L A S V E G A S • N E V A D A
Saxon Hotel, Lobby
Another Climax Control has come and gone and the state of the world wasn't any better than it was three months ago. Of course, things were a lot simpler then. People could come and go as they pleased. Sports were always on. Protests weren't the order of the day. And holidays weren't outright cancelled. Mercedes planned on spending Mother's Day with her family, but those plans were put on hold, no thanks in part to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. With news that most states were opening up again, although the numbers were climbing daily, that just made things even worse.
Mercedes Vargas approaches the elevator inside the hotel lobby and presses the button. The door opens and she walks in. Janet the Makeup Lady looks up from her smartphone and smiles at her as the doors closes.
Janet the Makeup Lady: Mercedes.
Mercedes: Janet.
Janet the Makeup Lady: How’s your Thursday going?
Mercedes: It's going, and yours?
Janet the Makeup Lady: It’s going well, thanks. I got invited to a Zoom birthday party, so that should be fun. Ready for your match this weekend?
Mercedes: With who I'm facing, that's not easy to answer. I mean, it's Evie. One does not simply get ready to face her. Watching someone on tape and getting them in the ring are two entirety different things. Plus, it doesn't help that I can't sleep at night now.
Janet the Makeup Lady: Insomnia?
Mercedes: God, I wish. Some idiot down the hall is blasting his music every night right into the morning. That or they're sleeping with the TV on. The only thing worse than listening to cyborg chase scenes hours before sunrise was knowing that image surrounded by fast-food wrappers and empty plastic hurricane cups.
Janet the Makeup Lady: I guess he's at it again.
Mercedes looks at her, dead-eyed.
Mercedes: You know him? What does he look like?
Janet the Makeup Lady: I don't know him personally, but I've seen him around. Shaggy hair. Tatoos and piercings all over him.
Mercedes: So a Blink-182 stand-in, got it.
Janet the Makeup Lady: I stayed in a hotel in New Orleans a few years back, had a few rowdy neighbors who rented a room below me. I loved New Orleans. The hotel stay, not so much.
Mercedes: How did you expect to sleep in that racket?
Janet the Makeup Lady: I've slept through worse. Looks like you could use a few hours of z's.
The elevator opens.
Janet the Makeup Lady: That's me. If I were you I'd get a good night sleep. Climax Control is just around the corner so you need to be 110 percent against Evie.
•
•
•
The scene opens on a nightstand and the camera slowly zooms in on a digital alarm clock, which reads 2:00 AM. Slowly pan over to Mercedes in bed sound asleep wearing a sleep mask. The TV from the room down the hall starts up again, playing the thematic score from the Star Wars movies. Mercedes sits up, then angrily peels the mask off. It looks like it was going to be another one of those nights.
•••
The following day. Pacing in the living room, Mercedes is on the phone. We hear the formal man at the other end of the phone. And then intercut with him.
Mercedes: Hello?
Saxon Hotel Guy: How can I can help you, ma'am?
Mercedes: Right, I have a little situation. Someone on the same floor as me keeps playing their TV or radio loud at night and I can't sleep.
Saxon Hotel Guy: I'm sorry to hear that. I can see how this is an inconvenience.
The Saxon Hotel Guy hands a male and female a key card and they take their leave.
Mercedes: If it's not the drunken return to the hotel just an hour or two before dawn it's the screaming match with his wife right outside the hallway.
Saxon Hotel Guy: Right.
Mercedes: Imagine for a moment the most annoying hotel guest you've ever met - are you doing that?
Saxon Hotel Guy: Yes, ma'am. I have them in my mind.
Mercedes: And then double it–and that is the–what can I say–BS, I’m dealing with and they don't have a clue. I need a change of scenery. Is there anything you can do?
The Saxon Hotel Guy already has a readout of what rooms are available on his screen.
Saxon Hotel Guy: I'm sorry, ma'am, but we're booked to capacity and we're the only hotel operating right now.
Mercedes: So basically I'm stuck with an inconsiderate jackass and you don’t care.
Saxon Hotel Guy: I never said that, ma'am. Have you tried, um, confronting the guest?
Mercedes: Confronting him? You're kidding?
Mercedes offers a chuckle blankly before hitting her hand to her forehead. She pulls the phone away and stares at it as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing. If she ever made it out of the pandemic, she vowed that when she ever returned to this hotel, she knew she would be going to jail for fraticide.
Mercedes: I've left notes. Strongly worded notes, on neon post-its! Neon is eye-catching and energetic. No way he could miss those. You seriously want me to give away my room location like that? What do you take me for, an idiot?
Saxon Hotel Guy: I’ll see what we can do, ma'am.
•••
Standing out on the balcony of her temporary home away from home, Mercedes Vargas' eyes were closed and a small smile graced her lips as her face was turned towards the last sunlight of the day setting over the horizon. The warm orange light washed over the Argentine, giving her skin a healthy glow. She was dressed in a stylish outfit and hat, her feet left bare on the warm concrete floor of the balcony.
Calling the front desk was a last resort, one she was not proud of. It was like telling the teacher that your classmates is throwing spitballs during math class. She ratted out the annoying guest and maybe she lost a few karma points, but she was desperate.
Mercedes Vargas is deep in thought with a pen at the ready as she pours her thoughts down on paper. We see her wearing a tank-top and pants, sitting Indian style with her journal across her lap. Seemingly having trouble with the words, she taps her pen against the parchment until she lifts it up again and smiles and begins writing briskly her final words before preparing for bed.
The music blared not even moments before she closed her eyes. A security person pounded on the door of the offender for a good minute or two before he woke up and shut the TV off.
The Force prevailed.
***Fade***.
~~~
Blog: Almighty Fire
semana del 10 al 17 de mayo de 2 0 2 0
In terms of championship dominance, there is no question that I am the most decorated wrestler in SCW history.
I've faced the best, I've beaten the best, and more often than not, I always looked dominant in doing so. However, every now and then, I've had a slow start to the year. Now I've picked up my share of defeats in my career, but every one is treated as a huge deal, 2020 is no different.
Take Bobbie Dahl for example. For as much grief as she gets, and she gets plenty, Bobbie is actually a great wrestler. She's shown promise, but she's also been hit and miss at times. Like me, this year hasn't done her any favors, but she has more wins than I do. It was a win over me that got that off to a start at the first Climax Control of this year in Atlanta. Did she had to use a pair of brass to get the job done? No, but a win is a win.
Keira Fisher-Johnson has already beat me twice in three weeks, something I'm not entirely thrilled about. Thing is, she's proven she's not consistent. She's failed in taking that next step after beating a talented opponent like myself. Two steps forward, one step back, that's Keira for you. Maybe if she didn't up and left four years ago, she would won more titles than she has already. Or, maybe things play out the same. Either way, her matches with Sierra and Candy will go a long way in determining if she's really ready for Kate at the supercard. That match should be interesting and I would be a fool to mess this up despite the fact Kate challenged me to a match. I already beat her at Into the Void once. I don't think she could handle getting her butt handed to her by me again. It's never a moment where I get to #BeatUpKateSteele.
I’m one of the best in SCW. Andrea may be the champion right now, but I am a champion no matter if there's a title around my waist or not. No matter what my win-loss record say, no matter what the other Bombshells say. No, I didn’t walk out of my last match with the Bombshell Roulette Championship, and honestly, I can’t be caught up in the past. I'm moving on to bigger and better things. There’s things going on now that mean more than something I have no control over. And contrary to what you may believe, I can admit my own shortcomings and failures. Setbacks are nothing compared to more successes in the future. How else could I find the motivation when I go out the next time and prove you all wrong?
As far as this weekend goes, I didn’t even know who the opponent was going to be until last week. Now I know, and knowing is half the battle. The other half is mental. And there's no one better at mind games than Evie Luna Jordan.
She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes.
And she can ruin your faith with her casual lies.
And she only reveals what she wants you to see.
She hides like a child, but she's always --
Sorry...I just had a Billy Joel moment there.
Anyway, Evie has quite a mouth on her, that much can't be argued. She's notorious for verbally ripping her opponents apart and exposing every single weakness they have, which is why I'm very interested in hearing what she has to say about me. Unlike people like Christina and Kate who are so obsessed with pleasing everybody and wanting everybody to like them, I have thick skin. It served me well over the years.
That said, 2020 is starting off to be another round year and it's certainly something I'm not readily to admit nor am I happy about. These last few months, I've lost focus. At Climax Control 269, I'm reigniting that fire and focusing all my energy on Evie because it's about time she gets the step up in competition she deserves. At this point, she's had it easy. 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. Evie has finally met her match, and we're going to be THE MATCH everyone's going to be talking about before, during, and after Climax Control is over.
So Evie, get ready for one hell of a match, certainly not a short one and most definitely not against anyone else you've faced in the last few months.
Don't come looking for me, I'll be waiting for you.
~~~
Present Day • L A S V E G A S • N E V A D A
Early evening
Saxon Hotel
It's Not Whether You Win or Lose: Gatekeeper the Ninth
REC•]
Mercedes doesn't even acknowledge the camera as we see her leaning against her Porsche 911 cabriolet. It's a beautiful night here in Las Vegas as the last sunlight of the day sets over the Las Vegas Strip. Wearing tight jeans, an authentic Mercedes t-shirt (which you can purchase from the SCW Shop for $18.99!) and hidden under a Las Vegas Raiders baseball cap - moreso to blend in with the locals than a betrayal of her loyalties as a New York Giants fan - the Argentine Assassin seems to be in a good mood after recent events and despite her loss two weeks ago.
"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. Oh, and you probably didn't know this, but I've never been left off an SCW pay-per-view since joining the roster in June 2013."
As she says this, Mercedes holds up seven fingers to indicate the number of years she's been in the company.
"You know, I'm just out here enjoying the nice Las Vegas weather, sitting by my car. But then I got to thinking about a lot of things: like whether or not winning a championship is important in your career. Or if some women in the Bombshells division seem to get a little preferential treatment when it comes to their matches. The many times Christina Rose tried to "reclaim her identity" when she doesn't really have one to begin with.
"Most importantly, Into the Void is a little more than three weeks away and the card is filling up pretty fast. Some matches are already set in stone, other matches won't be official at least until next week, and titles could still change hands at any time. Andrea, Candy, and Kate successfully defended their titles during this cycle, so that just leaves Johanna Krieger in defending the World Mixed Tag Titles with Alex Jones. With who they're facing this weekend, it's a pretty safe bet the titles will be staying around the waist of Wolfslair."
Mercedes offers an nonchalant shrug while mouthing the word "sorry" before continuing.
"Climax Control 269 is just around the corner and honestly, I don't know what's going to happen. In the grand scheme of things, my upcoming match doesn't mean anything except for gaining a little momentum for Into the Void. Win or lose, Evie Jordan has her date with destiny for the World Bombshell Championship next month, and I don't think Andrea Hernandez is going to like this date very much. But before that happens, Evie gets me this weekend and I'm not sure how I feel about it. Hard to believe that we have been in the same company for four years now and this is our first time facing each other, at least one-on-one. Well, better late than never, I always say.
"Okay. I don't always say it, but I do say it."
She offers a indifferent shrug then a dismissive wave at the camera.
"I have been at the top of SCW for seven years and have broken records and set records and have been a champion more times than I care to admit. Evie has accomplished the one thing I have yet to do in my career, and that's win the Blast From the Past Tournament. In fact, she's won it twice. That's something no one else, woman or man, has done either. Let's ignore the fact her husband signed her up for the tournament which she wanted nothing to do with in the first place or the fact she didn't walk out with the Bombshell Internet Championship and take Kate Steele's soul with it at Blaze of Glory. Like a cat playing with a dead mouse between its paws, yeah?
"I'm jealous, maybe just a little. But this week's preview had it right. Evie has not accomplished what I have, and much of what she strives to be, I have already done. Not that she isn't capable of one day being great as me, but I don't remember a time when she has ever been impressed with accolades either."
Mercedes puts an index finger up.
"And I get it, I seriously get it, everyone thinks Evie is about to steamroll her way to another dominant victory. She's undefeated, I'm not. It would be fair to say that the odds aren’t in my favor. But if you’ve followed my career, you know that against all odds, I’ve ran the table. At the end of the day, undefeated streaks aren't everything. Ask Apple Coren, ask Charlotte Elliot, ask Keira Fisher-Johnson. You know what they all have in common? I was the one who ended their streaks.
"Evie can be beat. Kate Steele broke her mystique four years ago, Sierra Williams was the most recent to pin her shoulders to the mat last year. Surprisingly, neither could repeat that success this year. Even Jessie, Tallyn, and Seleana stepped up to the plate and they couldn't get the job done.
If there is anyone who is bona fide, certified, and qualified to put a stop to Evie's streak, SCW management found the right one. If there is any Bombshell Evie thinks she can intimidate, she found the wrong one, and if there is any woman who can challenge one of Odette and Gabriel's brightest students, they found the best one...ME!
Mercedes, now clearly animated, focuses her gaze to the camera.
"Evie, you're just a few weeks away from becoming the next World Bombshell Champion. In your mind, you probably already are. And by the time Into the Void happens, you and Ben will be finally holding the top championships at the same time. I can see it now."
Mercedes makes a big sweeping hand gesture in the air.
"The Jordans, a real life golden couple, wouldn't that be something? Haven't seen that since Melody and J2H."
Mercedes forgoes her wonderment as her arms go limp, then she switched to a comfortable position as she rests her hand under her chin.
"Hype Girl versus The Hype. Yeah, Evie, I think you might be on to something. I'm almost sure everyone can figure out who is who. I don’t need no hype train, sweetheart. Why would I need to self-promote when SCW knows what I've done, the Bombshells Division knows what I've done, you know what I've done and while you can downplay that to your little heart's content, my legacy will never be tarnished. That seems like it should never have to be said, doesn't make it any less true.
"Challenge made, challenge accepted. By virtue of having your name across from mine, it will be my honor to give you that first loss this year. If you're going to beat me, I'm going to make you work for it."
Mercedes runs a hand through her hair, chuckling and shaking her head as she smiles at the camera
"An Aussie versus an Argentine on American soil. How's that for an international incident?"
Mercedes tucks her checklist under her arm before flashing an arrogant smirk at the camera.
"Just a future champion, in the shape of her life, having the time of her life, getting ready for the fight of her life. So, how do you defeat the undefeated? How do you prepare for the unknown? I don't know, I'm not sure, but it will be fun to find out."
She begins rubbing her palms together expectantly and looks up at the camera.
"The date is set, the time has come, and your fate is sealed. I'm the last thing standing between you and remaining unbeaten before the supercard.
"So, um, yeah, I guess I'll see you Sunday at Climax Control, Evie. Good luck. You're going to need it."
She pauses for effect, lowering her voice just above a whisper.
"Long before you knew, and long after you'll remember."
We fade out on the sight as Mercedes lifts a hand in a sort of finger-wiggling wave.
***Fade***