[Christian Underwood]

Post all roleplays for this match here.
Limits: 1 roleplay per week, per character, 5,000 limit.

Good luck!

[The Dragon]

Part 1 - In Loving Memory

Shortly after victory at Climax Control, Mark made a bee-line for the Golden Ring Casino, aside from a short detour to the locker room for a shower and a change of clothes. On any other night he’d have stuck around, watched the rest of the matches, probably got roped into helping some of the crew tear down, and either found himself at an after party, or headed straight back to the airport and home to Miami.

Tonight, he had something important to do.

Bartender: Hey Mark, what can I get you?

The Dragon: Double Scotch on the rocks. Oh, and if any Sin City people come in, the first round’s on me alright?

Mark slides his American Express card across the bar, the poor thing not emotionally prepared for the pounding it was going to take at the hands of a horde of wrestlers and their entourages, especially when they heard free alcohol was involved.

Bartender: You got it. Straight to Scotch tonight huh?

The Dragon: Bit of a one-off actually, I need to catch up with someone special before the party starts.

Bartender: Sounds mysterious! Well there you go - I’ll try not to let anyone hit this thing *too* hard.

The Dragon: You’re a superstar. Thanks!

The Dragon sweeps his glass off the bar, setting off into the bowels of the casino. He knew where he was headed. It was a little cheeky making his way up there, and to be honest it might have already been occupied, best laid plans and all that, but he figured it was worth a shot. Besides, if he got caught, he was a regular, hopefully he could laugh it off without causing too much trouble.

Luckily, the VIP area was clear, and the door to the private balcony left unlocked. From his pockets he retrieves a gold Zippo lighter, complete with ornate dragon design, a small tealight candle, and an Arturo Fuente Short Story cigar. He only smoked a couple of times a year as it was, birthdays and special occasions, and his fear of missing out meant he wanted to be back in the bar by the time his comrades arrived, so he’d chosen a quick smoke, maybe 20 minutes at most.

Amanda suggested I could light a candle so you could see it, and know I was thinking of you. She was always the thoughtful one.

Mark lights the candle with his Zippo, leaving it on the table next to him. He rests his feet up on the balcony as he turns the blue flame of his lighter to the tip of the cigar. We find out who he was talking to a moment later.

Well Dad, looks like I made it again huh? Blast from the Past finalist two years in a row. Who’d have thought it eh? Other than well, me. And probably you. I don’t think I’ve ever said anything about losing you, publicly anyway. I could practically hear your words echoing in my head, as soon as I got over the shock. “Just bloody get on with it son” and I did Dad. It hurt like hell but I dusted myself off, took as many shows in England as I could to be close to Mum, and soldiered on. The schedule kept me busy, I didn’t have to book anywhere near that many gigs, but that way I could stop myself from thinking too much, stop it overwhelming me, breaking my heart into a million tiny pieces. Plus...the house isn’t the same without you there, and it was really stifling at first. It’s not as painful being back there now, but it’ll never quite be the same. Nothing ever will be honestly.

I know you probably don’t approve of my methods some of the time, and I accept that, but you set the bar super high for what it takes to be a good human being. I’m trying to compete of course, but...well sometimes we could be so similar, and sometimes we could be total polar opposites couldn’t we?
 
The scene switches to some grainy home-video footage. A young Mark, maybe three or four, can be seen standing and giggling, his hands on a little four-wheeled wooden cart that usually holds building blocks, made of wood, and painted. Blocks that his Dad is carefully building up into a tower in front of his eyes.

Keith: Please don’t knock down my tower!

...he pleads as soon as his handiwork is complete. With one swift push of the trolley, the young Mark sends blocks flying in all directions, laughing hysterically away as the whole process starts over.

Keith: OH NO! Not again! Guess I’m gonna have to rebuild it!

You always put the people you cared about first, above your own wants, needs, dreams. If they weren’t in your circle it was different of course, but I took that to a whole new level. I’m fully aware of my own selfishness, of course. Over the years I’ve tried to curb it as much as I can,, like you always seemed to do for me, and for your family, and your friends. You know, over time, I’ve definitely gotten better at it too, but that same old instinct remains. It’s when things really hit the fan that I’ll always go back there. Look after myself, fuck everybody else. It’s where I’m comfortable. I pushed Amanda away, in the end. My beautiful wife...well...ex wife. I know how much you liked her, understandably. Even in this business, people that could be really good friends, I lose them too, because as soon as they come up against me in the ring? I’m going to throw them right under the bus. I know it catches people off-guard, it’s not how I conduct myself day-to-day, but being a right prized prick comes surprisingly easy to me, especially when there’s work to be done.

As you know, I’ve always been competitive…

The scene changes to a golf driving range. A voice from behind the camera speaks as a young teenage Mark Cross stands in the bay, wooden club in hand, as he tees up his next ball.

Keith: You know what I used to hate? Hitting a 3-iron off the deck, I could never do it.

Mark: 3-iron off the deck?

Mark slipped the head cover back on his driver, pulling the fated 3-iron out of the bag instead. He knocked the ball off the tee and back onto the mat, addressed it, and with no practice swing, dispatched the ball crisply down the range.

Keith: What the...that’s so annoying!

Mark: I think I like 3-irons off the deck Dad!

Keith: How? That’s so bloody hard! Go on then, hit another one.

I guess sport was the one thing I always had the edge on? I feel like you were equal parts frustrated and proud when I made yet another thing look easy. Good hand-eye coordination goes a long way I think, in a lot of sports, it just meant I could translate it easily. Maybe it was all those times you told me to watch the ball, when we’d go out after school to do our “jobs”. Usually it was kicking a ball around, or playing cricket, or riding our bikes around the park. I used to love the park, especially the roundabout. At least, until I asked you to spin me so much that I was super dizzy afterwards, and felt sick for hours. Kind of put a stop to that. Then again, I know you hated it when people took it too seriously, made it too competitive. Maybe I went too far the other way.

I owe a lot of my interests to you. Those times we spent watching football, watching the Superbowl, playing games in the arcades, going out in that inflatable boat we had, the Sea Spray 3000 or whatever it was called. I figure it was more an excuse to spend time together than anything else. I mean...when we had our Gillingham season tickets for a few years it’s not like we ever saw much good football, but I know that wasn’t what it was really about. It was an excuse for two best mates to go and hang out. Away days were the best.

Crowd: WE ONLY BOUGHT FIFTY THOUSAND! BOUGHT FIFTY THOUSAND! WE ONLY BOUGHT FIFTY THOUUUUSAND...

It was the year 2000, old Wembley, the last time any of the three generations of the Cross family present that day would ever set foot in that stadium before it got reduced to rubble. After heartbreak the year before, losing to Manchester City on penalties, a match that Mark, his Dad, and his Grandad had all gone up to London for, Gillingham FC were back at it again. The crowd were right, 50,000 of the 70,000-odd attendance were Gills fans, coming out of the woodwork to watch the boys in blue and black try and gain promotion to the old First Division, at the second time of asking.

It was extra time, 1-1 after 90 minutes, the heartbreak of losing on penalties beginning to loom again on all of our minds. A penalty in the 99th, given away by Barry Ashby, such a rock at the back, made us think suddenly we’d be lucky to get that. It took Steve Butler, who’d only played three or four games all season to head us level, and with just two minutes left to go...Ty Gooden...Cross in to Andy Thomson...heads it home, Gillingham 3 - Wigan 2.

The crowd exploded into raptures, everyone was on their feet. A young Mark climbed up onto his seat to see over the taller adults around him, and jumped for joy, waving his arms about and screaming WE’RE GOING UP like a drunken Cassian Reed until his voice couldn’t take it anymore.

I’m scared I took moments like that for granted. Thinking back now, I remember that one time after I’d moved out, I had a big night out, overslept, forgot we were going to watch a game, and you had to go on your own. I still go sometimes, to Priestfield, when I’m back in England. Park in that same spot, walk that same walk, sit in the same block of the same stand as where our season ticket seats used to be. It’s ironic, I made you go on your own that one time and now I have to go on my own every time...

Although I don’t blame you for that, in fact I don’t feel alone at all. The moments we used to share together, I actually prefer to fly solo on them now, go to football on my own, play golf on my own, drink one of your favourite beers on my own, put on one of your favourite songs in the car and play it really...because it still feels like you’re right there walking alongside me, just like the good old days. It’s the closest I get to feel to you now, and I treasure them dearly.

I don’t know if you walk alongside me when I go down to the ring and wrestle. Maybe you only save that for Japan, when I’m not tearing down my opponents in front of a camera in the build-up...or maybe you’re just proud of me anyway, for finding something I excel in, something I still love after all this time. A part of me wishes I can ask, but again, I think we both know it wouldn’t change anything. The only thing worse than my selfishness is my stubbornness, no matter how much you thought you were getting through to me.

Anyway, I guess all that’s really left to say Dad...is that I miss you not being here. Every sweet success has a little bitter aftertaste to it, because I know I can’t call you up and tell you about it. There was one question I heard in an interview a while back, which I think hits home most of all. It was something like, when you meet your end, and St. Peter meets you at the pearly gates, what do you want him to say to you before he lets you in?

I’d want him to say “your Dad’s waiting for you, he’s got the kettle on”

That’s when I’ll know I’m finally home, and yes, it’s still milk with no sugar. I’ll see you soon Dad, but not too soon. Got a lot of unfinished business to attend to first. Like getting smithereened in this casino bar, winning a tournament, and becoming a champion once again.

Mark drops the remnants of his cigar in the ashtray, and blows out the candle.

I love you.

Blast from the Past 2021 performance - In loving memory



Keith Charles Cross
18th August 1960 - 25th November 2018

Part 2 - Patience Wearing Thin

The scene opens to a parking lot. A fancy parking lot, with gravel driveway and white picket fence. Mark “The Dragon” Cross, complete with TaylorMade baseball cap and obnoxious pink jumper, slings a bag of golf clubs over his shoulder as he sets off at a steady walk. The camera bounces gently with the motion as I hold up my tripod. The gentle clinking of irons knocking together can be heard from the bag behind.

I’m going to start a petition to rename the Hall of Fame to the Fear Factory, because if this tournament is anything to go by, that’s all it’s really been good for. The American two-party election system is designed to make voters hit the ballot boxes out of fear, fear of what the other person is going to do to the country, and to their lives, if they get in. Election campaigns have turned into nothing but scaremongering. At least I’m not Donald Trump right? So pick me! Luckily this is wrestling, not politics, and some of us can’t be finessed the same way.

Facing a Hall of Famer, or a past champion, it’s an honour. I don’t deny that, especially when you’re pretty new into your career, but I learned a long time ago to take everyone at face value. After all, the number of “legends” who turn out to be flamed out shadows of their former self? Seen plenty of those. Took too many bumps, did too many drugs, lost their love for it decades ago. They’re as frequent as the number of no-name rookies that come outta nowhere, who give me a real challenge out there, who can’t even get a promoter to take their call. You can’t judge someone too much on what they’ve done in the past, go in expecting the worst. After all - It just doesn’t work like that does it?

Mikah and Roxi Johnson? Suitably dispatched, by a rookie and an annoying British guy, in this very tournament. One too preoccupied with their own agenda, the other clearly quite willing to take their foot off the pedal and watch from the sidelines. Upsets happen, and nobody can go unbeaten forever but twice? In two consecutive matches? I think that's starting to prove my point and yet, the wettest of wet blankets manages to make it to the Final - Myra Rivers.

Wet by name, wet by nature, we run into the woman that sold her soul just because that Hall of Fame induction call comes, and trust me just because they offer, doesn't mean you can't say no. From the company that screws you over for being a little bit of a bitch, to making you THEIR little bitch when you accept their little offer of friendship a few years later.

See, I remember Myra Lynwood. We moved in different circles, but I pay attention to the wrestling world, always have. I mean...you were fucking INTENSE right? I’m never one to back away from a challenge, but sometimes you just feel someone is so...unhinged...that just getting in that ring would be career-shortening, win or not. I don’t know quite what fire was burning inside you then, but you scared people. Wrestlers, crew...management. When a company throws away it’s greatest asset in the trash, it’s most dangerous competitor, that's mismanagement honestly, they couldn’t handle you...but yet, you changed. You softened up. You became something that hey, maybe that legacy isn’t too bad after all, if you cut off the burnt bits. Maybe we can cash in.

Maybe we made...a mistake. I made a mistake, as flash back to Blast from the Past 2020, Teddy Warren, with his flip-flopping personality and his revolving door of ring names, I said a leopard never changes its spots, in his case, a loser is still a loser, even with a different name but you Myra, you proved that wrong. You've really grown as a human. Good for you.

I'd want Myra Rivers in my life, and Myra Lynwood in my corner. Myra Rivers opposite me, Myra Lynwood behind me on the apron. Myra Rivers was so super concerned about how she progressed to the Finals, didn’t want it to go down like that, Myra Lynwood wouldn't care, because she was better than those two incompetent fucks anyway. It was just putting her where she deserved to be anyway. Am I getting this about right so far?

I’ve made a pretty laboured point in this tournament about big names, legends, Hall of Famers, who have kind of lost their edge, if you know what I mean. At times, they dominated, for extended periods of time in fact. They were unbeatable, invincible, nobody could get anywhere near them. I figure nobody wanted to get anywhere near you, for fear of losing fingers...I mean, with how you treated your friends, who needs enemies right?

The more I think about it, the more I wonder if Chelsea just accepted your apology for fear of getting flattened and folded right there in the restaurant by you. To be honest, the only one of your little trio with any real integrity left is Andrea. Wait…

Mark scratches the back of his head.

Did I really just say that? Fuck...and while I may have just surprised myself...the point still stands. After all, the Hall of Fame is just a popularity contest at the end of the day. Imagine if you’d stayed with GCW, what if they had stronger stomachs and kept you around, you continued to dominate, became untouchable, won way more than you actually did, continuing to fuck over literally anyone you came into contact with. You’d have done far more in that company than you actually have. Do you think that call would have come, or do you think they would have passed you over? Too much of a flight risk, too dangerous, not the kind of image we want for our Hall of Fame, even if your record would have looked in-fucking-credible compared to, essentially, what they let you in with.

They kicked you to the curb, and all they had to do to win you back was to make you Prom Queen for a night, and Chelsea crumbled from one apology, like that makes it all okay. Awww, she ruined my life, but she apologised! Either she’s still scared of you, or she’s always been this little rabbit in the headlights, who knows, but let me tell you, if I treated one of MY students the way you treated them? I would have been so disappointed if they didn’t dust themselves off, come into my home and beat me to within an inch of my fucking life with my nearest and dearest watching. So bad in fact, that when they tell me to call the cops, and I admit it was the least I deserved, they began to wonder just what kind of scumbag they were related to. I would have failed them as a coach, and as a mentor, if they did anything but absolutely fucking destroy me the next chance they got. Regardless of how much I changed, regardless of what I did to try and make it right, still the absolute...minimum...I deserved. You know why I tip my hat to Andrea? She might actually still do it.

So let me loop back to the big issue. Ruby and I, this isn't just a quest to win Blast from the Past, it turns out we're a right pair of legend killers too. Three Hall of Famers that, for their own reasons, have lost their spark. Now...I'd rather swim with alligators if their jaws were wired shut, but where's the thrill in that, really? A small part of me kind of hopes a little of that old Myra's still in there, waiting to escape.

Watching my partner get ripped limb from limb by an opponent with some straight fire in her eyes, maybe not ideal when I've got a tournament to defend, especially one where there’s still a few suggestions my partner carried me last year, but I have to ask, how much of a legacy it really is with the zero fucks given kind of attitude from some of the entrants this year. Prime Myra would have added some much needed special sauce to really stoke the fires

Now to Mac Bane, and to his credit, he’s seen the exact same thing I’ve been seeing, he’s been calling guys out for coasting through, only to find out he’s another one of these card carrying look at how much I’ve achieved kinda guys. Please give me a BREAK already. Mac I’ve seen what you’ve tried to pull so far, reeling off names, this dude couldn’t beat me, this dude didn’t beat me...that’s amazing. I don’t care. I absolutely do not care, because if you couldn’t tell already, it doesn’t matter. Want to line up my accolades versus your accolades, who you’ve beaten, who I’ve beaten, how many times our pictures appear in Halls of Fame or wrestling company Alumni or how many “Notable Former Star” mentions we each have on Wikipedia, like that means anything? What’s the point? That’s the most narcissistic pissing contest I’ve ever heard of, and guess what? None of those things will swoop in and save us when we get out there and square off. It’s simple really.

I step in the ring, I hear a bell, and I run through anyone that stands in front of me. Seven Blast from the Past matches in my career, and all seven times, no referee has managed to smack their hand on the mat three times for me. I’m not in the Hall of Fame. I’m not a current or former Sin City Wrestling champion, my title success has been in SCU, the budget brand, or so they’d have you believe anyway...yet the results continue to come. I note you didn’t include me in your list of people that can’t stop you. Either you don’t think me worthy, or maybe you just don’t want to lie to the loyal public.

I’d love to see what tricks you’ve got up your sleeve, but my opponents had nothing on me, so I figure you’re going to be just the same. Shut up, you talk too much. Thanks Mikah, original. I’ll buy the first round if you win, cheers Lachlan, but aren’t you a little more pissed that you lost and your partner screwed you? You’re old and broken down and injured. but aren’t I’m 37 Cassian, and I had that one knee injury that one time around a year ago. I rested up under Doctor’s orders, and trained every day since until I got myself back here, in a final, ready to earn my shot at the biggest prize in Sin City Wrestling. You can try of course, I know you’ll try and be funny, draw a few laughs, make cheap jokes at my expense because that’s all you’ve shown you’re really good at but you know what? That’s not very hard-hitting is it? It’s playground stuff. I’ll probably laugh along with you, I enjoy banter as much as the next guy, but it’s absolutely not going to get under my skin, and it’s not going to help you beat me.

The thing is...this is what I do. I don’t have much interest in the business side of things really, only to the point where I need to, on a professional level, that’s about it. My videos aren’t sponsored by Squarespace, or Skillshare, or Raid Shadow Legends, and I’m not rocking my own line of merch. Mine has an SCW logo on it. After ten years or more, you know what I’ve realised? The biggest battle you ever face in this sport is the fight to stay relevant. To make people still care about you in two years, five years, twenty five years, you name it. Now I’ve gone in hard on some Hall of Famers, some legends of this business, of this very company in fact, and it’s not because they haven’t stayed relevant. After all, they all still have jobs right? They’re winning the relevancy fight. No, I’m doing it because that may be the biggest battle, but it’s not the only battle, and they stopped there.

I wrestled for a company called ECWF back home in Miami, and one of their Hall of Famers was a guy called Daniel Dream. Or Donald Dream, or Carnivore, or The Dixieland Devil, or BGK. He’s invented and reinvented himself so many times, maybe to stay relevant sure, but it seems like he takes great pleasure from coming up with all these little gimmicky storylines for himself. Fucking weird if you ask me, but like I said a few weeks ago, it doesn’t matter what inspires you to wrestle the best you can, and like I said a few minutes ago, staying relevant isn’t the whole picture. Winning matches is.

And that’s why Mac’s achievements? They mean nothing. Just like Despayre’s meant nothing, Roxi’s meant nothing, Mikah’s meant nothing. It’s a theme running through this tournament. Ruby and I, we’re the least “decorated” if you count glorified beauty pageant bullshit, but with wrestlers, as being a badge of honour. It’s us standing in the Final, and it’s probably us you have to consider the favourites, all because we’re not stupid enough to drink the fucking Kool-Aid. Ohhhh we’ll never beat them, they’re Hall of Famers! Long wrestling careers are about relevancy and winning. I’ve stayed relevant BY winning. I’m an ex-pro football player that needed something to keep him busy when the league didn’t want me. That’s not the kind of shit you put on a t-shirt in the gift shop. I get out of bed every morning to win wrestling matches, and you can slap whatever title, badge, award, belt or rosette on me, it doesn’t change my hustle. I didn’t come here for money, fame, endorsement deals, I came here to be the best damn wrestler I can be. As far as work ethic? I think that’s pretty tough to beat.

So please - Say what you want, Mac. Wow me with your big achievements and outlandish promises. I’ll be in the gym. Woo the crowd with your bad boy image and your latest line of trucker hats. I’ll be watching tape. Take me for granted, misjudge me, act like I’m not on your level. I’ll be waiting to prove you wrong, and please, please don’t get any ideas about World Heavyweight title matches, because if that’s your plan, well you’re standing in my way.

We’ve been here before, and the result is going to be the same. My partner doesn’t even have 10 matches under her belt, yet here she is on the verge of one big Blaze of Glory. I think it’s safe to say Evie didn’t win Blast from the Past for Fire Dragons 2.0 last year. A good team did, and in 2021, it’s going to be more of the same. The future’s bright, and it’s glowing Ruby red. This is going to be a fun one.

The scene fades to black.


Backstage - Climax Control - 14th March 2021

We are taken backstage to the locker room area. Mark “The Dragon” Cross can be seen unpacking his ring gear for later in the evening.

Amanda: So you finally figured it out huh?

The Dragon: Manda?

Amanda: Hey Mark.

Standing in the doorway was Amanda, Mark’s ex-wife. Old school Cross fans will recognise her from regular appearances in his promos.

The Dragon: ...You flew all the way out to Vegas to tell me I was right?

Amanda: Nooooo, I’m here with the girls for Brooke’s bachelorette party.

The Dragon: Didn’t her partner screw his secr-

Amanda: Yup.

The Dragon: And she’s still-

Amanda: Yup.

The Dragon: Classy.

Amanda: That’s our Brooke alright! Anyway, I’d better go, I just wanted to...hey what are you doing?

With his arms outstretched, Mark begins to stalk Amanda, who struggles to turn away in her stiletto heels to avoid the hug.

Amanda: No...nonono...Aaah!

She squeals as if she’s under attack, but not to the point when anyone backstage would think she was in serious danger.

The Dragon: Don’t worry, I know we’re never getting back together.

Amanda: Trust you to get a Taylor Swift reference in, even now! Dammit!

Amanda smacked him on the shoulder. He deserved it. Used to have a poster of Taylor on the ceiling for a while, so he could wake up to her. Amanda tore it down in the end.

The Dragon: You’re gonna do that thing I told you right?

Amanda: What, be happy? I’ve always been happy. You gonna win tonight?

The Dragon: Yup.

Amanda: Cool. Knew it.

As the pair embrace, the first time they’d seen each other in over a year, the scene fades away.

[Mac]

The Affairs of Dragons

"He who fights too long against dragons becomes a dragon himself; and if you gaze too long into the abyss, the abyss will gaze into you."— Friedrich Nietzsche

Preamble Part 4 - Blast From the Past
In-Studio
/Scene Opens\

The shot opens up to a close up of only my eyes, rimmed red, not from tears but from lack of sleep and anger. One thing that pisses me off more than just about anything is when someone interferes in my match. That’s where I begin with the last part of my preamble series.

Integrity; Your women’s bombshell champion has none. You interfered in a match that might have had long reaching consequences for you. Now, it just has consequences. I hope God has mercy on your soul because the woman that’s coming for you has none. She’ll stop at nothing until you have been destroyed. I’m getting the popcorn ready for that one, you’ve no chance of surviving this let alone retaining your title. I hope she rips your heart out of your chest and eats in front of your child. That’s exactly what I’d fucking do!

The camera pans out, I pass in and out of the camera's angle as I pace like a caged animal. The match against Amber and Despy, still eating at me.

Maybe worst of all, you did this just to spite Amber. So, in turn you hurt one of the few good people in Sin City. Amber and I never try to pretend to be good people, we are who we fucking are. Despy and to a lesser extent Synn, deserved better than that. They deserved an opportunity to work their way into the finals. You took that from them. More importantly you made Myra and I look like this was planned. Even Synn, not quite accusing Myra but as close as you can get without saying the words. The respect you earned as a champion, how little or how much is debatable. Any credibility you might have had is gone. Was the spite worth it? Only you can answer that one, more importantly though. Was what’s coming for you and this company worth it?

I feel my anger rising as I continue to speak, and the pacing continues as I do so.

Then there's O'Malley. You should probably save running your mouth at me until after you actually win something. You have about as much ability to win that title from Jack as my dead grandmother does. And trust me, she had way more talent in the ring than you do bitch. My family and my friends don’t have to defend me, I do that very well on my own. It’s fine, you don’t know what you don’t know. I do know a few things about you though. My first time in Sin City, I was supposed to be facing you for the roulette championship. After I was declared the number one contender, you came out and ran your mouth at me. The next week, you lost the strap to Kedron Ross. You’ve got a history, too bad it’s a history of failure.

I feel the heat in my face as my blood pressure rises, I continue on regardless of the way it looks.

All of this culminates in something that this company is not ready for. It’s not a threat, it’s simply the way it is. Mark I suggest you go into that mode where you become a selfish prick. You’re going to need that just to survive what’s coming next!

I walk up to the camera and poke the center of the lens.

This is your wakeup call SCW, I won’t be what anyone expects going forward. Even my standing here now warning you….it won’t prepare you for what I’ll do to claim what’s mine.

Fade

Colors
Las Vegas, NV - Bane’s home
/Scene Opens\

The sun has dawned on a new day in the Bane household. There was a void in my soul right now, knowing that Amber had gone dark on social media. She had left the house, she hadn’t left me but that feeling of emptiness was still there.

“I just… There’s just things I need to come to terms with.” She had said to me as she was leaving. That had been almost nine hours ago. It would have probably of helped had she responded to messages but I know she felt like this was something she had to do. Her opponent had made this very, very personal. So this left me to my own devices, that’s never a good thing. I usually get myself into trouble under these conditions. I hadn’t even gone outside of these walls since she left. What I did do though is go up into the attic to dig out old photo albums. I sat here looking at very old pictures of my mom and dad. It dawned on me then, how much of an influence he had on me from a very early age.

Not the same pops, but similar enough.

I look at the picture again and chuckle. Back in the day, my old man was one hell of a fighter. He wore a beige colored cowboy hat to the ring, black vest, trunks and boots. He once told me his claim to fame was being the most hated man in Texas Wrestling. His laughter was genuine and without remorse. Most of the time when I had talked to him about wrestling it was like picking the brain of the mad scientist after they had already won. Inside the wrestling ring my father was a vile human being, outside of it he was tough but fair. For comparison, the character that Sam Elliot plays on the ranch would be close.

Too bad you were such a stupendous prick, pops. You would have liked Amber. Mom would love her.

Funny thing about reflection, it’s rarely therapeutic, sometimes cathartic but rarely does the person any good. They will eventually sit there and wallow in their own self pity. That wasn’t really what I was doing right now. I had suspected that my dad had been up to no good. I wasn’t entirely buying what the agent had told me about it all being a lie. I turned the page of the album and there it was. It had stared me in the face countless times over the years. A picture of my dad wearing a black vest. The patch had not evolved in all this time.

I’ll be goddamned….you really were a fixer for them, weren’t you old man.

Sometimes, knowing the truth and knowing what to do with it are two entirely different things. I mean, knowing this to be true, I could go on this long trip to try and redeem a name that no one remembers. I could try to help local law enforcement to put them away and try to cause the club to dissolve. There was another option as well.

I could do what I want and take what I want. Consequences be damned.

It wasn’t just me that would be affected though, that was the hard part. Amber, my kids, they all had to be taken into consideration. Best case scenario was that I would be living a double life. Worst case was I get arrested for doing some stupid shit and Amber kills me. We didn’t have money troubles, far from it, we were  more than flush. We could retire from wrestling tomorrow and never have to work again. Not in the garage or anyplace else for that matter.

Then why consider doing this at all Bane?

I say to myself in a way that would not elicit a response from me, it was strictly rhetorical anyway. Maybe it was the words of the dbag O’Malley that still rang in my ears. “Even if he does win, he won’t do shite.” Granted, he doesn’t know me, but he liked to talk like he does. Regardless of the shit talking, a part of what he had said rang true to me. They had no reason to believe in anything that I said. The wrestling world had forgotten who I was and what I was more than capable of.

Is that strap worth it?.

I close the photo album, setting it aside on the couch beside me. I look towards the closet that hasn’t been opened since I stored some old stuff in there. I stand up and make my way to the closet door. I look inside and find my old case. Picking it up, I smile at the weight of it in my hands. Something out of the corner of my eye catches my attention. I look down and see a shadow box from my early days in the business.

From my first hall induction.

I smile looking down at the old photo of me after winning my first world title. Remembering who I was then, made me smile even more broadly. Not a friendly smile. Have you ever noticed that when a great white shark swims through the water on those documentaries, he always seems to be smiling? That’s what I feel right now, the feral ferocity of an apex predator. I turn my back on that image and cover the distance between the closet and the couch and set the case down on the couch. I open the case and inside are my old tools of destruction. Twin louisville slugger baseball bats, and my old fifteen pound sledgehammer.

Hello old friend, would you like to come out and play?

I smile as I lift it up, my eyes even with the head of the sledgehammer. Even though I know the road I’m about to travel could have long reaching consequences, in my heart I also know that the end game will be worth it. I felt like Amber was likely having a similar conversation with herself right about now. If ever there were two people that were kindred spirits, it’s the two of us. There was nothing we couldn’t do, together. I had a hunch that she had gone back to Atlantic City and that’s where I would go next. She said she needed some time to think, we both knew that was crap. I would go to the AC and see if I couldn’t help her get through this. She might rebuff me for trying but then again….

The risk is alway worth the reward.

Fade.

Red
Amber’s Apartment - Atlantic City, New Jersey
/Scene Opens\

Going on almost no sleep, I eased the rental into the parking lot where Amber had her apartment. The complex itself was more quiet than normal. Of course it was roughly three in the morning. I put the car in park and killed the ignition. I grunt at the effort of climbing out of a midsize car. God I hate rentals. I think to myself. At my size, it made it difficult at best to get in and out of. Making my way to the door, I reach for my keys and realize that the apartment key is gone.

She must have taken it before she left…

I sigh as I lean heavily on the railing. When I look back up again I see the key taped to the door. I shake my head and chuckle a little to myself…

She knows me so well.

I peel the key off of the door, removing the tape, I ball it up with my thumb and index finger and toss it over my shoulder. I won’t lie, my heart is heavy right now without her and I’m hoping to find her inside but I know I won’t. She’ll be long gone from here by now. I slide the key home and twisting the door comes open. I walk into the living area.

Red! You here?

One can hope right? No answer and no recent signs of her. Except for the note she left. It sat on the bar folded over in half, looking for all the world like a little pup tent.
SOMETIMES I
WONDER IF THINGS
WOULD HAVE TURNED OUT
DIFFERENTLY IF I HAD
DONE JUST ONE THING
OR SAID THOSE FEW
WORDS OR BEEN A
LITTLE LESS LIKE THIS
AND A LITTLE MORE
LIKE THAT.
SOMETIMES I WONDER

I held the note there, absorbing what it said and what it meant. My beautiful bride to be, even after all the time we’ve spent together. I know she’s happy, I see it in the way she looks at me. Even when she thinks I don’t see it. I don’t miss much, even the small glances she gives me that no one else seems to catch on to. I also know she’s terrified, body language means a lot when you know what to look for. Knowing the signs had saved my life more than once. I fold up the note and stick it in the inside pocket of my jacket. That’s when I spotted the coffee cup. I grabbed that and the contents weren’t quite cold, a tepid temperature. I confirm that by dipping my index finger into its contents.

Alright Red, I’ll be there when it all comes undone. Like I promised Jack and Rooster that I would be.

I walk into the hallway that leads to the bathroom, seeing footprints where she stepped not long ago. Amber hardly ever wore perfume but for some reason I smelled cinnamon in any room she’d been in. I could smell it very faintly now, confirming she had been here not long ago. I open the bathroom door. The towel she used, balled up and on the vanity. I cringe at this and the water in the floor where she stepped out of the tub. She knows I hate that, and that for whatever reason causes me some amusement. there are a number of things that we do to each other, just for the sake of annoying the other. I take the towel and clean up the mess she left behind. Then circling back to the laundry room I drape it across the washer. I come back to the living area and I look around the room one last time, thinking that I’ve missed something somewhere. Something that might tell me where to look next. Also knowing that when she didn’t want to be found, she wouldn’t be found. Until the next show anyway. A smile returned to my face for the first time in days.

Now it’s time to go fuck some shit up.


Finally!
In-Studio
/Scene Opens\

Standing in front of the Sin City backdrop, my eyes burned a little less, my steps were a little lighter and I felt a ton better after a little sleep. Was it as much as I needed? No, probably not, but it would do. My anger….had not subsided one bit. There’s a fire that burns hot inside my soul, maybe even more so than when I was younger. I have a real hatred for show offs and cowards.

Ruby Steel and Mark Cross. A really good rookie and veteran combination, obviously. They face Myra and myself in the finals now. Myra was just recently inducted into another hall of fame and I’ll say it again for those sitting in the back. Congrats to Myra on an honor that is well deserved. A guy like Mark, he hates it when something like that is brought up. He’ll probably hate it more when I say that Ruby has carried his ass through this tournament. One thing people like Ruby fail to realize is that all the awards in the world don’t make you special in this business. I watched your promo from last week and you’re absolutely right, being in the business for a short time does present disadvantages that are difficult at best to overcome. Someone like my partner, Myra, will absolutely take advantage of your inexperience. It’s not meant as disrespect, it’s just a fact. Myra is a super smart competitor and although she is not likely to take the by any means necessary path, don’t think for a moment that she’s lost her intensity and desire to be great.

I give the camera a wink as I continue.

Your partner,Mr. Cross though, and yes that’s as much respect as you’re going to get from me. He makes it very clear that he will take any low road he can to get there. It’s one of the few things I like about you, Mark. You’re upfront about who you are and what your goals are. Like discrediting your competition. You made the assertion that former Roulette champions and current are the guys you beat for fun around here. That’s a direct or almost direct quote, you’ve never beaten me. We’ve never faced each other before in any kind of match. Yes, I won the same title that Cassian carries now. You may even believe that I’ve not really beaten anyone in Sin City yet. The truth is this, I’ve beaten everyone they’ve put in front of me. In one on one competition, I’m perfect. My only loss has been in a mixed tag thing. Couldn’t really call that a match, it was mostly gimmicky bullshit but it still counts against me as my only loss.

I feel my eyebrows furrow and the pinching sensation between my eyes that soon follows.

For whatever reason, you so firmly believe in your own hype that you consider yourself untouchable. That my man is a dangerous mind set to have in this business. Especially against someone who’s so well rounded. See, I’m not some rookie that just won his first title. No, that was a long time ago. You, however are one of those people that thinks your own accolades are the only ones that matter. You’ll discredit a person's entire body of work while promoting your own in an effort to make them feel less than who they are. That’s what you did with Cassian to get inside his head right? It’s a real fucking shame that shit won’t work on someone like me.

I smirk at the camera now, I know it pisses people off when I do it. It’s one of the reasons I’ve always done this.

Passion and talent are something that we talk about a great deal in this industry. Now if you listen to Mark Cross long enough, he’ll try to convince you that he’s the only one with either of those things. Not just in this match but any match he’s involved in.

I shake my head in disgust and exhale slowly but foreably.

Mark, you’re not even the most talented wrestler on your own team. Your biggest opponent in this match isn’t even me.

It’s you.

You’re one of those people who just doesn’t seem to be able to get out of your own way. For all of your money and your fame in Sin City, do people outside of the company even know your name? I know it wasn’t from your NFL career. That was pretty fucking lack luster wasn’t it? I know that as far as Sin City Wrestlings goes you’ve won the internet championship and the Roulette title. I think I also saw your name on the list for mixed tag title holder. Of course you are defending your win in this tournament from last year. Which for those who don’t know, you did absolutely dick with.

That’s right, I said it, I didn’t stutter and here, I’ll say it louder for the folks in the back…

You’re a statistic, simply one of the many who’ve had that shot and couldn’t pull it off. Maybe you don’t have the killer instinct to get it done. Or maybe you’re simply not as talented as you believe yourself to be. Regardless of the reason you’re simply a bump in the road on my way to my first world title reign in Sin City.

You don’t have to like it.

You simply have to embrace the idea that there’s nothing you can do about it.

There was that smile again, the great white was circling and there’s blood in the water. It was time for me to feed.

Fade.

[Kate Steele]

March 15th
Ruby’s Birthday
Saxon Hotel


Ruby had decided to sleep in for the day. She knew she should have been over the top excited and enthusiastic. After all not only was today her 23rd birthday but she had defeated a Hall of Famer to march her way towards the finals of the Blast From The Past finale. Ruby didn’t want to be bothered though as other things were on her mind. She slowly woke up as she heard the loud sounds of a knock at the door. Ruby fells out of the bed as she let a yawn escape her lips. She picked herself up as she walked towards the door but the knock became louder than before.

“BLOODY FUCKING HELL… I WILL ANSWER THE DOOR IN A MINUTE!!!”

Ruby finally reached her door and didn’t bother looking through the peephole. As soon as she swung the door open she was meant with the loud sounds of her older cousin Kate smiling at her. She threw confetti at her as she screamed at the top of her lungs.

“DO YOU KNOW WHAT TODAY IS?!”

Ruby just shrugs her shoulders as she shook her head in return.

“I know what today is! It’s my 23rd birthday and honestly I don’t feel any differently…It’s just another day to me…”

Kate rolled her eyes in return.

“ANOTHER DAY?! I know today is so much more than that…Today you are supposed to be happy because it’s your birthday. So stop being such a grouch and get changed because we are going to celebrate it in style…”

Kate continues to smile as she looks at the most hyper member of the Gem Stones however for today Ruby didn’t seem to be cheerful as she turned her back to Kate and walked back towards her bed.

“Bollocks with that birthday crap… There’s only one person that I want to hear from today. Did I do something wrong?! I made it to the finals of the Blast From The Past… I did exactly what she wanted me to do. Courtney told me that she HAD FEELINGS FOR ME! She told me that she felt the same way that I did. However ever since she finally gave me the information that I wanted to hear from her she has been ghosting me and I just don’t understand it…”

Kate sighs as she sits down next to Ruby on the bed.

“Listen I wouldn’t worry about Courtney Pierce. She is just in a very tough place. I know her career really hasn’t been the best so maybe she just needs some space…”

“SPACE… SPACE?! I CAN’T POSSIBLY GIVE SOMEBODY LIKE HER SPACE…I CAN’T WHEN I HAVE THIS HUGE CRUSH ON HER!!!”

Kate nods her head grinning.

“Give me your phone Prue I want to see something…”

Ruby reaches for her smartphone and tosses it at her cousin. Kate cycles through it as she looks at the dialed calls list. It shows the name Courtney and it has the number 30 next to it. Kate just shakes her head looking back at Ruby.

“This is not space… You called her 30 times in a row!!!”

“What else was I supposed to do?! She wasn’t answering the phone when I was calling her. I wanted her to pick up and I was willing to do whatever it took for her to answer the bloody phone. I don’t like being ignored… Because me being ignored is OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!!!!”

“And calling 30 bloody times over and over again makes you a STALKER!!! But we aren’t going to have this conversation today because it’s your birthday and we are going to party like there’s no tomorrow. I managed to pull some strings and I got the big banquet hall at the casino. Who wouldn’t want to come to the 23rd OUTRAGEOUS party… A day to celebrate you and everything that you accomplished…”

“Who cares Kate because I definitely don’t… It’s all really stupid…”

Kate grabs her cousin as she looks deeply into her eyes.

“No I am not going to put up with any of this negative attitude. You will be going to this party. The guest list is massive… Well massive for Covid restrictions and everything. The reality is you deserve to be celebrated considering you basically just ran the gauntlet to get to where you are. You beat a returning Bella Madison, you overcome hall of Famer Mikah, and personally pinned Hall of Famer Roxi Johnson. You have been on a roll and deserve to at least celebrate for making it this far. So put on something really fancy get out your best heels because it’s going to be a night to remember!!”

Ruby just shakes her head in utter disgust as she glances back at her cousin. She snatches the phone as she quickly dials a number and hits send on the name Courtney. The phone rings but immediately goes to voice mail.

“OH MY GOD NOW SHE IS ANNOYING MY PHONE CALLS… WHATEVER… I GUESS GOING OUT HAS TO BE MUCH BETTER THAN JUST STAYING IN THIS STUPID HOTEL ROOM ALL DAY!!!!”

Ruby growls as she goes to her drawer and pulls out a glittery and shiny dress. She throws it on as she finds a pair of heels and throws them on. She turns her attention over to her cousin as she just smirks back at her.

“I will just put my makeup on in the car…It’s not important either way… I would feel so much better if this BIRD would pick up her PHONE!!!”

Kate laughs in return.

“Look… Sometimes you can’t have your BIRTHDAY CAKE and EAT IT TOO… You need to really chill out. The world doesn’t always revolve around you…”

“BOLLOCKS ON MY BIRTHDAY IT SHOULD!!! Let’s just get going… I think I need a new change of scenery and I guess being around a casino would be so much better than this!”

With that in mind Kate leads the way as Ruby follows closely behind as the two of them head for Kate’s car. After a drive down the Las Vegas strip It isn’t that long before they pull up to the Golden Ring Casino. Kate gets out of the car with a very wide grin on her lips. She walks over to Ruby’s side of the car and the aqua blue haired female emerges from the car. She does a hair flip as she is dressing to impress. Kate raises her eyes in return.

“Bloody hell that is probably the best make up job I have ever seen someone do in a moving vehicle…”

“You would be surprised what a woman like me could do. So we ready to go to my PAH-TAY!!!”

Kate shakes her heads as she giggles in return.

“Wow… You seem really enthusiastic. Back at the hotel nobody would have ever thought you wanted to be at a birthday…”

Ruby can’t help but smile wide as she nods her head in return.

“Well we are celebrating MY BIRTHDAY and seeing as it’s MY BIG DAY we might as well make it special right?! Besides hopefully somebody special better have shown up tonight because if she doesn’t come to my birthday I don’t know what I am going to do with myself…”

“I wouldn’t hold my breath Prue… Honestly the girls and I did everything we possibly could to try to talk to her but she hasn’t even picked up the phone for us either. She’s been off to herself at the Gem Stone manor… I really don’t know what else to tell you but you have bigger things to worry about and…”

Ruby didn’t want to hear any of that. The young English woman quickly walked past her cousin as she headed straight to the casino. She was greeted by an entourage of different people wishing her a happy birthday but Ruby didn’t care about any of that as she made her way to the banquet room. As soon as she entered the room she was greeted with loud cheers and everybody in unison screaming at her.

“HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!”

Ruby’s eyes opened wide up as she was in a panic looking around. She saw Teddy and Mark Cross standing at the bar. She saw some of her fellow Jet City Students eating appetizers. She even saw her sister Sapphire standing off in the corner. She quickly ran towards her.

“Happy Birthday baby sis… Today you turn 23 and…”

“Cut the bullshit Phoebe… Where in the bloody hell is Courtney?!”

“I don’t know but I wouldn’t even worry about her now… For once would you stop being so love sick. You should be feeling really chuffed that you managed to make it all the way to the finals of the tournament. You have a lot to celebrate. Just have a gander at how many people showed up here to support your big day…”

Ruby looks around as she offers a sarcastic response in return.

“Yeah everything’s fucking hunky dory. Of course I am fine… WHY WOULDN’T I BE FINE WHEN THE GIRL OF MY FUCKING DREAMS couldn’t even be arsed to celebrate my birthday. It only comes around once a year!”

Sapphire shakes her head as she looks back at her sister.

“You need to calm down. You are throwing a wobbly and it’s really not befitting for somebody like you. Settle down and please try to act posh. This is your special night and it should be treated as such!”

Ruby however stomps her feet as her tantrum doesn’t seem to be ending.

“No… I don’t give a damn on what you feel is posh. The only thing I care about is having it my way. What’s the point of a birthday celebration if I can’t get what I want…”

Sapphire just sighs as she looks down at her sister.

“Bloody hell… I feel like I need to go outside a smoke a few fags and I really shouldn’t… It’s going to make my hair turn grey and that shouldn’t be the case seeing as I am the only member of our band that wears her natural hair colour and doesn’t dye it…”

Ruby crosses her arms and it is at that moment that the drummer for their band Emerald walks over. The Scottish woman smiles looking at her friend.

“Perhaps now is the perfect time to cut the cake and sing happy Birthday…”

Ruby looks back at Emerald.

“And how in the bloody hell will that help any?! It doesn’t even make sense… You aren’t supposed to have birthday cake before the actual food is served… That is just idiotic and…”

Emerald smiles.

“Before you say anything the only Tube I see here is you. You are acting like a nyaff and ye shouldn’t. It makes you come across ungrateful but let’s get to singing everyone!”

With that Kate pushes a huge Birthday cake towards Ruby. Diamond and Sapphire both grab some guitars and Emerald quickly runs over to a drum set. Everybody begins to sing Happy Birthday and Ruby just stands there as she looks at her huge cake. Diamond smiles as she screams out loud.

“Happy Birthday cousin… Now it’s time to blow out the candles and make a wish!!!”

Ruby stands there shrugging her shoulders.

“I don’t know what’s the point of blowing out some stupid candles, everybody in this fucking room know there is only one thing I WANT FOR MY BIRTHDAY AND IT DOESN’T SEEM LIKE I AM GOING TO GET IT!!!”

Ruby however just blows the candles out. Everybody in the room begins to clap but Ruby on the other hand just sighs in return as she stands there dumbfounded but everybody in the room begins to cheer loudly as the Gem Stones begin to play some music. They seem to be playing an N Sync medley. Ruby looks at her band mates as she is completely confused.

“Wait what are all of you doing?!”

With that the other members of the Gem Stones all sing.

“I know she can’t take it anymore… IT’S TEARING UP HER HEART!!!! WHEN SHE IS APART SHE FEELS IT TOO… AND NO MATTER WHAT SHE DOES SHE FEELS THE PAIN WITH OR WITHOUT YOU!!!”

Ruby screams at them.

“STOP MAKING FUN OF ME… I SWEAR TO GOD I AM GOING TO BEAT THE UNHOLY HELL OUT OF SOMEBODY!!!”

However something catches Ruby by surprise as another voice begins to sing. The girls change their song to another famous N Sync song this one is the song girlfriend. It is the voice that Ruby had been waiting to hear for the longest time. It is from that of Courtney Pierce. Suddenly the huge cake opens up and Courtney Pierce emerges from it where a shiny dress embroidered with that of Garnets. Courtney raises the microphone as she sings into it as she looks right at Ruby.

“WOULD YOU BE MY GIRLFRIEND!!!!!!!!!! I’LL TREAT YOU GOOD… I’LL BE YOUR SHINING STAR!!!!”

With that Courtney’s dress it enough to light up the entire room but nothing compares to that of the smile on Ruby’s face as her bright whites light it up even further. She couldn’t help herself as she charges after Courtney and tackles her to the ground.

“YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS….. I WILL BE YOUR GIRLFRIEND!!!!”

The two land on the floor and are covered in cake. Everybody in the room are all giggles as Ruby looks over at Courtney as she looks at her.

“I HONESTLY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY…”

Courtney laughs in return.

“Well you could just be happy and be in the mood to celebrate your birthday. It was hard to really deny the feelings I had for you. I knew that since the first day we met. I just had to figure some things out about myself before I committed fully into it. I confided in your sister Sapphire about how I felt and she told me to hold off…”

“SHE DID WHAT… I AM GONNA KILL HER…”

Courtney smirks.

“Relax… All of the Gems honestly felt it would be more special if we made things official on your birthday. It would be even more memorable. They all just wanted to see how love sick you would get. I had no idea it would become 60 missed calls desperate…”

“…Yeah I get very passionate things… I know it can be a little outrageous at times…”

Courtney offers a grin.

“It’s not a big deal. It’s okay… It actually feels really good to have somebody care for me in the way you do…It’s a really nice feeling…So are you happy with your gift?!”

Ruby thinks about it as she hugs Courtney as tightly as possible.

“Of course I do… I ADORE IT!!! It’s honestly the only thing I wanted for the past few weeks but I have what I want… It’s time to figure out what to do with my Garnet?!”

Courtney looks around smiling.

“Maybe we can start with enjoying this party, and after tonight focus on getting really DIRTY!!!”

“Oh… I love dirty… How much are we talking because I thought covered in cake was enough…”

“I am thinking of putting in a ton of hours at the gym getting really gritty so you can actually win this tournament… After all it would feel nice to date the Blast From The Past Champion…”

Ruby nods her head.

“Now that would be OUTRAGEOUS!!! Come on honey bun let’s go celebrate my BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!”

And with that Courtney and Ruby both get up as they go enjoy the festivities of the party. Tonight was finally the end of being love sick but it was also the start of something fantastic. It wouldn’t be long until Ruby had to get things in order to try to become the winner of the tournament…







The Blast From The Past finale is finally approach us and honestly I can say from the bottom of my heart that it was quite the little journey to get to this moment. I am going to be as blunt as I can be but as soon as the drawings were made to name the teams that were going to be paired up with one another. I just knew deep down in my heart that I was destined to be in the finals. I know there are so many different people in this company that might tell me my statement is a bunch of bollocks and that couldn’t be any further from the truth but let’s just face it.

My partner and I were always going to be on the same wave length. We are English and that alone makes us in tune with one another. We were going to be on the same page because despite the antics, the music, and the mischief we both knew that the end goal was going to be to win this entire thing.

What I didn’t know was that Daniel wouldn’t be in the tournament anymore but I traded one countryman for another one. Another one who has already fought to the end of this tournament the year before, and a man who held the biggest prize in SCU! It doesn’t get any better than that and after losing with a hand me down this year in the form of Krystal and being upgraded to something full Posh that being me. He just had to know that his ticket was going to be punched to winning this entire tournament.

I know there are people out there who don’t love my attitude. I can be that of a major Bitch or as Roxi Johnson pointed out I am simply just Kate all over again. Whatever you wish to call me it really doesn’t matter. You should have known that I wouldn’t be the nicest woman in the room considering who trained me how to wrestle in the form of Mikah. It really doesn’t get any better than that does it?!

I have had the best possible training and now the end goal couldn’t have been any clearer. I not only want to win this tournament but I need to win. I want to have my championship banner raised from ceiling of Jet City South, and when people talk about the future I want them to think of me.

Everybody knew Mark Cross was going to be a threat and as we journey in on this finals match he will be standing across the ring from that of Mac Bane. Mac Bane is considered to be a future World Champion but I have no doubt in my mind that Mark will be able to hold his own. Just fill him up with a few pints of beer and he will be ready for action. Then again the same could be said for any British person named Mark. Just look at that of our boss…

But I am not here to talk up Mark because we all know what he can do. We saw that last year. Let’s look at my rise to greatness. My team has had the hardest path to get to the finals. We had to overcome Bella which wasn’t a big deal but everything after that has been nothing but difficult.

I had to step into the ring with a hall of famer in Mikah, and what happened when I fought my own teacher. My team ended up winning. I had to face another Hall of famer in Roxi Johnson, and we all know what happened right?!

I dropped her on her fucking head. I actually got a major win over a former Grand Slam Champion and Hall of Famer. What that means is my stock has officially risen to a different level, and I plan to keep that momentum going as I step into the ring with Myra Rivers.

Not only do I get to face her to win this tournament but the Internet Championship is also on the line and that is something that really makes me smiles. I know for the longest I have constantly complained that I never got a chance at competing for any title but here I am now fighting for the second biggest prize in the entire company. I get to fight Myra who is now is listed in the history books as the greatest Internet Champion of all time.

After all that is how she is listed on paper. She has broken all of the records. She has the most defenses and has the longest combined reign. That SHOULD be impressive but then I am reminded that it is listed like that on PAPER…

In my eyes she isn’t as great as Vargas would talk her up with her record sheets and tracker. Myra is simply a mediocre champion AT BEST!

Don’t get me wrong Myra does show signs of greatness at times. She has had some really great wins in her career which would explain her huge win over Amber Ryan when they fought one another at a Super Card. Mind you it was very early into Amber’s SCW career and she did pull a victory out of nowhere when she managed to best Alicia Lukas inside of the ring.

Those I will honestly give you credit for. Your last real fight was against my cousin Kate Steele. There’s no doubt in my mind that you had earned that championship. You worked your ass off and you won the title and you even went on to retain against her in a rematch.

However since becoming champion I know people will try to make a big deal that you are the longest reigning champion but it’s a bunch of bollocks. How have you been trying to elevate the title?! You haven’t done anything especially at a Super Card level. If we take a look at who my you fought at these past three Super Cards it really seems as if you are just going through the motions to maintain your status. It’s not like you were seeking a major challenge.

You fought women who are no longer at the peak of their careers and have regressed to a level that resembles a shell of who they use to be. Wow you got to defend against Sam Marlowe but Sam Marlowe couldn’t even be taken seriously because before she even had that match she had dropped a major match to Crystal. She didn’t have any momentum going into that match with you.

It really is sad because she is a woman who had quite a start to her career. She became a World Champion by beating my MENTOR MIKAH and ever since then she hasn’t been able to climb back up. Her ceiling has been stuck at the Roulette Championship division.

You got to fight Seleana and as much as I might respect her considering she is co-owner of the record company I am signed too she got her big break by being gift wrapped a World Championship by her wife and on top of that being handed a Roulette Championship match by that of her wife. She had a good go at the Roulette division but like the other just really hasn’t been the same since losing the title.

You also defended against Candy and it’s the same old bloody fucking story, she’s a woman who had a ceiling of that of the Roulette Champion but once she lost that she quickly faded out.

So if we really look at it you really haven’t done anything. It really is a shame seeing as my cousin brought honor to that championship. She sought out hard challenges. She actually GAVE you that chance so she could elevate her own abilities, and even after losing to you. She went on to challenge Evie Jordan. She continued to try to seek out women she felt were better than her but that’s not you is it?!

No because you are content with just breaking records and padding stats. It was sickening watching you get on Twitter trying to talk up the fact that you WON 19 CHAMPIONSHIPS and when you lose this one you are HOPING YOUR 20TH WILL BE A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP…

Fuck off… You are just a champion on paper and I have seen this story before. The American who feels they are better than what they really are and they don’t take the real fights. They rather fight people who are past their prime and wish to push statistics and pad stats. I know Floyd Mayweather would be a perfect example but in this case I see you nothing more than that of a Deontay Wilder.  You should know him he was the fraud that has established a name by being a knockout artist and honestly being a one trick pony. It’s not like he was a great fighter or anything. Every punch he throws is off balanced. Just because he wins and knocks people out doesn’t make him a great boxer… I would say he is lucky.

When you get to that point of being a champion you take the matches that you feel will keep the title around your waist. You don’t pursue worthy challengers. It’s truly bullshit, but in this story I see myself as the great British hope that needs to give you a serious dose of a reality check.

I am your Tyson Fury… And even when he was out of shape he still in my mind beat the shit out of the fraud and look what happened in their rematch when he actually trained for it. He exposed Wilder for the fraud that he was.

In true British fashion and just like Fury I plan to knock you on your arse, and when I do it will not only be to take the Internet Championship off of your waist but it will be to win the entire tournament and go on to unify the bombshell division by becoming the World Bombshell Championship. I will be a champ, champ, and there isn’t a thing you can do to stop this.

The only reason why you got here in the first place is because you had some serious help from that of Christina. If Christina never distracted Amber or grabbed a hold of Despy do you honestly think you will be in this match?!

The answer is no… I know it might seem like a ridiculous thing for me to say considering I am just a rookie in this company, and you are probably thinking that those names I mentioned earlier have proved themselves to have a bigger name than I do.

What you don’t realize is that I don’t know what defeat feels like. My career has been that of flawless because I am UNDEFEATED… Nobody has been able to break the code of what it takes to beat me. You think you are going to figure it out?!

I doubt that… Don’t get me wrong somewhere you might think this match is about trying to rewrite history and correcting the wrongs of Kate not winning this tournament and following that lost to lose the Internet Championship to you…

But that isn’t the case… As much as I love my cousin this is all about me…And for the first time in a very long time you are actually going to be in the ring with a woman who is on the rise in the company. You aren’t fighting somebody who is on a downward spiral of regression. You are fighting somebody who knows she can take you down.

After all in my first match in this company I beat the woman Royal Purple who went on to win the Roulette Championship two matches after that… So in my eyes consider that a win over the current Roulette Champion. During this tournament I beat a former Mixed Tag Team Champion and two former Grand Slam Champions.

That’s impressive and I made a fucking statement against Roxi Johnson…

What have you done besides fighting a woman who returning back to SCW for a special attraction after having a baby in Amy Santino?!

You think you can take pride in beating Maki?!

Or even being an opportunist against Amber?!

You must be so enthusiastic because OH EM GEE LOOK AT ME AT THIS AGE I CAN GO ON TO WIN THIS TOURNAMENT AND GO WIN A WORLD TITLE BECAUSE I AM CLOSE TO FORTY AND THAT’S UNBELIEVABLE…

That is such fucking rubbish… I know you can be excited over breaking A RECORD IN A SINGLE REIGN but at Blaze of Glory the only thing that will be broken will be your hopes and dreams of becoming the winner of this tournament because you had to run into the brick wall that is me…

This is my story and the only fitting way it could end is with me raising my hands in victory and becoming Internet Champion…It’s the only thing that is left for me to do. After all I finally got the GIRL so now it’s time to live up to the promise I made to her and that’s win. So bring whatever you wish but you know deep in your heart it won’t be enough. Your luck runs out because you get to face the biggest underdog in this tournament who has become the biggest fucking threat…

Mark and I… WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!!! This QUEEN needs her thrown and I will throw you to the side.

ANOTHER BITES THE DUST!

IF you didn’t realize by now it’s definitely you…

I WANT IT ALL… DON’T STOP ME NOW…

I WANT TO BREAK FREE

I will never crumble UNDER PRESSURE

So bring it Myra but I assure you it won’t be enough because your hopes of beating me is simply OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!



 

 



 

[Myra Rivers]

“She was always the reason…” I thought to myself as I walked into the building for the tournament semifinals last Sunday. “she was always my inspiration for wanting to do this... my mother... herself a wrestler... who gave up her career to raise me and I wanted nothing more than to be just like her..."

For inspiration, I began to remember the moment I knew that I wanted to be part of this…

January 18, 1992

“WOW!” I remembered my seven-year-old self say as I watched my mother win a territorial Women’s Championship a couple of years before I was born! “You won a shiny, mommy?”

“I did…” my mother told me. “...it was the best thing that ever happened to my life… until you came of course!”

My mother wrapped me in a warm embrace for a few seconds before giving me a quick kiss on the cheek!

“I like how you never gave up even though you were getting beat up for a long time…” I said. “...now I know that my mommy is a superhero!”

“That’s one way to look at it, my precious Miranda!” she said with a proud tone of voice. “No matter what anyone says or does to you, you never, ever give up on your dreams! You always have to keep fighting, no matter what. You understand me? I’m not going to be around forever and when I’m not here anymore, I want you to never forget that...”

“I never will, mommy! I’m going to be a wrestler just like you!”

A quick silence followed. My mother was caught by surprise at this. I remember looking into her eyes and seeing that surprised look, then I remember her eyes giving off a ‘touched’ vibe. She wrapped me in another hug, but this one was tighter and lasted longer.

“That’s wonderful, sweetheart…” she said to me. My heart was instantly filled with happiness knowing that she supported me. “...I know you’re going to do great… and I’m going to do everything I can for you to make your dreams come true, I promise! You’re the best thing that ever happened to me and I want nothing more for you to be happy, healthy and living your dream! I will always be here for you! I love you more than anything…”

“I love you too mommy!” I said back, feeling like my mother and I were going to be friends forever…

One week later…

I remember coming down the stairs watching my father speak to some police officers and closing the door. I was confused as I stood nearby and my father saw me.

“I need you to sit with me for a second…” he said. I was curious as I sat down. He kneeled in front of me and I saw a sad look in his eyes. “I need to tell you something.”

“What?”


“Your mother got in an accident…”

Chills. That was all I felt at this point. I remember feeling the fear and the worry pour through me.

“...she didn’t make it…”

“...what?!?!?! Mommy’s dead?”

My father nodded… and I broke down immediately. My father never even hugged me.

“But it’s not fair…” I said through my tears. “...she was going to help me be a wrestler and everything…”

More crying and sobbing ensued.

“Don’t worry… I’m still here for you! I’m going to mold you into a brilliant, young woman. I will not let your mother go to waste...”

“I won’t either, daddy! I’m making a promise to her right now that for her… I’m gonna be a wrestler and I’m gonna live my dream.”

My father suddenly laughed, crushing me a bit.

“Sorry… you’re a funny little girl. Why would you ever want to do THAT?”

All I remember from here was feeling empty, alone and like my best friend in the whole world was gone. I cried myself to sleep for days afterward, completely broken by the fact that my mother wasn’t going to be there anymore.

But despite my father laughing in my face in the most devastating moment of my whole life… that fire burned in my heart from that night forward to make my dreams come true and make my mother proud…

“My father always wanted to derail me…” I recalled in my thoughts later on in the night as I walked to the curtains for my semifinal match with Mac. “...he wanted to mold me in his vision. He wanted me to forget my mother. He did EVERYTHING he could to try to make this impossible for me. But here I am… about to fight my biggest match yet in SCW and take the next step toward redemption for my old sins… sins that were triggered by the way my father treated me growing up…

January 25, 2002

“YOU CAN’T MAKE ME DO THIS” I screamed at my father as I was dragged into a modeling studio featuring lights, cameras, outfits and the whole nine yards. “I don’t WANT to be a model! You can’t make me do a career that I don’t want! I KNOW what I want to do!”

“HA! Like a seventeen-year-old knows what she wants in her life. What are you going to do? WRESTLING? Let go of that ridiculous nonsense!”

“You’re not going to force me into being a sex object, Dad!” I snapped back. “I’m not exposing myself.”

“WHAT? You’re overreacting. It’s a fashion magazine, idiot! Why would I want my daughter to expose herself in bikinis or lingerie? This is the best thing for you! You’ve got looks Hollywood would love! This can be your foot in the door to an amazing career on the red carpet! This is the path that I’ve planned for you all along!”

“NO!” I snapped back again!

“I am your father, you live under my roof and whatever I say goes, do you understand that, you UNGRATEFUL BITCH? I’m trying to set you up for millions and millions of dollars and you throw this back in my face? I went through SO MUCH TROUBLE to set this up for you and this is the THANKS THAT I GET? EVERY FUCKING TIME I TRY TO DO SOMETHING FOR YOU, YOU THROW IT BACK IN MY FACE AND I’VE HAD IT WITH YOU! I DID NOT PLAN THIS FOR YOUR FOR TEN YEARS SO YOU COULD THROW IT ALL AWAY! MY FUCKING GOD, YOU INHERITED YOUR MOTHER’S STUPIDITY!”

I was already shaking, being so familiar with my father constantly yelling at me. The tears weren’t taking long to follow the shaking and hearing my mother get put down shattered my spirit.

“I KNEW she was stupid for having you! You are going to do what I say! You are going to be part of the career that I picked for you and that’s FINAL!”

“YOU DON’T GET TO DECIDE MY FUTURE!” I screamed back. “I want to follow in my mom’s footsteps to be a wrestler and that’s THAT! I have had it with you trying to control every aspect of my life! I’m tired of you picking my boyfriends. I’m tired of your stupid 6 PM curfews. I’m tired of you picking out what I want to wear. I’m tired of you dictating EVERYTHING about me! I’m not some stupid Barbie that you can create to your liking! I’m a human being just like you…”

“As long as you live in my house… you're as subhuman as you can be!” he said without remorse, causing the tears to stroll down my face.

“I’m your DAUGHTER! How can you continue to treat me like this?”

“HOW CAN YOU CONTINUE TO TREAT ME LIKE THIS?!?!?!” my father mimics in mockery. “I make your choices for you because you’re TOO STUPID to make them on your own. If I knew that you were going to be such a waste of space, I would’ve done whatever it took for your mother to get an abortion, for fuck’s sake!”

“Oh and what does ABUSING YOUR DAUGHTER get you, huh? A FUCKING HARD ON FOR SUCH A SMALL PENIS??!?!?! You are the WORST FATHER EVER!!!!!!”

“Oh am I?” my father says as he walks over to a display table that consists of photography equipment among other things. “I never wanted to be a father at all! I ended up with a horrible excuse of a daughter that will NEVER amount to anything in this life! Of all the stupid mistakes your fucking mother made, the worst one that she ever made was GIVING BIRTH TO YOU!”

Hearing this caused me to cry even more.

“You’re a fucking stupid girl with no future. I NEVER wanted you in my life! I don’t want you in my life! If you don’t do this modeling career, I want you out of my house… out of my LIFE!”

“...I’m 17… you can’t do that…”

“I JUST DID!”

“I’M NOT DOING THIS!”

“Then get out…”

“Daddy please…” I said tearfully, trying to reason with him.

“GET OUT!!!!! GET THE FUCK OUT”

He grabbed a camera and threw it right at my head, just barely missing it.

“GET OUT!!!!!”

He would throw a lamp at me, though he missed with that too. He then flung a laptop at me as I started to walk away, missing again. Next came a vase which was a direct hit on the back of my shoulder, causing me to fall on the floor.

“OUT!!!!!!!”

My face was flooded with tears as I got up and ran faster than I ever could at that point in my life.

“AND I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR GROTESQUE, UGLY FACE EVER AGAIN YOU PIECE OF SHIT!!!!!!”

For years, this event traumatized me. My own father abusing me psychologically… physically… and disowning me from his life. The trauma, the pain, the embarrassment… it truly scarred me and shook me up. But despite it all, I still kept pushing on with my dream… all because I wanted to fulfill my promise to my mother…

"Even now... he still haunts me…”

Post-Match…

I was distraught in the locker room following Mac and I winning our match. I realized what had happened after the fact and when I knew, I was absolutely heartbreaking.

“I did not want to win that way…” I said to myself, completely dejected. “I know that Mac and I would’ve won no matter what but… not like THAT! Why didn’t Christina just mind her own business?”

Guilt was pulsating through me to go along with the heartbreak. I thought about my redemption journey and I was feeling so distraught, thinking that my journey was now tainted. An old demon in the form of my self-doubt, taking the form of my father in my mind, began to emerge.

“You wanted to do it the right way…” I imagined my father telling me. “You failed! Deep down, you know that you shouldn’t be in the finals. If it wasn’t for Christina’s interference, Amber and Despayre would be in the finals and not you. Like always, you can never do anything right…”

I tried not to listen to the doubt in my head, but my guilt was making this impossible.

“No matter how hard you try to make your mother proud, you never do and you never will. You’ll always screw up!”

I didn’t even bother responding to these doubts as I got up and began to walk out of the building.

“This isn’t fair…” I thought to myself as I began to walk out. “This just isn’t fair. I really don’t feel like I deserve to be in the finals. I’m not in them because Mac and I were purely the better team… we’re only in them because of someone else…”

This downtrodden mood would persist for a while. For me, it was gutting knowing that there was an asterisk attached to my journey now and that no matter what, it wasn’t going away.

"No matter how hard I try... I can never seem to shake him..."

The next day…

I said these words to Jazmyn Rain, my lifelong friend, in my Saxon suite.

“With that tainted victory… it feels like I’ve proved him right… again!” I said with a sigh.

“Myra, I understand that you did not want to win any match in the tournament like that…” she said as she grabbed my hand in understanding comfort. “...but you’ve got to stop giving him so much power. Someone else getting involved to selfishly screw the other person over doesn’t prove him right. I was front and center of everything when we were growing up. I saw first hand how much of an asshole your dad was to you. I heard the name callings. I was there for when he’d shove you to the floor or pin you against the wall. I saw him abuse you and I get that it’s painful, but there comes a point where you’ve got to heal. You’ve got to take that chip on your shoulder that he put there and crush it because you never, ever had to prove a darn thing to him.”

“You’re going all psych on me now…” I said with a sigh. “I could feel his presence just… laughing at me. I didn’t feel like a winner at all. Remember how I won my last world title when someone else interfered? It’s kind of like THAT now…”

“Myra… it’s NOT like that. You feel terrible about how you won, but back then, you didn’t give a damn. Don’t you think that’s progress?”

“It is…” I admitted.

“You could’ve never known that Christina would do such a thing. There’s no ‘taint’ there. But I get why you feel like that. Your father… I know more than anyone else that he was always the trigger for you. Because of him, you’d be hard on yourself when things don’t go your way. Somewhere in your heart, you always strived to be good enough for him because all you ever wanted was for him to accept you… and you never got that acceptance from him before he killed himself.”

“He killed himself because of me… because he didn’t want to admit that I proved him wrong…”

“But that’s HIS choice…” she reminded me. “And you just said it right there… you proved him wrong. You don’t need to prove him wrong over and over again. You only needed to do it once: which you did when you became a star in this business in the first place. It was feeling that you were never good enough that made you snap and treat me, and treat Chelsea and treat Andrea the same way that he treated you. He’s the reason why you screwed up so much and burned so many bridges and the only way you’ll never make the same mistakes again is if you let him rot in hell and exorcise that demon from your heart.”

Something in Jazmyn’s words spooked me once I developed a shocking epiphany.

“...as long as I continue to hold onto him…” I said as my eyes widened in shock, “I will always be at risk of slipping back into my old ways. I can’t do that anymore. I have to let it go… for my sake… but especially for Kimberly’s too. I have to let it go… I have to remember that what he said to me growing up… what he did to me… it means nothing anymore. The way he saw me… it doesn’t matter and it never did…”

“Exactly!” Jazmyn said with a reassuring smile. “And hey… don’t forget what I told you 13 years ago about what other people think of you… and remember… your mother? Even through everything, she’d still be so proud of you!”

“Thank you so much, Jazmyn!” she said as we hugged each other. It was in that moment that I knew that the psychological scars that my father inflicted on me for years following my mother’s death were finally beginning to experience a long overdue healing… a healing that ensured that I was never going to fall into the same dark hole that caused me to hurt so many people during my GCW years ever again…

March 20, 2021

My promo camera was off at the moment as I stood on a Miami cliff, overlooking the beach on a sunset holding a picture of my father: the last one of him that I had.

“I never needed to prove anything to you! You never wanted me and for so many years, I thought it was my fault. But I realize that it was you and you alone. You abused me. You tortured me. You made my childhood a living hell. You tried to derail my dream and my promise to my mother. But you failed. Despite the odds, I made it. Even after you died, you had power over me. My heartache over your abuse of me made me do the same thing to others that you did to me. It made me hate myself for getting to the finals the way I did. Well ‘dad’, you have no power over me anymore…”

I paused, tears forming in my eyes as I shredded the picture in half.

“You’re NOTHING to me anymore!” I said as halves became quarters. “And when I redeem myself by winning this tournament and become a world champion I can be proud of… you’ll be burning in hell regretting everything you ever did to me!”

I tore the picture into eights and then let the pieces go! A gentle breeze blew them out of my sight, most likely into the ocean and I began to feel empowered, motivated and strong.

I began to feel my mother’s presence inside of my heart as I walked to the camera.

“This is for you, mother… this has always been for you…”

I wiped away some tears, turned on the camera and gathered myself, ready to express my thoughts while feeling stronger than ever…

“I’m going to get this part out of the way. I would’ve rather gotten to the finals a different way. I never would’ve wanted to get to this point by having Christina interfere and screw Amber over. Mac and I share the same viewpoint on that, but it is what it is and while it’s not how I would’ve wanted to get here, at Blaze of Glory, we get our chance to redeem that. I know Mac will take care of his business on Mark Cross, so I’m not going to spend that much time on him. He’s a fortunate soul having gotten a second chance in this tournament and of course, he’s held his own wait. As the reigning Blast from the Past winner, I can’t doubt him for a second, but I know that Mac can take care of him. I’ve got every ounce of confidence in him. I know that Amber getting screwed is still floating in his mind, but I know that he’s going to do his damn best to win it for her! Still, Mac and I DESERVE to be here! We’ve worked so hard against all the odds! I know in my heart that even without Christina’s interference, Mac and I are good enough to win against that team on any given night and in Amber’s case, having already proven that I can beat her before, even without the interference, I already knew I had what it took. But that’s enough of the what if’s…

I’m happy and I’m proud that I’m now one win away from a world championship match and two wins away from winning a world championship and I suppose it’s only fitting that inorder to get to my dream, I have to experience a full circle moment in having my title on the line against a Steele… RUBY Steele in this instance. Look Ruby… I already know that you ‘despise me’. You expressed it as such. You can’t stand the fact that I broke Kate’s records. You can’t stand the fact that I even celebrated the records for even ONE moment. If you want to carry hate in your heart, Ruby, that’s your prerogative but take it from someone that’s been there, hate drags you down more than just about anything. I dragged down my own career for so long because I carried so much hatred in my heart. Go ahead, Ruby, why don’t you try to make it all about ‘avenging Kate’? Take that predictable route of trying to put asterisks on my title defenses any way you can. Make a BIG DEAL about how Mac and I got here in the semifinals. Crow about how Mac got the pins in the first two rounds. You Steeles live for that tabloid crap, right? Let that hatred consume you and make you so damn predictable because if you’re going to come into this fight against me in the same way that Kate did, it’s not going to work well for you.

I would’ve thought that you would’ve learned from Kate’s mistakes. After all, when she defended the Internet Championship against me, she was REALLY not a fan of mine. She harbored hatred within her and she became obsessed with beating me and beating better than me and that just made it easier for me to defeat her twice. You want to go down the same road? Fine! My hope is that you grow and learn from the consequences of your actions just like I’ve had to in my entire career. Yeah, you’re young, you’re hip, you’re energetic, you’re on a roll right now, there’s no denying that. You feel like you’re on cloud nine and that you’re unstoppable, but guess what, hon? When I was your age? I was the exact same way! Reality would hit me in the face and there will come a time where it will do the same for you whether I’m the one that does it or not in a week from now. I’ll give you credit, you’ve gotten this far… you pinned Roxi to get here. You deserve a lot of credit, but you don’t have that big stage, big match pedigree that I do. Your inexperience is eventually going to drag you down and haunt you. Yeah, you’ve had Mark Cross, a defending winner, on your side, but let me pose this question for you, Ruby. Would you have gotten this far with Daniel J. Morgan? Were you still talented enough to get here with him as your partner? Or is there a stroke of luck involved with you? Yeah, you got here by beating Bella in round one, someone who is on the same wavelength as you, and you also got by Mikah, which is impressive too. Would YOU have gotten by Amber, though? If Roxi didn’t go in with the attitude of ‘you’re just like Kate’ would you have been able to pull through?

Keep riding the wave of that Roxi win. Ride it as high as you can… because come the tournament finals, that surfboard wipeout is going to hurt a hell of a lot more.

You’re not the only one in this match with blood inspirations too though… and if you want to have this to avenge Kate over some stupid, petty grudge over me beating her for the Internet Championship, which by the way is one sided as I don’t hate Kate and I don’t hate you, fine. Whatever helps you sleep at night. You don’t give a shit about my journey, probably… but I’m in this tournament to redeem myself for my old wrongs. You fail to understand, being as young as you are, that in this business, you’re going to lose. You’re going to get your ass kicked. You’re going to stumble and fall and do and say stupid things that you’can’t take back and that you’re going to regret later. By the time you get to my age, you’ll have a laundry list of regrets, trust me on that. You? Like Kate, you want the fame and the fortune and the accolades and you have the same familiar fire that Kate had when I faced her for this championship… you WANT this bad… you WANT Blaze of Glory to be a star making moment for you… but do you want it ENOUGH?

NO…

Because I want this more, Ruby. I did NOT come this far to lose in the finals and I sure didn’t come this far to lose my title to you either.

I want this more for reasons that go well beyond myself! I want this to make my mother proud because SHE is the reason why I started this! SHE, being a wrestler herself, inspired me to be one. She lives in my heart, Ruby. She’s always giving me that extra fuel and fire for a match like this and that’s a fuel and fire that you couldn’t know about because you’ve never fought a wrestling match for altruistic reasons that go beyond yourself. You’re in the stage of your career where you’re very prone to taking things for granted and having that massive tunnel vision, thinking only of the destination, but taking the journey for granted because your generation is ME, ME, ME, NOW, NOW, NOW! The motivation that my mother is giving me through my heart is that extra intangible that it takes to win a tournament like this. I KNOW I have that intangible in me because in the biggest matches of my career, when so much is at stake, she has ALWAYS pulled me through.

Do YOU have that extra intangible, Ruby? Do you have IT?

It takes a hell of a lot of heart and a hell of a lot of spirit to be a champion. Do you have that? I’m finding out for sure at Blaze of Glory, but I already know that even if you did, you wouldn’t have it like I do.

You haven’t been haunted by the demons that I’ve been haunted by in my personal and my professional career… not YET anyway…

You haven’t travelled the roads that I have and made the same mistakes that I’ve made yet. Heck, since you’ve been here, being undefeated and all, you have yet to taste what true adversity is like in this business. And I’ll be HONORED to be the first one to make you taste it. Maybe it’ll humble you a bit, who knows. I know you have the heart and the passion for this, Ruby, but what you lack and what is going to anchor you in the end is the wisdom and the only way you can have that wisdom is by KNOWING what that adversity is like. That first loss will happen whether it’s me or not… but the bottom line is, Ruby… it’s going to sting like HELL. It may even make you doubt yourself… but it’s something that you’re going to need in order to learn and grow.

Yeah, you may end up hating me for saying that. You may end up hating me for beating you should it go down that way. But at Blaze of Glory, you’re really going to learn something. There’s no doubt that you’re going to have your time some day, but that day will NOT be Blaze of Glory, I’m going to tell you that right now. I’ve got so much riding on my shoulders for this not to be my moment… our moment… a moment my mother could be proud of… a moment that my daughter can be inspired by. Winning this tournament for me would mean that I’ve really silenced my biggest demons and if you want to be the final boss… that final demon… that stands in my way, then so be it! I’ll slay the demons just like I’ve slayed every single demon in my path… to my self-doubts, to my old wrestling heartbreaks, to my massive mistakes as a person, and to my FATHER… the biggest demon of my life that I JUST slayed and put behind me.

My father was the biggest obstacle I will EVER face in my life… and after all these years, I’ve finally overcome him…

And I’ll silence you just the same as I’ve silenced any critic, doubter, hater or rival that has ever come my way throughout my entire wrestling journey whether it’s in SCW, GCW or anywhere I’ve been. You’re no different from any of them, Ruby… for as talented as you are and for as much potential as you have. So bring your best slander, honey. Talk your shit! Bring your best and try to win that title from me, but ultimately? I became part of this tournament for my ultimate goal: REDEMPTION! I’m TWO wins away from that Ruby…  so bring your hate, bring your jibes, bring your endless song references and bring your bass… bring it all to the table.

Bring the fire, and bring your best…

Try to drag me down, Ruby… you won’t be able to… because now more than ever, I BELIEVE in myself and everything that I’m all about! When the dust settles Ruby, the brightest gem in that ring will be me!

You’ve never faced anyone as strong and as motivated as me… and come Blaze of Glory?

You’ll experience what a champion in this business is truly about!!!!

With my mother’s strength continuing to burn through me, I shut off the camera feeling an intense motivation that’s all too familiar to me. It was that intense motivation that drove me to my big breakthrough moment in NSWA 13 years ago Tuesday… and in my heart of hearts, I know that the same motivation will lead me to Blast from the Past and putting me on the doorstep of the redemption I’ve been starving for, for so many years...

[The Dragon]

Part 1 - This is how it starts

As with all origin stories, it helps to have at least a little bit of background. They always seem to work better as prequels anyway. Now a card-carrying user of Japanese Strong Style, Mark "The Dragon" Cross drifted away from the American Wrestling Alliance and set off for pastures new, signing a rare (for his career, anyway) exclusive contract with Galveston Island Wrestling out of Texas. After enjoying early success as Cruiserweight champion, an internal power struggle split the company into two separate brands, and two different states. Following a draft of sorts, Cross found himself moved to New Orleans, Louisiana to work with the offshoot company, and it was there, having already been uprooted for what was supposed to be a less unpredictable work situation, that he began to consider where his future in wrestling may lie outside the ring.

From day one in the wrestling business, Mark had worked with Leon "Octane" McKane as his principal trainer, a grizzled veteran of the independent circuit who still worked events occasionally even now, in his mid-sixties. Mark worked with others of course, a boxing coach, martial artists, spending time in the dojos in Japan, but it was McKane who coordinated the whole effort, pulling the strings, and bringing it all back together.

Octane: What the hell is this place man?

It was a fair question, he’d been dragged out to this place early in the morning, and what was in front of him, was a wreck.

The Dragon: Potential. That's what it is.

Octane: Nah man it's a mess that's what it is! Old boxing gym or s'thing?

The Dragon: Yeah I think so. Needs a lot of work.

Octane: No shit.

Before the hurricane, the building had been a local boxing gym, with a pretty impressive roster of fighters, all things considered. While the damage to the building had been minor, the lives of the family who owned and operated the gym had been turned upside down. The gym had to close its doors, almost immediately, and with most everybody locally facing the same challenge of rebuilding their whole lives, no suitable buyer ever looked like coming along.

The sound of a punchbag rocking filled the air, mixing in with the plumes of dust being knocked out of it by Octane, who had a sub-par pro boxing career before the switch to wrestling. He’d gotten the thing swinging nicely.

The Dragon: Hey, you’ve still got it! Uh...Octane…

Octane: What?

The Dragon: Jump.

The sound of cracking plaster from high above raised the alarm bell, sending McKane scurrying away. The heavy bag landed with a dull thud, closely followed by large hunks of plaster that had been ripped from the high ceiling. That looked like it would have hurt.

Of course, no project was impossible, and while the last thing anyone from New Orleans wanted to spend time and money they didn’t have on another dilapidated building, maybe an outsider could take up the mantle.

Octane: Alright man, why in the fuck did you bring me out to a busted ass gym at 7 in the morning, it’s supposed to be a day off.

The Dragon: Well first of all, it’s my busted ass gym.

Mark and Octane didn’t have a “home base” as such when it came to a gym. The gym would be wherever the local wrestling school, or boxing club, or weight room, or swimming pool happened to be. Sometimes they’d be in a town miles away from any such place, and they’d have to drive an hour plus to get their work in. It was how it often worked on the road of course, it was a touring business, you got used to using whatever facilities you could lay your hands on. On occasion, the place would have it’s own wrestling school, or development territory, but that was usually a pretty big-time gig.

Octane: Oh FUCK no.

The Dragon: Octane…

Octane: The fuck you buyin’ a place like this for? I ain’t getting up on no ladder to hang that damn punchbag back up! This is some bullshit!

The Dragon: McKane…

Octane: Don’t you McKane me man! I got my wife up my ass cause you went and got us sent all the way out to fuckin’ NEW ORLEANS and now you’re presentin’ me with this shit?

Christ, he could be a miserable bastard. Flew off the handle at the smallest of things too.

The Dragon: Doesn’t your wife want to move to New Orleans WITH you?

Octane: Yeah, what of it?

The Dragon: You know what we’re doing here? We’re starting a wrestling school. In New Orleans. Where you and your wife can live. Permanently. Where you don’t have to live out of your suitcase, and you get a solid, consistent paycheck every month, from here. We find local people who have had a rough time of it, pay them a fair wage to get in and make this place shipshape again. Kids wanna wrestle, parents can’t afford it? They can come here and work out for free. A portion of the profits we can donate to local charities every month. We can make a fucking DIFFERENCE here, you get it? More than anywhere else in the US probably. And you can stop following me halfway around the world and back all the time.

Octane: What about your training?

The Dragon: I’ve been doing this for years, I think I can figure it out on my own when I’m not here.

Octane: Fuck man...that does sound sweet...but how the fuck are we gonna afford all these free lessons and giving money to charity and shit? Galveston ain’t payin’ you that well, you sure you can front this?

The Dragon: Well...we’ve just gotta make it work then don’t we? Besides, I’ve just got in on this new thing called Bitcoin, no promises, but could be a pretty solid investment.

Octane: Bit...coin?

The Dragon: Yeah, digital funds and transactions via blockchain.

Octane: Block...chain...what the fuck?

The Dragon: ...Never mind.

So that settled it, the dream was alive, we owned a wrestling gym. Did it take longer to set up than we wanted? Yes. Did it cost way more than we budgeted for? Yes. Were the free lessons just an excuse for parents to get rid of their kids for a few hours? Mostly...yes. Oh, and was Bitcoin a solid investment to make in 2012? Yes. Yes it was.

The Dragon’s Lair wasn’t just a wrestling gym. It was a lifeline for the owner of the building, who couldn’t afford to keep it afloat  It became the home of a 15-year old Royal Purple, who went from the daughter of a wrestling promoter to a third-generation professional wrestler, and multi-time champion. It was where Hadley Wyatt was able to escape an abusive boss in a dead-end job, and begin to live her dream, proving her parents wrong for damn near disowning her for chasing it. It was where Kenji Kobayashi, who’d been cast aside by several dojos back home in Japan found new opportunities, and a second chance. It was a place for local kids to come and hang out, work out, make friends, even if they weren’t even all that interested in wrestling. It was a stable regular income for Leon McKane, whose long suffering wife finally had her husband back for good. I didn’t find out until many years later, but it saved their marriage.

Now with a second location opened in Miami, Florida, so that I could live and train in the same city, the Lair has gone on from strength to strength. While I couldn’t get back to New Orleans anywhere near as much as I wanted, I knew with Octane as the head trainer, the students would get a great wrestling education, and had a guy who’d move mountains to help them succeed in their own lives, not just their careers. The virtues that my Dad had instilled in me, and McKane had in spades, would still run deep in that building, even if I could only get back there every couple of weeks at best.

The principles of The Dragon’s Lair remain the same. Creating world-beating wrestlers is of course the goal of every wrestling gym, and that’s very much at the forefront of what we do, but so is making a difference, and so is creating a family. When you become part of the Lair, you become part of that family, and we stick together. Whether it be legal, financial, medical, nutritional, or wrestling related, we will do everything we can to help, whether it be ourselves, or putting you in touch with someone that can, someone we trust, someone that was in our corner when we needed them once.

This isn’t about a sales pitch, this is pretty topical, because family means a lot. Family is what runs through every single one of the competitors in this year’s Blast from the Past final, one way or another. A family doesn’t have to be biological, it can be created, and while it can be toxic, damaging, destructive, it can also save you, shape you, make you.

The Dragon’s Lair sets out to make champions, in wrestling, in the local community, in life. There’s much work still to be done, and the next step? It comes at Blaze of Glory.

Part 2 - Final Showdown
Las Vegas, Nevada
24th March 2021

The scene opens to the AirBnB being rented by Mark “The Dragon” Cross ahead of Blaze of Glory. Having spent large portions of his career staying in typical, cookie-cutter hotels of varying standards and quality, he sometimes preferred an AirBnB for a more unique experience. On this occasion, it was the swimming pool and hot tub, the keys to his post-workout recovery back home in Miami. At least until the Supershow. After that, it made the perfect venue for a victory party, but he knew better than to count his chickens. Or invite anyone.

He sits out on the deck, a large water bottle in hand as he addresses the camera.

Well I guess we were all having some family-related issues this week then, huh? Anyone would think we were out here comparing notes or something. We’re not. At least, I don’t think we are. I’m not included in the group chat if we are. It’s rare for me to come out this early for a show, but I figured, with such a pivotal night coming up, it made sense to get here a few days early, to acclimatise. Even travelling short-haul can be a pretty draining experience. Plus, I’ll be avoiding the parties for the next few days, of course, plenty of socialising to be had after one of the biggest nights of the year in the Sin City calendar, in my mind, there’s still a lot of work to be done.

Such as...double checking my research, as first off, we start with a little lesson in fact-checking. I was Sin City Underground champion for nigh on six months. I was SCU Hardcore Tag champion with Valentina, and I was (what is now known as) SCU Pride Tag Champion, also as one of the Fire Dragons No Internet title. No Roulette title. That’s not me. If your name is Mac Bane, or you intend on a career in journalism, here’s your weekly reminder not to trust some dodgy Wikipedia entry for your information. That...or make sure you’re reading the right person’s page, as that was just so way off, he could just as easily be talking about someone else.

It’s a lesson learned the hard way by Jack Washington too in Blast from the Past 2020, not checking his facts. I see you name-dropped our esteemed champion, writing me off completely when it comes to him and yet, here’s another fact for you, that I’m guessing you also missed. I met Jack in the ring, in this very tournament, and since I’m the defending champion, I think you can guess how that went. I don’t have a chance against him though, right? I guess we can discount the win, since it was in some bullshit mixed tag gimmick format. Like this tournament. That you willingly entered. As for the parts about my NFL career, well that one is a little more contentious, so we’ll loop back around to it, and instead let me talk to you about something that surprised me, the more I thought about it.

I see Mac attempting to correct the mistakes of those that came before him in Blast from the Past this year, something I’ve pulled virtually everyone up on, which I guess is pretty smart in theory, albeit a little clumsy in practice, if you don’t get the execution right. See right now there’s a hole being dug. It’s a hole I began working on last week, fully prepared to put my opponent in it at Blaze of Glory, when the time was right. Imagine my surprise, as I first turned up to the site, to find Mac volunteering to help. In fact, he’d made a start on it weeks ago, and he’d even bought his own shovel.

You know what? You were nearly so right about me too, it was close. The career I’ve shaped for myself? It doesn’t make me feel untouchable, far from it, but what it does is leaves me in a state of quiet confidence, and I’ll explain that more in a moment. I’m simply dismissive because a title, a record, some achievement from some distant land, it’s not going to come in and land a finisher. It’s not going to make the cover for you and count 1-2-3. It can’t change the outcome on any particular night, only I can, or you, or Myra, or Ruby. That doesn’t mean it can’t influence us in other ways though, and that’s the very point I’m trying to make.

Like it or not - We are the byproducts of our experience, and our environment. As much as we try and shape our own lives, guide them in whatever direction we want them to take, our lives shape us as humans too, as we move through them. Our experiences are vitally important, they tell us where we came from in the past, they shape our actions in the present, and they define what path our futures are likely to take. Me, I came out of the gates downplaying, for sure, after all we’ve had multiple Hall of Fame inductees proving, first-hand, that the fancy title from some popularity contest can’t save you in a competition like this. After all, the only place it really matters in the ring, right? I mean as far as past achievements go, we’re two of the most unqualified people in the whole tournament, Ruby and I, aren’t we? Yet here we stand, in the Final. One more team to beat. I wanted to wipe the slate clean, make it all about that one night, push it all to the side, until after someone’s hand gets raised in victory. That was my aim, only to find...Mac’s been downplaying HIMSELF the whole time too. That’s the most dangerous game of all.

The trouble, Mac, when you work so hard to belittle your own achievements, and I know, this is much more deep rooted than just Blast from the Past, you’ve been at this since you walked in the door...is if you say something enough times, you may just speak it into existence. It’s like you’re flipping through your catalogue of the universe, and you’re asking to not be good enough to take the crown. It’s like you’re playing golf, and you tell yourself ‘please don’t hit it in the water’ and the only place it goes is in the drink, because the only thing your brain makes sense of is water. You push away the titles you’ve captured in the past? The universe says “your wish is my command.” See - I know what I am, what I’m capable of, what I’ve done. I close my eyes as I sleep at night, and I see a Blast from the Past final, with my hand raised up in victory. I’m seeing the reality of a situation that occurred just twelve months prior, sure, and I already know I’m good enough to do it again. I’m not shouting it from the rooftops, but do you really think I’m sitting here, trying to fool everyone into thinking that’s worthless? No, of course not. I’m just smarter about what I leave to imagination.

This is the Internet generation after all, it’s super easy to go online and read about what I’ve done, or probably even watch it unfold before your very eyes on video, if you like. Pretty powerful stuff, but it’s nothing compared to living in that moment. You can see my achievements in black and white, but that’s not the same. It’s not the stinging of sweat in your eyes as you get pushed to your limit. It’s not that burning fire in your muscle fibers as you really do lift that guy who’s twice your own body weight, thank you adrenaline, and that guttural roar that rips up from within when you know you’re in the driving seat, and your opponent can’t keep up with you. I’ve lived it, I’ve felt it, it drives me to be better, to go out and do it again and again. It’s like a drug that you can’t really explain unless you’ve been there and done it. I have, and you have, yet out of the two of us, one of us seems to want more, and one of us wants to forget it even happened at all.

Three quarters of the participants in this match-up have been champions before. Three out of four of us remember that feeling of being on top of the world, of knowing that in that particular moment in time, there was nobody else in that locker room could beat us straight up. Most of us remember the feeling of pride, of anticipation, of the weight of expectation, that balancing act. The pride gives us confidence. The anticipation helps us steal our nerves. The expectation tempers us like finely forged steel. It elevates us, whether that be for a week, a month, a year. The transformation is so noticeable, that it can be like a whole different person walking in the room, compared to just a couple of days ago. Being a champion, it hits different. The beer tastes hoppier. The protein shake tastes sweeter, the workouts feel like they hurt less, and you know what, some of that effect stays with you, even long after the title belt is gone. Sometimes, all you have to do is lace up your boots.

I don’t hide from my past. I don’t push it away in the back of a closet with your photo of your Dad, hoping to just forget about what I became, or what I did, or what my Father did, or whether someone approved, or whether they got upset, but I’m not going to ram it down your throat either. Balance. You spoke about my NFL career by the way. I wasn’t LaDainian Tomlinson. I wasn’t Edg’ James, sure. But I was a British guy, playing a skill position, who spent 4 years in a starting job, finishing in the top 20 in rushing yards for every single year. You wanna say that’s lacklustre? Maybe your taste in running backs is particularly discerning, but think about it, if you know football at all let this sink in. A British guy, in a skill position. You know where British guys go in the NFL? We become kickers, because they think we play soccer, and rugby, and we’re good at booting a ball a mile in the air.

I didn’t belong in their world. I was the odd-one-out, the outcast. I spent every single day of every single season out there trying to just survive, because I knew there were countless kids coming through college every year in the draft, and yeah, they could probably run the 40 yard dash faster than me. Would they have been as tough? No. Would they have been working as hard? No, and I tell you one thing I don’t think there’s many backs in the league who could catch the ball out of the backfield like I did. You wanna say my performance fell flat? Fine...but the fact I was even there at all? That’s the real fucking victory. There was no fight to stay relevant, but there sure was a fight to stay in a job. It taught me toughness, physically, mentally, psychologically...the bedrock that my whole wrestling career was shaped on. Those lacklustre four seasons, in your eyes? It’s probably the biggest reason I’m here in the first place, ready to send you packing.

You can try and hide from who, or what you are, where you’ve come from, whatever. I don’t mind. Just know that I, absolutely, won’t be doing that. I take the rough with the smooth, I accept every part, and every experience, because that’s what made me a winner here once before, and it’ll be what makes me a winner again.

Mark cracks open his bottle of water, taking a couple of long swigs as he prepares to continue on.

I think we all have to accept she’s never coming back, people. The change is permanent, the transformation complete. I began to wonder if trying to draw out...that...again was maybe a step too far. I mean there’s getting under someone’s skin ahead of a big match, and then there’s pure emotional manipulation. The kind where someone, somewhere could have gotten hurt. After all, it wouldn't be the first time. I think, in life, no matter how much you may want to make something happen, we all have lines we don’t cross. I came very close to overstepping one of mine.

Trying to push Myra’s buttons the same way the man whose picture she ripped into a million tiny pieces last week? That’s fucking cold, even for me, and it made me realise a couple of things. First off, it seems our Dads featured heavily this past week, for different reasons. It felt like a piece of my heart chipped away when I watched that scene, not because what Myra did was wrong, but because I treasure every picture I have of my Dad. I’ve got a few voicemails he left me, backed up in about 17 different places, so I know I can always hear his voice if I need to. I have examples of his handwriting, it wasn’t the neatest, but it was his. I even still have that old grey jumper, covered in paint and grease, that always used to tell me that Dad was going out to fix something, the way he always, somehow, managed to do. I keep them all close to my heart because they were fond memories, most every one of them, and no...this isn’t me playing my Dad was better than your Dads for cheap points...

Because Myra, actually - I have a lot of respect for what you did. I don’t think I quite realised what you went through for all those years, the profound effect on you, and while I can’t even come close to try and understand, I tip my hat to you for diving back in, for understanding it, for facing it, and I’m pleased you’re living your dream. I’m pleased you’re a success, following in your Mom’s stead...and last of all I hope if my pearly gates theory is true, St. Peter comes to you and says something like “Your Mom’s really proud of you, she’s waiting”. I actually...I understand why you’re trying to make amends now, as impossible a task that may be, and maybe that Hall of Fame recognition was kind of...a nod to the progress you were already starting to make. I won’t give you shit for that any more, but it still isn’t going to win you a tournament, and since this is me, I do have a job to do, blah blah blah, nobody is ever completely safe. Let’s do this...

...because it just...seems like odd timing, that’s all. To upset the balance, I mean. Myra Lynwood of old was an unstoppable force, inside and outside the ring, no matter who or what got in the way. To a destructive extent. Myra Rivers of recent times, Internet Champion, Blast from the Past finalist. Definitely not as ferocious, or as one-track minded, but definitely plenty capable. The Myra of the future, standing entirely on her own two feet, potentially walking that perfect line between a beast in the ring and a paragon of virtue out of it. Exciting times for sure, ready to step into the light, maybe in the next six months, the next year, because...You see now you’re starting yourself on this path of real strength, you know? Just...shouldn’t you have waited until after the tournament? For as long as you’ve been a professional wrestler you’ve had something anchoring you, pulling you, an anger, a hate, a fear, a constant reminder of what that man did to you, mixed in with your desire to follow in the footsteps of the one good person in your life. It brought out some of the worst in you as a person, and some of the best in you in the ring. In some areas of your life, you learned to wield it like a weapon, harness the power, and that applies to you now in a way, even after you set about trying to mend burned bridges, to put things right along the way. The version of you that got to the Final...there was still enough anger in there to suck a performance out of you, and yet...now you decide to tear it all up. Literally.

Suddenly, ahead of the biggest match of the tournament, against two of the toughest opponents you’ve faced throughout, not on paper, but on merit, and suddenly you’re free-wheeling. Everything that seemed familiar to you out in the centre of that ring, when the bell strikes, suddenly it’s all different. Those things you called on, summoned up to keep you fighting on. You don’t have anything to fall back on, because you tore it into a million tiny pieces. As I said at the beginning, everything we go through as humans, through our lives, it shapes us, slowly and gradually over time. It’s a process of evolving, and with evolution, you’ll probably build yourself on a stronger base than you ever have in your life up to this point...but evolving is slow. It happens gradually, not because you took a hammer and chisel and started knocking chunks out of yourself hoping the real ‘you’ is in there somewhere. There’s a time and a place for that.

The truth is, we don’t know if everything is going to be OK out there with you. You’re in uncharted territory, re-learning who you are, who you’re going to be, free from any ties of your father and you know what? I think you’re going to be stronger than you’ve ever been, in ALL ways. If we ran this match-up in a year’s time, I’d maybe be scared for Ruby. More scared for than I am now anyway, as Blaze of Glory? It’s just too soon. You might have to lean on Mac a little more to help you bring this one home, go all-in on that blind faith you seem to show in him, and on that front, I have to ask one thing:

Why...I mean, really? The partner who, from what I can tell, has researched someone else’s title history, instead of mine, in the worst showing of preparation I’ve possibly ever seen in such a big match. The partner who’s off chasing Amber halfway across the country after her little disappearing act. Your partner is chasing someone that you guys took out by the way, because she took off. It’s unbelievable. It’s like the two of you have literally gone and pressed the self destruct buttons right at the last hurdle, I can’t believe it. If you speak to Mac, maybe suggests he hits a gym, or watches some of MY matches instead of whoever the hell he thinks I am, I will literally find the links on YouTube and send them over to him, because I can see this tournament falling SO flat, and for purely selfish reasons, I don’t want that.

In 2020, Mark won because Evie carried him through. In 2021, Mark won because Mac and Myra were too busy dealing with their own shit to turn up and perform in the Final, which I reckon would normally have been cancelled out by winning it with a rookie...except, for some reason, Ruby manages to keep on picking up wins! At this rate, I’m going to have to come out in 2022 and hit the three-peat just to get the monkey off my back yet again. Shame, I wanted to give someone else a shot, too.

I guess I can wrap this all up by saying...it’s good to be back. I tend to fall into two camps when it comes to opponents, I either get too much respect, or almost completely ignored. Either, or...the result is the same. Me, one arm up in the air, walking off the football field as Simple Minds plays in the background. The wrestling ring is my home, and winning matches is how I make rent every month. This is just one more night of doing what I do best. Shoot your shot, Myra and Mac. Shoot your shot.

The scene fades to black.

[Mac]

OOC - Thank you Mark Cross and Ruby, it's been a fun rp cycle, I've enjoyed it very much.

“People's desires were easy to read, clear as bottled glass and just as sturdy.”
― J.Y. Yang, The Djinn Falls in Love & Other Stories

The Edge of a Razor
Undisclosed location
/Scene Opens\

[off-camera]

Have you ever stepped out onto a ledge, placed your feet so that your toes were over the edge and put your face into the wind and took a leap of faith? I’ve done this time and again throughout my career, trusting my gut and not necessarily what I saw. The note I had taken from Amber’s apartment, still rested in the inside pocket of my jacket. Every once in a while, when I moved I would catch a whiff of cinnamon. That made me smile, it was like knowing she wasn’t far away or that our thoughts were somehow linked. Knowing that she was likely thinking about me right now and trying to figure out if she had somehow damaged our relationship by taking the road I knew she was traveling on. A road I had travelled many times, and one that I am eagerly moving down myself. I look at my phone and decide to send her a text message.

We are doing the right things for the right reasons, love.

I pressed send and waited until I got the notification that it had been delivered. I then look at my surroundings. A dimly lit, smoke filled room. I’d been sitting here for a couple of hours in this cash game. “Texas Hold’em” had been a trendy thing over the past few years but I preferred something with a bit more skill. As traditional as it gets, five card draw poker. So far I had picked apart the tells of everyone at the table, except for John Pike, the leader of this MC. He checked, raised me three times tonight. Each time he was holding at least a pair of aces. Each time I beat him with small straights. This time though, he didn’t check, he had pushed roughly two hundred thousand dollars into the pot. The pot value was now about half a million. I was not going to play out of position, I leaned back in my chair and smiled at him. His shoulders were tight, even though he was smiling. I watched as he tried to play it off by leaning forward and steepling his fingers in front of his face. He had only drawn one card from the dealer. He was watching the reaction of everyone when he had made his bet. I still had not picked up the two cards I had drawn from the dealer.

“Mac, you gonna look at those cards?”, he asked me as his smile grew even broader. I was last to play in this hand. We had watched everyone else fold grudgingly. I looked at my stack of money, I could easily call him and not be hurt should I lose. His body language suggested he was bluffing, everything from the fake smile to the tight shoulders made me believe that. My gut confirmed it as I called him.

“Oh, I will in a moment.”, I smiled at him as he turned over a straight flush. Deuce, three, four, five and six of diamonds. “Great hand John.” I say as I turn over first the three cards I had held, the ten, jack, and queen of hearts. I turned the first draw card over, the nine of hearts and then the queen of hearts to complete my higher straight flush. I had beaten him again and he was pissed, although trying really hard not to show it. Everyone else at the table was shocked at the outcome, they just knew he had me this time. I knew he didn’t, he was becoming easier and easier to read. Right now I knew he wanted to reach for the pistol he had stashed under the table but he kept his hands on the table. The sleeveless shirt I wore showed that I wasn’t stashing cards, I kept my hands on the table for all to see. He finally shakes his head and stands up. I keep my eyes on him, he’s not someone you would trust any farther than you could throw them.
“I don’t know how you keep doing that Mac, but I’ll figure it out.”, he said as he started to walk from the table back towards the bathroom. “Back in a minute”, he said over his shoulder. His enforcer, Tiny, walked over to the table. “How did you do that?”. The big man was earnest, if nothing else. I smiled at him. “It’s not hard, the desires of men are easy to read. John is an alpha, just as I am. His desire is dominance, in all things in life. He got nervous with that killer hand because of his desire to best me. He knew I was the only one at the table that would call. That made him even more nervous. Desires, like egos, are a fragile thing. It’s no more difficult to shatter the desire of a man than it is to throw a glass bottle on the floor.”

I knew I was wasting my breath, Tiny was a dumb son of a bitch on a good day. I began stacking the bills in order of least to greatest dollar amount. There were about one hundred dollars in one dollar bills. I walked up to the bar, rolled them up and deposited them in the tip jar for the bartender. I gave him a smile and wave as I headed towards the door. “Thanks dude!” he called after me, I responded with, “Always tip your bartender well.” I could hear John coming out and back into the main room. “Hey Mac, what about that meeting with Sin City?”. I stopped in mid-stride. “There won’t be one Chief, they declined to meet with you. I guess they're happy being a small promotion.”

John took that in stride, “No problem, there are other ways afterall. Like you beating that simp for a shot at the title. Having a world champion on the payroll never hurts business at all.” he said matter of factly. I studied him for a long moment, “Two more matches to go before that can become a reality John.”, I said using a tone similar to his own. He smiled that broad, fake as hell smile. “Oh, I get that. Just like I get the fact that you beat me clean at that poker table. You’ll want to make sure you win that match Bane. It would behoove you to be in a world title match soon.”. I laughed at his statement and then stopped abruptly. I heard the shuffling of feet and when I looked up, Tiny was between me and his boss. I walked up to Tiny and patting him on the chest, I leaned to the right. “Save your breath, threatening me is pointless.”

A look can say far more than words, right now the look on Pike’s face was somewhere between fear and rage. I just about had him to his tipping point. His stability now rested on the edge of a razor. A dangerous place for him to be right now. I had embarrassed him at the poker table and now called him out for his bullshit with his boys. A lot would be decided in the next few moments. I looked up and Tiny shot me a wink, maybe he was smarter than I or anyone else gave  him credit for. The thing about John Pike was that he was smart. He was really too smart for his own good at times. I’d gotten to know him a little, and as smart as he was, he was easy to manipulate. That’s a bad quality for a man in his position.

“Getting in a pissing contest with me is a really bad idea John. You already know this to be true. You do whatever it is you think you need to do. I’ll try not to lump you in the same column in my mind that’s inhabited by the disdain that I have for Mark Cross.”

My statement seemed to visibly shake him from his rage and his features smoothed somewhat. “C’mon Bane, I’m not that big a douchebag.”

Fade.

“When moral superiority combines with billowing ignorance, they fill up a hot-air balloon that's awfully hard not to poke.” -Barbara Kingsolver

Poking the bear
In-Studio
/Scene Opens\

[on-camera]

The studio door is already open as I make my way inside and take a seat. My notification chimes, “A new promo has been added by Mark Cross, would you like to listen?”. I laugh, “no”. I wanted to watch it but I would do that later. I had some recording of my own that I wanted to do first. There was that hint of cinnamon again, she was either thinking about me or would be home soon. That made me smile.

So, not so long ago, one of my opponents took to social media. Trying once again to take a shot at the lack of titles I have here in Sin City. More importantly at the lack of titles I have overall in his opinion.

I roll my eyes at the thought of what he must have said in his most recent pile of garbage.

Let me guess, Mark likely talked about all the titles he’s won and likely made fun of the fact that I’ve only held the Roulette Championship. Which I handed back to the company right before I left. As I told you on social media, you can trash my history all you want, that is if you can find anything on me at all. See, the biggest majority of the companies I held major titles in have been closed for years.

I realize that won’t stop you from trying to beat a dead horse, and it’s barely relevant in this case. You like to brag that no one has been able to pin you in seven blast from past matches. That’s cool, but that’s not the case in matches in general is it? Sure, you’re flawless in tournament matches. Not in other matches though are you? You see, I’ve been in ten matches in Sin City and no one has been able to put my shoulders to the mat for a three count. Think about that for a minute shit head.

No one so far has been able to beat me in a match.

Period.

You could argue that those weren’t big matches against quality opponents. You’d be mostly right, although I’d consider Max and Despy far from bottom of the barrel opponents. That may be your opinion, but it’s definitely not the opinion of many around here. Again trying anything you can in order to get in my head. You wouldn’t like it there, it’s a dark and dangerous place, son.

I rock forward in the chair I’m sitting in and with an amused expression I continue.

I do enjoy facing people like you Mark, you are like the kids in corporate america today. They try to play the political game at work, believing that will net them something they don’t deserve. Trying to gain an advantage that they wouldn’t know what to do with if they had it. Your idea of mind games is so amusing. It’s really not funny but if it wasn’t so pathetic I’d laugh.

Literally.

I would laugh out loud.

Sadly though, I’m not laughing chief. No one is, right now they are likely trying to figure out, in such a big match. Why is Mark Cross mailing that shit in? Your first promo was a lot of taco bell hot sauce. It was lame, kinda like spicy ketchup instead of legit hot sauce. Instead of pleasing the palate, it simply left people wanting something of substance. Honestly I don’t know why you even bothered with that.

I hope you bring more fight to the ring than you have to the microphone to this point. I know I will bring every ounce of everything that I am when the bell sounds, you will know you’ve been in a knock down drag out fight for your life. Make no mistakes Markie Mark, when I start throwing these soup bones around, I’m gonna bust up that pretty face of yours. I’m gonna enjoy the fuck out of that. I hate you frat boys with a passion not seen since biblical times.

Fade.


Growing up infamous
Port Arthur, Texas
/Scene Opens\

[off-camera]

I stood in front of a very old building that had been scheduled for demolition no telling how many times, but every time the date came up, something stalled it or cancelled it altogether. The windows were all broken out and the local police had to clear out the homeless that had taken up residence at least once a week. As I stood there looking at it, memories came flooding back.

30 years earlier

No Mac! Put something into it, son! God damn, you’re dumb as fuck!

He was able to trigger me then like no one else could, once those words were out of his mouth, he was on the ground holding his jaw and staring up at me.

That’s more like it he said as he stared at me and my heavy breathing. Unless I missed my guess, I’ve died at least five times before you ever knocked me down. Then he did what he always did. He laughed it off and shook his head as if it never happened. Never a word that encouraged anything from him. My accomplishments meant nothing to this man. Nothing less than perfection ever would be.

Might try easing up on that boy of yours Melvin. I looked over to see the man who would become a mentor to me later in life. My father’s response was typical. Fuck off Frank., I watched in amazement as the two men now stood nose to nose. It was Frank that took a step back. Yeah, that’s what I thought. How I raise my kids are none of your concern, oh great Punisher, how fucking original. Frank stared at my dad for a long moment. This is my house bitch, my ring and I’m the one that pays the bills around here. Not some has been, who hasn’t held a title in a decade. I saw the fire in my fathers eyes and the hate began to build. Frank’s glare turned into laughter as he saw my father’s intent in his eyes. Frank turned to me and said, Get out of the ring, kid.

That brief turn of his head to warn me away was all the opening that Melvin Bane needed, he sucker punched Frank, knocking him prone. He yelled at me, See how it’s done, boy?! No Mercy! Not Ever! In typical fashion he had talked too much for his own good as Frank was back on his feet. My father saw this and like the coward he was, ducked out of the ring.

Present Day

This was my first lesson in relevance. I remember that day so very well. It hadn’t been a decade since my last world title but when you don’t have one, it certainly feels that way. The second lesson I learned that day is the kind of man I didn’t want to be. There was a third lesson I received that day as well. I rubbed my jaw remembering him breaking it, because I hadn’t stood up for him at the venue. My mouth was wired shut because of that. Maybe he’s the reason for my hard edge and my vile temper. That was something Mark Cross was about to find out about.

I hadn’t thought about my father in a long, long time. The reasons are pretty simple, he was a bastard that had never wanted kids. He had four, myself being the only boy. Maybe it was time to try and reconnect with my sisters. There was a wedding coming up after all. The thought of that day still brought a smile to my face. I looked around just then, the smell of cinnamon was very strong. I smiled and then looked behind me, a bakery.

fucks sakes Mac, it must be time to go home. From there we put the plan into motion to claim what is ours. I’ve often wondered if Sin City ever had a married couple be their men’s and women’s world champions simultaneously.

Fade.

“Hot air expands, and a seriously pompous attitude is the inflation of choice by those lacking substance.” -Vanna Bonta

It’s Go-Time
In-Studio
/Scene Opens\

Work ethic is something I was taught at a very early age, from a hard taskmaster. My old man was as legit an asshole as you’d ever hope to never meet. Thinking about that and some of these kids I’d been facing. They know nothing of work ethic or pride in what you do. Mark Cross, however, appeared to be different. He at least talked a good game. It was an amusing and satisfying feeling knowing he would be inconsolable for weeks after I pinned his shoulders to the mat for the one, two, three. The producer signaled me that they were ready. Cowboy hat, and duster now gone from my ring gear. Replaced by a cutoff SCW - Mac Bane t-shirt and skullcap with my brands logo on it. I smile at the camera as they begin rolling.

Well kids, here we are. Blaze of Glory is just about upon us. Previously I had talked a little about Ruby and how I felt like she was the strongest member of that team. I didn’t spend a lot of time on her for one simple reason.

I won’t be in the ring with her.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t comment on what she had to say about my partner though. Myra is who you will be in the ring with. You’ve made a lot of accusations toward her. Calling her a paper champion. I’ve seen Myra take men out for lesser insults, just so you know. That’s about as much as I’ll say about you Ruby. If you pin her you’re the new internet champion, if you don’t then your just another bitter bitch with no titles.

Now Markie Mark, he’s a real special guy. Mark ,you did something that surprised me. Instead of focussing on the guy you have to fight, you glossed over me like I didn’t matter. The majority of your promo was focussed on Myra. Even though you said you and she hadn’t run in the same circles, you talked like she was an old friend of the family. Now then, that being said, maybe I don’t matter to you. You firmly believe that you guys are the favorites right?

Wrong.

Confident people don’t go on social media trying to bolster their confidence by tearing someone else down. I prefer two platforms for that. They both speak louder than anything you can do on social media. The promo is my second favorite platform. Whether recorded or live and in person with us facing each other across a span of no more than three feet. If you should be so brave that is.

My amusement is gone now, replaced by my trademark smirk. I hold up my right hand, index finger extended.

Things I know about you Mark, first and foremost. There is no doubt that you are a quality athlete.

Counting them off as I go, I extend my middle finger to stand beside my index finger.

You’ve held virtually every title there is to hold under the Sin City Wrestling umbrella.

Then my ring finger joins the other two.

A former NFL player, who left the sport because he got bored.

I roll my eyes at that one and then the pinky finger joins the fray.

Confident that he can run through anyone on this roster, despite being a member of the active roster.

Now my thumb comes out for the fifth point.

Trained in Japanese strong style.

Closing my fist, I return my hand to my side.

All of this culminates to nothing Cross. None of it matters right? According to you no one’s accomplishments matter. The entire body of work means dick.

I spit on the floor for emphasis.

What was it you called Hall of Fame awards...a popularity contest. Unlike your generation of athletes, mine didn’t get participation trophies. The places I worked, based your induction on your entire body of work

I make a wow face at the camera and the smirk returns again.

Imagine that shit, son. See, I’m not, and have never been the most popular wrestler on the roster. Not any place I’ve ever been. I get a kick out of being hated. So, you  know, your popularity contest theory means less than shit to me.

zero.

Your argument is invalid.

The smile disappears after I make that statement.

Just to be fair, I have to correct you on something. I’ve not avoided talking about titles I’ve held. I’ve held many in many different places. Not that you could track that down, those companies closed their doors long ago.

Spreading my arms wide I continue.

I’m not going to get into a pissing contest about that, you said it didn’t matter right? It does to you now. Only because for some reason you believe it will be a psychological edge that you so desperately need in a match like this. I’m already in your head and you already know that Myra and I have won this match. Long before we ever step into the ring.

I allow my arms to drift back down to my side and this time a feral smile replaces the smirk.

What was it you said to Cassian, that you would be inconsolable for weeks if you lost? I’m so looking forward to that. Watch pompous asshats like you struggle with life makes me fucking smile. Not just on the inside, no I’ll be smiling so much it will create a glow that will be picked up by the god damned space station.

The feral smile becomes broader as the shark smells the blood.

People like you in this business are all the same kid. Someone, probably your father or perhaps your mom. They once told you how great an athlete you were and you believed them. Truth is, you’re not special, you’re a fucking cookie cutter. The frat boy with perfect hair and teeth. Of course all that shit was a lie you know. You’re a scum bag with a trust fund, and that’s all you’ll ever be. That’s not to say you don’t have a shot at winning. You just don’t have a shot at winning against me.

I bring my hands out in front of me, my right hand grasping my left wrist as I allow them to rest against my belt.

My favorite way to send a message is what I do in the ring Scott. At times it’s not pretty, throwing hands is second nature for me. Every swing is a finisher, every move is delivered with malicious intent. You’ve been told your whole life what a great this or that you are. You talk about how well rounded you are. You are your own best hype machine Cross. Too bad all that hype won’t save you. There’s another thing that is really a damn shame.

I bring my hands up to my face in a mocking “namaste” position, never losing my smile I finish the promo with….

All those things they told you your whole life? Nothing more than hopes, dreams and hot air.

Fade.

[Kate Steele]

Las Vegas, Nevada
Red Rock Canyon
March 16th

Finally after months of constant bickering, the two biggest rivals of Jet City South Ruby Steele and Courtney Pierce were official as girlfriends. It had took a while for the two women to get to this point but finally after everything both women were finally able to get their feelings out there and admit that they had a crush on one another. Tonight had marked the couple’s very first date together and they had decided to go star gazing with one another. The two lay next to one another on a blanket as they looked up at the sky. Ruby smiled as Courtney smiled showing her each of the constellations.

“Look Prudence… You can see so many planets in the sky. That one is Mars, and that thing over there is Jupiter, Saturn is over there, you also can’t forget Uranus and Neptune… These are all the planets that we can see tonight…”

Ruby let out a smile as she nodded her head making sure to slowly turn her attention over to Courtney.

“OUTRAGEOUS!!!!”

Courtney giggles in return as she nods her head.

“Prue you aren’t looking at the sky. You keep looking at me. I take it you really love the view…”

Ruby nodded her head once again as nothing could take the wicked grin off of her lips.

“I love everything I see and honestly I like spending time with you. Deep down I think this is what I have been wanting for a long time. It’s funny how people can come together. I never even expected to really crush on you like I have. Some of those early days in Jet City were really tough…”

Courtney smiles in return.

“So I take it you really love your birthday present… I will admit I am not one who has an easy time showcasing her feelings. The only thing I really like to show a lot of passion for is my wrestling career, but it’s moments like these that I love a lot. In Long Beach I used to spend a lot of time with my father at parks looking up at the stars. I saw a lot of shooting stars and I made some wishes to find my way into wrestling. I always loved to dream big… I was excited to get trained by Mikah and when SCW re-launched I knew I had to jump right into the fray. Mikah didn’t want me too but I did it anyway and long behold I won myself a Blast From The Past tournament…”

Ruby nods her head with a smirk.

“That sounds really amazing and honestly wrestling wasn’t on the radar. However after coming to Kate’s aid during that match and being decked in the face by Mackenzie, and having Odette land on all of the Gem Stones. I knew I needed to get some training. Hell all of the girls wanted to get trained…”

Courtney smiles in return.

“And I am so glad that you did because you coming to the gym allowed the two of us to meet. I know Mikah doesn’t give compliments often but she really has taken a liking to you, and the training that you have done has gotten you this far in the tournament. Now you need to finish the job and actually win the tournament. Bring home that big win and make a huge impact on the company. Let people know you are to be taken seriously…”

Ruby can’t help but smile even wider as she gazes back up at the stars.

“Now that would be absolutely amazing. My birthday has been nothing short of amazing.  All of my dreams have come true. I have found the woman of my dreams and I am in the finale of a huge tournament with the chance to win my very first championship belt. If you told me before I even stepped foot in the ring that I would beat Mikah, and have a pin fall victory over Roxi Johnson I would say you are fantasizing. Yet here I am and it’s all real. It isn’t a dream…”

Ruby quickly shakes her head as she begins to frown.

“As good as all of sounds I know nobody will even take it seriously though. Nobody will ever take ME seriously. In their eyes I will just be a bargain bin Kate Steele. I will always be compared to my cousin and it’s not fair. On top of that I just feel like my father will never approve of me. When I tried to do the music thing he just shrugged it off because he really didn’t believe in my passion for music. He acted like I couldn’t amount to anything, and now look at me. I am in a rock band and we were having success until the Corona virus came around. I just don’t know anymore…”

Courtney grins in return.

“Some success your band made a big movie. On top of that you were touring around the world. That in itself is really impressive and you shouldn’t feel any type of guilt because you have done the best you possibly can. I think you aren’t giving your father that much credit though. I know you must think he hates you but I personally think he only wants the best for you. “

Ruby just sighs in return.

“And how do you know this?!”

“I know because I had parents who were the same way. They wanted to see me accomplish everything but when it came to wrestling it was just a different story. They didn’t want me to jump into things until I was 18 and…”

Courtney shakes her head.

“That doesn’t even matter. What does matter however is that your birthday isn’t done! I still didn’t get a chance to give you a gift…”

Ruby opens her eyes in amazement.

“A gift, I thought you becoming my girlfriend was already a present!”

“Actually that was something we both enjoy. I don’t know how fair it is to make that your ONLY gift. Besides as your girlfriend I feel like you deserve something more from me. So here you go Prue. I really hope you enjoy this and let it be known that you are absolutely amazing and deserve the entire world!”

With that being said Courtney offers a wide grin and it isn’t that long before footsteps could be heard coming from behind the couple. Those footsteps belong to that of Rebecca and Anthony Steele, Ruby’s parents. Anthony smiled as he looked down at his daughter and reached out to her.

“Evening darling… Tonight seems like a great night to look at the stars doesn’t it?!”

Once Ruby heard her father’s voice she quickly jumped up and ran right to him. She hugged him tightly as she gazed up into his eyes.

“DADDY!!!! MUMMY!!!!!!”

Her attention moved over to her parents as she looked at both of them. The Welsh woman and English man could only smirk as she continued to speak to them.

“What are you doing here?!”

Her father however just smirked as he looked back at her.

“Bloody hell can’t a pair of parents come visit their daughter?! We were supposed to be at your surprise birthday party last night but there were issues with traveling. What matters is that we are here now and that’s all that matters right?!”

Ruby’s mom smirks in return.

“We just had to support our little girl. Your friend here told us this was all a big deal for you. We really didn’t understand how important all of this meant but it seems like you have the chance to move your wrestling career in the right direction. We figured we might as well come to the states and see our little girl for ourselves. You came this far so we might as well travel far to see you accomplish your dreams…”

Anthony grabs a hold of Ruby as he looks deeply into her eyes.

“Listen pumpkin… I know I might not have said this a lot but I just want you to know that I am proud of you. I have always been proud of you. I know you might think there are differences between us but in reality the only thing I EVER wanted to see from you is for you to do whatever it took to chase after your dreams.  Everything that you told us when you left England you ended up achieving. You filmed a movie, you made an album, and you have a big record contract. Bloody hell you are doing alright for yourself. That’s all I ever wanted and you have knocked everything right out of the park. When you go out there and wrestle I just want you to do your best…”

Rebecca quickly shakes her head.

“Don’t lie to our girl… You know there’s no such thing as participation trophies… You better go out there and win!”

Anthony smiles looking at his daughter with a smirk.

“I couldn’t have said it better myself. You should be happy. It seems like you found a really good friend in Courtney. She cares about you a lot…”

Ruby looks over at Courtney who just stands there glancing back. Ruby grabs her by the hand and brings her towards her parents. A smile escapes Ruby before she meets with that of her parents.

“Daddy… Mum… I have something to confess about Courtney. I appreciate her telling you about everything. This is honestly a birthday I won’t forget and I am very thankful but when it comes to her… Well… She’s not just my friend but… She’s my g……”

Anthony however stops her daughter as he shakes her head at her.

“You don’t even have to say that statement. I am not going to judge you Prudence… We can tell just by the way you look at her. It also doesn’t help that your sister Phoebe has a big mouth and can’t keep a secret for anything…”

Ruby begins to stomp her feet.

“I swear to God I am going to kill her!!!!”

Anthony nods his head.

“I wouldn’t mind if you did to be honest… That’s your mother’s daughter… She has nothing to do with me and…”

Rebecca looks back at her.

“ANTHONY!!! I would appreciate if you didn’t speak about my daughter like that…”

He nods his head.

“Cheers… Listen the only thing that matters is that we want to be in your life. We don’t want to miss any moments. You can love whoever you wish and do whatever you want to do. We just want to be in your life and consider this the very first step in us being there for you… That is if you would have us…”

Ruby’s eyes light up as she smiles wide.

“Of course you can be in my life!!! This is what I wanted for so long!!! Thank you so much for flying this far to see me, I promise that this trip is going to be worth it. I am going to beat the brakes off of Myra Rivers. I will be in position to be a CHAMPION and even a better position to be a WORLD CHAMPION… How could I ever deny any of you… This is all I ever wanted…”

Anthony smiles hugging his daughter.

“Good because you are going to get exactly what you wanted. I will be there for all of your big moments. This is only the beginning and you will be getting so much more than that…”

“Much more, I don’t see how it could get any better than this…”

Anthony smiles as he looks behind a cliff, and yells at the top of his lungs.

“GEM STONES… PLAY THAT SONG WE TALKED ABOUT… IN HONOUR OF MY DAUGHTER’S LOVE FOR COURTNEY AND OF COURSE MY LOVE TOWARDS MY DAUGHTER!!!”

Ruby’s eyes open wide up and it is at that instance that she can see her cousin Diamond emerge with a guitar around her neck and connected to an amp. There is a microphone stand in front of her. Ruby’s sister Sapphire has a guitar around her neck and of course their friend Emerald is behind a drumstick. On the count of three they begin to sing a very famous Backstreet Boys song.

“I DON’T CARE WHO ARE, WHERE YOU’RE FROM AS LONG AS YOU LOVE ME!!!!!!!!!”

Ruby shakes her head as her eyes move to that of her father. She is on the verge of tears as she speaks out to them.

“This is all too much daddy… I really don’t know what to say…”

Her father smiles in return as he begins to speak some more.

“I know you could sit here with all of the tears but you don’t need to say anything. Just continue being yourself. Although I do believe there is a girlfriend standing over there who wants your attention so you might as well give her some sugar!”

Ruby turns her attention to Courtney as her eyes instantly light up. The two of them can’t help but giggle at one another as they reply back to daddy Steele.

“Daddy… That’s OUTRAGEOUS!!!”

Ruby chimes in.

“I am not going to do that… That’s just awkward. We can save that for what we do behind closed doors. I rather just focus on enjoying the night with my favourite people into the entire world. What’s not to love about being with my girlfriend, and my family! I don’t think it gets any better than this…”

Courtney smiles as she looks back at her girlfriend.

“Oh there is definitely one way it could… About the nickname Garnet that you tried to give me… I think it would fit me. After all it is my birthstone and it makes me fit with you…”

Ruby smiles in return.

“Whatever you say my Garnet… Let’s just enjoy this night tonight together. There’s nothing better than that of friends and family. We have huge matches ahead of us. You will finally beat that losing streak and just like my girlfriend a few years prior. I could walk out as the winner of the Blast From The Past tournament…”

Courtney smiles as she hugs her girlfriend.

“You got this babe… This is all you… You seize the moment and do the very thing that everybody wants you to do. Go win this tournament and place your name in the history books of SCW…”

“Oh I plan too but you better beat Bella… At Blaze of Glory we will both have our moment… I just have faith in all of that…”

The two lovebirds giggle at one another. Everybody looks up at the sky as they just continue to enjoy each other’s company. It is on this image that we slowly leave fade out on.








On Camera

Everything comes into focus and as it does we are treated to the sight of Ruby Steele with a bass guitar around her shoulder. She strums away as she offers a wide grin to that of the camera.

“Music is so soothing to the soul. It’s everything to me and there is no greater feeling than the sound of listening to something that you like a lot. However the best type of music that I could possibly be exposed to this coming weekend is to hear the sweet sound of Justin announcing that Ruby Steele is the winner of the 2021 Blast From The Past tournament. At the end of the day that is all this has ever been about. I am willing to do whatever it takes to get there but I need to overcome the woman in front of me. I just have to get past Myra and everything I could have ever imagined would be mine for the taking.

It seems like fate has brought the two of us together Myra… Now after listening to what you had to say to be quite honest I find you to be a bloody fucking idiot. You have no idea what I am even about or what I intend to do. Everybody is quick to assume that this is all about Kate. They all act like I am here in trying to fight my cousin’s battles and surely if that was the case I would have chased after Evie after immediately signing my name on an SCW contract. She is the one who humiliated her by beating a submission expert with a submission hold. She and my cousin have a bitter feud that doesn’t seem to end and that would have been my choice of target but it wasn’t…

The reason why I even decided to become a wrestler wasn’t to follow in her footsteps but it was to pave my own way and find my own place in the world. After getting beaten down by Mackenzie in trying to help my cousin in that big match that she had. I needed to figure out ways to defend my own wellbeing. I needed to figure out more about myself.

In the eyes of everyone I am merely Kate’s little cousin. I am in her shadow and because we have the same surname I will always be linked to her. When the band made its way to Jet City South I deliberately made it my goal to be trained by Mikah because I wanted to be different. Kate might be good but Mikah is the very best and in turn I want to be the test. This match isn’t about trying to fight for anybody other than myself because I want to stand out into the spotlight. You think I am content with simply being in a band and being an accompanying member?!

If I was happy I wouldn’t have jumped so quickly into the fray and I definitely wouldn’t have signed up to be in this tournament. The fact of the matter is I want my own name to mean something and look how far I have gotten on my work ethic and my own merit. I am in the finals and in position to be the winner of this entire thing.

Whatever vendetta you think I might have, it’s honestly full of shit. You can sit there on your high horse and try to speak a bunch of poppycock that makes little to no sense. Trying to question me on if I know what I am in for and how this might be a wakeup call. Bitch have you not been paying attention?! On paper nobody’s journey to the finale has been as tough as mine. I had to face the best Bombshell ever. I had to face Roxi Johnson and now I am standing down at the longest reigning Internet Champion of ALL TIME…

That’s a hell of a lineup that I had to deal with. By logic I shouldn’t even be here but BLOODY HELL LOOK AT ME I FUCKING AM!!! Whether Daniel was in the ring or Mark Cross they can only fight for so long but as soon as a tag is made I had to come in and actually do something. I showed everybody that I could hold my own and because of my ability I was competent enough to make it this far. I think that DDT on Roxi is a sound that could be heard all throughout this company, but you don’t want to listen because you are still about stroking your own ego.

It’s really ridiculous if you ask me. You are on about this redemption tour and you are hoping you can win the right way. You hope you can make amends for your past mistakes so that you can go about winning a title the right way… Instead of focusing on how I live your life why don’t you go work things out with Andrea Hernandez, after all weren’t you a bully to her back in the day. Wasn’t it your actions that caused her to go off the deep end, and now she’s going about burying the legitimacy of this tournament because she felt with Bill Barnhart she got the short end of the stick last year?!

If you really want redemption work on that relationship, because I feel the mark you make on others will have a bigger impact than that of winning titles or accolades. It will build up the future but you don’t think of that because you only think about yourself…

I understand it though… Go ahead and point the finger at me and try to question if my place in this tournament is legitimate. Try to undersell my achievements and what I have done since day fucking one. I mean that’s what you were trying to question if I would have been here with Daniel instead of Mark, and the answer to that question is absolutely yes. Daniel may not have the flashiness of a singles star but he has made a name being a tag team specialist. Last ever superstars tag team champion, first ever Mixed tag team champion, and won that title a second time.

He might very well be the best male star to have as a tag specialist in this tournament. You don’t see that though because you try to make points that make no sense. You wish to even use my cousin against me forcing the fact that you were better than her but let me explain something just so you get it in your skull.

When Kate fought you she had done all she could have done with the Internet title. She broke all of the records just like she had done with the Roulette Championship when she held it years ago. She was honestly looking to fight worthy challengers and once dropping it would move on to the World Championship picture.

You might have beat her and I won’t deny that but last year she was defending against women like Roxi Johnson, Keira Johnson, and Evie Jordan… All of those women happened to win the World Championship last year. What in the bloody fuck have you done to even warrant yourself to even be considered a great champion?!

It’s all been a joke… I mean no disrespect to anybody you fought but let’s be honest. The only time that you truly take things seriously or go all out is when you are facing tough competition. That was all before you even had the championship. You were fighting Amber Ryan, and you beat Alicia Lukas. All of those things you did in order to stand out. However when you get the title you become complacent and don’t have that same energy…

It’s bullshit and you know it! If being like my cousin in trying to fight the very best and offering YOU a championship match because she knew you were a threat is a bad thing. By all means I would take that as a compliment because we are fighters. We always are looking for a challenge and won’t stop until we get that fight.

I could only imagine what would happen if you managed to win this tournament. If we judge your Internet Championship reign you would probably be requesting people who don’t even deserve it. Let’s bring back Traci Patterson because hey she deserves one! Or hey Alice Knight is off and on let’s give her a shot or maybe bring Pandora back in because that certainly would sell right?!

It’s a joke and honestly it would be OUTRAGEOUS… You may have broken a record but you haven’t done ANYTHING that really stands out.

You think I am going to let you get in my way and stop me from accomplishing something I want badly?! This week has been the best week of my entire life. I now have an amazing girlfriend in my life in Courtney Pierce who is cheering me on. My family has flown all the way from England to watch me accomplish something.

All of my life I have been denied. I have been told by Britain’s Got Talent that I wasn’t good enough to sing, and guess what I am now in a band.

I was told that I wouldn’t amount to anything because I wasn’t special, and I went on to film a movie with Christina’s studio…

I was told I was too small to wrestle and I happen to be undefeated beating Hall of Famers…

Now here you are questioning that I might hold a grudge because of what you did to Kate and honestly I don’t give a damn. I know the Internet Championship might be billed as being part of this match and as nice as it sounds to have that title around my waist. I want more than that… I don’t want to settle for second best. I want to be the VERY BEST and my eyes are on competing for the World Championship at the next Super Card. That has always been the destination and the end goal.

Besides this Sunday for those who just say that I am Kate Junior or Kate Lite… I can silence those critics when I do something she couldn’t do, and that’s win this tournament. You can make up excuses and try to claim you have what it takes and that you been waiting for this moment. You can keep on waiting because I have no intentions to lose to someone like you.

You have the amazing partner and he’s a man full of hype. I like Mac Bane’s style but he will have his work cut out for him because he is going to be in the ring with a man who is fired up to become the SCW Champion. He wants what he couldn’t achieve last year so another trip to the big dance should get him what he wants.

Mac is out to prove he truly is one of the biggest signings in this company and he could win this thing.

You however I see a lot of pressure on you… There is a lot more on you then there is with me. After all I am the rookie who has had the honour of making this far. If for some reason I do lose it really isn’t a lost. The company will know that I am a top tier athlete. I have all of the makings to be one of the best bombshells of the future and I know opportunities are going to rise up.

However with you everything you have worked so hard for could be gone in a simple flash. Your hope to become the next contender for the World Championship could fade away and on top of that you could lose your championship in the process. All of it could go… POOF… Just like that…

I know deep down that definitely scares you…

I love being able to wrestle with no strings attached. It feels liberating and it makes me feel like I can go out to that ring and do what I do best. However that’s how I love it. I love the challenges because I feel like they have toughen me up and they have made me stronger in the end. Do you really feel like you are in the prime shape to really beat such a hungry challenger?!

Have your mandatories put you in the best possible position for this… That’s why nobody likes Mandatories… They are a joke. People tend to know what’s going to happen before it even does. They seem to be that of one sided affairs.

There’s nothing fun about that… It’s whatever though. The way I see it though. On Sunday this little girl has all of the potential to make all of her dreams come to pass. People will finally be able to accept me, and I will have that solo act.

Sunday I will stand out and I truly will be all that glitters in the dark. I will shine brightly and you my dear will become nothing more than an afterthought. I carry a lot on my shoulders and I won’t be disappointed. You think you have what it takes to finally have that break through moment?! You want to march your way towards being in position for your twentieth championship?!

You got to get through me and I doubt you will make it beyond me.

I am sorry you had to deal with this MISERY BUSINESS but THAT’S WHAT YOU GET when you were forced to step in the ring with me. I have plans of CRUSHCRUSHCRUSHing your dreams and leaving you emptied handed.

Honestly I [/b]HATE TO SEE YOUR HEART BREAK[/b] but AIN’T IT FUN the type of music we will make together. Too bad your record officially gets broken and when everything settles I TOLD YOU SO This is my path to the top and nobody will get in the way of that…

I won’t make it easy on you… I am the most hungry woman in all of this tournament and losing would be OUTRAGEOUS…

So bring your best but it’s not going to be enough. I will have my hand raised and I will have a one way ticket to the next Super Card’s main event where I will fight for the SCW World Championship.

Bring it Bitch but it just won’t be enough because I WANT IT MORE…

Cheers…

[Myra Rivers]

"The taste of being at the top... once you experience it, you never forget it and you never want to go so long without experiencing it again. But for me, living the dream for the first time ever as the most incredible I ever felt in my life up to that point..."

June 2008

“You did it, Myra!”

The words of my sister Adrianna as she handed me the WXWF World Championship, my first world title of my career, rang through me with an amazing buzz. I was composed… until I grabbed the championship for the first time. Once I clutched it, my eyes filled up with tears of joy. I was thinking about every single piece of adversity that I had gone through. My father put me through hell for years. Three months ago, many in NSWA had dismissed me as a nobody. I was overcome by the moment that I collapsed to my knees with the title still clutched to my chest, crying my eyes out with joy. Adrianna kneeled down to hug me.

“I’ve NEVER been happier in my life…” I said through my tears. “I went through SO much. So many times, I had my moments where I didn’t think it was possible. It’d be even better if my mom… oh god…”

I paused for a moment, remembering her.

“Mom… this is for you! You were the first person to ever believe in me and to support me in this dream of mine and… I wish you were still here. I wish that you could celebrate this with me. The fact that you’re not… it leaves an empty hole in my heart still… but we won this together…”

“Somewhere, wherever she is, she’s celebrating you right now.” Adrianna told me, resulting in me feeling so much better.

“Thank you… you’re right!” I admitted, as we hugged each other in one of the warmest embraces I’ve ever experienced.

"To be THIS close again…”I thought to myself in the present…”For the first time in more than four years? It's a thrill... but holy crap, I'd be lying if I said I wasn't nervous about falling short again..."

March 22, 2021

Just shy of midnight, I was having myself a punching bag session, completely out of the ordinary. I was visualizing Ruby Steele in a way as I kept punching and kicking as hard as I could, not caring about the fact that it was late and past my normal bedtime.

“I can’t lose…” I thought to myself. “So many times over the last few years, I’ve come close to being a world champion, but I’ve always fell short. To fall short AGAIN… I don’t know if I could handle it… coming so close, and yet so far. I’d feel like I’d let my mother down and I’ve done that so many times in my career.”

“What the hell, Myra?” I heard Adrianna’s voice surprise me from behind as she entered the basement. “Why are you training so late?”

“I can’t lose this match, Adri…” I said, expressing some worry. “To come so close and fail now… I don’t want to imagine how painful that would be for me. The biggest match I’ve ever had in SCW… losing it would cast so much doubt upon me…”

“Hey… let’s sit down…” Adrianna said as she guided me away from the bag and over to a couch that we sat on together. “I get it. Big match. Big pressure. But you can’t let anyone’s doubt about you get to you…”

“No… it’s not doubt from anyone else… it’s doubt coming from ME. What if this is all just smoke and mirrors and it’s really just a last gasp and not me being the best I’ve ever been?”

“Trust yourself!” Adrianna told me. “You’ve got this. Just relax, alright? Deep breaths, lie down, do what you have to do…”

Adrianna gave me a half embrace before she left me alone. I took a couple of deep breaths and lied on the couch, thoughts racing through my mind.

“I never, ever thought I’d be in this position again…” I thought to myself. “When I signed with SCW last year, I could’ve never dreamed I’d be a Blast from the Past finalist. Yet, here I am… the biggest match of my career in SCW. The spotlight is on me. This is the match that will determine what my true potential is. I’ve experienced that ‘so close’ heartbreak many times before… and I never, ever want to experience it again… yet, I worry that I will and that everything will collapse around me again… I worry that…”

My tired body wouldn’t let me finish the thought as I fell asleep…

A short time later…

“Myra…” I heard a feminine voice whisper to me. “...Myra wake up…”

My eyes began to flutter open and the first thing I saw was a television that I had no memory of. I sat up and found myself surprised as I saw nothing but light and nothing but white. The couch I was sleeping on the same, but everything else felt so different. I felt warm, relaxed and happy to be in this heavenly environment. As I was taking it in, I felt someone sit next to me on the couch.

“Want to watch some of my old wrestling matches?” I heard… and then I was frozen in shock. I turned to my right and I saw my mother sitting there with a remote control in hand, smiling at me. I felt an indescribable joy seeing her again.

“Mom…” I said softly as we exchanged a long embrace. I didn’t care about anything else at the moment… just that I was with her again: finally. “I’ve missed you so much… it’s been almost 30 years…”

“I always told you I’d be here for you…” she reminded me. “Remember how when you were seven, we watched some of my matches and you told me you wanted to be a wrestler?”

“How can I forget that?” I asked. “Why are you here with me now?”

“I’ve always been watching you…” she told me. “You have been an amazing wrestler and even better, an amazing daughter. You’ve grown into the best daughter any mother could ask for. But nothing pains me more to see you beat yourself up, doubt yourself and question yourself and after all of these years, it’s time for that to stop. It’s time for you to realize how strong you truly are and achieve your destiny. I know that me not being around anymore has caused you so much pain and I’m here to help you heal… at last…”

“I never thought that I could…” I admitted with tears in my eyes. “I’ve always felt like… whenever I lost a big match… that I’d let you down and that you’d be disappointed in me. I don’t know how to move on from your death, let it go and stop worrying so much and that more than anything has crippled me throughout my career over and over again…”

“I’m here to guide you, Miranda…” my mother said as she wiped away my tears like she always would.

“From day one, my biggest fear in wrestling has been letting you down… and I know I’ve done so… MANY times! Every time I’ve lost a title, every time I’ve slipped up and done something horrible, my whole run in GCW, abusing my proteges, throwing away everything you ever taught me… I’ve always been a disappointment to you.”

“Can I let you in on a secret?” she asked me, to which I responded with a nod. “You’ve fallen and stumbled hard, harder in some moments than in others. You’ve done things that I’d never approve of. But you’ve never disappointed me or let me down…”

My teary eyes widened with shock, hearing this from her.

“Really?” I said with an exasperated gasp. She nodded, further confirming this.

“But I’ve made the worst mistakes of my life and lost some of the biggest matches of my career that I’ve dedicated to you…”

“Miranda… I think we should watch some TV…”

I was confused as my mother turned on the remote. That confusion turned to shock when I saw myself sitting on a crate, dejected, in August of 2009.

“Remember this?”

“It was the night that I suffered my first loss of the PRW World title… but I never recorded a backstage reaction…”

“This is coming from your memories, sweetheart…” my mother said with confidence as she clicked the play button.

“I blew it…” I watched myself say back in 2009. “All the hard work that I had done to become PRW World Champion and I lose the title in TWO months? All that work was for NOTHING! I’m just a fluke! Everything that I’ve done in PRW means nothing now! I really was a Cinderella story that was at the right place at the right time. I’m just the idiot that never deserved the title and only got it because I was a vacancy fill in… all of my critics are right… I really am a fluke… sorry Mom…”

I cringed for a bit when my mother paused the screen.

“Why are you showing me this?” I asked. “That was so hard to watch. I understand that losing that title was the first time I was ever beaten for a title in the ring, but damn… I beat myself up THAT bad? I acted like it was the end of the world when I bounced back and regained that title a year later…”

“Let’s watch another clip…” my mother said as she forwarded to another memory of mine.

“DAMN IT!” I watched myself scream as I found myself in a Vancouver hotel in July of 2012! “A match that I dedicated to my mother… against my biggest rival EVER… on PRW’s flagship stage where I had never lost… and the BITCH BEAT ME! This isn’t FAIR!”

Seeing myself so distraught over this loss was a difficult cross to bear, but I kept watching.

“Maybe I shouldn’t bother trying to be relevant anymore…” I said in that moment with tears in my eyes. “I’ve dealt with so much injuries and criticism and when I’m able to get in the ring, I can’t get the job done. I choked… I blew it… all I proved is that I’ll never be a champion again. Why should I bother doing this anymore?”

Once again, my mother paused the screen.

“Oh gosh…” I said with a sigh. “There I am, beating myself up again. Why do I keep doing that to myself? There I am worrying about never being a champion again and not being relevant anymore and four months later, I won the PRW Intercontinental title and became a triple crown champion.

“Do you want to watch another one?” my mother asked me. “There is plenty more where that came from. No, I think we should do a pop quiz.”

“You’re enjoying this aren’t you, mother?”

“This hurts me more than I should hurt you. I’m going to name off three more heartbreaking losses where you felt like you let me down… and I want you to tell me how you got through it. Let’s see… how about your entire run in UWA? That really made you question your worth as a person…”

“Yeah…” I admitted with a bit of a cringe. “...but I kept my career going and thrived in GCW and Carnage after that…”

“What about when you left Carnage in disgrace following the last time you competed for a world title?”

“Shoot… my whole career in SCW is how I bounced back from that. I remember my career being over…”

“And when your career really WAS over?” my mother reminded me. “PRW. Your last match there, when you retired?”

“I not only came back to wrestling, but I became better than EVER… and my last match in PRW… you know the story of how that broke me for two years. God, it’s like every time I go through some horrible adversity, I somehow survive and get stronger out of that and….”

I gasped with shock, this time for a good reason. Tears were streaming down my face again, but these were happy tears when I realized the whole point my mother was trying to make.

“...I keep getting stronger…. I keep getting better! I overcame everything that my father put me through to even realize my dream at all. No wonder I’ve never let you down because you’ve seen me grow stronger…”

“You are the strongest, most resilient person I have ever known…” she tells me as she gently grabs one of my hands and uses her other one to wipe my tears away. “You’ve been through so much… you’ve been through hell in your career, hell that so few people in life could ever endure… but you survive… you grow… you learn… you bounce back… and through all of that, you’ve accomplished everything you have as a wrestler, as a mother, as a human being… and there isn’t ANYONE that can take that away from you. You’re a SURVIVOR, a FIGHTER! Your resiliency is what makes you special… you will ALWAYS be special because of how strong you are!”

“I beat myself down over and over again because I’ve always felt like I’ve had to live up to your standards. Like I’ve said… with my career, you’ve always been the reason.”

“I’m touched by that…” my mother says to me. “...but let me tell you Miranda, the way you’re going to have inner peace is not only remembering that I will ALWAYS be here for you, but I will ALWAYS love you and be proud of you! There is NOTHING anyone else can do or anyone else can say that will take away the amazing things you’ve done and the amazing things you’re destined for!”

“Thank you so much, mom!” I said with joy as we both became locked in a hug that I didn’t want either of us to let go of. “Now that I know how strong I am, I’m finally going to heal from all the pain your death had caused me for so long after all these years. It’s nice that I’m finally starting to get some inner peace. I’m never going to worry again… I’m never going to beat myself down when things go wrong… I know that the only standards that matter are mine and as long as in my heart, I meet them, anything anyone else says doesn’t matter… I finally realize what I’m capable of as a human being and it’s an amazing feeling…”

Suddenly, the television in front of us delivered a bright flash…

...and then I awakened…

March 23, 2021

I was lying on the couch again, seeing “5:16 AM” on a clock across the room. I was floored by the dream I just had and my eyes were widened with surprise when I saw Adrianna standing above me. I sat up, and she sat next to me. She wrapped an arm around me showing me how worried she was. Little did she know that internally, I was feeling free as a bird for the first time since my mother’s death. The more my inner peace flowed through me, the happier I became…

“Is everything okay, Myra?” Adrianna asked me with a concerned tone of voice. I continued to smile as I stood up, much to her surprise. Still, she stood up with me. I let some thoughts go through my head. I let the realization that I hadn’t let my mother down, ever, warm my spirit. Happiness rushed through my soul when I realized that I was at last, beginning to let go of her death and the pain it brought me.

“I just realized something, Adri…” I prefaced. “...about the finals…”

“What’s that?”

“We’re going to win…” I said with a confident smile, much to her surprise.

“I’m happy that you feel that way considering you were so worried about six hours ago. How do you know you’re going to win?”

“"Everything in my SCW journey so far gives me no reason to think otherwise… and today… of ALL days… on the 13th anniversary of that ladder match… I know that I should never… EVER stop believing no matter how bad things get… no matter how daunting, no matter how bleak things look. I realize now that I never let my mother down no matter how many times I stumbled and fell. I realize now that I’m worth so much more than I give myself credit for at times. Regardless of what happens at Blaze of Glory, I know I'm going tobe alright. I know I’ve got the brightest futures ahead of me and there is no bombshell in that locker room that can put a damper on it no matter how hard they try… everything that I’ve been through in my SCW journey… and in my career… has led up to this. I’ve never felt stronger or happier than I do right now… and deep down in my heart, deep down in my SOUL… I KNOW that Mac and I are going to win Blast from the Past…”

“Go get ‘em sis!” Adrianna said with beaming pride in her voice. “You’re going to make everyone that loves you and cares about you proud… and the most amazing moments of your career are yet to come!”

“You’ve got that right…” I said with confidence and with determination as I began to go about my day… a very special day considering that this was the 13th anniversary of my big breakthrough moment in this business.

From this moment forward, I was certainly seeing my career in a different perspective…

March 26, 2021

And so… with the camera in front of me, and with my newfound strength, courage and motivation flowing through me, I reflected on my whole journey in SCW and some of the words that Ruby Steele had said about me. Ruby’s words in no way brought me down or made me doubt myself. In fact, the more I thought about them, the more angry I had become. It wasn’t an anger that made me want to kill her, it was an anger that motivated me even FURTHER to win Blast from the Past. It was this anger that allowed me to speak directly from my heart and soul…

“Ruby… you’d like for me to say that your words got to me right? I bet you do, considering how much you ‘despise me’ and all. But let me tell you something… hell, let me EDUCATE YOU on how this business really words. First off, you DIDN’T get to me. All you did was make me even MORE motivated to shut you the FUCK up and it doesn’t come from a personal place of contempt because ultimately, you’re not important enough for me to have any feelings about you whatsoever, it comes from a place where you decided to be the personification of anyone in this business that ever doubted me when I first came up in this business. With your PREDICTABLE words, you showed me how LITTLE you REALLY know about me or this business. I KNEW you were going to brag about beating Roxi. I KNEW you were going to try to spin the narrative… an OPINIONATED narrative… about how Mac and I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for Christina. Would Mac and I have gotten to this point without that crap? YOU BET we would’ve! I KNOW I still would’ve beaten Amber interference or not and that’s ALL I have to say about that. I KNEW that you were going to try to pick apart every single title defense that I’ve had during my reign. I KNEW that you were going to try to put as many asterisks as possible to make it as meaningless as you can make it all while showing the DISRESPECT you have for the LEGACY of this company trashing some of the most historic names in Bombshell history like Sam Marlowe and Seleana Zdunich.

You expect me to stand here and defend my reign, right? I’m not going to do that because there’s NOTHING to defend. All the garbage you said about my reign, and how I’m a paper champion? That’s all an OPINION and those are words, Ruby that are MEANINGLESS and EMPTY! You can trash my reign all you want, but that doesn’t take away the fact that I STILL did what I have to do and that I STILL broke the records. The truth of the matter is Ruby, you choose to come after me in that way, you choose to attack me, you choose to try to paint this picture that I’m this AWFUL champion… because when you look in the mirror, what the fuck do you see? A scared, insecure little girl who has never been in this type of spotlight before who, instead of finding ways to be better every single day, has to talk the way she does and try to diminish what other people have accomplished. YOU are the one that feels the NEED to try to diminish what I’ve done because even with how far you’ve come in this tournament, you don’t have a damn thing to your name that you get to brag about. You look in the mirror and you see someone that ISN’T a standout in any way. You look in the mirror and what you see is someone who feels the need to bring others down because they’re INSECURE with their own abilities.

And believe me, Ruby… I’ve seen many like you come and I’ve seen many like you go. You try to diminish my successes in SCW because there are virtually NO failures for you to shove down my throat. You want to paint this picture that my last ‘real fight’ was against Kate, you want to talk about how I’ve ‘done nothing’ with my title and all of this disrespectful nonsense… but something that I learned 13 years ago is that the way OTHERS define me DON’T MATTER! What TRULY matters is how I define myself, and Ruby, I know in my heart that I’ve been the best damn Internet champion that I’ve been taking on all comers. TWICE other women have stepped up to try and challenge me and I’ve accepted their challenge and won. You think a bunch of empty words are going to take away what I’ve accomplished? Sit down! No, really, check your ego at the fucking door and sit the fuck down. You want to act like you’ve got this in the bag because you’re undefeated and you just pinned Roxi and you think you're this star in the making that is set to be world champion, but I’m going to paint a REALITY CHECK for you, CHILD, you don’t know SHIT about how to be a world champion. You want to come in here and you want to act like winning and winning alone makes you a world champion.

But that’s far from the truth, Ruby.

What makes you a world champion isn’t just success, it’s FAILURE.

And you can’t be a world champion without experiencing the taste of failure first and believe me, I’ve experienced TONS of it over my career. HOW many times have I had the chance in my career to be a world champion and I’ve FAILED? A LOT!

Hell, when I first got to SCW, I came in having been a “failure” in Carnage considering how I TRIED AND FAILED to be a world champion there.

I’ve suffered some painful, heartbreaking losses on the big stage time and time again and over the years, I’ve proven just how strong and resilient I am in the face of adversity! I’ve cheated retirement again and again, Ruby. A decade ago, I suffered an ankle injury that was supposed to CRIPPLE ME… I was even TOLD that my career was over, straight to my face… but in the face of adversity, I survived and I came back and became a champion again. Eight years ago, I had actually retired to become a mother after the most haunting loss of my career. I faced the adversity in making a comeback in this business even after the WORST failure of my WHOLE CAREER when I tried to win a world championship in honor of my mother and unborn daughter and wound up failing to do so and every FUCKING TIME I go through some of the most heartbreaking shit I’ll ever go through in my career, I still come back and I still grow and I still get better and stronger and everything that I’ve been through, good and bad, success and failure, has made me the woman and the wrestler that I am today and all the failure and adversity that I’ve been through? I don’t let it beat me anymore. I don’t take it for granted and act like it never happened anymore because I’m too afraid to face it Ruby… and the day for YOU to face failure and adversity is this Sunday!

I admit and completely own up to the fact that throughout my whole career, my worst enemy wasn’t some rival in a previous company that sent me into a dark retirement that made me self-destruct like I did in GCW. I admit that my worst enemy wasn’t a company like Carnage or UWA or a person like my father. I admit that until recently, my worst enemy was ME. Nobody punished me nor beat me down for my own failures more than me and that caused me so much pain to the point where not only have I fucked up and done some awful things over the years, but where I have anchored myself in big stage, big time matches like this and SORRY RUBY… but I have OUTGROWN that phase of my career now. If you got me a decade, a year, or GOD even a MONTH ago, you MAY have been able to take advantage of me being my worst enemy, but the fact of the matter is you CAN’T and you WON’T because I’m NOT running from failure anymore, I embrace it! I THRIVE in failure because that failure makes me more successful! I EMBRACE my shortcomings and EMBRACE my past failures because I would have NEVER, EVER become the success that I’ve become in Sin City Wrestling without them…

And THAT, Ruby… is why Mac and I are going to win this damn tournament!

You are NOT CAPABLE of handling failure… and I know that because you don’t even CONSIDER the possibility of falling short in this tournament. So imagine the culture shock that’s going to come your way… when I defeat you, win this tournament and retain my Internet Championship. Oh you’re going to be HATING yourself for WEEKS… and I KNOW this because I WAS just like you and I’ve BEEN through that wringer when someone humbles me and knocks me on my ass… something which YOU are WAY overdue for! Think about it… you win and you beat a “paper champion”, so your victory, in theory, ‘isn’t impressive’ based on your own words… but you lose to this ‘paper champion’ and oh you REALLY look like a fucking idiot!

You’re REALLY going to be soaking in failure now!

In my heart, in my soul, Ruby, I know I was made to win this tournament! The biggest thing I’ve learned in SCW, aside from believing in myself again of course, is that I am capable of ANYTHING in this business that my heart and soul desires and that I WILL achieve what I am capable of and WILL achieve my fullest potential as a professional wrestler REGARDLESS of what empty, shallow, jealous, insecure people like YOU have to say to try to diminish my success and act like it’s all a fluke with your baseless opinions that you only spewed because just like ANYONE named Steele, you have NOTHING substantial to say. NONE of your pathetic, empty words are going to stop me, nor slow me down and hell, even if you DO win this tournament, you’re STILL not going to slow me down. The only thing YOU’D be giving me is another failure to learn and grow from so I can be more successful in this company and you can hate me all you want to Ruby, you can try to diminish me and try to reduce me to this ‘paper champion’ label all you want, but win or lose… you can never, EVER stop me from becoming SCW Bombshells World Champion. You’re a speed bump, AT BEST for me Ruby. PERIOD!

Everything that I’ve ever experienced in this business: success and failure… has all led to this… the biggest match of my SCW career… and from day one of this journey, I have become the champion that you could only DREAM of being, Ruby. Being a champion isn’t just about holding a belt… it’s about showing what you’re made of through good times and bad… it’s about failing, stumbling and falling and getting right back up. You may be able to delay my ultimate goal, but you, nor ANYONE in this company that dares to try to bring me down isn’t going to stop me from getting there. I came to this company to redeem myself for my past wrongs and to prove I can make it back to the top the RIGHT way…

Which I will… after Mac and I win Blast from the Past first…

I’ll NEVER stop believing in myself and what I’m all about… no matter how much an empty, vapid, clueless bitch like you tries to say and do to drag me down...