[Only seven years ago, Mercedes Vargas stood triumphantly inside a SCW ring at the inaugural Inception event. In front of a packed house at National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, the Argentine pulled off a hard fought victory to retain the Bombshell Roulette Championship. Facing an Amazon like Traci Patterson was a tough task all its own but Mercedes was up for the challenge. Against the overwhelming odds and strength of Traci, Mercedes has proven over the years that she was very, very difficult to keep down. She made that clear in prevailing in this Roulette Rules Last Bombshell Standing match, and still was fortunate enough that her hair and makeup stayed roughly in place.
Five years ago, Delia Darling, Angelica and Veronica Taylor all entered the ring to celebrate in victory with Mercedes Vargas following her win over Celeste North in a lumberjill match, ending a months-long feud between North and the Mean Girls. Whatever happens in Vegas this night would not stay there as Mercedes and the rest of the stable are presented with a loud chorus of boos.
Three years ago, Mercedes was close to making history. But close doesn’t win wrestling matches, especially ladder matches. The field for the Golden Briefcase ladder match was already tough as it is. Mercedes Lewis, Kate Steele, Apple Coren, Trinity Jones, and Pandora Barrett. Like Mercedes, all were driven and had the same goal in mind, but there could only be one. And just like in Vegas, sometimes a little luck can help you along the way. Lady Luck smiled on Kate Steele as she grabbed the briefcase, earning herself a shot at any championship of her choosing. For Mercedes, her undefeated streak at Inception was no more.
One year ago, Mercedes Vargas and Alicia Lukas battled in a match that had the makings of an instant classic. It helps that these two were longtime rivals even before they met in Sin City Wrestling and plan on settling things under the bright lights of Vegas. Another chapter was written in this memorable encounter. Mercedes put up a hard and valiant effort but history was not on her side as Alicia prevailed again just as in their first singles encounter in SCW. It also didn’t help that Mercedes lost in Vegas and at Inception for the second event consecutively.
The memories are still vivid in her mind. Each moment from Inception, good and bad, still serves as an inspiration for Mercedes to create one more, to add one more to her already impressive Hall of Fame resume.]
~~~
Blog: Almighty Firesemana del 9 al 15 de enero de 2022 I used to think that I was a loner, that I never even had fans. As it turns out, I was very wrong. See, you learn eventually that haters are literally your biggest fans. They go out of their way. Without even following you, to see everything you do. Talk about you. Obsess over you. It’s a win either way, no?
For those of you who didn't see my last match of 2021, you missed one hell of a show. And if you missed my match, which I hope is very few of you, you definitely need to see it on replay. Match of the Year, people. I was taken to my very limits, and my opponent pulled off one of the greatest upsets in history by pinning my shoulders to the mat uno, dos, tres. I mean, it was unbelievable.
You want to know what's really unbelievable? It's that I actually took Krystal Wolfe seriously.
Am I disappointed that I lost my last match of 2021 to Krystal?
Yes.
Am I rightfully peeved about Ariana Angelos and Amy Santino sticking their nose in my business?
Emphatic yes.
Am I going to have a pity party and consider myself a failure?
No.
It’s about big picture. At the end of the day, I accomplished quite a lot in 2021, and I plan to keep it rolling in the new year. That said, a new year means everyone in SCW is looking to get off to a hot start and get that next title opportunity. And what better way for SCW kicking off 2022 in style than with Inception V in Reno. I’m all for it. Goth and I defend the titles for the first time since we won them from Austin and Tempest, which wasn’t easy. How do you think their reign lasted for almost six months?
So, after a well deserved break and looking forward to what this year has in store, it seems as if we have a problem here, SCW. Why did it take so long for management to find Goth and I challengers when you have a talented roster?
Why were we kept in the dark on who would be stepping up to us in Reno in two weeks. Inquiring minds want to know. I get being a champion in SCW has its perks and all. But it means that you are also a marked wrestler. You can never let your guard down, and I’m sure there’s no shortage of challengers that would love to be us right now.
I get that Crystal and Brayden wanted a title opportunity, but there’s a reason why after Goth and I won these titles why we would take on any team as long as that team didn’t include Crystal. She’s the name-brand version of Jessie - only more manipulative. Those who know Crystal knows that she never does anything because it’s the right, decent, honest, generous, or unselfish thing to do. She does it because it will either get her in the news, it will build her brand, or it will curry favor with SCW in getting some title opportunity of some sort (I present to you Exhibit A: Inception IV). Usually, it's two or more of those, and often, it's all three. The saying goes that it’s better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt. It sure didn’t take long for Crystal and Brayden opening their mouths to prove why that is.
Its no secret Crystal wants to achieve the Grand Slam and she’s been gunning for the World Mixed Tag Team Championship ever since. She must have amnesia because she got the opportunity to achieve her dream at Violent Conduct, but she couldn’t get it done. Also, Crystal got pinned. Not to mention, but I’ll mention, that she was in a championship match in almost every pay-per-view last year, including each of the last two.
So if her argument wanting to face me seems flimsy - I’m sitting here trying to see things from her point of view but I can’t get my head that far up my ass - her son, Brayden’s, is a real head-scratcher. It’s laughable that Brayden and his wife continue to push this narrative about the so-called "unfair treatment" that Brayden has been receiving at the hands of the SCW powers-that-be, and a distinct lack of respect that he believes he is owed because of his name when he’s won only two matches, hasn’t won since Summer XXXTreme back in mid-July, and spent the better part of the year losing matches since then. Apparently, Crystal and Brayden’s argument was enough to convince Christian and Mark to get a future title opportunity.
You know what, fine. If Mark and Christian wants to give one of the most polarizing wrestlers in the company and her loser son a title opportunity, that’s on them. Because regardless of who walks out of Inception with the World Mixed Tag Team Championship, I guarantee you that Crystal won’t be getting that Grand Slam so she might as well settle on that sixth world title she’s been on about and Brayden can continue to run his mouth to anyone who give him the time of day, which is no one.
As for me, I can’t rest on my laurels, because the undefeated team of Kristopher Ryans and Mikah are next in line. I’ve got a title defense with Goth to look forward to next Sunday against a team that does matter. So with the odds against us, what do you think we’ll do to keep the World Mixed Tag Team Championship at Inception? When it comes to title defenses, I answer the bell. Why do you think I've been in over 60 championship matches in SCW? I react well under pressure and that's when I'm at my best. When I go into survival mode, I'm a tough challenge to any Bombshell on the roster and they know better never than to count me out, but you don't have to take my word for it.
I'm going to find a way to win this match, not a way out, at Inception.
There's a lot riding on this match.
If The Black Sheep both want what we have?
Well, now it's up to them to take it.~~~
Flashback - 23 January 2011Un Sueño - Faded Glory.
There’s no better feeling then ushering in the New Year, especially when you’re halfway across the world. London weather in January was a lot like the weather in New York, cold enough for you to dress in woolen socks all day, or having that glass of wine on a cold evening sitting by the fire and listening to your favorite music. Sure there’s the usual sights and the museums and markets but the best part about visiting London in January? It’s a great way to avoid the crowds at all the city’s attractions.
It’s my third year in professional wrestling and only my second time in London. Two years ago, fortune smiled on me when I won my debut. Tonight, I had a rematch for a championship I held for just short of an entire year. Some people called it an upset, some people called it dumb luck. Whatever you want to call it, I vowed that I would not go gentle into that good night.
The weather was bad enough.[Mercedes looks unsure of herself as she removes her glasses, shakes her hair loose, and tightens her overcoat. If she wasn’t sure before, she was sure that she was lost, which was the last situation no one wanted to face, especially in a big city like London.]
STRANGER: It looks like you're in trouble there, miss? Can I help?
And just when I this close losing my faith in mankind.MERCEDES: It is cold like death out here. How do you people survive?
STRANGER: Were you expecting sleds and a rescue team then?
This is the way most of my misadventures usually ended, or even started. I was still new to this globetrotter thing, but years later, when I upped my frequent flier miles, I learned that good help is really hard to find. The kindness of strangers.STRANGER: Sounds like your lost.
MERCEDES: Really? How could you tell?
STRANGER: Let’s start with you’re holding your map there the wrong way.
MERCEDES: Very observant. Ehm, can you tell me the way to the Waterloo Station?
STRANGER: You’re actually here right in the middle of Greenwich Park.
MERCEDES: OK?
STRANGER: All you need to do is continue straight on through St James’
Park…
MERCEDES: Yes…
STRANGER: And then, when you get to the Houses of Parliament, turn left.
MERCEDES: Uh...
STRANGER: Then go across the bridge…
MERCEDES: Ok…
STRANGER: And then it’s first right and you’re there, that’s Waterloo Station.
MERCEDES: Great, ok, so…ehm. Through Hyde Park, and then turn left at the Houses of Parliament…
STRANGER: No, no, no, right at the Houses of Parliament!
MERCEDES: Right! Right at the Houses of Parliament. Ehm… Cross the bridge…
STRANGER: That’s it!
MERCEDES: And then first to the right?
STRANGER: First on the right!
MERCEDES: First on the right!
STRANGER: And that’s Waterloo Station!
MERCEDES: Fantastic! Thank you very much.
STRANGER: No problem, you’re welcome!
MERCEDES: Bye!
Probably wasn’t my greatest moment, but it could have ended much, much worse. Whoever said getting there is half the fun probably didn’t have to walk in freezing temperatures in the middle of January.
Sometimes, all you need is a point in the direction.~~~
Present Day ♦ L O S A N G E L E S, C A L I F O R N I A[REC•]"Some things are better left unsaid, but you can bet I'm going to say it anyway. I can't help being who I am."
[Mercedes Vargas smirks at the camera as the scene fades in on the Hall of Famer and one-half of the current World Mixed Tag Team Champions at home in her residence. It’s been over a month since the last Climax Control and SCW event of 2021, two months since the last pay-per-view, back at High Stakes. Mercedes leisurely sits in an arm chair.]
“After a one year hiatus, yours truly is champion in Sin City Wrestling once again. Were you surprised that I’m holding gold again in Sin City Wrestling? I wasn’t. When you’re as successful as I am, these things tend to be par for the course.
“To anyone that’s ever been told you can’t do it or won’t make it, well I’ve been told that my whole life and today I woke up a fucking CHAMPION. I’m entering the new year as a champion.”
[Mercedes briefly looks at the World Mixed Tag Team Championship displayed on her coffee table then back at the camera as she begins thinking.]
“How many titles is it now?”
[Mercedes begin counting on her fingers.]
“Eleven, thirteen, fourteen, twenty-five? Who gives a shit, right? It’s been said my title reigns have been
inflated just for the sake of inflating my own ego. And while this couldn’t be further from the truth and because I love to tear down flimsy arguments like this, I can’t help but rub in the fact that while I had a rough couple of months to start the year, I was still able to have gold around my waist by the end of it - just like I said I would at the start of 2021 - and, of course, rewriting the history books as I wont to do. Yes, I love hearing the sound of my own voice and just as much love to relish of my achievements.”
[Mercedes pats herself on the back, which follows a self high-five.]
“Now, Goth and I get to face The Black Sheep, Kristopher Ryans and Mikah, at the supercard. The previews for this match couldn’t have said it better. Four Hall of Fame battling it out for the gold could very well mark this as one of the biggest matches in the history of the mixed tag team division. Kris and Mikah have been very successful as a team and in their solo careers, Goth and I have been just as successful in ours so it should come as no surprise why the four of us will fight from bell to bell for the World Mixed Tag Team Championship. It’s just too bad somebody has to lose. But is it really a loss when you’ve practically done it all?”
[Mercedes shrugs. She’s been in many dream matches in her career, and next Sunday was just anotherto add to the list. Whether you cheered or booed The Black Sheep, there was no denying that Kris and Mikah were coming back to claim their spot in the tag ranks, something Mikah was disinterested in even the World Bombshell Tag Team Championship were still active. Despite the World Mixed Tag Team Championship being four years old, it only took that one partner for Mikah to reconsider. Kris Ryan was that partner. Singles or tag, the Black Sheep would always have a legitimate claim as a threat to any title holder.]
“That being said, facing The Black Sheep will be a challenge, and that’s exactly what we want. When someone faces Kris or Mikah, they usually go at their relationship status, but I’m not going to do that because that’s low-hanging fruit and I’m better than that. Because that’s Kris and Mikah right, that’s Kris and Mikah, top of the mountain, the hood ornaments of SCW. Kris is SCW, SCW is Kris! I’m not surprised that people will be overlooking and underestimating us simply because of our history, more specifically my history with Mikah as I have never defeated her in all the time we’ve been in SCW. I’m sure that Kris and Mikah will be able to say that to all of you confidently that they will be walking out new champions, but time and again people end up paying the price for overlooking me. Kris and Mikah won’t be the first, they won’t be the last, but they will be wrong.
As far as Mikah goes, I’m glad this match is happening because I feel like we have a lot of catching up to do, don’t we, Mikah?
Hola, Mikah. ¿Cómo esta? Feliz año nuevo, a propósito. ¿Oí que usted, um, murió? Si sólo yo hubiera estado allí en su entierro para presentar mi últimos respetos. La cosa es, usted milagrosamente volvió a la vida ... tres días más tarde. Wow. Tengo que decir, esto es un acto resistente para seguir. ¿Qué es siguiente, andando por el echar agua?"
"Hello, Mikah. How are you? Happy New Year, by the way. I heard you, um, died? If only I would have been there at your funeral to pay my last respects. The thing is, you miraculously came back to life...three days later. Wow. I have to say, that's a tough act to follow. What's next? You're gonna start walking on water?"
Sigues ahi?
Are you still here?
[Mercedes offers a dismissive at the camera as she slips back into English.]
“You know, Mikah’s not as bad as people say. She’s a whole lot worse. Most people see her as a drama queen for good reason. The people who tolerate her on a daily basis are the real heroes. Myself for example. Because I have to promote this match, I’ll be nice and at least pretend to care.
I’m honestly surprised Mikah even accepted this match in the first place as I thought after she lost at High Stakes that she would be crawling back into retirement and living her best life in Hawaii drinking Pina Coladas through a straw with a little umbrella. If it wasn’t for Dani Weston calling her out for a match at the last supercard, I seriously doubt we’d be seeing Mikah in SCW again. Maybe she doesn’t have the willpower like Simon Jones, who has actually kept his word.
Then again, retirements are usually short-lived in wrestling and a comeback match evolves into a part or full-time return. Look what it did for Roxi.
I could retire right now and go down in history as the most decorated talent ever. I have nothing left to prove. In just nine years, I’ve already put together a career that is unrivaled of any woman, or man, in this company- past, present, or future. Not only was I part of one of the greatest stables of all time as part of The Mean Girls, but I’ve also enjoyed tremendous singles and tag team success. And nothing that happened last year suggests that I’m slowing down and I’m going to last a decent while longer.
Goth has proven his doubters wrong since his return last year, and you’ve seen it for yourselves. Given his status in the company, he easily could have entered the World Heavyweight Championship picture and probably would be a three-time champion right now. He still could this year.
It didn’t take long for Goth to prove why he is that damn good, and now he’s carrying one-half of the World Mixed Tag Team Championship and he couldn’t have found a better tag partner in yours truly. Usually these Lethal Lottery teams are hit-or-miss and there are many people who wondered how we would gel as a team. Despite our personalities, our desire to win and being successful is what make drives our team. We both have a proven track record of success in this company and there’s no doubt in my mind that we can achieve great things, no matter how many people want to see us fail - well, me in particular.
“There is no denying that Mikah will make this match personal. I know she’s going to beat me over the head that I’ve never beat her, she’s going to tell the world how she’s Mark Ward’s favorite Bombshell and no one holds a candle to her, she’s going to come at me with her best disses and put downs, but when you’ve been successful for a very long time, you’ve become immune to all that. I don’t get rattled, I don’t panic, I’m not stressed. Jealousy, resentment? There’s nothing Mikah has done that I have to be jealous about. Blondes may have more fun, but we brunettes handle business, and from who’s holding gold, business has been looking pretty good right now. Mikah will bring her best at the supercard, she’s going to bring her best next Sunday because I won’t expect anything less and just as well she knows that I will bring my best because I’m not leaving this match, this city, or this pay-per-view without that title. Most of all, this mamita she will respect and know who I am and what I’ve done.
“There’s only a seven year age difference between Mikah and I. For someone who has been out of the ring for two years, Mikah didn’t seem to miss a beat and she went undefeated last year and I won’t take that away from her. But I’m realistic and I’m prepared as I’ll ever be. In this new era in SCW, I’ve been hearing that I’m arguably past my prime, but I continue to defy those expectations, both through actions and words. I live rent-free in a lot of heads in the women’s division, like Team Hero, for instance, and, yes, even Mikah.”
[This is what Mercedes believed anyway. She may even be wrong, but not from it.]
“All this time, I haven’t even made my New Year’s resolution yet. And no, they don't involve a scale or cutting carbs, trying to be a better person, or saving or spending less money.
[Mercedes grabs her championship, placed it over her shoulder, offers a defiant glance.]
“It’s keeping these titles away from The Black Sheep.”
***Fade***