{The scene opens at the Johnson household where Roxi has returned from Inception and enters the house. Nate runs up to Roxi and gives her a big hug as she puts her bags down.}
Nate – Mommy!
Roxi – Hi Nater! Were you a good boy while I was away?
Nate – Uh-huh!
Roxi – Good.
{Nate kisses Roxi and runs off to continue playing. Keira comes up to Roxi and also gives her a kiss and a hug, but she can see the almost stunned look in Roxi’s face.}
Keira – Hey.
Roxi – Hey.
Keira – So... are you okay?
Roxi – Yeah, fine.
Keira – Are you sure?
Roxi – Yes.
Keira – So... then... what happened?
{Roxi picks up her bags and shrugs with a sigh.}
Roxi – I lost.
Keira – Right. I know that part. What happened?
Roxi – I didn’t take it as seriously as I should have. I got complacent.
{Roxi heads towards the bedroom where she sets her bag on the bed and begins to take out her gear in order to wash it. Keira has followed Roxi into the bedroom and hugs her from behind.}
Keira – I'm sorry.
Roxi – For what?
Keira – I... I thought you had that one.
Roxi – Yeah, I did too. But that’s just how it works sometimes.
Keira – But you are better than that. You should have won.
Roxi – And I didn’t. It happens.
{Keira looks at Roxi, puzzled herself at Roxi being so nonchalant about the whole thing.}
Keira – Aren't you upset?
Roxi – Well, obviously, I’m a little annoyed, but there’s not much I can do to change it now. I just have to be better next time.
Keira – No, I see it in your face. Even you can’t believe what happened.
Roxi – I said as much. It was as much of a shock to me as it was to you. But losses happen.
Keira – You are almost too comfortable with this loss. I don’t want you to be comfortable with that. You know what the next step is? Jobber to the stars!
{Roxi raises an eyebrow to Keira.}
Roxi – It's not that serious.
Keira – Okay, okay, maybe not that bad. But it causes a little concern in me, and your fans and all that.
Roxi – It was one match, Keira. If I’m not mistaken, I don’t think your last match was -
Keira – That wasn’t the point of that match, and you know it.
Roxi – Still, can’t win them all.
Keira – It's just odd.
{Roxi eyes that Keira seems more manic than usual.}
Roxi – You seem very agitated for some reason.
Keira – I'm fine.
Roxi – You're also a bad liar.
{Keira sighs.}
Keira – Do you know our son wants to be a wrestler?
Roxi – Our son is also 5. and also wants to be an astronaut and a farmer and a fighter pilot for the rebellion. He’s a child, Keira. Children say things all the time.
Keira – No, you didn’t see the look in his face. He wants to be like us.
Roxi – I'd just...chill out on that. He’s 5, he might just grow out of it.
Keira – Roxi, he’s around it all the time. Sometimes I take him down to classes to give your mom a break. He’s around it. He sees it. He gets in the ring and goofs around. It’s... it’s in his blood now.
Roxi – And you don’t want that?
Keira – What? No! He’s... he’s my baby. He will get hurt!
Roxi – He fell outside and hurt himself all the time, Keira.
Keira – But I was there! I can protect him. I can’t do that in the ring. Not even if he wrestles!
Roxi – Keira!
{Keira is now pacing and Roxi has to stop her, and place her hands on her shoulders.}
Roxi – Relax.
Keira – It's not okay, Roxi. You know that.
Roxi – Ultimately, it’ll be his choice. But again... let’s just understand that right now, he’s 5. Okay? Relax. If he wants to do this when he’s older, then we’ll cross that road when it comes to it. But right now, the kid wants to be lots of things. It’s okay.
Keira – Maybe... you’re right.
Roxi – I know how you feel. I do. But right now, he’s fine. It’s a kid being a kid.
Keira – I'm sorry, things have just been wild lately. These classes are stressful nowadays.
Roxi – You know, you can take a break. Keri and Angelica can handle things just as well. We have Jessie and Kim and Stacy and even Griff who can come by and do training.
Keira – I know, but, that just means I’d be focused on watching you and then that makes me think about... other things.
Roxi – Didn't you retire?
Keira – Yeah, I did. I mean... I am. I am retired.
Roxi – Okay then. Just relax.
Keira – Can... can I help you train for your next match?
Roxi – Sure.
Keira – Good, I want to be sure you’re ready.
Roxi – Keira...
Keira – Oh, and I don’t need Nate watching either. I want him far away from wrestling right now.
Roxi – Keira!
{Keira sighs again.}
Keira – You’re right, I should let the kid, be the kid. I mean, it’s not like he wants to be a superhero or something...
{Keira’s eyes widen as she looks at Roxi.}
Roxi – Yeah... let’s... not talk about this stuff anymore, okay?
Keira – Deal. I’m gonna go make dinner.
{Keira hurriedly exits the room as Roxi sits down on the bed, stretching out and shaking her head before going to wash her gear as the scene fades.}
{The new scene is Roxi walking up on the doorstep of Amy Jo Smyth yet again. She knocks, and soon enough AJ comes to the door, a knowing look on her face.}
Amy Jo Smyth – You must need something.
Roxi – Yes, and no.
Amy Jo Smyth – It’s 99% of the reason you visit me.
Roxi – I’m sorry about that. I should visit you more often. And I still owe you a trip to Studio 54.
Amy Jo Smyth – You owe me a lot of things, Roxi.
Roxi – I will get you that jacket, okay?
Amy Jo Smyth – You better. And yes, we are going to Studio 54.
Roxi – You know it’s an opera house now, right?
Amy Jo Smyth – And we will go there, and we will dance.
Roxi – Okay, okay. You got it.
Amy Jo Smyth – Now, what is it you need, and what the hell happened in your match last time?
{Roxi rolls her eyes.}
Roxi – I lost.
Amy Jo Smyth – Yeah, I know. What the shit, Roxi?
{Roxi sighs.}
Roxi – I lost. That’s about it.
Amy Jo Smyth – You clearly should have won.
Roxi – I know, and I didn’t. That’s what happened.
Amy Jo Smyth – Get your ass in gear, Roxi. I don’t want to hear about you slipping up when you’re better than that. I didn’t retire to watch you mess up your career.
Roxi – It was one match. One. You and my wife are freaking out over this and it’s weird. But, I appreciate your encouragement.
Amy Jo Smyth – Well, you should.
Roxi – ANYWAY, can I talk to you?
Amy Jo Smyth – Are we not talking?
Roxi – Okay, smart ass. I meant about why I’m here.
{Now, it’s AJ’s turn to sigh.}
Amy Jo Smyth – So, you’re not here simply to go to Studio 54?
Roxi – No. I need your help.
{AJ rolls her eyes and motions for Roxi to come in.}
Amy Jo Smyth – What else is new.
Roxi – Also, wait... is Anya here?
Amy Jo Smyth – No. She comes and goes. Got her own... Things she does, I guess.
Roxi – Okay.
Amy Jo Smyth – Are you avoiding her?
Roxi – No. I just don’t want to be talking about things we shouldn’t be in front of her.
Amy Jo Smyth – I see. Come on.
Roxi – Thank you.
{AJ leads Roxi into her house and into the basement/lab that AJ has set up.
Amy Jo Smyth – So, what this about now? Secret formulas? Explosions? It's explosions, right? Please tell me, it's explosions?
Roxi – Remember how I told you about a brewing gang war?
Amy Jo Smyth – And remember when I told you I’m out of favors with the CIA?
Roxi – Yeah, but what if I have some information.
Amy Jo Smyth – With some evidence, at least your case is stronger.
Roxi – Well, there seem to be three players in this. Maybe four.
Amy Jo Smyth – Oooh! A mystery!
Roxi – There’s Louie’s gang, possibly the Hamiltons.
Amy Jo Smyth – Okay, I mean, that really isn’t going to be CIA.
Roxi – And this third guy... Refers to himself as the Hidden Hand.
Amy Jo Smyth – Nice. Cleche, but nice.
Roxi – Can we focus here, AJ?
Amy Jo Smyth – I’m listening.
Roxi – There was a meeting setup, and it was all a double cross. People got hired to kill those at the meeting, at the request of the Hidden Hand.
Amy Jo Smyth – Why didn’t you tell me this when you found out?
Roxi – Because I needed to piece it together myself. Anyway, I guess this Hidden Hand has ties to Hamilton, based on the information I got. I’ll have to lean on some snitches in order to make any progress.
Amy Jo Smyth – So, what do you need me for?
Roxi – I’m... I’m gonna need some help on this.
Amy Jo Smyth – And... you expect me to able to help you?
Roxi – I need eyes where I don’t have them. I don’t want this city to become gangland.
Amy Jo Smyth – I’ll look up what I can and see about any Hamilton dealings. That, I might be able to get away with in some old files. But you’re going to need to give me more information or something bigger for me to even try. And even then, like I said...no guarantees.
Roxi – I’m not asking you to pull any strings any further than you can. I don’t need you getting in trouble.
Amy Jo Smyth – Honey, trouble is my middle name.
Roxi – I thought it was “Jo.”
{AJ rolls her eyes again.}
Amy Jo Smyth – Okay, smart ass, it’s a figure of speech.
Roxi – I know.
Amy Jo Smyth – ANYWAY, You get some something solid, and I’ll get you what I can. I can look into old Hamilton files.
Roxi – How many files do you have on them anyway?
Amy Jo Smyth – They’re a big corporation. We have many files. That’s kind of how the CIA works. Once you get big enough to get noticed... Uncle Sam puts eyes on you.
Roxi – Ominous.
Amy Jo Smyth – But like... the good kind of eyes on you?
Roxi – I don’t think you’re making it better.
Amy Jo Smyth – The point is, we have files.
Roxi – That’s all I need to know.
Amy Jo Smyth – You’re damn right it is.
Roxi – Okay, you’re not in the CIA.
Amy Jo Smyth – Not anymore. But I still have access.
Roxi – So stop saying “We.”
Amy Jo Smyth – Oh hush.
Roxi – Just... see if you can find any bad dealing or ones that fell through for Hamilton.
Amy Jo Smyth – Hey, wait, doesn’t like the daughter have a hate-boner for Keira?
Roxi – Oh yes.
Amy Jo Smyth – Are we sure this isn’t her?
Roxi – No. The person at the meeting representing Hamilton was a man.
Amy Jo Smyth – Okay so... should I start from her dad?
Roxi – I would.
Amy Jo Smyth – Alright, I’m on the case. But you will owe me big time if this goes south.
Roxi – You know I’m good for it.
Amy Jo Smyth – ...
Roxi – … Ish.
Amy Jo Smyth – Go train wrestlers or something. I’ll let you know what I find.
Roxi – Thanks, AJ. I love you.
Amy Jo Smyth – So I’ve heard.
{Roxi gives AJ a hug before departing, the scene fades.}
“You don't seek justice. You seek vengeance. They're not the same. You have no regard for life. So I'm stopping you”
- Batman (Batman #659)
Hello, SCW.
I have and make no excuses for what happened at Inception. I took my opponent lightly, and I didn’t put forth the effort needed to win. There’s really not much else to it. I don’t know what came over me, but it is on me, to make it right in the future. I suppose that after having such a successful 2022, that I perhaps believed that 2023 would just be a continuation of this. And I was ignorant to think so. Cocky even. I got ahead of myself, and I lost. I think it should not be considered an upset, simply because when you look at a match on paper, that it should obviously go one way. If this was the case, then the match really shouldn’t have taken place. This is why we have those matches. I fell into that line of thinking and you see the result. But I make this promise now
That’s not going to happen again.
I’m not about to simply become a stepping stone for other people. And let’s just be honest here: I’ve lost plenty of matches that I probably should have won, and this is just another one of those. Losses happen. Now, if Georgie Robertson goes on and she becomes a champion or has this incredible career, then maybe she can look back, like all of us, and point to that match at Inception and say “That’s where it started.”
But to continue to be honest, I’ve had people beat me, and have it be considered this huge thing, and then they flame out. They accomplish next to nothing afterwards and then disappear from the wrestling business entirely. That has happened, so I don’t put that much stock into this being a sign of anything to do with me, or her. All of that, rides on what happens next.
I stated last time out, that should this exact scenario happen, people would start to question my age, my drive and dedication, whether or not I still have it anymore. And sure enough, that has happened. I didn’t expect this from the people putting together match titles and whatever. The questions are there, and I think it’s a little early in the year to be sitting here and questioning anything with me. It was a loss, and I will gladly admit that. But if the idea is now forming that all of a sudden that I’m just going to go out there and tarnish everything by losing and still thinking myself to be at the top level, that’s also not going to happen. I am not Mercedes Vargas.
But I’m also not planning on going out there and just being some enhancement person. Because I’m not letting this one loss define me or my career. I’ve lost before, I will probably lose again in the future. But it will never, ever again be because I didn’t try hard enough. That’s happened at Inception, and it’s not going to happen again.
And this of course, bring me to my opponent this week, Krystal Wolfe.
Krystal and I both didn’t have the greatest night at Inception, and that’s okay. It’s not the end of the world as people want to make it seem. Losses happen. What I am more interested in is seeing what happens after this. Where does this all go? But really, the most interesting thing is actually if Krystal heard my words last time or if she will continue to do what she does all the time. I caught that glimpse of her face after our match in December. I see the frustration and the anger in her face and in her body language. It told me a lot. Krystal is frustrated and that’s perfect logical and acceptable. But from what I told her, and how she chose to move on from it, is even more telling.
See, while it’s okay to be upset, eventually, you have to let it go. You have to learn to move on. You cannot let a setback become some impossible mountain to climb. If Krystal is upset that she lost, that’s good, but it cannot be the only reason for her participation in this match. “Getting a win back” as they say. You set yourself up for failure every single time. It’s really not the way you want to go about things. You give yourself no option and back yourself into a corner. What happens if I beat Krystal again? Does she then double down on trying to beat me? Does it break her? Does she just give up? Or will she understand what this whole speech is about?
Moving on and moving forward.
Being able to accept the situation and evolve from it. You lose? Okay then, stew in it for a little bit, but at the end of the day, you have to get over it. That look of anger and frustration in Krystal’s eyes and the tweet of Krystal “looking to bounce back” leads me to believe that Krystal is now more focused on simply winning the match because in her own eyes, if she fails, she will be a failure.
Which isn’t the case.
Why do you all think my wife considered Krystal one of her greatest rivals? Right up there with Jessie Salco? It’s because Krystal is capable of doing great things and winning any time she steps into the ring. Keira tried to teach Krystal the same lessons that I have been talking about this entire time. Taking from what happened, learning and becoming better for it.
I’ve been trying to give Krystal that lesson since December. Evolve. Be different.
I made a request last time for Krystal to take a chance on making a change. But I fear that this isn’t reaching her now. And I get it, I’m the last one to really be talking about changing everything given I’m like a dang clock with how I have everything fitting into a schedule.
But you know, it wasn’t always like that. At some point, a change needed to be made. I needed to change how I did things and make sure that was the best option for me. I’m not as wild and crazy as I used to be. Things changed. But I have done enough in my life and my career to stand out in a crowd. I have earned my place at the table, and I did it, by being able to evolve.
I asked Krystal to do this last time. Something to be known as Krystal Wolfe. Graduated from the Go Gym? Great. So did many others. Twitch streamer? Awesome, how many of THOSE are there? Yikes. I simply asked Krystal Wolfe to show me, no, in fact, show the WORLD what makes her Krystal Wolfe.
And much like a lot of other things I could mention, here I am, still waiting for it.
People have come to know me, because I am who I am, and I do what I do. There’s people who follow me around the world that maybe I spoke to or interacted with, but at the end of the day, I let what I do, do my talking. My track record speaks for itself. People only have to say my first name, and everybody knows they are talking about me.
And this isn’t coming from a place of mockery or me trying to “big league” anybody. I’m just stating the facts. I want that exact same thing, to be what people do for Krystal Wolfe. Heck, anybody who is trying to make a name for themselves. Krystal Wolfe can be a household name. Krystal Wolfe can be a star. I am saying these things because they are true.
I am simply waiting for Krystal to make them true.
I feel like I went over this back in December. And then when Team Hero had it’s last match. Because Krystal was one of the opponents. I have told Krystal more than once that she is capable of these things, and she simply needs to do something to fully become who Krystal Wolfe is. And I get it, sometimes it takes a while for that stuff to kick in. But looking at the success Krystal has had, and how it hasn’t been the same since, I think the truth is staring her right in the face.
Things have to change.
And I’m not just talking about in the ring. If Krystal wins this match, does it say more about her, or more about me? Is she “back on track”? The answer is no. The same can be said if I win the match, that doesn’t mean I’m back and I’ve got everything figured out. It’s simply the first step.
The major difference is, Krystal Wolfe has far more time to figure things out than I do. I know what I have to do, and I know how it make it happen. A loss happened, a mistake was made, and starting on Sunday, it will become a memory, and I will begin that climb, back to the top of the mountain.
Maybe for the last time, but the climb starts now.
And I know who’s waiting for me at the top.
So to Krystal, this isn’t a personal thing, please don’t take it that way. I want to see you succeed, because I know you can. This match isn’t the end for you, it’s just the beginning. Do not let a loss be who you are. You need to control who you are. I can only give the same speech so many times though. This is going to be a lesson for you in evolution. One more time.
I expect your best, because you can better believe I will be better, even better from the last time we wrestled.
You’re going to have the chance to continue to do great things in your career. Earn many championships, many chances, & many victories.
Sunday, just isn’t going to be one of those times.
I’ll see all of you there.