{The scene opens at a fan signing for Team Hero. Roxi and Keira are there, signing autographs and taking pictures with many fans, seemingly enjoying themselves. They also enjoy a lot of conversations with fans about various topics, receiving gifts and even some crying fans, and some requests to join the Team Hero Academy gym. There’s a montage of this, and then a little bit of a break in the action as the line dies down. Keira leans back in her chair and sighs, shaking out her hand.}
Keira – My hand is going to cramp up from all these signings.
Roxi – Be happy they are coming.
Keira – I am grateful for every fan. Some of them were a little much.
Roxi – Well, would you rather have this? Or no fans at all, and we’re just sitting here like that one guy in that meme with the banner requesting five dollars?
Keira – He is a “Wrestling superstar”
{Roxi and Keira share a laugh, as the lines start forming again. A larger, male fan walks up with several items. There are pictures, posters, action figures, all of Team Hero, and Roxi and Keira look at each other, and then at the male fan. He is wearing a medical mask as well.}
Roxi – I'm sorry, but we’re not signing all these items, 1 or 2 is fine, but you have like 10 things here.
Keira – We want everyone to have the time, but this is just too much.
Male Fan – What? Please? There are only a couple people behind me! It won’t take long! Honest!
{Roxi and Keira both hold firm.}
Roxi – I'm sorry. Look we can sign a couple things, if you want a picture, that’s fine but we’re not going to hold up the line for this.
Male Fan – I'm... I’m really sorry.
{The male fan clumsily grabs all of his items and puts them back in his backpack, aside from two posters, which Roxi and Keira each pulls out markers to sign.}
Roxi – Who do these go out to?
{The Male fan blinks, and shrugs.}
Male Fan – Oh, you don’t have to make them out to anybody, just signing them is good enough.
{Roxi and Keira both look at each other based on this odd request, but more than anything want to get this guy away from them, so they just sign the posters, and then he pulls out his phone, while also plopping down his five dollars for a photo.}
Male Fan – Wait... could I get a picture with both of you individually? I can pay another five dollars.
{Roxi and Keira again look at each other, not really keen on this idea, but at the same time, almost feeling bad for this fan, not wanting to upset him. Also, at the same time feeling very uneasy and pretty much wanting this interaction to be over.}
Roxi – Fine, we can do that. I’ll just take this one and then Keira can take the other with you.
Male Fan – That will be so great!
{Roxi gets up from her chair, and then attempt to pose with the fan for the photo, except his hugs her from behind, arms wrapping around her waist. It’s very uncomfortable, and Roxi can smell the Male fans Body odor. But, wanting to be polite, Roxi smiles and the photo is taken. Roxi steps away and Keira comes in, except she makes it very clear about the pose.}
Keira – Here, let’s just do this.
{Keira puts her hand on his his shoulder, getting close enough and he attempts to put his arms around her, but she limits it to one hand around her shoulders. Once the photo is taken, the fan is very happy.}
Male Fan – Thank you! Thank you both so much! I’m a big fan!
Roxi – Okay, thank you too!
{The male fan leaves, soon out of sight as Roxi and Keira look at one another.}
Keira – That was creepy.
Roxi – He was a little extra.
Keira – That wasn’t extra. It was too much. It looked like he was trying to hump you!
Roxi – He did.
Keira – We don’t need people like that. He comes up here with 10 things for us to sign, and then the pictures? It’s too much.
Roxi – I know, I know. Relax, I’m agreeing with you.
{The signing goes on for a little while longer, but no fan interaction is any worse than that one fan. Roxi and Keira are wrapping things up, signing the last few autographs for their fans, and the last few pictures. Once that is done, Roxi and Keira begin to break down their setup, until Keira starts looking around, and hearing a noise, faintly in her ear.}
Keira – Do you hear that?
Roxi – Hear what?
Keira – I swear I hear...
{Keira starts walk towards some plants, pulling them back to see the Male fan from before, now with the familiar white hoodie and face mask, snapping pictures of Roxi and Keira and taking video. Keira is startled to see him.}
Keira – You!
{The male fan turns, running as Keira points at him.}
Keira – Security!
{The security guard sees Keira pointing in the male fan in the white hoodie’s general direction. The security guard begins to try and chase him down, as Keira is upset by this. Roxi looks just as upset, putting her hands on Keira’s shoulders.}
Keira – That was the same guy!
Roxi – From the tour.
Keira – Yes! The same guy! I... I think he’s stalking us!
Roxi – I don’t know about that.
Keira – Roxi, that’s the same guy from the tour. You said it yourself! How much more proof do you need?!
Roxi – Is he an overzealous, creepy fan? Yes. I will grant you all of that. But stalking? I mean, the tour, and this autograph signing were public events. He’s allowed to come to public events. Look, I’m trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.
{Keira looks incredulously at Roxi.}
Keira – Roxi, are you CRAZY? That guy was taking pictures of us! God only knows what he has on that phone! And you’re DEFENDING HIM?!
Roxi – I'm not defending him! I’m saying that he’s not breaking the law. Look, let’s not talk about it now. Let’s get our stuff and get the heck out of here.
{Keira sighs and tries to think of something else to say, but she also doesn’t want to continue to talk about this creepy male fan. The two then finish breaking down their booth and then are spotted leaving. They both wave at fans who stuck around, but both are clearly agitated by the day's events. They are about to load their SUV, but Keira begins walking around the car, and checking it.}
Roxi – What are you doing?
Keira – I'm not taking any chances. What if he put something on the car?
Roxi – You think he knows what car we drive?
Keira – I wouldn’t put it past him. He’s bad news, Roxi. You know it, I know it. It’s not a coincidence that he showed up here. I’m telling you it’s a problem.
Roxi – I think you’re taking this too far. He’s a misguided person.
Keira – He's obsessed. That’s what he is.
{Keira continues to look around the outside of the car, checking under the framework of the car, checking the tires, and making sure there is nothing out of the ordinary. She walks up to Roxi and holds out her hand.}
Keira – Keys.
Roxi – Oh, you want to drive?
Keira – No, I want to check the inside.
Roxi – Keira, seriously...
{Keira stands, unmoving with her hand out, a dead serious look on her face.}
Roxi – Fine.
{Roxi hands Keira the keys, and she unlocks the car and climbs inside, checking the seats for anything out of the ordinary. Finally, she relents and exits the SUV, opening the trunk and the two load all of them items into the back, before they Roxi takes the wheel and Keira sits in the passenger seat, looking all around, before she looks into her purse.}
Roxi – What now?
Keira – Checking to see if anything is missing. You should do the same.
{Humoring Keira, Roxi checks her purse and finds nothing missing. Keira also doesn’t find anything out of the ordinary or missing.}
Roxi – Satisfied?
Keira – One second.
{Keira begins scanning around the car. Finally, she shakes her head.}
Keira – Okay, looks good.
Roxi – Are you sure?
Keira – No, but we’ll be forever if you want to wait for me to be sure.
Roxi – Okay.
{Roxi finally starts the car and Keira continues to scan all around looking for the guy in the hoodie.}
Keira – Do you think they caught him?
Roxi – With any luck.
Keira – Yeah. I don’t mean to freak out, but... that was the same guy from the gym, and I don’t think it’s a coincidence.
Roxi – Maybe you’re right, but for now... let’s just forget about it, okay?
Keira – For now.
{The two drive back to their house as the scene fades.}
{Back home and sometime later, Roxi has finished her drumming for the evening and puts the sticks down and exits her sound-proof room. She walks back up the stairs to the main house and sitting right there is Buster, Nate’s tiny protective Jack Russell, with his leash in his mouth, ready for his nightly walk. Roxi sees this and nods.}
Roxi – Ready as always. Hang on, let me put my shoes on.
{Roxi slips her shoes on while Keira is washing some dishes and uses a towel to dry her hands as she sees what’s going on.}
Keira – Walkies time?
Roxi – Every time.
Keira – Be careful.
Roxi – I think I’ll be okay.
Keira – I'm serious! If that...guy is out there...
Roxi – What? Why would he be out there? You think he knows where we live or something?
Keira – You saw him, he’s obsessed!
Roxi – I will keep an eye out for anything crazy.
Keira – I'm being serious. Take your phone. Don’t hesitate to call me if ANYTHING happens.
{Roxi holds her hands up, assuring Keira she will adhere to calling her, just so Keira doesn’t keep the issue going. She leashes up Buster and motions for Trixie, Roxi’s main dog to join them, but Trixie just lays there.}
Roxi – We're going to have a talk when I get back young lady.
{Trixie simply gives an unimpressed half-bark at Roxi, who looks concerned about her older dog. Roxi opens the door and Buster heads out on the leash. Roxi yells back into the open door.}
Roxi – Be back in a little bit!
{Roxi heads out with Buster and Roxi takes a different path from the normal path they walk, just to keep things different for Buster. He walks forward, leading Roxi, as he causally sniffs at everything he can reach, and then barking at people on the street and other dogs or animals he sees, even attempting to chase after a squirrel he sees, but Roxi stops him from straying too far. They continue to walk for quite a while around the neighborhood and into a park where Nate has played at before, and the same park where they found the injured dog that Nate named Mojo. Buster takes the time to “do his business in the park” that Roxi cleans up and puts in a dumpster. The walk continues until Buster stops, and starts barking at a line of bushes. Roxi stops and waits, looking at the bush, but doesn’t make out anything. Assuming it was perhaps a rat or some other animal, Roxi tugs on the leash and leads Buster forward.
Roxi eventually stops at a bench in the park area, to take a break, but as soon as she sits down, Buster is practically lunging at the bush they passed only moments beforehand. Buster continues to look, and bark, far more aggressively than he did normally outside. Roxi gets up and gives Buster a little slack on the leash, but he does right back to the bush, barking the whole time. Buster crouches, hind end up, his teeth bared and the barking is extremely aggressive, along with growling. Roxi waits, until finally, a person come from around the line, holding their hands up. Buster is going crazy, ready to attack until Roxi holds out her hand, and Buster, being the trained dog he is, moves towards Roxi’s side and stops barking, but only momentarily.}
Man – Whoa, I’m sorry, I was just trying to pick up some money I dropped. It blew into these bushes.
{Roxi studies the man intensely, not buying the story as Buster continues to growl at him. He wears a blue hoodie with the hood pulled up and a surgical mask over his face.}
Roxi – Yeah. Alright, I hope you found it.
Man – Yup. Got it all.
{Roxi continues to eye the man suspiciously, before turns and walking back through the park. She, along with Buster continue to turn around and check to see, and the man turns and walks in a different direction, until he is out of sight. Roxi continues to walk, but Buster is still turning around, Roxi has to stop and turn as well. There, the same man was walking behind them, but keeping his distance, looking as if he was trying not to hide. Roxi grows extremely annoyed herself, although, a little apprehension at the situation as well. Finally, she stops, and turns around, and the man stops, still the same distance away.}
Roxi – Why are you following me?
Man – What? I’m not... I live this way. I just don’t want to get in your way. Your dog doesn’t seem friendly.
Roxi – Maybe he just doesn’t like you. But if you live this way, then please, go ahead.
{The man stands there for a split second, and then walks by Roxi, and instantly the familiar smell of the man’s B.O. hits her. Buster continues to growl as Roxi shouts at him.}
Roxi – YOU!
{The man turns around with his hands up.}
Man – I didn’t do anything!
Roxi – You're the same person from before. You were in the gym, and at the signing! You are following us!
{The man at first shakes his head, before lowering his arms and shrugging.}
Man – I'm... I’m just a big fan.
Roxi – This is NOT how you shown that. You’re following me, and my wife!
Man – Because I worship you guys! Please! I just want to get to know you!
Roxi – Absolutely not! You’re being a complete creep! You listen to me, and you listen good. You STAY AWAY from me, you stay away from my wife, and you stay away from my family! Do you understand me?!
{The man’s face, even though it is hidden by a mask, turns sour, at mixture of anger and embarrassment. He looks at Roxi, and then his hands go into his pockets, and he starts kicking the dirt, almost like a small child.}
Roxi – I asked you a question!
Man – I'm... I’m really sorry.
{Roxi keeps a sharp eye on the man as she points in a general direction.}
Roxi – Get out of here. If I see you around here again, I will call the cops. Go. NOW.
{The Man turns, and leaves, headed in the direction Roxi pointed, only to stop after a few steps.}
Man – Please don’t do this. I don’t want this to mess everything up. Don’t do this to me.
Roxi – Get. AWAY. From. ME!
Man – Why are you doing this? You don’t want to do this. Don’t do this, please. You are all I have!
Roxi – NOW!
Man – You will regret this...
{The man stands there, looking sad and angry still. He marches in the direction Roxi pointed, and Roxi watches as he goes out of sight. Roxi then quickly scoops up Buster, and when she is sure no one is around, she teleports away, out of the area, and back to the house. She quickly gets up the stairs, and opens the door, quickly looking around, clearly paranoid and shaken by the events. She beings Buster in, and unleashes him, and leans against the doorway, shaken. Keira is sitting on the couch and sees this. She bolts up and comforts Roxi.}
Keira – What happened?! Roxi talk to me!
Roxi – He’s.... stalking us.
{Keira’s face is red with anger as she tries to hold it in.}
Keira – What... happened?
Roxi – Buster started barking and he was hiding in some bushes. He was following me. I confronted him. Sent him away. I had to get home fast.
Keira – God damn it.
Roxi – I'm sorry I didn’t believe you.
Keira – It's okay. So long as he doesn’t know where we live, I think we’ll be okay, but... I’m not taking ANY chances.
Roxi – What are you going to do?
Keira – What needs to be done...
{Keira hugs Roxi and comforts her as the scene fades.}
{That night, Keira returns home after a trip out with a home security system. She puts it on the kitchen table and doesn’t even have her purse all the way down before she’s opening the box. Roxi, still a little shaken, is peering out the window, behind the curtain so her face is hidden.}
Keira – We'll just install a security system. That way, if that creep comes near us, we’ll have him recorded. But hopefully he doesn’t know where we live. But still, I am not taking any chances.
Roxi – I'd like to think that he got my message.
Keira – You could have told him anything, Roxi. He’s clearly obsessed and we cannot afford to have that creep in our house! This way, we will see him if he tries anything!
Roxi – Are you sure it’s going to work?
Keira – I'm going to get this all set up, and if he comes to our home, either by mistake or on purpose, we’re going to find out and get notified.
Roxi – I... I can’t even really comprehend this. I can’t really even believe it.
Keira – I know it’s hard to believe sometimes. But... this shouldn’t be really anything new, right? We’ve dealt with this kind of stuff before. The bad guys are always after us.
Roxi – This... this isn’t a bad guy, though.
{Keira arches a brow at Roxi.}
Roxi – Not... like they usually are.
Keira – Roxi, we have had some crazy things happen to us. We’ve had Amelia break into our house. We’ve had that damn Collector guy invade our home. This guy... this guy we can have the police handle.
Roxi – But this is... this is a normal person. Amelia is insane. That Collector guy was insane.
Keira – And this guy is too.
Roxi – No, he’s obsessed.
{Keira stops, staring at Roxi almost not believing what she is hearing.}
Keira – Do NOT tell me you’re even beginning to sympathize with this creep?!
Roxi – No, I... I guess it’s just how much I want to understand this.
Keira – There's nothing to understand. He’s crazy just like the rest of them. The only difference is he doesn’t have powers or goons or thugs.
Roxi – Right, and I think that makes him even more dangerous.
{Keira then points to the box with the home security system.}
Keira – Which is why we have this. And it’s why we’re going to make sure that if he tries anything, we’re going to stop it before it gets out of control.
{Roxi takes a second to sigh, and take a deep breath.}
Roxi – Maybe you’re right. I’m sorry that I didn’t see it beforehand.
Keira – Trust me, as soon as this stuff is installed, we’ll be ready.
Roxi – Yeah...
{Roxi sits down at the table, taking a drink of water, as Keira starts getting everything ready and the scene fades.}
{That night, Roxi lays awake in bed, trying not to think about the creepy fan, but at the same time, she is anticipating the notification on her phone of the alarm system. She tries to get herself to calm down and get some rest and finally, after a long while, she does. Even though she’s usually out on patrol at this time of night, things have been quiet so there is no need for it.
She finally drifts off to sleep, as she can feel the drowsy feeling wash over her. It’s over an hour, but it feels like 30 seconds, and then like clockwork, her phone buzzes with an alarm. She sits up instantly and checks her phone. The notification is there.}
“Someone is at your front door.”
{Roxi checks her phone and the camera feed displayed on her phone. And there he is. The same male fan, or at least, Roxi is sure of it. She watches at the large man tugs on the front door, clearly trying to open it. He peers inside, trying to look for movement. Roxi nudges Keira who wakes up, confused.}
Keira – Wha-
Roxi – SHHH!
{Roxi shows Keira her phone, and Keira is angry.}
Keira – That bastard!
Roxi – Just watch... don’t make any noise.
{Roxi and Keira continue to watch, the male fan not noticing the cameras watching him as he continues to peer inside the house. He begins to walk around to the side of the house, and a second camera spots him. He starts checking windows and they are all locked. Finally, he swings to the back of the house and again checks the back door, but it too, is locked. He shrugs, continuing to try and look inside, but it’s too dark to see. The night vision camera spots everything, but the man in the white hoodie is still wearing his surgical mask to hide his face. He does a complete circle, checking on windows until Roxi and Keira see where he is.}
Keira - (whispering) That’s Nate’s room!
{Roxi and Keira hurry out of bed, but when the man checks the window, the sound awakens Buster, who is sleeping in Nate’s room. Buster springs into action, barking and growling at the window as the man backs away from it, and leaves. Roxi and Keira immediately burst into the room when, as Nate is now awake, and soon Roxi’s mother Elizabeth is startled as well.}
Elizabeth – What in the world is going on?
Roxi – It was the security alarm.
Nate – Mommy, Mama, what’s the matter?
Roxi – It's... it’s nothing baby, we just thought something was wrong because Buster was barking. Buster might have been having a scary dream.
{Buster is right there staring at the window, but eventually he stops, and lays back down. Roxi is there to hug Nate, along with Keira as they lay Nate down again to go to sleep. Roxi and Keira bring Elizabeth into the hallway.}
Roxi – We have a problem.
Elizabeth – What?
Roxi – The security system caught someone trying to break into the house.
Elizabeth – Oh... you should call the police!
Roxi – He’s wearing a mask. We saw the video.
Elizabeth – What can we do?
Roxi – I don’t know.
Keira – Maybe he’ll move on and try other houses?! I think we need to call the police.
Roxi – I have a sick feeling in my stomach right now.
{Roxi takes a second and starts to think about it.}
Roxi – Buster may have accidently given us away.
Keira – Shit.
Roxi – He saw me with Buster. Buster barked at him. He may have all the information he needs.
Keira – We are 100% going to the police then.
Roxi – Yeah... yeah that’s all we can do.
{Roxi turns to her mother.}
Roxi – I'm going to go and file a police report in the morning. Maybe, if we’re lucky, he’ll move on, but he’s gotta be canvasing the neighborhood looking for us.
Elizabeth – Us? You mean you and Keira? What is going on?
Roxi – We have a stalker.
Elizabeth – Then you HAVE to inform the police!
Roxi – I will in the morning. Just... for now, please make sure that all the door and windows stay locked. With any luck, this will be over without too much trouble.
{Elizabeth nods and soon everyone returns to their rooms where Roxi and Keira both lay in bed. Roxi then turns to Keira.}
Roxi – I need you to promise me something.
Keira – What?
Roxi – While I’m gone, DO NOT answer the door. I don’t care who is there, have my mom answer it if ANYONE comes. Even if it’s the mailman.
Keira – Roxi, I –
Roxi – Do not argue with me on this. If he’s anywhere near here, and he catches a glimpse of you, he’ll know. If my mom answers, we may be able to throw him off.
Keira – You want me to be trapped in the house?! I’m not about to be prisoner in my own home! That’s why we have the security thing, and it worked. Now we have evidence of an attempted break in!
Roxi – We still don’t know who he is... For now, we’ll let the cops handle it. Just... promise me, please.
{Keira sighs, knowing she’s not winning this argument.}
Keira – I promise.
Roxi – Thank you.
{Roxi kisses Keira and the two finally drift off to sleep again. The notification alerts once again.}
“Someone is at your front door.”
{Fade.}
“He's driven by obsession, a singleness of purpose. He'll never give up.”
- Batman (Batman: Bane)
Hello, SCW.
So, here we are, just a short time away from a huge event in Athens, and I have yet to really find the time to enjoy being the Bombshell’s champion, and while I enjoyed my match with Seleana, what lies ahead... I’m not going to enjoy at all.
When I stood face to face with Myra Rivers, she told me, to my face, that she wasn’t going to let setbacks or bad breaks define her. It was a very confusing thing for her to say, because I don’t really understand what the issue truly is at this point. Because Myra says this to my face, but this entire process, it was been the exact opposite.
This is ENTIRELY about making up for not winning this championship for her.
What Myra Rivers has done, is really, create the ultimate black and white scenario. It either goes one way, or another. There is no middle ground here when it comes to Myra. She either wins the Bombshell’s championship, and all is right with the world, OR she loses, and she was never meant to be a champion and is a failure. That’s where we stand right now. And for me, that is one of the most absurd things I have ever heard in my entire career. What kind of line in the sand is this? Why does it have to be this way?
If Myra wants to know why we are not good buddy-buddy friends, it’s because of things like this. I thought that after all this time, in her career, that she could see this business for what it is, and for what it’s worth. That she could actually take the time to appreciate the scenario she is in, and enjoy the success she’s had. She is riding a nearly unheard-of wave of success that people would kill for. But no. No, we have reached the sky is falling levels of this. I never expected someone like Myra to turn this into a Chicken Little situation. Myra can sit there and say that she’s content, or even happy with her career, she can, but I’m sorry, I simply cannot buy it at this point. Like, I don’t want to turn this into a Bash-Myra situation, but it seriously did not have to be like this.
This isn’t a woe is me moment, but for goodness' sake when I said I wanted a championship match, boy did Myra Rivers come out of nowhere to tell me how wrong I was for doing so. I was told how I was setting a bad example and how I should be better. And that was after we went to a draw the week prior. And then it was, “Boy, Roxi sure is losing her cool” “Boy, you have put too much pressure on yourself.”
And now, she has seen the light as it were, and she understands now.
But... does she?
I try not to judge people, and maybe Myra was just trying to help, but when she wants to voice her opinion, she’s free to do so, but things like this are why you don’t judge people in the first place. Because, then you don’t have to come back and try and walk these things back. I mean, it’s coming with the territory at this point. If I’m not always there, if I’m not always on time, always on top of everything, if I’m not always helping everyone else and putting them before myself, I am a terrible, awful friend, a fake, a liar, a phony, and everything wrong with the world. Dammit, I actually try and live up to people expectations, most of all my own, and when I don’t meet them, it pains me. But then, I get told that I overwork myself, I put the world on my shoulders, and I know that I do. Because that’s the way I have always had it go. I would rather have everything on MY shoulders. I struggle asking for help. I want to take on the most weight, because I try make things easier for everyone else. I get told I should treat myself from time to time, that every once in a while, I should do things for myself.
And when I do? I’m selfish. I only care about myself. I should be better than that. I am judged every single day no matter what. I have to be there and I have to keep everything in order. My world doesn’t stop because people depend on me. I wanted to do something for myself, and not only win the Bombshell’s title, I needed to beat Amber Ryan.
I was motivated by the constant need to become better. That is what this has always been for me. This championship that I just won? I needed to be BETTER in order to win it, and that is exactly what I did. I had to do what many people could not do: Beat Amber Ryan one on one. That was the goal, and that was my motivation. The Bombshell’s championship, while very important to me, was not the most important thing in that fight.
But for Myra Rivers, it’s the exact opposite.
Myra can tell you, as she told me, in a tweet, that “Happiness in this business isn't the titles that you win, but the memories you create being the best version of yourself you could possibly be.” And she thanked me for reminding her of that. She said that to me, and I wanted to believe that it was how she really felt. But she knows it isn’t. And now, I know it isn’t. Because she has created this narrative that if she doesn’t win this championship, if she doesn’t win this match, and become the champion, then her whole career is worthless. This is the exact opposite of what she says. Every interview, every time she is in front of a camera dating back to last year, it’s about winning the Bombshell’s championship, and every time she has come up short, she was the “victim”.
I’m sorry, what?
Let me just take the time to explain this, because it needs to be said, and it needs to be put out there.
Myra Rivers has one of, if not the longest Bombshell’s Internet championship reigns in SCW history. One of the longest title reigns of any gender, period. Myra Rivers made the Blast from the Past finals two years in a row. Myra Rivers got not one, but two Bombshell championship matches in the same year, back-to-back. I don’t know about any of you, but I hardly see a “victim” when you consider what other people didn’t get. Myra Rivers now spits on all that, because without this championship I have around my waist, none of that really matters to her.
She is only a victim in her own mind, and this is the reason we are in this situation right now. She has 100% trivialized all the hard work people have done in SCW. There are people who have been busting their humps for years and not had the success Myra has had. And all because of the label she has put on herself. Who is calling Myra Rivers the “best to never win the Bombshell’s championship?” It certainly isn’t something I have seen or heard from anyone in Sin City Wrestling. Where did this narrative come from? The answer is staring Myra right in the face.
She did. She created this.
And you know how I know this? Because it’s all she ever talks about.
You know, I want to root for certain people. I want to see them succeed. I know my wife really wants to complete the Grand Slam and really establish herself away from me, and the success of Team Hero. I am rooting for her to do so, but even my wife understands that there are more important things in the world, and in her wrestling career. It will not be defined by the fact that she DIDN’T do something. My wife could retire tomorrow, and she’d still go down as one of the best in SCW. Maybe not the best, but when you look at what she has accomplished, it’s a lot, and she can look back and be proud.
I want to root for Bella Madison, who is trying so hard each and every time out. She never gets down on herself, she picks herself up and gets right back to the grind. She hasn’t taken the fun out of this.
I want to root for Jessie Salco, and Sam Marlowe, and Candy, and the list goes on and on with good people who are working so hard, and not seeing the same level of success as some.
And I want to root for Myra Rivers. I really, really do. But when someone becomes so single-minded in pursuit of goal, to the point where they can only hype themselves up, it becomes draining. Nobody like to hear someone talk about how great things are going to be for themselves, all the time. Myra has taken this to an extreme level and it’s for all the wrong reasons. I tried to look past all that and root for her, but I don’t really have to, because she is her own biggest cheerleader. I am all for the motivational stuff, but what we have reached at this point is not motivation, it is not hyper-focus, it’s not even a concentrated effort.
It is an OBSESSION.
It has become an ADDICTION.
I am all for having goals, and trying to reach them. I completely understand wanting to be the best, and I understand that in sports, you have people who are driven to this level. Michael Jordan was probably a competitor on an almost psychotic level. But this? This is different.
I was there backstage at Blaze Of Glory, seeing how hard her daughter took Myra coming up short. And it hurt to watch that. And she turned that level of hurt, into this obsession. She has become a junkie, looking for a fix. She can’t just be successful everywhere she has gone, that’s not good enough. She can’t be one of the top contenders in the entire world at any given time. That’s not good enough. Because I heard Myra tell her daughter that she was sorry, and apologize profusely about losing the match at Blaze of Glory. And that’s when it hit me, exactly what she going to do.
She has turned that, into negative energy.
I cannot actually believe I have to tell this story to someone who has been in wrestling as long as Myra has, but for goodness sakes, Myra has to understand that there are more important things in the world than championships in pro wrestling, and not turn this into something that is essentially me, or anyone else, trying to deny her on purpose and make her look bad in the eyes of her daughter. Nobody is out here trying to do that. It is all because of Myra’s obsession.
Because what has happened now, is she’s going to hear these words, and she will make me out to be the bad guy. I’m the bad guy talking about her family and not telling her what she wants to hear. I’m the hypocrite because here I am talking bad about her, and I’m not telling her that I’m excited and looking forward to this match, because the truth is, it’s really hard to be, when I know that beating her means that she will become 100% positive that it won’t happen for her. She will convince herself that she has no business in the main event and she will never be world champion.
At this point, I almost need to walk into Athens, and just hand this championship to her, to avoid that.
I might as well not even bother trying to wrestle Myra. Because in the end, a loss would just be devastating. It would be career crippling to Myra. But, as a champion, as a wrestler, as a PERSON, I cannot adhere to giving this title up simply because someone else wants it really bad. Now, she has told me that she can accept that, but can she? I mean, really? I just have a hard time believing that, when all this talk has created the doom and gloom scenario.
And thus, it puts me in a no-win situation as well.
I am priding myself on defending this championship with honor, and putting on the show the fans deserve, while also being a fighting champion, and taking on all comers as they get their chance. But now, there’s no fun in this defense. What fun is there to be had, if your opponent doesn’t really care about facing you, they don’t care about the match, the only care about the result. They only care that they get what they want? And then, if they don’t, they fall apart and break.
Yes, Myra told me she’d be able to accept a loss in Athens. She told me she really wants to wrestle me and she’s looking at our past matches and everything like that. But deep down, I know she was just telling me she thought I wanted to hear. She was telling me these things, but in her own heart, she knew she was feeding me lines. All this is about is beating whoever the champion happened to be at the time. It could have been me, it could have been Amber, Crystal, Mikah, Alicia, it doesn’t matter. It never mattered. All that matters is that she wins. She gets her dream ending and she holds this championship.
And then what happens?
In her mind, the losses were worth it. All those times coming up short were worth it. Everyone who doubted her was wrong. But who I have heard all of zero people say that Myra has no chance. I have heard no one say she can’t win the big one, I haven’t heard any of that, except from Myra Rivers. There is no group, no clique looking to stop Myra Rivers from doing anything.
I had Mercedes Vargas tell me straight up she did not think I was going to beat Amber. Is Mercedes saying this about Myra? No. Why? Because Myra has done that for everyone else. This is the world, the entire REALITY that Myra has created for herself. It is almost paranoid delusion. And I am about to become the biggest detractor, the biggest denier. In her mind, I’m about to take every single thing away from her.
Because now, I’m going to beat her in Athens.
I told her to her face that I planned on winning, and I hoped she could accept it. That was, in essence, my last real appeal to the Myra Rivers who used to be there. The one I hope is still in there. Because the one who looked me in my face, is an addict in need of help.
At this point, you can call it tough love. It’s something that has to be done. I know right now, if Myra Rivers beats me, then all it’s going to do is cement in her mind that her obsession is warranted. Her obsession is okay. And everyone knows, the worst thing you can do with an addict, the worst thing you can with someone is acting this way, is to give them what they want.
I’m going to beat Myra Rivers at Into the Void, and it’s going to be for her own good.
This has to stop, and I’m going to stop it in Athens.
{The scene opens at the Tampa police department the day after the man tried to break into Roxi and Keira’s home. Roxi sits with an officer, going through her home security footage of the man. Once the footage is reviewed, the officer, an older gentleman, cleans his glasses and puts them back on his face and sighs.}
Officer – Well, this is a good start, it is a good thing you have a security system set up. From this, it’s very hard to create a profile, I’ll be honest here. He’s clearly wearing a mask, and the night-vision makes it a little difficult to narrow down any features.
Roxi – Officer...
Officer – Jones.
Roxi – Right, Jones. I do have more information, as I said. I can’t describe his face, but I do know other details.
Officer Jones – Oh? What have you got?
{Officer Jones pulls out a pen and paper, and begins to write notes as Roxi talks.}
Roxi – He's roughly … 5’10, 5’11” maybe. Well over 200 pounds, and he smells.
{Officer Jones raises an eyebrow at the last remark.}
Roxi – No, I mean, really smells.
Officer Jones – Anything else?
Roxi – He came to my gym earlier in that day, Then, he came to an autograph session I was holding, and THEN he was following me in the park by my house.
Officer Jones – Are you sure it was the same person?
Roxi – You don’t forget the smell.
Officer Jones – Okay, I understand. But are you also insinuating this man is stalking you?
Roxi – I have to believe so. I could see him coming to the gym and to the public signing. Those are open to the public, but the fact that the same man was not only following me in me neighborhood, but then turns up trying to break into my house? That’s more than a coincidence.
Officer Jones – That's fair enough. We will send a patrol around the area for the next week or so. We’ll keep an eye out for any suspicious activity.
Roxi – No one else has come forward to report this man?
Officer Jones – I'm not sure if it’s the same man, but you came up with the most evidence of this. Things like this are a common occurrence sadly. But, if the man ends up triggering your alarm again, don’t hesitate to call us, and we will be over. You have my word.
Roxi – I just have a theory that he’s looking for me, or my family. I just figured he would have continued to try and break into houses looking for mine.
Officer Jones – It's possible he did, and it just hasn’t been reported.
Roxi – Well, if you hear anything, please let me know.
Officer Jones – We sure will.
{Roxi shakes the officer’s hand and she departs, her work seemingly done. Roxi exits the police station, but she is now paranoid, looking around and feeling watched at every moment. She finally pulls her hooded sweatshirt up, along with a completely out of place baseball cap, as she heads off, the scene fading.}
{Roxi then appears at her old friend Amy Jo Smyth’s house, but even with AJ’s house way out in the sticks, and on her own land, Roxi still feels the need to look around and check, before she knocks on AJ’s door. After a while, AJ does answer, the same slightly annoyed look on her face.}
Amy Jo Smyth – Let me guess, you need me for something again?
Roxi – I need your advice. And I might need your protection.
Amy Jo Smyth – Is that the reason you’re dressed like you’re in witness protection?
Roxi – Yes.
Amy Jo Smyth – Wait... you’re serious?!
Roxi – Yes.
Amy Jo Smyth – Okay, we clearly need to talk, come in, come in.
{AJ leads Roxi into the house and the two sit down AJ’s table, where AJ pours them both cups of coffee.}
Amy Jo Smyth – So, what the hell is going on?
Roxi – Keira and I have a stalker.
Amy Jo Smyth – Uh, huh, so... I mean, can’t you guys like... handle that?
Roxi – I already have two people who I fear will eventually come back on day who know where I live. But I can’t, and Keira can’t just... dress up in costume and scare somebody away. Especially not someone like this guy.
Amy Jo Smyth – Hmm... I kind of see your point, but yeah having a stalker is not good.
Roxi – I just... I’m not sure exactly how this should be handled.
Amy Jo Smyth – I will handle it.
Roxi – What? How?
Amy Jo Smyth – You got a picture of the fucker? Because I will send that in to my contacts, and you will have some nice big guys in suits around your house and you won’t even know they are there. And neither with that guy.
Roxi – I think that’s a bit extreme.
{AJ gives Roxi a quizzical look.}
Roxi – Look, I don’t want the guy around me, or my family at all, but that’s like a big red flag that that’s exactly where we live.
Amy Jo Smyth – Fine, you want me to shoot him for you? Because I’m not about to have some weird ass dude creeping on my friends. You are just as much my family in this whole thing.
Roxi – I just... wanted some advice on how you think I should handle it.
Amy Jo Smyth - Keep all your doors and windows locked. Make sure your alarm is active. Stay in the house. Close your curtains, stay to one general area in the house.
Roxi – AJ, I don’t want to be a prisoner in my own house.
Amy Jo Smyth – Well, until this gets resolved, you can’t really ever be sure. This is just the precautions you have to take. I’m just trying to give you a heads up.
Roxi – I don’t know. I just don’t know.
Amy Jo Smyth – Look, those are the options in all reality. I can get some contacts to look into it and get some guys at your house, but otherwise, you have to lay low. If this guy is following you, and already tried your house, there’s no telling what he’s going to do.
Roxi – I suppose you’re right.
Amy Jo Smyth – Do you have a gun in your house?
Roxi – No, of course not. Not with Nate being there.
Amy Jo Smyth – Alright, fair enough, I’m just saying you should have something to protect yourselves. Tell you what, I will get a flight from Key West, and if you want, I will do my own patrol of your house.
Roxi – You don’t have to do that, AJ.
Amy Jo Smyth – The hell I don’t! You are family. You deserve the peace and protection anyone else gets.
{Roxi sighs, finally taking a drink of coffee as she ponders AJ’s offer about the whole situation.}
Roxi – I would feel better if you were around. I know I filed a police report and everything, but I don’t know if I can really trust that they will be there in time.
Amy Jo Smyth – Roxi, you know that I will always do everything I can to help you, no matter what. You just have to make a choice on how you want this done. You can either tell me you want my help or you tell me how to help you. But given the situation, you can’t have both.
Roxi – I do want your help, I just don’t want you to go overboard.
Amy Jo Smyth – Do I ever?
Roxi – All the time.
Amy Jo Smyth – But it helps, right?
Roxi – … Yes. Of course, it does.
Amy Jo Smyth – Good, now you just show me the video, and we’ll get this figured out.
{Roxi pulls out her phone and she begins showing AJ the footage of the man trying to break into her house, as the scene fades.}
{The next few days come and go, and there is no sign, or messages on either Roxi or Keira’s phone regarding anyone coming near that house, at least at night. Roxi and Keira have been cooped up at home, doing as AJ asked, but obviously, there is unrest. Keira is shown pacing as Roxi sits on her phone.}
Keira – I'm getting so tired of this.
Roxi - I know, but it’s the best course of action.
Keira – But the school?! The Gym!
Roxi – That's why we have Angelica and Keri working there. That’s why they are being paid.
Keira – But it’s OUR school.
Roxi – And WE have to deal with something else first.
Keira – Wait... that reminds me, did we tell Keri and Angelica about that?
Roxi – Yes. Keri was there.
Keira – Right, I’m sorry... It’s just... it’s been a lot lately.
Roxi – It's been a lot for all of us.
Keira – Only times like this do things pile on.
Roxi – It's just the way things are now.
Keira – I guess it’s just, we take this kind of stuff for granted. I mean, we spend so much time here and never really thought about the whole idea of not being able to leave.
Roxi – We can leave, it’s just getting back that the problem.
Keira – You still think he’s out there?
Roxi – I can feel it in my bones. He’s out there, probably scoping the neighborhood. Waiting to see if anyone comes out of this house.
Keira – We might be playing right into his hands then.
Roxi – I know my mom has walked out the door a couple of times. Answered the door, things like that. She went out and got the mail.
Keira – Yeah, but the mail still has OUR names on it.
Roxi – If he’s reading our mail, then he should have been here by now. Made the move.
Keira – I wonder if Keri or Angelica have seen that guy. You know what, I’m going to call her and find out.
Roxi – Okay.
{Keira slowly walks into another room and dials on her cell phone as Nate wanders in, a smile on his face as he plays with his tablet.}
Nate – Mommy, look what I did.
Roxi – That's really cool, Nate.
{Roxi picks up Nate to sit with her on the couch and kisses him on the head.}
Roxi – I love you.
Nate - I love you too Mommy.
{Roxi and Nate play with Nate’s tablet as he plays some building games as Keira eventually comes back into the room, stopping herself from just blurting things out loud as she sees Nate.}
Keira – Oh uh... they haven’t heard anything.
Roxi – Okay.
{Keira smiles and sits down next to Nate, also kissing him on the head.}
Keira - What are you doing?
Nate – I'm building this farm.
Keira – Oh, that sounds fun.
{The three are sitting down enjoying things until Roxi’s phone goes off, and an facetime request comes in.}
Roxi – Hang on, I’ll be back, I just have to take this.
{Roxi walks into the kitchen and sits down at the table, opening the request, coming from Aaron Baltasarsson.}
Aron – Hello, Roxi.
Roxi – Hey, Aron.
Aron – How are things holding up?
Roxi – As good as can be expected, I guess.
Aron – Any news about your unwelcome visitor?
Roxi – Not since the attempt. It’s been quiet, almost too quiet.
Aron – I trust that they will find the guy. It sucks that this is happening to you.
Roxi – Tell me about it.
Aron – At the very least, you have your dog there, yeah?
Roxi – Well, there’s two dogs, but I don’t know if Trixie is in any shape to be getting involved. All she does really is lay around. She’s old now.
Aron – That doesn’t mean she won’t do anything if worse comes to worse.
Roxi – I know. But hopefully we never get that far.
Aron – What are you going to do about the Supercard? You can always leave Nate with Fenris and myself. We will take good care of him.
Roxi – I don’t know what I’m going to do just yet. As I said, I may end up bringing everyone to Greece, so that they are out of the house. I don’t like the idea of leaving my mother alone, or even with Nate there, if this guy isn’t caught by then.
Aron – Well, if you ever need anything from me, or my brother, you know we have your back.
Roxi – It's comforting to know that I do have so many people willing to have my back in a time of need.
Aron – Well, I’m pretty sure everyone knows you would do the same no matter who had a problem.
Roxi – I try my best.
Aron – Anyway, I don’t want to just put this guy back in your mind if you’ve had a few peaceful days.
Roxi – They're peaceful enough, but he is still out there, at least, nobody has told me anything.
Aron – Well you filed a police report, right?
Roxi – Yes, but the police can get busy, this is just an obsessed fan as much as I can tell.
{Aron seems confused by this statement.}
Aron – It wasn’t just a burglar?
Roxi – No. He came to the Team Hero gym and tried to hide. And then he came to our signing, wanting a ton of things signed and taking a bunch of pictures. And then he followed me when I was walking Buster.
Aron – It sounds a lot more serious than just an obsessed fan, Roxi.
Roxi – I guess I just never imagined this happening is all.
Aron – Well, you are a superhero, right? I’m sure if he busted through that door you’d go full Batman on his ass.
{Roxi chuckles at this.}
Roxi – Uh, something like that, maybe. Again, I hope it doesn’t come to that and we can get this resolved without anything happening.
Aron – Well, again, if you need anything, don’t hesitate to call. We can easily make arrangement for you.
Roxi – I know. I appreciate it.
Aron – Well, I don’t want to keep you, just... stay safe, and safe travels. We’ll see you when you get here. All of you if need be.
Roxi – Absolutely. Thanks Aron, I mean it. It means a lot to me.
Aron – That's what friends are for.
Roxi – I'll see you in Athens.
Aron – Take care.
{Roxi ends the facetime and goes back into the living room, sitting down with Keira and Nate again as the scene fades.}
{Finally settling in for the night, Roxi and Keira are watching TV, with Nate struggling to stay awake, as he rests against Roxi, and she casually runs her fingers through his hair. Roxi’s mother comes into the room and she sees Nate half asleep and comes over to him.}
Elizabeth – I think it’s time for you to get in bed, young man.
Nate – I'm not tired.
Elizabeth – Oh, I know, I can see you’re wide awake. Come on.
{Elizabeth picks up Nate who is nearly passed out anyway as Roxi blows him a kiss. Nate tries, but yawns, blowing kisses to Roxi and Keira.}
Roxi – Goodnight, Nate.
{Nate gives a wave as Roxi and Keira wave back and Elizabeth takes Nate into his room. Roxi turns to Keira and shrugs.}
Roxi – I think we might want to follow suit.
Keira – Yeah, I suppose.
Roxi – It's just been –
{Roxi is interrupted by a loud bang at the front door. Her phone immediately brings the alert.}
“Someone is at your front door.”
{Roxi nor Keira need to pull up the alert to see that it is the same man outside their door, and the loud bang is him, kicking in the door for all he’s worth. Roxi quickly goes to the bed room where Elizabeth is confused, Buster is barking, and Nate looks worried.}
Nate – Mommy, what’s that noise?
Roxi – It’s okay, Baby. Stay in here, lock the door, and call the police.
Nate – Mommy?
{Elizabeth nods as Roxi walks away from the doorway, and she closes the door and locks it.}
Nate – Gramma, what’s the matter?
Elizabeth – It's okay, Nate. Mommy and Mama will take care of it.
{In the living room, Roxi and Keira stand ready, as the large man kicks the door and finally it goes off the hinges and falls down. The large man, in his white hoodie, is there surgical mask over his face, and is brandishing a gun.}
Man – I knew it! I found you!
Roxi – You need to leave.
Keira – Before you get hurt.
Man – NO! YOU DID THIS TO ME! YOU REJECTED ME!
{The man fires a shot into the air, going through the ceiling, and thankfully, no one is upstairs.}
Man – You are supposed to accept me! I don’t have anything but TEAM HERO! AND NOW YOU HAVE TURNED ON ME!
Roxi – Look, I don’t know who you are, but do you really think this is the best way to go about this?
Keira – You clearly need some help.
Man – I TRIED! I TRIED AND YOU REJECTED ME! YOU DIDN’T SIGN MY STUFF! YOU PUSHED ME AWAY LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE!
Keira – We were trying to be nice.
Man – YOU ARE LIARS! But now... now I have everything I need! I found you! We can be together now! We should have always been together!
Roxi – This is not okay, and you know that.
Man – This is what I have to do! This is what YOU MADE ME DO! You have to be punished!
Keira – What?! We didn’t make you do anything! You tried to hide in our gym! You tried to get more than the allowed number of pictures and signings. You can’t just break the rules!
Man – YOU. LEFT ME. YOU ABANDONED ME. MY HEROES!
Roxi – Okay, stop, stop, listen to yourself. You feel like we let you down, right? If we did, I’m sorry. But you have to know, deep down, deep down that this isn’t right. This isn’t how you should be doing this. You broke into our house and your threatening us with a gun. All this is going to do is make sure you either wind up in jail, or in a mental hospital. We... we don’t even know your name.
Man – Because I’m nobody to you.
Keira – And if you do anything crazy... you’ll still be nobody. Think about it. We have normalized not giving the bad people in life the recognition they are after. If that’s what you’re after, you’re not going to get it.
Man – No! I will be FOREVER REMEMBERED! I WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY, ALONG WITH TEAM HERO! BECAUSE TONIGHT! TONIGHT... WE’RE ALL GOING TO DIE!
{From the corner of her eye, Roxi can spot the police, and what looks like a swat team forming up, and Roxi continues to hold her hand up, trying to keep the man at bay.}
Roxi – You don’t want to do this....
Man – YES I DO!
{The man again aims his gun at Roxi and Keira prepares to step in front, but Trixie despite her age, leaps into action and bites the man on the arm. The gun drops to the floor and the SWAT team moves in, guns drawn and aimed at the man on the ground. Roxi pulls Trixie off of the man, as she softly barks. The man is surrounded and tries to make a move, but he is dog piled on and handcuffed. A SWAT person comes up to Roxi, taking off their helmet and mask as the man is lead away, revealing themselves to be... Amy Jo Smyth.}
Roxi – AJ!
Amy Jo Smyth – Are you guys okay?
Keira – Yeah...
Roxi – … Thanks AJ.
Amy Jo Smyth – I told you I’d do anything I could. That was a bit of a rush, I have to say. Is anybody hurt?
Roxi – Nobody was upstairs, that was the only shot fired, thankfully.
Amy Jo Smyth – Well... they’re more than likely gonna need to question you guys about this, so just be prepared to make a statement.
Roxi – Of course. Again... thank you.
Amy Jo Smyth – Always.
{Roxi returns to the bedroom leading to Nate’s room where Buster is still loudly barking, checking on Nate and Elizabeth.}
Roxi – Are you okay?
Nate – Mommy! Mama!
{Nate runs to Roxi, who hugs him tightly, Keira also right there.}
Roxi – Don't worry baby, it’s over.
Elizabeth – Are you sure?
Roxi – He’s gone.
{The family share a group hug and the relief of the moment as the scene fades.}
{The next morning is a weird on, but the added stress is gone. Roxi walks outside with coffee in her hand, as Keira joins her.}
Roxi – Weird, isn’t it?
Keira – Like I said, we took this for granted.
{Roxi and Keira hold each other, as Roxi’s phone goes off, Roxi looks down and sees the number. She quickly picks up.}
Roxi – AJ?
Amy Jo Smyth - Just checking on you guys after last night.
Roxi – It's weird, but we’re okay.
Amy Jo Smyth – Well, I also have information after last night.
Roxi – Oh?
Amy Jo Smyth – Your stalker’s name was Nick, Nick Powers. And he is now dead.
Roxi – Wait, what?
Amy Jo Smyth – Hung himself in his cell last night. They found all the information on him and... Well... I think your alter ego needs to check it out.
Roxi – Oh?
Amy Jo Smyth – It's... something. I’ll text you the address.
Roxi – Alright.
Amy Jo Smyth – Sad story. Anyway, I don’t want to keep you. Just, when you can...
Roxi – I'll check it out.
Amy Jo Smyth – I'm just glad you’re okay.
Roxi – Thanks to you.
Keira – We owe you one.
Amy Jo Smyth – Yeah, you owe me a lot. I’m keeping score.
{AJ hangs up on that note as Roxi and Keira look at each other.}
Keira – Do you even want to check this out?
Roxi – I'm not sure. Maybe it’s best left unseen.
Keira – AJ said we should, though.
Roxi – Maybe... to fully understand everything.
{Keira sighs and nods, and the two head inside to get into costume as the scene fades.}
{Later, the two arrive at the apartment of Nick Powers. There is still police caution tape up, but the apartment is all locked and the house is empty. However, the on the fire escape side, the window is open. Roxi and Keira move in and go through the window, and the smell overpowers them.}
Roxi – Never want to smell that again.
Keira – You said it.
{The apartment is a total mess, with food containers and various bits of trash all over the place. Flies and roaches are everywhere, the putrid smell of rotting food and other thing mixed in. But it’s not just that, that catches Roxi and Keira’s attention.}
Kiera – Look...
{Keira points to the wall in the back corner, and over the dilapidated couch, is a shrine to Team Hero. Various pictures of Roxi and Keira, some of them taken without them even noticing. Signed pictures, memorabilia, all of it there.}
Keira – Good god...
{A closer inspection however reveals that Nick at some point began carving out their eyes, drawing frowny-faces on them or carving jagged lines into their faces, with the words “FAKE” and “FRAUD” and “LIAR” written on them. Roxi looks, sighing and lowering her head.}
Roxi – Unreal.
Keira – We didn’t...
Roxi – In his mind... we did. And sometimes... that’s all it takes.
Keira – He really was crazy...
Roxi – This is what obsession looks like. Hopefully, we never see it again.
{The two take one last look at the shrine, before they depart, and the scene fades one last time.}
“You'll never be Superman. Because you have no idea what it means to be Superman. It's not about where you were born. Or what powers you have. Or what you wear on your chest. Its about what you do...Its about action."
- Superman (Infinite Crisis Vol 1 7)
It’s tough a lot of the time to deal with someone who has lost their grip on reality, and having to tell them the truth about the situation. Because the first thing you really have to stand up and tell them is “no”. You cannot reward or give into their behavior when they begin to become defensive and point the finger back at you. “You did THIS, so therefore, I should be able to do something similar.” It’s like arguing with a child. That's what dealing with someone who is obsessed and addicted is like. My own mother was addicted to alcohol. And that tore my family apart. My parents separated. My sister and I lost contact. An addiction doesn’t care about the bonds of a family, it doesn’t care about people’s lives. And an addict takes on those characteristics.
What Myra Rivers is doing now, is the textbook definitions of addiction and obsession. When it has this the grip on you like it does Myra, you begin to rationalize everything, and everyone who is actually trying to assist you, is made the enemy. Addicts will lie, they will manipulate and deceive people. Because they are all about getting what they want, and trying to make anyone denying them what they really want into the bad guy. Once that takes hold, every little thing will be a slight against them. And then, they resort to extreme measures if they don’t get what they want. It’s a classic case Myra has here, and it shows through in every word she has said.
You see, there’s nothing that I said last time that’s a lie. I didn’t make up facts about Myra’s constant speech about getting to the world championship and winning it. Go back to after Violent Conduct, and watch those episodes of Climax Control, and count how many times Myra Rivers stood in front of a camera and talked about being the World champion. It’s a dream, it’s what she’s striving for. It is ALL she is striving for. Go back and watch. Go back and listen. It’s the same.
EVERY. SINGLE. TIME.
Now, did I do the same thing? Yes. Once. I asked, no, let’s take it one step further, I begged for a one-on-one match, for the championship against Amber Ryan. And then, I said, okay, I will earn that match, and that was after what I felt I had rightfully earned already. I defeated every single person put in front of me for 2 months. And then? I obviously hadn’t earned that because I then had to go into a Fatal Four-way match against 3 people who did not have the number of wins I had, and then my one-on-one match, got turned into a triple threat, based on that result.
And I lost that match.
You see how I had built up the wins, and then one match changed everything? I wanted what I felt I had earned. So, I challenged anybody, everybody to fight me and it got really quiet around SCW, except for Crystal, and Kat Jones. Those two people raised their hands and said “Yes, I will fight you.” And I respect them for that. A bunch of people in the peanut gallery had a lot to say, and then suddenly they were busy. Funny how that worked.
I wasn’t going to let that one match, be the one shot I got. Because it felt unfair. Unjust. It was as simple as that. Had I not gotten anything out of that, I would have felt slighted for... a little bit, yes. Who wouldn’t? But at the end of the day, I would have had to move on, earn it all over again. I just wanted what I felt I had earned.
And, had I lost at Blaze of Glory, I would have been at least known, I’d taken my shot, and lost. Life would have gone on, but you would have heard nothing about losing from me, simply, what I have always said, and continue to say, even with this championship on my shoulder.
“I am content, not satisfied. I want to get better.”
Because I am chasing something different than championships. I’m chasing the idea of perfection. Something I cannot hope to achieve. Yes, right now, I am content, I am not satisfied, and if anyone knows me, they would understand that it is a state of mind. I could literally have every single Bombshell’s championship in my hand right now, and I would not be satisfied with it. Not because I want all the championships. But because I want to be the best I possibly can be. And that doesn’t solely include inside the ring.
I want to be the best wife, the best mother, the best friend, the best PERSON, I could possibly be. And I chase after that every single day. And I know right now, that’s never going to happen. Sometime, somewhere, I will lose friends, I will make mistakes and I will screw something up that somebody will end up hating my guts for. Yet, I still try.
If I wanted to right now, I could say, I’m done in SCW. I could walk away and go somewhere else. I have already done everything but win a Blast from the Past Tournament and mixed tag titles. I am already in the Hall of Fame. I already have the most wins, I already have or had numerous other records in SCW. And I am not satisfied as a person.
But this is what you have to do, when you are dealing with someone who does not see the forest for the trees.
But this is strangely sounding like a debate now. Actually, not a debate, a debate tactic. And I walked right into it.
Myra cannot justify anything I said, and I sat here and justified my actions. Now, all Myra is really set on doing and did, was muddy the waters enough. Enough to where she doesn’t have to win; she just has to not lose. This whole deal is now “Let’s not talk about the bad things I did, let’s instead talk about the bad things you did.” That is classic addict behavior. Turn and point the finger, get defensive. Deflect and dodge.
I’ve dealt with it before. In my own family. So, I can see it coming and I know when someone tries to use it. I’ve heard the words and the same tired argument a lot. Nobody is perfect, but when you go out of your way to sound perfect, people can see through it. And being face to face with Myra, I heard that same tone, but I heard right at those moments, Myra Rivers was telling me, what she thought were all the right things.
As the old saying goes, I was born at night, but not last night.
That is something that Myra has been really good at for long time. Telling people what she thinks they want to hear and passing it off as how she really feels. I’m not stupid, I know when someone is manipulating me, and this entire thing has been one of those times. Myra Rivers is only really looking forward to facing me because if she won the title from Seleana, then the whole thing would feel anti-climactic and she wouldn’t feel like she really won the title. You know, because Seleana isn’t a former world champion or anything. It has to be a big challenge.
In the end, it doesn’t REALLY matter to her, she just wants the Bombshell’s championship. She’s just saying these things to make the win sound like she climbed a big mountain. I have respect for anyone, who managed to win this championship, because it takes a lot, and I mean, a lot of hard work and talent to win this championship given the level of competition. But in Myra Rivers misguided attempt to be noble, she has, of course, spit on anybody else who has won the championship that isn’t me, or Amber Ryan.
Again, this is how someone thinks and speaks when they don’t fully understand what this is about, and they just guess about what makes them sound the humblest. This is what Myra Rivers believes a true champion would say. She said on right there to my face that she was glad it was me, she was honored to face me. She wants to fight the biggest and the best, right? That’s what a good wrestler says, right? It is all exactly what she thinks she should say, but at the end of the day, none of that means anything. It’s empty and hollow. That’s the same language addicts and obsessives use. It’s the same language a DESPERATE person uses.
Because at the end of all of this, that’s what Myra Rivers is. And that’s by her own doing. She will not see herself as anything but a failure if she doesn’t walk out of Athens with this championship. Period. Cut and dry.
It may seem to Myra, and maybe to other people, that I’m being harsh. That I’m trying to bring her down and make her seem like she’s doing something she’s not. I have praised Myra plenty of times, I told her from the beginning when I won the Bombshell’s title that she would be right there to challenge me, because she is a top contender. But I have to call it like I see it. I have to be objective in what I see. I can praise Myra, but I also have to call attention to what is happening currently. It may seem like I’m being too rough, but the reality is, I’m trying to help her. I’m trying to tell her the truth, because maybe I’m the only one who is willing to tell her the truth. It’s not like I haven’t been in this position before. Throughout my career, people have turned on me, decided one day to start hating me and blamed me for every issue they’ve ever had. And then, I bring them back to reality. This is what I’m doing, yet again. I am trying to open her eyes to all that’s around her, and all that she has, instead of what she doesn’t have. Her eyes are so narrow and fixed on this championship that it’s not healthy.
Let me give a recent example of what I’ve been talking about.
And let me say all this before Myra stands in front of all you at Into the Void and offers a rebuttal to every single thing I say. Because I’ve seen that before too. I’m already going to give Myra the last word on this, so if she could spare all of us the monologue about how I am wrong for this reason or for that reason, it would be much appreciated.
Anyway...
You know, the NFL draft was just two weeks ago. And if you know anything about football, you know that you can be a low draft pick, or even undrafted, and still be able to play in the NFL and do well, and on the flip side, you can be a high draft pick and flame out. That’s just what happens. Sometimes the highly drafted guys pan out and do great, lots of times they don’t. But do you know what all of those kids have in common right now?
They get to play at the highest level.
They get to play against great players, hall of fame level players. You are playing at the professional level and you get the opportunity to shine on some really, really bright stages. It’s something I am sure every single person who ever got to that level, treasures. It’s an accomplishment in itself. Because I did the research and there’s pretty much 1900 players in the NFL on teams, at any given time. Think about for a second, how many players are TRYING to play in the NFL, and there’s only 1900 that can do it. That’s an elite group of people. That’s a special group of people.
And a lot of them, are in an out of the NFL in 3 years. That’s the average length of an NFL career. And with all that, someone like Myra Rivers comes along and says, it you don’t make it to the Super bowl and win, you must not be very good. Because that is what she has equated her career to. It’s been long, it’s been very successful. But rather than enjoying it, rather than seeing her career for what it is, she is now convinced that not winning this championship means she was never at the professional level. Not world title material.
And that, is not only ridiculous, it’s borderline offensive.
Not everybody gets to the where I am, or Myra Rivers is. It’s not a right, it’s a privilege to get to do what we do at the level we get to do it at, and that’s why my biggest battles are with myself, striving to get better. The number of championships I have won are a testament to my work. But there’s many championships I never won, and things I never accomplished. That’s where you come to a choice you have to make. Are you going to let those things you didn’t do, be your legacy? Or will your legacy be about what you did do?
Myra has obviously chosen the former. She has defined herself as the woman who “can’t win the big one.” No one else is saying that about her. So, for her, there is invisible group of naysayers. And so, this is about one thing, and one thing only. Win or go home.
And it puts me in the position to send Myra home empty handed. Not because I take pleasure in seeing her fail. Not because I’m trying to ruin her legacy. But because I earned this championship, and I’m not about to let someone come in and take it from me, because they feel like they have no other option. I want to feel bad for Myra, having come so close and be it bad luck or something else, it doesn’t happen. But I really can’t when it’s all I have heard about for close to a year. Do you think any pro athlete wants to hear all the time that they didn’t win the big one? Do you think that anyone wants to be reminded of their failures? And vice-versa, would any of you want to hear from any pro athlete you hear speaking that didn’t win a championship, is that they didn’t win a championship? That’s all I heard about from Myra Rivers, and at this point, I cannot feel bad, because it’s what Myra has used to define her own career.
There’s a lot of other accomplishments Myra can feel great about. She has won a lot more matches than pretty much half the roster in the Bombshell’s division for the past year. She’s won multiple championships. She has a lot to be very proud of. But instead, she focuses on the negatives.
At Into the Void, I’m going to beat Myra Rivers, and retain this championship, and Myra can hopefully actually be proud of this accomplishment. Hopefully, we can have a great match, one that she can show people and say “I did that.” But I refuse to let this be Myra’s crowning moment, just because she thinks she deserves it for coming up short before.
Myra told me to my face she’d be okay with that result.
At Into the Void, we’re going to put it to the test. I am tired of having smoke blown up my ass, I’m tired of the walking back of ridiculous notions and I’m tired of the excuses. There will be no excuses when I beat Myra Rivers at Into the Void.
Only, that she was beaten by a better wrestler. Period.
And I will do my damnedest to cure this obsession.
I will see you all there,
And I will see you there as well, Myra.