Blog: Almighty Fire
semana del 3 al 10 de noviembre de 2 0 1 9
Pay-per-view week. The time where everyone on the card prepares for the big show. Any last minute video submissions happens that week, those final travel plans are now priority. Getting into the mental space for your match is where it begins and ends.
The events of pay-per-view week set the tone, and High Stakes was no different. I know from experience. I've been to seven shows in a row.
The stakes for me couldn't be any higher. This was my last chance, and my only chance, to finally get the proverbial weight off my shoulders. Let's face it. Mercedes Vargas versus Melody Grace isn't so much lopsided as it is competitive and, similar to my rivalry with Crystal, it's certainly something I'm not readily to admit nor am I happy about but that doesn't mean I'm simply going to dive into a corner and curl up into a ball. I would never forgive myself if I did that. Sunday is where I put my hair up and squared up against someone who has had my number over the years, seven times in a history that's spanned over two years. Singles, tag, multi-woman, title match. The stipulation didn't matter, Melody left with her hand raised. But the only number I'm concerned about isn't seven, it's one.
As in, one week to get my mind right on that match. One week to stay ready for Melody Grace because everyone knows how good she is. You don't end up losing just seven matches in a career, which says a lot when it comes to the women's division. When I say there is no nights off in Sin City Wrestling, I meant it. The competition here can make all the difference between keeping your head above water and practically drowning. If there's anyone outside of a select few who's been here for three years or longer, I have yet to see it. Most aren't even around after three months, and I'm being kind when I say that.
For someone who's been away for two years, Melody sure sounded confident and chances are she counted on those past victories and the support from her husband for motivation in the days ahead of her match. This was a match two years in the making. A match Melody waited for all this time. Well, the wait was over. The time for talking came to an end. I vowed to make my statement loud and clear and for all the world to hear when she eventually ended up on my checklist.
Three weeks ago, it never happened.
Melody had her hand raised, again, at my expense while I sat there wondering what went so wrong, leaving a sour note on what I thought would be a great night in Hawaii.
And just when I was practicing my Hula.
People wrestle for a lot of reasons. Some do it for fame, some for money, others for the spirit of competition. So maybe Melody's not sorry seeing those checks from Mark Ward enter her bank account or having to be on the road 52 weeks a year, but she just couldn't help herself getting one last moment in the spotlight, could she? She's no better than Lowri Moss or Crystal Zdunich...Christina Rose... whatever of her personalities she's going by these days. Point is, Melody had an opportunity in front of her and she took it. Things didn't go my way at High Stakes and the retired mom has another win at my expense. Now what?
So what?
I'm not done in SCW, not by a long shot.
I've heard it all this year. How I've been simply coasting along in my career, or that I haven't faced real competition. That I'm running scared of Alicia as the reason why I'm not gunning for her world title. Some people are even pushing for me to retire because they think I'm somehow become irrelevant, which is laughable when you look at someone who has managed to hold a championship every year she's been on the roster. Every. Single. Year. It's not like downplaying my accomplishments hasn't made me any less dominant. If trying to get under my skin is your best effort, they should quit while they're ahead.
I've dedicated my professional wrestling career to being the best of the best. As long as I get a chance to show everyone why that is and I get my hand raised, that's all that matters. Sunday at Climax Control 252, not only am I making history by wrestling in my 100th match on Climax Control, but I get a chance to do just that against someone I have history against, someone I should know, someone everyone should know, the one and only Keira Fisher-Johnson.
The news we didn't want, but needed...
Don't think I'm looking past you, Keira, because I'm not. You're going to come into this match with something to prove: to me, to the world, to yourself. On paper, this is a match I should win, but in reality, I've hit a wall lately and it seems like I"m going through the motions. I mean, I'm hurting, I'm banged up. Injuries. Not in the physical sense, but dealing with a bruised ego and wounded pride, something you will no doubt take advantage of. But what separates people like me from the rest of the division is that I'm not down for long, and that should make you worried, Keira. That you make everyone in this tournament downright terrified because once I get on a roll there isn't anyone who can stand in my way.
Still undefeated? Still unimpressed. It's only a matter of time before you get that first loss, Keira. Nothing last forever and all good things come to an end. I've already ended one undefeated streak this year. Whatever momentum you think you had since coming back? You can forget about it. SCW picked a bad week to have you standing across the ring from me, and you’re going to prove to them that they were right.
I'm good enough, I'm smart enough, and gosh darn it, people like me! And if you hate me, well, I rather be hated for who I am than who I'm not. I am everything you're not and everything you wish you could be.
Know what else I'll be after Climax Control? A winner, at your expense.
~~~
S A N T A M O N I C A • C A L I F O R N I A
THE month that was for Mercedes Vargas was anything less than worth celebrating. By now the Halloween costumes and decorations are stored back in boxes, the candy already eaten, given away or just plain hiding in plain sight in a refrigerator. She knew it wasn't healthy, but then again, neither was moping around in her room or her obsession with beating Melody Grace. A loss like that would crush even the most boastful of people. A loss like that would have let her stew for days on end.
Yet here she was in her living room staring at the TV. 300 channels and there was still nothing good on. In a span of two shows in four days, she was boarding a flight for Phoenix, then to Las Vegas mid-week. The loss to Melody still loomed over head and yet she knew how close she came, but it wasn't enough. Close doesn't win matches in Sin City Wrestling. Mercedes would have twice as many victories if it did. Melody said what she was going to do and did what she was supposed to do. That's all that mattered.
The only positive from High Stakes IX: It's over now. Mercedes didn't have to worry about it anymore.
Mercedes: What are we watching?
Irma: The Joy of Painting. It's a classic. You've never seen it?
Mercedes: I have a healthy active lifestyle, so I don't get to watch a lot of TV?
Mercedes divides her attention between the TV and a canvas set on an easel. Irma stands in front of a half-finished oil painting, a palette in one hand and a firm paintbrush in the other.
Mercedes: Ever wonder how all colors come from just three basic colors?
Irma: Hm-mmm.
Mercedes: There's so many different colors, and what even is color anyway?
Irma: It's the absence of color that its reflecting. Don't question it, that's just the way it is.
Mercedes: I knew that, but doesn't make it any more crazy?
Bob Ross stands in front of a blank canvas against a black background already at work on his latest masterpiece. Irma follows along but it's clear that by the strokes that were smudges of color that she had a long way to go before she could duplicate his work.
Mercedes: If Bob Ross' painting was a brand, what do you think it would be? I think it should be 'Happy Little Accidents'.
Irma stabs her palette, then dabs a few strokes of blue. About fifteen minutes later, Mercedes could make out that Irma was painting the Grand Canyon.
Irma: Come back to me after my happy little trees and happy little clouds. Shouldn't you be getting ready for your flights this week?
Mercedes: I should be, but I'm just not all that there. Must be the jet lag but it's nothing compared to what I'll have to go through this week, especially by the time I get to Phoenix.
Irma: That should do it. What do you think?
Irma sets down her palette and paintbrush and admires her work.
Mercedes: Not bad. Could you do real life anxiety next?
~~~
It's Not Whether You Win or Lose: Never Meet Your Heroes
Present Day • L O S A N G E L E S, C AL I F O R N I A
[REC•]
"Some things are better left unsaid, but you can bet I'm going to say it anyway. I can't help being who I am."
Mercedes smiles as the cameras are warming up. The SCW Hall of Famer is wearing her authorized SCW t-shirt paired with skinny jeans. Santa Monica Pier is behind her.
"High Stakes has come and gone, for better or worse, and 2019 is almost over. After what happened three weeks ago...You know what? I don't even want to talk about three weeks ago. It's a new month, a new cycle. Time to turn the page."
Mercedes arranges one hand as if she's reading a book and "turns the page" with her other hand. For the moment, she's calm and collected.
"Granted, I'm thankful for the three-week vacation, but it's time for mama to get back to work because this weekend, in Phoenix, Arizona, yours truly will be gracing the ring, and you guys are bringing in Keira Fisher-Johnson, one-half of Team Hero, to take me out, to take out the mouth, the pedigree, the legacy, the hashtag Champion of Champions Mercedes Vargas.
"This isn't my first time visiting GCU Arena and being back there again sure back memories, good and bad. See, it was in that building where I lost the Bombshell Internet Championship to Jessie Salco of all people once upon a time. And the time Kain and I lost to Team Eggplant in their debut, as lucky as they were that night. I remember the time I won a triple threat ladder match to earn my way into a fatal four-way match for the Bombshell Roulette Championship, which, by the way, I went on to win to become a three-time champion. But I think people would know that I ended Samantha Marlowe's third reign here too.
"You take the bad with the good."
Shrugging and spreading her hands, Mercedes looks aside slightly before dropping the expression for waving off the camera with her free hand. If familiarity breeds contempt then she was doing a great job hiding it.
"The blurb written about my match had it about right. Keira wants her shot at the World Bombshell Championship, the white whale that has eluded her for her entire career, the one title that's missing to complete the Bombshell Triple Crown. Funny thing is, when Keira had her chance against Crystal, she failed, miserably, then promptly left SCW in a huff. That was three years ago. Somehow, Keira, you and Roxi are back at it again and ready to give it another go. Now, granted, Roxi already had her title match - Christian practically handed it to her on a silver platter because it's not like getting to MC Summer XXXtreme last year wasn't enough of a perk, right? - but like a heroin addict looking for their next fix, SCW just can't seem to quit Roxi, though she was this close..."
Mercedes raises her thumb and forefinger in the "this close" gesture.
"this close to quitting SCW after falling flat on her face at Summer XXXtreme. Let's face it. If it wasn't for the world title opportunity at the upcoming supercard, chances are the Team Hero comeback tour would have ended right then and there and that would be sad for all those little fans who shell out money every week just to see you. It's the reason why you have a nice shiny SCW trophy to call your own at home.
"But you know what I find more funny than the preview I read to our match, Keira? It's that this match is said to be between two of the very best in the women's division. Beating you on Climax Control isn't about proving who the better wrestler is. We already know who that is, and it's not you. Beating you Sunday isn't a hard-fought match, it's a warm-up for me. And while the result won't mean much of anything as far as momentum for these qualifying matches next show, I won't learn much of anything because one..."
Mercedes raises her index finger
"you're a quick study. And two?"
Mercedes raises a second finger.
"Because your role in life is not to be a champion, much less a world champion. Your role in life, Keira, is being the poster child for failure. And then, when it happens, you go back to doing what you always do, and that's taking your ball and going home."
Mercedes laces her fingers together dropping them below her chin. Each word that comes from her mouth is dripping with venom. The concept of Keira strolling back into SCW when there were other women who could fill a roster spot made her disgusted.
"Make no mistake about it, sweetheart, this being the co-main event on the card had nothing to do with any notion that you swayed Christian to have your name across from mine, and everything to do with the fact that I am that...damn....good."
"You and Roxi may have been chosen for this tournament but at least Roxi is a safe bet to win her qualifier - having to face Jessie and Alice should be a cakewalk. You're not a sure thing. Next show you're facing either Andrea or Seleana, and you better hope and pray that you get Sel again or you can kiss those world title dreams goodbye.
Should you lose that match or walk out of December 2 Dismember empty-handed, even after you bring what you call your best to the ring, I don't want to hear the excuses this time. I don't want to hear the whining, bitching or complaining. Don't even think about blaming SCW this time because nobody asked Team Hero to return. Nobody asked you to return either.
"There's a reason why they say never meet your heroes, because they always disappoint. Not that you were ever a hero, or that you were ever mine. Besides, I stopped believing in superheroes when I was eight."
The indignant expression remains on her face as Mercedes crosses her arms.
"Beating Christina, Jessie, Amy, Seleana and Kate is great and all, Keira, but this is a big step up in competition, and to be honest, those wins don't impress me all that much, it just tells me you've had it easy so far. You can bet that's gonna change this weekend. I don't have to ease the doubt in anyone's mind because people already know what's going to happen in Phoenix. If you beat me, well, good on you, but that's only half the battle. Long before you knew, and long after you'll remember."
Looking deadset into the camera lens, her voice drops to a whisper though her words hold conviction behind them. She pauses, mostly for dramatic effect.
"Estar preparado para lo peor, esperar lo mejor."
"Prepare for the worst, hope for the best."
She pauses for effect, lowering her voice just above a whisper.
"Y que la suerte está siempre en su favor.”
"And may the odds be ever in your favor."
***Fade***
