling, hands on her face, waiting patiently.}
Amelia – What's it going to be? I’m right here! You can use your powers right now. One blast, right in the face! Do it, hero!
{Roxi is caught up in this and Amelia quickly grows impatient.}
Amelia – I'll help you speed up the process. Erica, dear.
Roxi – No! Stop!
{Amelia begins pulling on Erica’s strings and forces her to focus on Roxi, and manipulates her hands to use her powers on Roxi herself.}
Erica – You want to kill her.
{Roxi groans as she tries to resist. Amelia gleefully watches on.}
Amelia – Come on, you can do it, or do I need to bring your partner down here? Or maybe go find your son at home..
{Roxi’s eyes widen beneath her mask and the anger and rage begin to take hold.}
Amelia – But once I kill you, they’ll be dead anyway...
Roxi – I'm going to kill you.
Amelia – Yay!
{Roxi charges and flies right up to Amelia who is calling for Roxi to fight her. And so Roxi does. Roxi just throws punch after punch, each blow nailing Amelia as hard as Roxi wants to. Roxi then launches Amelia into several walls and pillars. Amelia groans in pain time and time again, but Roxi doesn’t stop, taking out all the emotions and frustrations given to her by Amelia. Amelia however grabs some shards of glass and tries to stab at Roxi, piercing her arm. Roxi lets out a yell and throws Amelia into where Erica is trapped, and it disrupts her concentration. Roxi continues to beat on Amelia and it goes on for an almost uncomfortable amount of time as Roxi starts to then just straight up strange Amelia with her bare hands.}
Roxi – After everything you’ve done... you deserve to die!
Amelia – That's.... *cough* the spirit...
{Roxi continues to strangle Amelia, choking the very life out of her, as Amelia almost giggles at feeling like she was truly going to win. Her pupils begin to dialate as the oxygen leaves her body. Roxi then shakes her head and stops, and punches Amelia in the face.}
Roxi – But that’s not what I do.
{Roxi lets go of Amelia and goes over to Erica, unhooking her from this macabre puppet setup, and it breaks the spread of her powers. Roxi also sees a medical mask over Erica’s face and removes it. Tracing it back to a bag filled with white powder.}
Roxi – We need to get out of here.
{Amelia is a bloody mess, but is now angrier that Roxi isn’t playing the game anymore.}
Amelia – No! You’re ruining everything!
{Roxi turns and angrily grabs Ameila, but Amelia still has a piece of glass and repeatedly starts stabbing Roxi in the stomach.}
Amelia – Stop!
{Stab.}
Amelia – Messing!
{Stab.}
Amelia – This!
{Stab.}
Amelia – Up!
{Roxi crumbles down, holding her bloody stomach, but grabs Amelia and flings her across the room, slowly standing up, blood dripping from her wounds.}
Roxi – You have ruined so many lives, so many innocent people have died because of you. You deserve more than just death.
{Roxi jumps on Amelia as she tries to get up, punching her repeatedly again. Amelia is dazed as Roxi stares at her.}
Roxi – But you will never get that from me. It goes against everything in my heart right now... but I’m going to save you.
{Roxi hauls off and gives Amelia one last punch, knocking her unconscious. Roxi gathers up Amelia and Erica, and zip ties them, so they cannot get away. Roxi holds her stomach, as the wounds begin to heal.}
Roxi – I need to get upstairs...
{Roxi slowly makes her way upstairs, to find Keira struggling with Optic. She is fending off his beam as it inched closer to her head and neck. Roxi rushes in to help Keira, and soon the tide is turned as the Guild begin to overwhelm the Rejects in battle, with it coming down to Captain Freedom, fighting Captain Invincible.}
Captain Freedom – It's over Invincible, your forces have lost. It’s time to end this, before people get hurt.
Captain Invincible – NEVER!
{The two do battle, battered and beaten, until Captain Freedom knocks Invincible down, and with all of his group either incapacitated or defeated, the other members of the Guild move in and prepare for the attack.}
Roxi – Don't. Get. Up.
Keira – Or do. So this can truly end.
{With no other recourse, Invincible stands up and launches into another attack, apparently choosing death over surrender. He charges, swinging wildly and exhausting himself as his attacks are blocked or dodged, and finally, Keira knocks him out of the sky with an energy blast, and the rest of the guild pile on top of him to subdue him.}
Captain Freedom – Captain Freedom to base... mission accomplished.
{With the Rejects mostly rounded up they are escorted away. Some however, manage to escape through the tunnels.}
Roxi – Should we go after them Captain?
Captain Freedom – In time. For now, let’s get this group away and prepare to remove their powers. Also, Alan Robbins body was among the wreckage here.
Roxi – Yes sir, he was tortured for the information, but Amelia tried to take control of the entire group. She has been stopped.
Captain Freedom – Good work, Lady Bedlam, good work all around everyone. Now let’s get to work.
{Roxi heads over to Keira, checking on her.}
Roxi – You alright?
Keira – Yeah, found the guy who killed that drug dealer. That kill shot beam is not joke.
Roxi – So long as you’re okay. Come on, we need to get Amelia.
{Roxi and Keira head back down into the tunnels, and find Amelia and Erica. Roxi turns to Keira, pointing at Erica.}
Roxi – Get her out of here. I’ll take care of Amelia.
Keira – Are you sure?
Roxi – Yes.
{Keira picks up Erica and takes her away. Roxi reaches down and pulls Amelia to her feet.}
Roxi – Now, I’m going to finish this.
Amelia – I knew you had it in you!
{Roxi teleports Amelia away, and right to Lei. Roxi takes no pleasure in tossing Amelia at Lei, who catches her.}
Roxi – I told you, you had my word.
Lei – Mistress?!
Amelia – Lei! Aww... you waited for me!
Roxi – Amelia was never going to come back to you Lei. She was going to kill you all the same as anyone else.
Amelia – I wouldn’t do that to you, Lei. We’re tight!
{Roxi sternly looks into Lei’s eyes.}
Roxi – Take her, and get her away from me, and away from here. If I EVER see either one of you two near me, or my family again, you will regret it. Just remember Lei, Amelia thinks you are expendable.
{With that, Roxi teleports away, and Lei looks at Amelia.}
Amelia – Lei, I missed you. Don’t listen to her, she’s just jealous of what we have.
{Lei doesn’t say anything as she just looks at Amelia, before eventually helping her. Elsewhere, Roxi is on a rooftop, with Keira, Roxi peels off her mask, standing silently, staring off into the city.}
Keira – Are you okay?
Roxi – I let Amelia go.
Keira – What?
Roxi – Trust me, I don’t know if it’s right or not, and... quite frankly I don’t know if I would have killed her tonight if I wasn’t thinking clearly. I wanted to... I wanted to so badly and... I don’t know if it’s right or wrong.
Keira – I.. I still stand by the idea that getting rid of Amelia was a good idea. For all she’s done. But... I know you aren’t like that. In a lot of ways, it took a lot of strength not to. I don’t know if I would have made the same choice.
Roxi – I made my choice. In my heart... I think it’s right.
Keira – You made your choice. I may not always agree with you... but I stand by you.
Roxi – Thank you.
Keira – I'm just glad that’s over.
Roxi – Not completely. Some of the Rejects managed to get away, they’re still out there.
Keira – So... we’re not quite done yet.
Roxi – Not quite, there’s always more work to do.
Keira – Well, when that time comes... Let’s do it.
{Roxi and Keira share a kiss as the scene fades.}
{Roxi is now shown at the Safe Harbor boys home. She watches from the windows as Francis, the would-be school shooter adjusts to life there. He lays in bed, as Roxi opens the window. Francis turns to see her.}
Roxi – Hello Francis.
{Francis is at first startled to see her, rising up out of the bed and making sure he isn’t seeing things.}
Francis – You can back?
Roxi – Yes, I did. I told you I was going to help you.
Francis – You got me stuck in this boys home.
Roxi – You didn’t have a home Francis. You told me that. This is to help you. But I also told you that I would make sure you were okay.
Francis – I don’t like it here.
Roxi – Oh? Why not?
Francis – They make me work and I don’t have any freedom.
Roxi – Well, they make you work because they want you to learn something. They want you to be in a better spot. They don’t want you where you were a few days ago. And neither do it.
Francis – I don’t want to be here.
Roxi – I know you don’t. And I know it will take some time to get used to. But believe me when I say, it’s better than the alternative. I know it’s a weird place to be in and they have some things and do some things you may not like, but I know you can do it.
Francis – You're just saying that.
Roxi – If I was just saying it for my health, I wouldn’t be here. I came to see you. Because we are friends. And that’s what friends do. This isn’t easy, I know, but you just have to stick with it.
Francis – That's easy for you to say, you’ve never had the problems I have. You’ve never had to be stuck someplace you don’t want to be!
Roxi – Oh, trust me Francis, I’ve been in a lot of bad places. I’m a superhero, that... kinda is to be expected.
Francis – But you haven’t have this like me.
Roxi – You're right, I haven’t. But I’ve had to make a lot of tough choices and I don’t know if all of them were correct or not. I may have made some bad choice in life. In fact, I know I did. But you know what? I had people help me, and now, now I’m moving forward. I know you can do the same. You just have to stick with it. And I will be here to help you every step of the way.
Francis: Really?
Roxi – Yes, really. That’s what friends are for.
Francis – How many bad choices have you made?
Roxi – More than I can count, Francis.
Francis – Any that made you feel like I did?
Roxi – Yeah, a lot. But you know, I think I made a lot more choices that were better. I have to live with the bad ones, but I like to think about the good ones. And trust me, this this is a good thing. Don’t give up on yourself. I won’t give up on you.
Francis – You won’t?
Roxi – Never, I promise.
{Francis’s eyes well up with tears as he hugs Roxi, and the scene fades out.}
“This is a story about mercy. It's also about revenge... justice... and fighting for yourself.“
- Batman (Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight Vol 1 37)
I have said in the past, that at this point in my life, and in my career, I am many things, to many people. I have been for a very long time. It still holds true today as many of those who stand with me, and stand against me, have formed their opinions of me, and to a lot of them, those opinions, because they are held strongly enough, are I guess considered fact. I have accepted this, at this point. That’s what it is, now.
I am, whatever people need me to be.
For many, I have been a friend. An ally. I have been an ear to listen, a shoulder to cry on. I have taken on a great number of other people’s problems with them. I am a counselor. I am a mentor. I am a confidant. I am a mediator. I am a therapist. I have taken on many roles for those who need me to be that, for them.
And for others. I am an enemy. I am a horrible person. I am a lair. I am a hypocrite. I am a cliché. I say one thing and do another. I am the reason they aren’t where they are supposed to be. I am an obstacle. I am the scum of the earth. I am greedy. I am Selfish. I’m a goody two-shoes. I’m an evil, underhanded, backstabber. To those people, that’s me, to a T.
Do you know what the most important title I have is? The one my son gives to me.
“Mommy.” That’s the only one that really matters.
But, to everyone, no matter what your opinion of me is, and no matter what role you want me to play, I say:
I am.
Of course, I am. I am whatever fits the narrative of the person saying it. And the reason for both those who are my friends, and those who do not like me, are both the same.
I tell the truth.
For some, it’s reassuring, and for others, it’s a bitter pill to swallow. I only know one way to be, and that’s me. If it means you then despise me and what to see me fail, because in your mind I have let you down, then you are free to hate me. If it makes you feel like someone is hearing you, someone is with you, then feel free to count me as a friend. It some cases, it may class me as boring, or vanilla. And in other cases, it makes me out there and extreme fudge. It all depends on your preference. I am not here to please everyone, though I do find myself trying to do that a lot. But I can’t do it, despite my best efforts. It’s an impossible task. I’m just honest about things, and for my opponents at High Stakes, I am an inconvenient truth.
Because I have done many things, for many people, even if they don’t know it. My opponents are no exception, and I can look back and know what I did, helped them along their way. Crystal may be the most prime example of this.
I was one who told Crystal about Sin City Wrestling all those years ago. And she came here, and she flourished. Did I ever get a “thank you?” or anything like that? No. Not that I ever expect one at this point without there being some kind of catch attached to it. Crystal is always quid pro quo, even with her own wife, so it’s not a big deal anymore that it means she wants something from me. Some form of validation, some form of acceptance. It never has stopped and it never will. This new form of Crystal will still be the same regardless of this. If all Crystal ever wanted was to be accepted, she should stop using people to gain acceptance. It’s pretty straightforward, just be yourself, but that, that right there, is the major issue with Crystal herself.
She has no idea who she is.
That just stems from Crystal having a baby far too young. Crystal was allowed to a child. Crystal wasn’t afforded the age of 12-18 to actually grow and into a functioning adult. So, in turn, this is what we have now. Crystal is a woman-child given a ton of ability to wrestle, but did not ever get a chance to form herself into a person, only what she believes a person should be. She has tried to emulate what people actually do, but is unsuccessful. It is one of the reasons I have given Crystal so much leeway in terms of her behavior. Because even at this point in her life, she still has no idea who she hurts, and how she hurts them. She doesn’t know any better, and so winning championships, being good at something, like she is, is really the only true form of validation Crystal has. Championship titles don’t judge you. So every championship win, in Crystal’s mind has validated her entire life and all of its choices. Every back stabbed, every line crossed, every friend lost, is only temporary, because when Crystal wins something, that makes it all better. Why else would Crystal enter multiple tournaments, and compete every single place she possibly can? Why else does Crystal brag about going into these places and winning this thing or that thing. It’s simply because it is the only form of validation she knows. If Crystal wins something, it means she was correct about everything she ever said. Every action was justified, everything, was worth it. She must be doing everything right, because in the end, she’s in the spotlight and being praised. And this fulfills Crystal temporarily, Because Crystal never actually learned how to be real with herself, or anyone else for that matter.
Why do you think she got into acting? Act, sing, where you can be anyone. You can be someone else. You create a persona. And slowly, over time, Crystal has become the persona because she doesn’t know the real Crystal. And when someone tries to get her to see this, then the gut reaction hits. They hurt me, so I must hurt them back. I need to say or do something that makes me feel better. Thus, I get told things like trying to win the Roulette championship and complete the grand slam, was selfish. I didn’t NEED to win that championship, so it makes me a hypocrite, when I request to earn a Bombshell’s championship match instead of chase the Internet championship. Never mind, that I had already lost an Internet championship match, and never mind that I wasn’t in the spot to earn another Internet championship match. All of that is irrelevant information because again, it doesn’t fit the narrative. I made it a point that I was going to EARN this championship match, and I did so. For 3 months, I beat every person in front of me. I never wanted to be shot into my Bombshell’s championship match against Alicia Lukas. I wanted to earn it. I literally had to fight to be put in a match with Apple Coren as a “tune up”. Because I wanted to earn it. Because people like Crystal were looking at me sideways for the situation. I’ve always, ALWAYS wanted to earn my championship matches, not rely on a seemingly random card, giving me a championship match I did not deserve. This has happened ONE TIME in my entire SCW career. ONE TIME. For Crystal it has happened numerous times. Including when she beat me and won the Bombshell’s championship. In fact, do you know how many Bombshells’ championship matches I have had, since I lost the championship? ONE. And that was against Keira, and that was because I EARNED it. I am not in the business of hand-outs. That’s not me, and that’s not going to be me, ever. It may be fine for Crystal, but it is not fine for me. I don’t get my name thrown onto cards for championship matches at random. Crystal happily takes those, but that’s why we are different. I want to always be sure that I earn my opportunities, so no one can say I don’t deserve them.
But despite that, I also hear that I’m not deserving of this coming from Crystal mouth, recently. Because, in her words, outside of one match, when everything is one the line, in a big-time match, I can’t beat her. Because if I can’t beat Kiera, and because Amber beat me in a Last Woman Standing match, I don’t deserve this. Again, this is a wonderful narrative that really drives home the point, but it simply ignores the truth. My match with Keira was marred with interference. Amber had to pile everything that wasn’t nailed down on top of me to beat me. And I just need to know what is classed as a match with “everything on the line” Are there matches where absolutely nothing is on the line? No pride, no ranking or career progression? Are those exhibitions? Are there matches that I cannot bother to try and still win? Is that what the matches I have beaten Crystal in have been? Worthless? Useless? Meaningless? Well, I sure hope that this match is big enough. I sure hope that in this match “Everything is one the line.” I guess that chamber match wasn’t enough. I guess Crystal really didn’t feel everything is on the line then.
And to all of you, those of you who have ever wrestled Crystal and beaten her, THAT match didn’t have “Everything on the line.” Those were her words, not mine. Those matches were small time, and they didn’t matter to Crystal. She’s only going to turn it up, only going to have a crisis or problem when “everything is on the line.” This is just another example of what I mean when I say that Crystal just doesn’t understand who she insults or hurts. She doesn’t know any better.
So, what exactly has Crystal done to deserve this match? I guess she’s still cashing in the whole “I am a 5-time former champion” thing. I didn’t realize that we can simply use the past to go for current things. I am a hall of famer. Does this not count for anything? I am a 3-time Bombshell’s champion. A grand slam winner. Is that not good enough? Because as far as I can tell, Crystal was coming off a loss, and got randomly put into that fatal four-way BASED on the fact that is a 5-time champion. There is no other reason. So, if my reasons aren’t good enough, hers shouldn’t be either. Or was this another match with “nothing on the line”? That is the problem with these narratives about me. They just sound so good, expect when we actually dig a little deeper, that just don’t hold water. And the ridiculous double standard that apparently only applies to Crystal, or to me depending on how you look at it.
So, I hope that this triple threat match meets these criteria. I don’t want any excuses at this point for when I beat Crystal, and Amber and I win the Bombshell’s championship. I will be doing many people a favor by doing so. And maybe, Crystal the most. She herself stated she has problems she needs to work out. Issues she is going through. She has made that abundantly clear. It’s just this time, a championship win won’t be able to provide that temporary fix. No, if Crystal wants to really, actually do something to turn her life around, another forgettable run with the Bombshell’s championship isn’t going to do it. I will relieve her, of that burden and win so she can get the help she really needs, if she really means it.
Because despite all of that... Crystal is my friend. It’s called tough love. And that’s what friends do for each other. Regardless of the narrative.
I believe the saying is “What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”
Speaking of which, I guess I have disappointed Amber Ryan. I didn’t live up to Amber Ryan’s expectations and so, I am the target of her disappointment. This is common for me nowadays. I’m not allowed to follow my own path. I’m not allowed to live my life and be who I am. I 100% have to live up to other people’s expectations of me, and if I do not, then I am labeled as such. A liar, a hypocrite. I am just the worst person ever because people think one thing about me, and then regardless of how applicable that thing is to me, if I do not fit that mold, it’s my fault.
And so that is now Amber’s stance on this. I let her down, despite her telling me that I lived up to her expectations a year ago. So, again, this narrative is nice, except when we actually look at things. I was unaware that I was living my life, and doing what I do, based on Amber’s stance and opinion. Nobody told me that all of a sudden Amber controls my life. But that’s always been the thing hasn’t it? That’s always been what Amber has tried to do to me, consume my thoughts and feelings. It gives her power. I gave her power when she first got here. I was consumed by the idea of fighting her, and taking the brunt of everything. So, to answer her question about where I have been, I have been dealing with other issues and matches. My life, my career, does not revolve around what Amber Ryan is doing, no matter much she wants to dictate that. We had our battles a year ago. And it wasn’t me who was unable to walk away from the end of those matches, it was Amber. I was able to walk away, and move forward, but it appears that when it comes to myself and Amber, she is unable to let it go.
I didn’t plan some elaborate scheme to wait until Amber was the Bombshell’s champion to them come after her. If I wanted to fight Amber, we could have done that, literally any time before now. Again, the truth really hurts these narratives. I challenged either Amber OR Myra Rivers, I even said, I’ll wait until they are done. Period. It was me plotting this ultimate plan to fight Amber again. I told Amber after High Stakes last year, when we agreed to part ways, that if she wanted to fight again, I would be there. But for the time being, we were done. And I stayed true to that. I gave Amber the space to do what she would do. And as she said, and as I expected, she returned to ring and she rose through the rankings. And here she is the SCW Bombshell’s champion. She has faced a gauntlet of challengers and she has turned all of them away. Some multiple times. But I was not one of them.
I will never say that Amber isn’t a special talent. She is. And part of is in fact glad that she is the Bombshell’s champions still. Because if I’m going to do this, I need to beat the best. And right now, Amber is the best in the ring, the championship on her shoulder and around her waist is proof of this. Yes, a big part of me wishes this was just a one-on-one match but the fact is that’s not the case. But if I’m going to do this, why not have Crystal, the 5-time champion as part of the match? The more, the merrier. But Amber Ryan has done things to me that will live with me for the rest of my life and so, it just makes it fitting that Amber is the Bombshell’s champion right now, when I have earned this opportunity.
I did not challenge Amber because I was going to earn my opportunity. She did tell me all I had to do was ask, but again, that’s not my thing. And now, I’m here. There was no master plan to get to Amber, I could have challenged her to a non-title match at any point, but I was holding true to what we agreed on. We stayed away. I dealt with other matches and opponents. And now we’re back here again, and Amber is still playing at this same game. I expected something different, but I’m not going to get that. Just her continuing to tell me how disappointed she is in me for whatever reason. The only new thing here is now... Taking credit for me winning matches, I suppose. Again, I realize that Amber really, really wants to feel like she’s in my head, and she’s upset with me that she can’t be there anymore. I was winning championships and beating insurmountable odds before Amber Ryan ever got here. I was the Bombshell’s champion before she got here. I am comfortable with what I have done. I am no longer consumed with beating Amber Ryan, because I did it before, and I KNOW I can do it again. People were talking about how Alicia Lukas was going to be the Bombshell’s champion forever, and then I beat her. People didn’t think anyone would beat Misty at a certain point, and I did. And people were scared for me, my career, and my life when I stepped into the ring with Amber Ryan and I am met that challenge, and not only that, I’m coming back for more! So, I am not a stranger to being in this spot. Nor am I afraid of this spot.
Let me just bring up these facts. Amber Ryan tried her damnedest to end not only my career, but the woman was trying to literally HIT ME WITH AN AXE. She was trying to end everything for me, and she didn’t succeed. Despite all she has done to me, I stood my ground and I fought her and I beat her. It may have only been once, but I did that, despite her trying to do everything she could to end me. I on the other hand, was never after trying to actually end Amber’s career. She forced my hand to do something like that, and she may be very proud of that fact, but after all was said and done, I was able to wrestle after that, she was not.
So, really the question that must be asked, is what is Amber going to try and do to me this time? Hurt me? Sure, that’s a given. Make me bleed? Use thumbtacks? fire? Mist? Brass knuckles? Chairs? It doesn’t really matter, because Amber has hit me with everything but the kitchen sink, so whatever she’s going to try and do, I can stand before you today and simply say:
Been there, survived that.
I have bleed before; I am not afraid to bleed again. I am not afraid of being hurt, I am not afraid of the pain involved, I already know about the pain involved. Amber Ryan isn’t going to give me anything new, so I say, bring it on. I’ve been beat up, I’ve been hurt, I’m not worried about going to the hospital afterwards. Because I know, at the end of the day, taking that championship from Amber is the best revenge. That, right there, is what I’m after. To make sure that no matter what I have to go through, I will emerge the winner. I will walk into New York City, into Madison Square Garden, and I will beat Amber Ryan, and Crystal Zdunich right in the middle of the ring and I will walk away the SCW Bombshell’s champion.
And then, like always, I will continue to be whatever Amber and Crystal think that I am.
Because it will help them cope.
They can take away whatever they want from the end, and take away whatever they want from my words of the past two weeks. Every single sentence that I have given you is the truth. Nothing but the truth, and that’s what I do. So, when I tell you, right now that I am built for this type of situation, it’s nothing but the truth. I have done this before, and at High Stakes, I will do it again, this isn’t about just winning the Bombshell’s championship, this isn’t just about beating Amber Ryan or Crystal. This is about me, proving a point. This is MY house. I have already let Crystal and Amber into my house. I put both of them in the position they are in currently. Crystal wouldn’t be in SCW if it wasn’t for me, and Amber wouldn’t be the threat she is to the SCW roster if it wasn’t for me. Those are facts. So, I’m not going to sit here and be disrespected by anybody anymore.
Everybody is going to put some respect on my name.
I will be whatever they need me to be, but I will make damn sure, I am the SCW Bombshell’s champion.
To Amber, and to Crystal,
I will see you in New York City.
Get ready.