Maybe in another life
I could find you there
Pulled away before your time
I can't deal, it's so unfair
And it feels
And it feels like
Heaven's so far away
And it feels
Yeah, it feels like
The world has grown cold
Now that you've gone away

Prologue-If I had a heart.

Maybe one day I would actually care. I mean really care. About those less fortunate. About those who needed to train harder hit harder, be faster. Those who had to compensate for a lack of natural ability. But the truth is natural ability and skills that are inside or DNA only get you so far. But if you take both, if you can harness someones natural talent and instill a need to compete. You get a monster.

Maybe one day I would actually care. I mean really care. About those that life stomps down and leaves behind. About those who had fallen on hard times and fallen. Who was unable to raise up under their own power. The ones who were beaten and held back. But weren’t strong enough to fight and win. To break the chains of bondage that held them down.

Maybe one day I would actually care. I mean really care….

If I had a heart.


Scene One-I feel nothing
Off Camera
Atlanta Georgia
Last Week

The house seemed so quiet. The large main parlor didn’t even seem to echo as it used to. Alicia looked around as her mother Barbara slid her sunglasses on and left, Zoey walked out of the room, her makeup smudged, her eyes red from crying. Zoey moved out into the parlor with her sister sitting down on a chair opposite her. Alicia just stared at her, wanting to say something but unsure of what to offer. Zoey was closer to him than Alicia was. There was a thick silence as Zoey took a sharp inhale opening her bottle of water to take a drink.

As she finished she finally noticed while she had been crying and in emotional pain. Alicia hadn’t been. Alicia’s face was blank and emotionless. She had not shed a single tear for James Maxwell, their biological father. ”You know you can cry right?. You don’t have to be a strong big sister.” Oh bless her heart. Alicia smirked and shook her head looking down. She had no idea how to work this, or why it would even matter. She was here for Zoey. not their father. But she needed something to distract Zoey from the lack of emotion. ”Have you started the funeral arrangements?. Did he leave any instructions in his will?

His will, that was a joke. Alicia knew damn well their father would not do the decent thing and put his last thoughts and wants to paper to make things easier for anyone foolish enough to actually care for him. ”He didn’t, I have no idea what he’d want. I don’t….Ali..help” It broke her heart, seeing Zoey like this. Zoey always put on the face of strength. She was 5’10, 160 pounds. She was bigger and stronger than Alicia. She took after their father more than she did too. But here they were, the older sister feeling nothing except pain at her baby sisters suffering. And an inability to relate. She reached out and laid her hand on Zoey’s shoulder. Zoey tilted her head and laid her cheek on Alicia’s hand.

A little more time passed as Zoey suddenly sat up straight and grabbed a handful of tissues. She wiped her eyes and blew her nose shaking her head at the same time. ”No, I’m not going to be like this, I need to be stronger, like you. He was your father too yet I’m the one crying like a baby.””That’s because she doesn't feel bad.” Josh’s voice cut through the room. Zoey and Alicia both turned to look up at their brother. The troubled “middle child”. But he was every bit like their father. He stood six foot eight, was naturally muscular, had long wavy blond hair and a beard. He dropped his bag near his sisters and turned to the small bar to mix a drink.

”Josh?..what are you..””Doing here?...I felt like saying a final goodbye to the old man, so I’m here to help with the funeral” Alicia raised her eyebrows, Zoey shook her head and got to her feet as Josh downed the whiskey stomping passed him. ”So you disappear for months and think you can just turn up now?. Last time I saw you was Ali’s wedding and that was seven months ago… He poured himself another drink and shook his head again downing it. Alicia still stayed silent. Her hands coming together as she sat back watching Zoey getting more upset and Josh staying just as blank and emotionless as she felt.

”You just turn back up and expect us to want you to help?” Josh shook his head and set the glass down before turning to Zoey, he reached down and gave a small pat to the top of his baby sisters head. ”The funny thing is you think she wants to help” He motioned towards Alicia who looked away, Zoey looked at them both one after another before scrunching her face up with a growl. ”You too?...what is it with this family?” Alicia could feel herself standing up and the words about to come out of her mouth, she could feel decades of anger. ”I’m sorry you lost YOUR father Zoey, I feel bad for you and I hate seeing you upset but you have to understand something.”

She stepped closer to her sister till they were face to face. Both of them with long blond hair, tanned and toned bodies, bright blue eyes. ”Jason walked out on me and Josh when we could still remember it. We know what it was like to watch him leave and not understand why. He may have been your dad and you may have been the apple of his fucking eye...but he was dead to us a long time before his body caught up/” Zoey opened her mouth trying to find the words, nothing came out and she just stood there looking at her siblings with tears in her eyes before turning and walking away.

Alicia sighed as her heart dropped. ”She had to hear the truth Ali” Her hand flew up with a finger in the air, she didn’t even turn to look at her brother. ”I don’t want to hear it, Josh…”

Scene Two-The Day he died for the first time/
Off Camera
Atlanta, Georgia
22 Years Ago

The day was like any other. The sun rose high in the sky, the smell of summer in the air as the heat in Georgia seemed to bake us all alive. I was five years old. Long curly blond locks, chubby cheeks. Every bit a mixture of my southern belle mother and my father. A rough and rugged wrestler named Jason Maxwell. He was seven foot tall, huge muscles and long blond hair. A smirk that was playful and boyish despite his age. A look my mother fell for, hook, line, and sinker. I don’t remember everything from that time. But I remember being happy.

I remember my mother being happy. I was the first born. The princess. Followed by my brother Josh and our baby sister Zoey. Josh was 2 and a half, Zoey was a newborn, maybe three or four months. I don’t remember exactly how old. I just remember the weird feeling. My mother for a time had been questioning my father on his choices. On what he was doing for the family. She had come from money, she gave that all up from the family to marry my father. A star-crossed forbidden love it seems. But times grew tougher….

The wrestling business as a whole had become stagnant. There was no money to be made in the mid-’90s and with three children my mother worried. She was scared and wanted Jason to find another job. My father was as stubborn as a mule. I suppose that is where I get it from. But I sat on the floor, the hardwood floor of the house we lived in. A small three bedroom affair, My brother and sister both have a nap, not that they would have remembered much anyway. All I remember was the yelling. My mother and father in the kitchen. My mother then telling him to keep his voice down once she realised I could hear everything.  

I didn’t think much of it that day.

It had become a little more regular than I would like to admit. The arguments back and forth, always over money and direction. Things that never held much weight in my mind. At the time all I cared about was my little brother touching my shit. But I heard the boots on the floor. My father stepping through the house. I remembered feeling different, weird. The vibe was all wrong and I was upset. He walked out of Josh and Zoey’s room, he walked over to me setting his bag down and picked me up sitting me on his knee. His eyes looked strange. Not the happy relief I was used to when he was able to see us, spend time with me and actually be a father away from the traveling circus life of professional wrestling.

A life I myself now subscribe to and endure and love. In a way, I understand why he left. Why the last I saw of him for 20 years was his back. His large silhouette moving out our front door with a bag in his hand. My mother angry and shaking her head hiding the tears and keeping them back and away. He loved the life. He loved the feeling. He loved the rush. At the time I thought he was just leaving for work. That someday my father would walk back in the door as if nothing happened. Give me a hug, tell me he loved me. But that day didn’t come, not for 20 goddamn years.  

And when it did, I felt happy, I fell for the lies, I fell for the bullshit. I let him back in only for him to walk out time and time again, and over the last two years, I have had to deal with that fallout. The feeling and knowing that my father is a failure as a man, as a professional wrestler, as a father, and as a grandfather….. And now he was nothing.

Scene Three-I am SCW now
On Camera
Washington, D.C
Present Day

”I’ve been waiting months to be able to say and do this.”

Alicia smiles wide and adjusts her shirt straightening it, she slides her hair into place and she takes a deep and slow inhale and exhale before laughing under her breath.

”Mercedes Vargas. I told you so”

She smiles again, her lips coated in a deep red lipstick twist up and show her almost perfect white teeth, her blue eyes sparkle as Alicia seems to bounce a little as she moves.

”I told you years ago, the second I got you in the ring, one on one, that we’d find o0ut who was better. And the entire time we were both in Honor you were able to pick up cheap wins over me. Tag match wins when I had eliminated the entirety of your team and was tired. Mayhem survival “wins” that weren’t actually wins and bullshit DQ’s. But when push came to shove, when the ending actually mattered which one of us stood tall Marcy?. I took the Honor title off you, I waved it around and all you could do was meekly put a hand up and say…”

<Fake Mercedes Voice>“But, but you never pinned me…..”</Fake Mercedes Voice>

“Well, gee willy Mercy, I took your championship and you were too scared to face me, I wiped out your pathetic little group that you built up around yourself. Then I came here, to YOUR turf, to the company where YOU are in the hall of fame. I stepped in YOUR ring after you had thrown out all that bullshit on Twitter. And I pinned you. Kind of makes your little tantrum seem even more childish now right?. You know the one?. Where a certain management representative said “Alicia is SCW” and your little panties..or rather..depends got all twisted up?”

“Cause let’s face it. With that win, and what I am capable of and what I am going to do?...I am SCW…”

Alicia flashes that grin again and pulls up the Honor wrestling championship adjusting it on her shoulder with a laugh to herself.

”I know that seems loaded here but, with Honor and SCW merging and with the matches looming to unify titles I think it’s important to realise that Honors past is now SCW’s past. I am an SCW employee and wrestler and while I love the lineage and records I have broken and hold in Honor there comes a time when that company needs to be fully absorbed and laid to rest. And at Inception III that is what is going to happen. I’m not going to sit there and have this “us vs them” mentality. See I like Jesse Salco and it honestly doesn't matter if she considers herself to be more “Honor” than “SCW”. Cause right now, this is the company we work for. And Jesse is a very talented woman and she is also someone I respect immensely and I know I can rely on her. I know that I will do my half of the world and she will do hers. I can’t say that about everyone….”

“But, our opponents in this match have to realise something. See Sam Marlowe and Dani Weston have been impressive in SCW and I will get to them but they know Jesse Salco. They know Jesse Salco is an impressive woman who can go in that ring. They have seen her win and defend a championship in Honor and inside the SCW ring. So it should send a little shiver down the spines of Dani and Sam when they sit back and realise the title Jesse holds, I made famous.”

“The Honor Wrestling Legacy Championship is tattooed with my name on it no matter who holds it. I had it for over a year and the only reason I don’t have it over my shoulder is that I had to give it up. I had to hand it back to management because I beat Mercedes and won “the big one”. But for almost 400 days that title was mine. I even defended it against Jesse so, Jesse Salco is a great opponent, competitor, and partner. But she isn’t on my level. And sad to say. Neither are you two…”

Alicia smiles and shakes her head leaning back holding the Honor wrestling title tight against her body.

”I mean, the current Roulette Champion, Samantha Marlowe is a name here. Sin City knows you and knows what you can do. Three-time Roulette Champion, two-time Bombshells champion, a Mixed Tag Champion with Caleb storms. Damn Sam, what a resume. I’m impressed and doing that is not easy. But even with all this knowledge, even with being able to look at your past and nod in approval. You’re still not someone who can or will step to me. See I have given people respect and props for what they’ve accomplished here and I will do so. I’ve watched past SCW shows and I will always admit it’s a thrill to be in the same company where Roxi Johnson once rolled and was a champion.”

“But, Sam, you’re not going to believe what you see when I step in the ring.”

“All the hype about me sweetheart is real. You traded the SCW bombshells title back and forth with Crystal Hilton and Mercedes. Two hall of famers who can’t and won’t be good enough to lace my boots let alone live up to what I’ve accomplished. You’re probably going to go on to Inception and face Jesse, putting that pretty belt you won off of Evie Bang on the line. And when the dust settles one of you will hold a brand new title having both histories under it. So, Sam, what that means is, if you do happen to beat Jesse at the supercard, you will technically hold a title that includes the history of me being the most dominant champion and professional wrestler on this planet….congratulations honey….I’ll give you a rub without doing anything…”

“You can thank me later”

Alicia chuckles again and sighs rolling her eyes shaking her long blond hair out.

”And someone else who should thank me is Dani Weston. You should be thanking me for wanting to defend the Honor title and remind everyone what it means instead of just coming straight for you. It has bought you an extra month or so for you to call yourself a champion. And it’s funny cause I kind of thought this would happen. Eventually, the top female champion in SCW, that would be you, would have to face the best champion who was coming into the company. That would be me. And since you hold the SCW...argh..Bombshells..title that means you are “the best” here.”

“And looking at you, I can’t help but be disappointed.”

“I was excited Dani, I was pumped to step into this company after hearing and seeing so much about it from Jesse, Delia, Crystal, and Mercedes. These women were the best this company had to offer and...and...I beat them. Easily. I am one of the best professional wrestlers on the planet Dani and I want to face the best but all I see from you is constant complaining and whining on social media. And fluke your way to holding that piece of gold on your shoulder. Now, we have a few weeks till this supercard. If you want to hold onto that title till then, then I hope you realise what you have to go through…”

“Then again, you get a small preview this week. At Climax Control 223 you and Sam will get in the ring with myself and Jesse. And while the three of you have been successful here and built careers the sad truth is that I’m the one who is going to be remembered. I’m the one who is going to be looked at as the best, as the star, as the goddamn G.O.A.T. You will know what it’s like to step in the ring with the best of the best. All your champions would fall to me and I am the most complete female wrestler in the world today and that may be looked at as a goddamn boast but I have the track record to prove it. People have always doubted me and hated me, this is not anything new to me. And I have made a career out of proving everyone wrong and shoving it down their throats. And I’m coming for blood. We are not the same, say the fucking name.”

 Scene one-The Honeymoon
Off Camera
Paris, France
6 Months Ago

Her eyes fluttered open as the sounds of the city could be heard in faint moments outside the window. Alicia smiled as she remembered instantly where they were. Paris. The cliched honeymoon destination of destinations. But this was new for her. Alicia had only ever been to Paris to work. In, work and out again, onto another city, another country, another match, another company. As was the nomadic life of a professional wrestler not signed to any major company. As a rookie, as an unsigned talent and again as a young woman looking to make her mark she had been able to visit many different places.

Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, South America, North America. She’d been everywhere. Wrestled everywhere. But this was different. This was life, relaxing. It was real. They flew in the morning before. Michael smiling as he took a deep breath in as they found a cab. They spent the first day checking in and getting settled. Learning the layout of the surrounding areas near the hotel. They ate in the restaurant under the hotel, they drank wine. There was no looking at the time, there were no worries about an early bedtime to catch a 5 am flight for either of them. It was a real holiday. A time for the newlyweds to celebrate alone.

Alicia’s sons, Rory and Ryan were safe and sound with their biological father. Their house was being looked after by Alicia’s sister Zoey. Everything seemed perfect. Everything felt perfect. And then it hit her. She was content and happy being a wife, a mother. She could do as she wanted. Michael had a great job, a healthy business. Alicia had savings, a bank account and a name she could trade off. Did she really want to keep traveling? Did she really want to be away from Michael?. And then there was the other question. Did they want to try for a baby now?. The question burned at the front of Alicia’s mind.

She remembered what it was like at home. Seeing Michael with her boys, the smile on his face, the flush in their cheeks. She would stand and cook, laughing at them playing. It was the life her mother wanted for her with Ronnie. The life she was raised for that she had hated and rebelled against for so long. Now though, it seemed to clear. As she lay on the perfect white sheets in a wonderful hotel. She stared at Michael as his eyes opened, he looked down finding Alicia awake and her head on his chest, her hand sitting on his chest as her chin came to rest there too. They didn’t speak just yet. Letting the moment stay between them.

Her bright blue eyes stared into his as she pushed herself up to look at him. Her long blond hair swept over to one side, her left leg curled up and over his as they had slept intertwined. A small laugh escaped her lips as Michael was the first to speak. “This is a beautiful way to wake up. And one that might spoil me as we grow old.” He shot out a grin, it was cheeky and boyish with a hint of attitude and charm. Alicia laughed again and buried her face in his chest blushing. Even now, two years after they first met. And now a married couple he was still able to make her act like a nervous teenager.

“You have to stop that sir. I will keep blushing until my face burns.” She sat up and stretched her arms out before sliding off the bed grabbing his shirt and some of her underwear. She slides them on and stood near the window looking down from the third floor to the street below. Her smile stayed locked as she let out a small sight that slipped down and outward. Michaels' ears picked up and at that moment their bond which had been so strong became more noticeable. He stood up moving beside her sliding a hand around her hip.

”A Euro for your thoughts?” Alicia scoffed and tried to hide her laughter under a snort before tilting her head. ”Just thinking. You make me happy, that’s all really” He gave a nod and kissed his wife on the cheek before sitting on the edge of the bed turning Alicia to him, taking her hands in his raising his eyebrows. After a few moments, Alicia cleared her throat getting ready to speak. Michael knew her well enough to know that if there was something, anything on her mind all he needed to do was wait and she would bring it to light.

She inhaled a deep breath and looked to the ceiling and back down again rubbing his hands with her thumbs. ”I just, I’ve never been this content and the more I think about it. The more I feel that maybe, maybe I should retire. From wrestling. Be at home with you and the boys.” There was still silence as Michael listened, he gave a small nod moving his lips together taking her words in. Alicia though continued. ”We could try for a baby, hope for a girl…”

Her cheeks were red again, she swallowed hard as Michael smiled and seemed lost for words before shaking his head and getting to his feet, his hands drifted up to Alicia’s face, he cupped her cheeks and gave her a slow passionate kiss before placing his forehead against hers keeping them so close she could hear the speed of his heartbeat. ”I love you. But you and I both know that is the moment talking.” Her heart sank, she didn’t understand just yet. Michael, however, understood it all.

”Right now, that’s what you want. But the Alicia Lukas I know still has a lot left to prove and many miles in the tank. There will be a time for all that, retirement, another child, a quieter life. But if you did that right now?. You’d have regrets.” There was a pause as she let his words sink in. He was right of course. He knew Alicia better than anyone else on this planet. He understood what drove her, what she lived for and what she needed. He was in every essence of the word, her soulmate. ”You will take the world in your hands and rule it with an iron fist….but right now. Breakfast” He laughed louder and kissed her lips again before turning and grabbing the menu and the phone, he started ordering in French. Bad French. And Alicia just slowly smiled and chuckled. She was still in heaven…..

Scene Two- Look back to go forward
Off Camera  
Kyoto Japan.    
2 Years Ago

She swung the door open and stepped in. Her long hair tied back in a bun, very similar to how it was the first time she stepped foot in the hallowed dojo. She took a deep breath in, memories flooded back as a smile came across her ruby red lips. She took her sunglasses off and slid one side in the neck of her black and red “Kyoto-sun dojo” shirt. It was faded and clearly very worn. Alicia stepped across the floor and stopped just inside before slipping her shoes off, bowing as she crossed from the hardwood to the carpet. Despite being alone she felt comfortable.    

Her feet touched the training mat, they felt the same as they did from day one. Oddly smooth and very little give in them, the balls of her feet being able to feel the floor underneath. Alicia moved across looking over at the old ring. The ropes tightened after the morning training session. A smirk came across her lips as she walked over to it, reaching out with her fingertips she smiled as a little shock shoot up her hand and arm from the canvas. She walked around it tilting her head as the experiences of the past which felt like a lifetime ago came alive in her memory.    

A smile shone across her face as she leaped up onto the apron, she grabbed the top rope and pulled herself up and over it with a jump landing on the canvas before spinning on the balls of her feet like a ballerina would on a stage. She turned and spun before standing in the center, she closed her eyes remembering every movement, every bump, every shot. The pain shooting through her back. The anger at herself when her mind begged her body to quit. The feeling of crawling along the mat throwing up in a bucket.    

Her eyes sprung open and she took off hitting the ropes crisscrossing the ring hitting them harder each time. The tight cables leaving welts against her back, arms and shoulders with each whip. She rolled across the canvas popping up to her feet bouncing up and down stretching out before shadow boxing, throwing a few punches a duck, a weave and a running bicycle knee. Alicia breathes deeply with a smile and a chuckle under her breath.    

She turned to look at the mirror across the room. It was the full length from the ceiling to the floor and ran along the entire south wall of the dojo. Her eyes trailed across her own body. Her hair back to the length it was when she first walked in here six years ago. But the rest has changed. Her body once too thin and untoned was now replaced with a fit, toned somewhat muscular frame. A woman's body with hips and thighs, she was now an athlete. Her face while still pretty was strong and fierce with burning blue eyes. The innocence and weak nature long lost along with her fears.    

There was nothing she feared now. Nothing that worried her to the point of tears. She looked down at the canvas. She used to be ruled by her emotions, her fears. For so long it was fear that drove her. Fear of losing, fear of letting people down, fear of being nothing and nobody. But that was gone now. Now there was a need for competition. A need to face people as strong as her, a need to be beaten to grow. The only fear she had left burning in her mind like a hand, held over an open flame.    

Just how far would she go?. Alicia looked back in the mirror before noticing something. A young girl, maybe 18 years old was in the corner folding towels. A task Alicia knew very well. She walked to the ropes leaping out and to the floor. As she moved closer she realized the girl was caucasian. A gaijin like her. “They have you on towel duty too huh?. That wasn’t very fun...better than toilets though right?....”  

The was no answer. The girl just stayed focused on her fast. A large bruise under her right eye and a cut on her lower left lip. Her long blond curls hung loosely down the sides of her face. She was tiny, skinny and her body looked beaten in other ways. Her knuckles were skinned, her legs bruised. She moved quickly folding the towels and leaving them in piles of three. Alicia gave a nod folding her arms looking over at the wall of graduates. “I was right where you are now. They haven’t had many women here, let alone western ones. And I’m the only one to leave here with honor…. “  

Alicia smiles focusing on the wall, the names around her, many now a who’s who of names in Japan. But one picture stood out. A small frame with a skinny girl with short pink and blue hair. Underneath it had her birth name “Violet Maxwell” and under that, it said ???or Peru u~ori?. Pale Warrior in Japanese.    

“They don’t want people like us to succeed kid. So I know things are tough right now. And I had no one. There was one guy here who seemed to care but in the end, he was a quitting bitch like everyone else. No one will ever have it harder in a place like this than us and we’ll also have the lowest expectations….but fuck that….we can also be the toughest, the baddest….and the ones with the biggest heart and resolve. So I’m telling you...not asking you….to hang in there….cause I-”  

Alicia looks down to the girl and stops. Where she was is an empty space. The towels still left in a pile. None of them folded. It was like no one had been there. Alicia looked around and shook her head as she noticed the classes filling in, she smirked as she walked past them, many stopping recognizing her from the picture bowing as she passed.    

It’s good to be a goddess….].i]

Scene Three- A true champion
On Camera
Atlanta, Georgia
Present Day

”Do I really need to do this?

Alicia Lukas sat with her legs crossed on her front porch. Her hat flipped backward as her heart sank realizing a few days away from High Stakes she was being forced to do another promo. She had planned just to save up all her anger and frustration over her opponents till the match and just unleash it with fists, kicks, suplex’s and submissions. But here we are.

”Ok. Well, first off let me be real fucking clear on this. I am the only real champion in this match. The other three, as good as they might be in the ring aren’t in my league in skill, attitude or fucking looks. See the second I found out who I was facing I went about my business. Researching strengths, weaknesses, habits, height, weight, shoe size...IQ...and trust me, with one of you those last two numbers were a little too close together.”

“Hi, Brittany…”

“Now, it’s hard to just pull things out of my ass for a promo without repeating myself and unlike Brittany, I don’t want to say the same thing five different ways. But, it’s really annoying and insulting to me that I put so much effort into promoting this match, for MY title in SCW at one of the biggest shows of the year and my efforts have not been matched by any of the women who want to take this title from me. See Winter has been silent. She’s been silent in promoting the match, on twitter, on shows. Which if you know Stephanie it’s really really out of character for her since usually you don’t find her with her goddamn mouth closed or her phone not sitting in her hand.

Alicia pauses for a moment and takes a deep breath taking a drink from her water bottle trying to calm herself down. The anger, frustration, and rage building up.

”I know Winter better than most people. I’ve been through alot with her. From friend, to rival, to enemy. And never have I gone up against her and it’s come this close to a match where she hasn’t had some smart ass bullshit remark and gone on about how she’s better than me and how she wants to make outlandish promises she never backs up. But nope, this time there has been silence. This time she doesn’t care. But here’s the thing. I care. I care about this title, I care about the legacy of Honor wrestling and the SCW merger. I do not want the memory of that company to die and get swallowed whole by SCW.”

“But then again, some people obviously don’t care. Like Trinity Jones. Does she even know she’s booked?. Is she alive?. Has anyone checked local hospitals or morgues?. Her apartment?. A dumpster behind an Arby’s maybe?. Has anyone seen this woman?. I want to believe she cares, but it’s obvious she doesn’t. And why should anyone else care if she doesn’t?. Why should SCW fans and management care if Trinity Jones can’t be bothered to open her mouth?. Again, I care, I care because I am what a champion should and does look like. Trinity and Winter have been guilty in their silence…”

“But Brittany Williams has been guilty in opening her mouth.”

“See Winter and Trinity so far have not said anything stupid due to not saying anything at all. But this silly little idiot ranted and rambled for way too long. And now, well now before I destroy them all physically I need to destroy Brittany Williams verbally….”

She sighs deeply and shrugs.

”The word “overrated” gets thrown around way too much in this business. And to have it used by a wet behind the ears, worthless rookie daughter of a pair of wannabe has-beens is something that doesn't so much wound me as it does enrage me to the point of furious anger. And not just that but I want you to slowly look in the mirror Brittany. Realize that the woman staring back at you, in one word did more damage to her own family’s legacy than I could ever hope to do.”

“See Brittany, you said I was a stranger who insulted your family. I’m not a stranger to your mother. See Crustal and I have battled it out before and she even has a win over me. One single win, in LAW. Every other time in Honor I was better than her. I made her my bitch yet you called me OVERRATED. So tell me, if I beat Kenzi Grey, Your mom, Mercedes Vargas, Jesse Salco and every other big name in Honor and most of SCW as well as big names all around the world then you, YOU, just insulted all of them.”

“Good job,”

“But this right here is a problem with people like you Brittany. Your youth is a great asset, it means you can learn, you can grow and you have your whole life ahead of you and you have a great youthful energy, but you’re also inexperienced. In and out of the ring. You can’t beat me in the ring, in a promo or in anything else. Maybe one day you will, maybe one day you’ll be better than your mother or father or anyone else in your stupid family. But right now, when you make stupid comments on social media about being “booked to take the pin” you automatically lose. When you loop yourself into a spiral of comments that say the same thing fifty different ways and think you’re clever because you have “so much to say” you just look like a rambling fool. And now, well Brittany...sweetheart….I’m going to have to destroy you...and break you...and end you. And at High Stakes, when I hold MY title in the air….you’ll know that “overrated” is the last thing you should EVER call me”

 Prologue-The Hunger

It’s hard.

Living up to that potential people see in you. I understand it. See these days if the name Alicia Lukas isn’t at the top, if the person behind the name and actions isn’t going for a title or holding a title then I’m a failure. I’m not living up to that potential that people say they see in me. That kind of pressure and attitude helps me thrive, But it still weighs on my mind

Especially given my past.

See when I first got into all of this, when I started training, my first matches, hell my first year there was no expectations or light of potential. I was left alone, I was an afterthought and there was no pressure. No future to speak of. No one telling me that I should be doing better. Most people would miss that feeling, the one where you’re not a failure while still winning matches.

There’s an addiction. I chase big matches and championships like a vampire chasing a vein. I feel the need to push myself and face the best. When others see mountains they either yell at it to try and make it seem like a hill, so when they conquer it the anticipation and luster are gone. Or, alternatively, they look at the mountain...and walk around it….

I look for a way to knock the fucker down.

I look for a way to stand in it’s broken rubble and raise my fist in the air.

Some say that is a detriment, I get myself in situations I can’t win. But then, I do. But when something happens and I stumble at the last hurdle. When I fall and start to pick myself up and people pull out the usual trump card. No pun to the president intended.

They talk about me as if I’m done.

As if one loss will define me.

One failure will end me.
‘
But what you all seem to fail to comprehend, is that losses, failures and the like starve me. They stop me from getting my goals and stop me from feeding that hunger I have and my ego. So when you push me, when you talk about me as if I’m not the best goddamn professional wrestler on this planet today. Well…

That just makes me want it even more….

I’m still a champion, I’m still a destructive force and now. Well, now I have a new carrot to chase. And you should all be fucking terrified.

Scene One-The night before
Off Camera
Atlanta, Georgia
6 Months Ago

The hotel room was in shambles. The covers pulled off the bed. Clothes were thrown over furniture. The half-naked snoring bodies of five different women laid all over the place, the floor, the bed, one of the girls was upside down on a chair. Alicia smiled looking at her friends with a small shake of her head. A few shot glasses sit on the table. Two her right her mother Barbara sits with her arms crossed over her chest looking less than impressed. To her left Alicia’s 21-year-old sister Zoey. Alicia slides the shot glasses either side of her in front of them. Barbara gave a loud tutting noise showing her disdain.

Zoey laughed and shooked her head as she and Alicia picked the glasses up, Barbara rolled her eyes and shook her head before Zoey broke the silence. ”Come on Mom, we’re celebrating Ali’s last night as a free woman.” Alicia laughed to herself as Barbara seemed to groan under her breath “Her name is Violet, and yours is Rose, I don’t care for these “stage” names.” Both Alicia and Zoey sighed deeply and looked at each other before raising the glasses higher. Barbara took the glass and raised it up looking even more annoyed as Zoey took over.

”To new beginnings and a future with happiness.” They hit the glasses together lightly and downed the clear liquid. Alicia smirked as Zoey closed her eyes and pushed out an awkward almost painful looking breath. Barbara stuck her tongue out and shook her head as Alicia poured another shot for each. A few of the girls stirred as Zoey sneered mumbling “lightweights” in a low register. Alicia overhead the remark and snickered before pushing the glasses out again. “To making smarter choices!” They downed the shots again with similar results. This time Alicia could feel the sting of the vodka as it moved down her throat. After a few moments, Barbara leaned over grabbing the bottle of Grey Goose pouring the shots. Zoey and Alicia slowly looked at each other Zoey shaking her head in shock as Alicia laughed.

They picked up their glasses. And Barbara who seemed more inebriated than raised the glass first. “To our family, and my sexy new son in law” Zoey had already started to drink, the words causing her to spit out the vodka with laughter. Alicia’s eyes widened as Barbara took her shot and sighed. “At least I’m invited to this one” Alicia shook her head as Zoey gave her sister a pat on the shoulder. Alicia’s heart dropped as she knew exactly what her mother was referring to.

“Mom I, I’m sorry and the whole thing with Chris was a huge mistake. I was confused and I was stupid and I let him talk me into getting married.”  There was an awkward silence. Alicia poured another shot and took it down as Zoey did the same. Barbara stared off into the distance and then slowly looked at her daughters. “You found a good one Violet. Are you nervous?” “Terrified” Zoey laughed to herself shaking her head pushing up to her feet, towering over her older sister and their mother, looking more like their father than their mother. Her large arms and broad shoulders showing a natural size and athletic ability few had.

“What’s so funny?” Alicia chuckled too after asking the question titling her head. Alicia was shorter than Zoey, a little smaller but also athletically gifted and strong. “The hell have you got to worry about or be scared about Ali?” Zoey seemed almost annoyed at her sisters fear and trepidation. Alicia didn’t answer and Zoey smiled lightly. There was a silence in the room as Alicia bit her bottom lip before hearing her mothers voice cut through it, a small slur still there after her increased vodka intake. “Zoey is right dear”

Alicia and Zoey slowly looked at each other shocked their mother would use one of their “stage” names over their birth names. That of Violet for Alicia and Rose for Zoey. Barbara turned and smiled warmly another different sign. “You are successful, you have two beautiful sons and tomorrow you will be marrying a man who treats you like a queen, who loves you and unlike every other man that has come into your life will not humiliate or use you. Can’t even say that about your Father” “Mom!” “oh hush dear I know what I’m talking about.”

Alicia can’t help but laugh as Zoey rolled her eyes. Zoey was always more protective of their father Jason. Alicia had a strained relationship with both her parents. Their brother Josh was a mama’s boy, Zoey was daddy’s little girl. Alicia though, she was her own women. She had been since she walked out on her abusing teenage relationship, one that her mother was partly responsible for. Barbara got to her feet and put her hand on Alicia’s shoulder patting it lightly before walking across the room opening up the door to her suite.

Zoey looked through the fridge and pulled out a few beers putting them on the table sitting down to pop them open before leaning back on her chair, legs akimbo, hair a mess, her nose piercing shining from the light above. “You know she’s proud of you right?” Alicia couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head picking up her beer taking a sip before running a hand through her long blond hair. “I guess” Her reply seemed to anger Zoey who leaned forward suddenly and tilted her head. “I’m not blowing smoke up your ass Ali, she’s proud, she blames herself for all that happened to you if she’d known;” “Stop”

She interrupted Zoey putting her hand up and shaking her head with a deep sigh. “I don’t blame her Zo, and I don’t….” She paused and tried to calm herself, her hand sliding away from the open beer. “My life turned out great. If I hadn’t have gone through all I did I might not have Michael, or the boys, or my career. I’m happy Zoey. But I’m also tired and drunk…” “Fuckin Lightweight” “Blow me.”

”Language!”

Scene Two-Pipebomb? Nah Atomic Bomb
On Camera
Phoenix, Arizona
Present Day

Her fingernails tapped lightly on the faceplate of the Honor wrestling championship. Her long blond hair was loose flowing down her shoulders and back. Alicia Lukas rolled her eyes and shook her head slowly before laughing to herself under her breath.

”Here we go. My first “pre-tape”. I mean I can’t really say this is my first promo since I went out there last week at Climax Control and ran my mouth. Before being basically ignored by the entire “bombshells” roster. Now that can be looked at in two ways. Either they don’t care, which, let's face it, would be a HUGE mistake on their parts, or they’re scared. And that is the theory I honestly think is most likely. See unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last, two years then you know who the hell I am. My name is Alicia Lukas.”

“I started my career in Japan getting my ass kicked week in and week out in a dojo where they made it very obvious they didn’t want me there. I cleaned toilets, I begged and pleaded and took abuse until they saw fit to train me. I had to earn respect there and I became a star. I traveled all around Japan and then Europe before coming home to the United States. I had expected to find a wrestling scene thriving. I had expected to find like-minded hard-hitting athletes. I joined Honor Wrestling and went to their Developmental Division called Legacy. I dominated them all. I ran through that whole place like a hot knife through butter and became the Legacy Champion before Honor shut down.”

“I went from there to WWH, the same thing happened. I put my finger in every single chest I could find, I laughed in their faces and again I dominated the entire Women’s division. Again another place where they called us “Bombshells”. Seems like the more things change the more they stay the same. But I dominated there, I went back to Honor and I was the queen of that company. Hell, there is a preview up for this show right now that tells you all you need to know. I had a handful of losses and most of them where in Tag team matches.” Alicia scoffs. ]Color=Pink]”But hey, I know what some of the SCW “bombshells” are thinking as well as some of you idiot fans who have been sipping on the kool-aid too long.”

“This is SCW, why should we care?. Well, that would be because some of your “best” tried to dethrone me, beat me, and failed. Delia Darling, Crystal Hilton, Kate Steele, Jesse Salco Mercedes Vargas. Some of the “best” in Honor are also the “best” here.[/Color]

She laughs to herself and adjusts the Honor championship on her shoulder with a smirk.

”It has been over 600 days since I looked on my shoulder and didn’t see gold. The 30th of January 2017 I walked into a WWH event, became their women’s champion and revolutionized the company and the division, a few months later I went back to Honor and was the Legacy champion, the championship Jesse Salco now holds, a title I NEVER LOST. I have gone from strength to strength to strength and then I got word Honor wrestling was merging with Sin City.”

Alicia clears her throat and raises her eyebrow throwing her hands in the air with a nervous laugh.

”Not going to lie, I was angry, I was confused and the future was uncertain. But Brooke Saxon promised me with this merger Honor champions and titles would be kept intact for anyone staying. I felt like I owed it to myself and this championship to come here and for the most part, I was happy seeing that Jesse defended her title. I say “her” title but let’s face it, she never beat me for that. It’s still MY title. And then with Shinjiro signing and defending the male counterpart and hearing rumors of Mickey’s possible next opponent it just seemed like it was all true. Until, I saw that apparently, according to people who write previews for the show and who keep records, my title reign “ended” at 161 days.”

“Ended. So the titles being defended on SCW wasn’t a hint that maybe, just maybe I was still a champion?. It seems like people don’t want me to walk around holding this championship and defending it in SCW. Part of it would be because they know I will outshine them and the SCW “bombshells” champion Danielle Weston. But really Dani should really hope SCW does keep its word and allow me to keep going with this, cause if I don’t….”

She raises her eyebrows and shrugs.

”What championship do you think I’ll set my sights on?. Wouldn’t that be grand?. Wouldn’t that be amazing?. To have Danielle Weston against Alicia Lukas?. That match could main event any show around the world. Because of me. See I don't just bring a great record and a championship with me. I bring what is known as the big fight feel. Which is why I’m so shocked that I have been placed in the opening match….”

“My debut, something that should be promoted and celebrated. Something that should be screamed from the damn rooftops is being thrown together like an afterthought and my title isn’t even on the line, meanwhile, Jesse and Shinjiro get to defend there’s and Mickey is openly applauded as a returning hero and champion. But for me?. The opening match against a woman named Parand Ara. Someone who was in SCW returned for a Blast from the past tournament and then has done...nothing. She isn’t a former champion, she isn’t a big name. She’s just a lamb being led to the damn slaughter.”

“Maybe that’s what SCW wants. Maybe they want to see just what I do against someone like you. See Jesse and Mercedes and a few of the other women?. They know what they can do. With me, it all seems to be myth and legend. Am I really that good?. Am I as dangerous as people say?. As talented as my record suggests?. Well, Parand. Yes, I am. Unfortunate for you because now you have to step in the ring with me and try and overcome those odds. Make no mistake, you’re the underdog coming into this. You’re a crash test dummy. Being used as a shining example and light to the rest of the locker room to show just what I am capable of. There is a silver lining though. Years from now your name will live on in trivia contests around the world when they ask “Who did Alicia Lukas beat in her SCW debut?”. So you can thank me for that….”

She scoffs and sits the Honor championship down in front of her.

” Climax Control 220 will represent a shift in the women’s division here in SCW. Women like Mercedes and Crystal and Danielle will all be looked at as a step behind me like they should be. I’m not just some pretty little blond tart who stumbled out of some second-rate wrestling school to use this as a springboard to some movie career. I’m not a failed movie star or model like two of the women I mentioned. Parand, I am a professional wrestler and a damn good one. I can could my losses in one on one matches on one hand and normally when I have lost it had been due to other people. I’m a force of nature, a career assassin. I’m one of if not the best in the world. And hey you might put up a great fight, you’ll scratch and claw, you’ll throw punches and try everything in your power to step in that ring and make your name relevant by beating me but in the end all you’ll do is stare up at those lights while the realization hits you that everything I have said, all the arrogant callouts, the cocky nature...it’s all earned...cause I am that damn good….”

“It all starts in Phoenix, it all starts with you. And this event will be called the rise, of Alicia Lukas.”