[SCW Staff]

Please post all roleplays here! Have fun and good luck!

[Mercedes Vargas]

Blog: Almighty Fire
semana del 31 de agosto al 7 de septiembre de 2025

There’s a strange sort of calm before nights like the one that’s coming. People expect chaos, they expect bedlam, they expect noise, but the loudest thing in my world before the bell rings is silence. Because when I walk in, I already know what’s going to happen. The others? They’re still trying to convince themselves they do.

I’m not scrambling for validation. I’m not losing sleep over who believes in me and who doesn’t. When you’ve walked into more storms than anyone else and walked out with everything intact, you stop measuring yourself against who’s shouting the loudest. You measure yourself against who’s still standing when the shouting stops. That’s where I separate myself. Lilith Locke wants to swing between brilliance and breakdown like she’s living inside some fairytale written for her own amusement. Diamond Steele? She lives to hear herself talk, even if every time she opens her mouth she empties the room of respect. Both of them kick, claw, and scream about how much they deserve this Bombshell Internet Championship, how much they need it. And there’s me—still here, todavía campeona, still watching them glare at me for having something they can’t keep.

This match doesn’t cage us in the ropes. It’s not about holding yourself up on a ten count, or finding a corner to breathe. Falls Count Anywhere strips wrestling down to what it should be: who can take the fight anyplace and still win. No escape routes. No excuses. That’s bad news for two women who spend their time pretending to be larger than life when, truthfully, they’ve barely figured out how to keep their feet underneath them when the ground shifts.

Take Lilith, for example. She’s unpredictable, right? She’ll laugh, she’ll scream, she’ll try to drag you into her little theater of madness. People like to pretend she’s dangerous because she doesn’t color inside the lines. The truth? She’s just messy. Desordenada. There’s no control behind her chaos, and when there’s no control, there’s no discipline. And when there’s no discipline, there’s no consistency. That’s why every time she’s given the ball to run with, she drops it. It isn’t because she lacks ability—it’s because she can’t stay tethered to the reality that wrestling isn’t about moments, it’s about endurance. She can give you a highlight, pero no puede ganar la guerra. Highlights fade. Yo colecciono victorias. Y ella colecciona excusas.

Then there’s Diamond Steele. Now, Diamond will happily tell you she’s the most hated woman in this business. She’ll smile about it, brag about it, let that arrogance seep through every word like it’s perfume. But when the lights come down and the cameras stop rolling, being hated doesn’t cash the check. Being hated doesn’t pin shoulders to the mat. What it does is make her a lightning rod for her own downfall. Every time she cuts a corner, every time she puts herself above the work, she leaves a crack in the armor. And the cracks keep growing wider. People don’t hate her just for arrogance. They hate her porque es perezosa. Loud, yes. Pero nunca cumple. She says she’s hated. Nadie la respeta. Because she thrives on attention but starves when it comes time to deliver. And in this kind of fight, where there are no rules to wriggle out from under, being her own worst enemy is going to devour her faster than anything I could do to her.

The truth neither of them can say out loud is simple: they orbit me. They take every chance they get to talk about how much they don’t care, how much they’ve moved on, how much they don’t need me in their sightlines. But look at where we are. Look at whose name is printed first on the card. Look at whose championship is fueling the entire storm. Their obsession is my advantage. I don’t need to obsess over them. I don’t need to waste energy picking them apart day after day. They’re already doing the job for me, ripping at each other, trying to prove who the bigger threat really is. Y mientras ellas se destruyen, I'll be standing right here, pulling strength from the fact that none of this is new to me.

I’ve been in arenas where the walls shook. I’ve had matches where I walked out with bruises that didn’t fade for weeks. I’ve heard the noise, the boos, the cheers, the people begging for me to fail, and the people secretly relieved when I didn’t. And each time I didn’t fail, I added another brick to this fortress around me. So when the stakes rise and the rules vanish, I don’t panic. I adapt. That’s why the old saying goes: pressure makes diamonds. And maybe that’s cute for Steele if she thought about herself as more than a running joke, but diamonds can crack under sustained force. La presión me fortalece. Bajo el calor me forjo. Y yo nunca me rompo. Diamonds break. I don’t.

The Bombshell Internet Championship is mine because I understood from the beginning that this was never about a moment to brag with or a prop to validate my existence. It’s about outlasting. It’s about standing tall after everyone else gives out. Lilith fought for it once, and she crumbled. Diamond scratched at it, bled for it, whined when it wasn’t handed to her, and still walked away empty. And they’re supposed to survive Falls Count Anywhere when they couldn’t survive the simplest obstacles before? Por favor.

When I walk into this match, I’m not walking in to prove anyone wrong. That’s too easy. I’m walking in to prove myself right and remind them why this championship doesn’t sit on their shoulders, why it looks best where it is. Because when we’re brawling through the stands, cuando alguien golpea contra las cajas tras bastidores, when the asphalt of the parking lot scrapes skin raw, it won’t matter who screams the loudest or who postures the biggest. It will only matter who finishes the fight, whose hand is raised, who’s holding this title high when everything goes quiet again. And they’ve both proven time and time again that when the fight reaches its end, it’s not them left standing.

I don’t play dress-up in delusion pretending I’m invincible. I just don’t give out proof otherwise. You can stack the odds, throw both of them at me, lock me in situations designed for someone else’s downfall, and it still won’t shift me off center. I don’t chase control. Porque yo no busco el control—lo poseo. I own it. That’s the difference. Lilith is busy trying to paint the walls of this match with her brand of madness, Diamond is clinging to what’s left of her relevance by throwing tantrums with words, and I’m walking straight into the middle of the storm already knowing where I’ll be standing when it ends.

If people think that makes me cold, that makes me calculating, then they’ve finally started paying attention. Because this sport doesn’t reward sentiment, it doesn’t reward illusions, and it doesn’t reward the delusional. It rewards the one who can see three steps ahead, who can let the noise swirl without letting it drown her. I cut deeper — corto más profundo, sin necesidad de gritar. That’s me, every time I step out there.

So when the bell rings, the silence will end. Lilith will throw herself into the fire like it’s the only way to be seen. Diamond will try to manipulate the moment to make it about her, like always. And me? I’ll let them dig their holes deeper, let them expose themselves for what they are, and then I’ll finish it. Anywhere. Anytime. Así funciona esta lucha. No hay límites. No hay escondites. No boundaries. No excuses. Just the truth revealed in every strike, every crash, every count of the referee’s hand slamming the ground.

By the time they realize their truths don’t stack up to mine, it’ll already be decided. Lilith’s unpredictability won’t save her. Diamond’s arrogance won’t carry her. And both of them, when they’re sprawled out wondering how I keep doing this, will finally see that I don’t need to scream for attention. I don’t need to beg for credibility. I don’t need to cling to gimmicks, taglines, or hollow words. I just need one more match to prove that none of them are walking out with this championship.

Chaos doesn’t shake me. El caos me moldea.

And when Falls Count Anywhere is over, cuando esta arena quede patas arriba, when bodies are left broken across concrete and steel, I’ll be the one the cameras find holding the fight’s only prize.

Todavía firme. Todavía en control. Todavía tu Bombshell Internet Champion.

~~~

INT. PARKING STRUCTURE - NIGHT

[The fluorescent buzz in the parking structure isn’t sound so much as headache — high-pitched, thin, and too steady. Each tube light hums like a bad memory. Mercedes adjusts the championship belt on her shoulder, letting the teeth of gold glass the dull concrete gray, her fingers brushing it like it’s part of her pulse.

Her heels hit each step with precision. No rush, no stagger. Just enough echo to carry ahead of her.

At the far end of the lot, the security guard nearly drops his clipboard when he notices her. He fumbles with it, trying to look official — shuffling papers, flicking the pen as if it’s some kind of weapon.]

GUARD
Uh— yeah, ma’am? Parking’s all clear down here. Didn’t see anybody. Just— y’know, are you, uh… sure you don’t want me to, like… walk you out? Late night and all.

[His words hang shaky, already bracing for dismissal. Mercedes tilts her head, narrowing her eyes, more confused than angry.]

MERCEDES
If somebody was stupid enough to find me here, do you honestly think you would be the one protecting who walks out of this building?

[The guard freezes. One of his papers slides off the clipboard and drifts to the floor face-down, the loud slap of cheap paper against concrete exposing his silence. Mercedes blinks slow, unimpressed. She taps her fingertips once against the cold face of the title belt. Then she brushes past, her stride loosening the air with cool dismissal. Over her shoulder, her voice drapes backward, too calm to be casual.]

MERCEDES
Besides… I don’t get followed. I get chased. Difference is… they never keep up.

[The guard stammers quickly.]

GUARD:
Y-Yeah, no, totally. I chase people sometimes too. Like for exercise.

[Mercedes stops walking. The silence that falls afterward is painful in its precision. She turns her head just enough, cutting a sideways glance. Not rage. Pity disguised as disdain.]

MERCEDES
Do you hear yourself?

[The guard stands stranded in her wake, clipboard clutched like a child’s shield. The belt’s glint lingers longer in memory than in light.

She doesn’t wait for him to try another reply. Stepping into the driver’s seat of a sleek dark sedan, she sets her title onto the passenger seat like royalty resting its crown, then slides behind the wheel. A pause, the hum of lights above trying and failing to compete with the roar of her ignition.

From the far end of the lot, the guard raises the clipboard lamely in farewell. But by then, she’s already gone, vanishing into the night.]

•—•—•—•—•

INT. HOTEL ROOM – NIGHT
INTERCUT WITH – CRYSTAL CALDWELL'S APARTMENT – NIGHT

[The city outside the hotel window doesn’t sleep; it just changes rhythms. Neon reflections smear across the glass, headlights streak against the pale curtain fabric. Inside isn’t silence, not really — the hotel’s AC rattles like it could quit any minute, the TV glows, the world outside keeps humming its pulse.

Mercedes sits hunched in an armchair, belt propped across her knees, laptop perched on the low table. The screen glows with Crystal Caldwell’s face, framed by the buzz of her own messy apartment lighting. A half-drunk can of Sprite sits at Crystal’s elbow, condensation streaking into her notes.]

CRYSTAL
You looked like you were gonna strangle that poor security guard in the garage.

MERCEDES
Strangle? Please. That man nearly fainted when I raised an eyebrow. I wouldn’t waste the energy. He almost took himself out.

[Crystal laughs, shaking her head.]

CRYSTAL
C’mon, he was just doing his job. You could’ve at least said thank you.

MERCEDES
Thank you for what? Offering to escort me? If I need an escort, I’ll call a car service and request one that doesn’t trip over a clipboard every five seconds.

[Mercedes taps the belt plate with her nail. The sound clangs into the mic, sharp enough Crystal lifts her eyebrows.]

CRYSTAL
And here I thought winning meant you’d get less bitter. Silly me.

MERCEDES
Winning doesn’t make you less bitter. It just means you’re right about being bitter. Validation with sequins.

[Crystal leans back in her chair, smirking.]

CRYSTAL
Speaking of validation, you, Lilith, and Diamond Steele. You ready to juggle that circus?

[Mercedes’ eyes don’t even flinch. Her voice comes low, matter-of-fact.]

MERCEDES
One who calls herself unpredictable. Another who calls herself a rockstar. Neither one knows what it actually takes to outlast me, but sure. Let’s call it a circus. I’ll even play ringmaster when it’s done.

Crystal (grinning):
You’re not giving Diamond much credit, huh?

MERCEDES
She’s written more songs about winning than she’s actually done it. And Lilith? She’s one botched spell away from disappearing mid-match. Neither qualifies as a threat.

CRYSTAL
Lilith’s gotta be confident after that triple threat with you and Bella at Summer XXXTreme.

MERCEDES
Confident? Like a kid duct-taping socks and calling it cosplay.

[Crystal snorts, trying not to laugh.]

CRYSTAL
You’re cruel.

MERCEDES
I’m efficient. She talks about unpredictability like it’s a strategy. It’s not. That’s just code for being so inconsistent nobody can plan for you, including yourself.

[Crystal tilts her head, eyes narrowing in mock sincerity.]

CRYSTAL
You do realize you’re facing both Lilith and Diamond at once, right? Triple threat means—

Mercedes (cutting in):
Triple opportunity. That’s how I read it. Two women chasing me at the same time. It’ll just be twice the proof when they can’t keep up.”

[Crystal raises an eyebrow.]

CRYSTAL
Lilith sounds motivated. You don’t think she’s a threat?

[Mercedes looks directly into the camera, piercing, sardonic.]

MERCEDES
She’s lost more times than I care to watch, yet still clings to her ‘aura.’ Dangerous, unpredictable, wild… pick one adjective and stick to it. Then maybe win something.

[Crystal laughs outright this time, covering her mouth.]

CRYSTAL
God, you’re savage. Do you ever turn it off?

[Mercedes shrugs, voice flat, humor in its plainness.]

MERCEDES
Never.

[Crystal leans her chin into her hand, smirking.]

CRYSTAL
Well, at least your match is straightforward. Meanwhile, I’m stuck pretending a mud pit fight with my wife isn’t deranged marital counseling.

[Mercedes arches an eyebrow, voice flat and deadpan.]

MERCEDES
Or a bad reality show. Same difference.

CRYSTAL
You must love watching me suffer.

MERCEDES
Your words, not mine.

[Mercedes taps the belt plate absentmindedly, metal ringing clear.]

CRYSTAL
Come on, don’t pretend this isn’t the most embarrassing thing on the card.

MERCEDES
Are you billing the referee as your therapist, or just splitting it fifty-fifty with Seleana after?

[Crystal snorts, covering a laugh with her hand.]

CRYSTAL
God, don’t even. Every time I picture it, all I see is Thanksgiving dinner afterward, both sides of the family pretending we didn’t try to drown each other in sludge. If Seleana pins me face-first in a pit of sludge, I’m never hearing the end of it.

MERCEDES
At least you won’t hear it clean—mud muffles the shame. It’s better than being buried in sand, or pretending it never happened. Besides, you’ll win the match and the argument. That’s efficiency.

[Crystal takes a long pull from her drink, eyeing Mercedes with mock severity.]

CRYSTAL
Yeah, until I get mud in places we’re not even supposed to mention on the company website. Real glamorous life we live.

MERCEDES (dryly):
Glamour is just suffering with better lighting.

CRYSTAL
You should put that on a shirt. I’d buy it before Violent Conduct.

MERCEDES
Merch isn’t my job. My job’s making sure nobody else ever gets to wear this.

[Crystal grabs her can, takes a long sip just to stall, eyes narrowing at Mercedes with mock offense.]

CRYSTAL
You’re dead serious right now.

MERCEDES
Always.

[Crystal sighs through a laugh, sets the can back down.]

CRYSTAL
Fine. You bully Lilith and Diamond at the top of the card. I’ll roll around with my wife in a puddle shaped like a lawsuit waiting to happen. That way Violent Conduct has both the prestige and the spectacle.

[The joke lands, but the silence after feels heavier than the humor.]

CRYSTAL
God help them if they actually let us be the marketing department.

MERCEDES (deadpan):
No. God help everyone else.

[The call lingers on both of them smirking at their screens, the glow of absurdity and inevitability mixing across their faces. The AC rattles again in the background, adding just enough comedy to match the madness waiting at Violent Conduct.]

~~~

Present Day ♦L O S A N G E L E S • C A L I F O R N I A

[REC•]

[Late afternoon sun hits the rainbow stairs in Silver Lake. Mercedes Vargas sits casually, championship resting on her shoulder like a badge of honor. The camera pulls in close, catching every inflection in her voice and the knowing smirk on her face.]

"I’ve been around long enough to know the difference between hype and reality. I’ve seen people talk a big game, and I’ve watched most of them crumble when it actually matters. Kate’s got the heart, Lilith’s got the edge, but heart and attitude don’t win matches. Execution does. Consistency does. And neither of them have proven that to me yet."

[She taps the faceplate of the title on her shoulder.]

"But you know what? Forget all the noise, forget the hype, because here’s the real truth. At Violent Conduct, both Kate Steele and Lilith Locke get their chance to prove me wrong. Falls Count Anywhere means anything can happen, and it will. On the stage, in the stands, hell, in the street if it comes to that. But when that dust settles, when it’s all said and done, we’re going to see who’s built for it… and who was just pretending. Spoiler: that doubt isn’t on me.”

[Mercedes leans forward slightly, narrowing her eyes into the lens.]

"You know who I am. You know what I stand for. I’ve been through this business and seen it all. When I speak, it’s not just words — it’s truth forged through years of proving everybody else wrong.

"Now Kate... Katherine... 'Diamond'... whatever identity crisis it is this week. Three weeks ago in Mykonos, you walked out in the ring, opened your mouth, and wasted everybody’s time. A whole lot of noise… just to say nothing. Honestly? Silence would’ve done you a bigger favor."

[She tilts her head mockingly, smirk sharpening.]

"But you’re the ‘Diamond in the Rough’, right? Sweetheart, cubic zirconias shine too. But nobody’s ever fooled into thinking they’re worth anything. You can call yourself a gem, you can call yourself beautiful… but if you have to keep reminding people you’re a star? Then you probably aren’t one. That’s facts."

[She delivers the final two words—“That’s facts”—with a dismissive flick of her hand, like she’s brushing away lint.]

"You beat Frankie Holliday, and now you think that makes you a top star? Cute. But it’s the same old Kate — one win, one rebrand, one comeback — and you convince yourself you’re entitled to more than you’ve earned. That’s your whole résumé: Demands. Spotlight. Attention. Respect. But earning? That part never makes the cut."

[Mercedes leans forward again, her voice cutting sharper. The sunlight catches across the plate of the championship as she gestures slightly with her shoulder.]

"Truth is, mamita, you’ve practically made a career out of falling just short. Very on-brand. That’s who you’ve always been. That’s just what your life is when you’re a Steele."

[Mercedes reclines in her seat again, crossing one leg casually over the other. She gestures expansively now with her free hand, smug and comfortable. The camera pulls back slightly, giving her space as her delivery relaxes.

Mercedes reclines again, relaxed now. She gestures with her free hand as she speaks, almost casual.]

"If you want to talk about history, legacies, dominant stables—we can do that. The difference is, my history and legacy will always be remembered. My place in one of the most dominant groups in this company’s history - the Mean Girls - is etched in stone. Delia, Veronica, Liz, Tessa, Amanda, Holly—we defined an era. Our names are remembered. Our success is remembered."

[Mercedes pauses here, her tone shifting abruptly from casual to cutting. The camera cuts quick to a cold tight close-up, isolating her face.]

"Your legacy? Not so much. Because let’s be honest — when people talk about Jet City, they don’t remember you. They remember Kris Ryans. Not you. Never you. And the worst part, Kate? Deep down... you know it."

[Mercedes glances down at her championship, brushing the plate lightly, then looks back with a sly smile.]

"Now, I could be cute and throw little jabs about your marriages… the weddings, the rings. But you’ve collected more jewelry in your personal life than you’ve ever collected in championships. And that’s not credibility — that’s a hobby. Cute, but meaningless. But see this right here?"

[Mercedes lifts the Bombshell Internet Title high, the sunlight gleaming off it.]

"This isn’t a hobby. This is credibility. And that’s exactly why I’m holding it… and you’re not."

[Her smirk fades into a deadly serious stare.]

"Now, Lilith Locke—don’t go thinking I forgot you. August 3rd, Climax Control 431, remember that night? I do. It was the night your title reign ended, and my legacy added another chapter. So if Kate wants to chase respect she’s never earned, and you want your redemption story—go ahead. Violent Conduct isn’t about fairy tales. It’s about reality. And the reality is this: you don’t get to take back what I’ve already made mine."

[Mercedes chuckles under her breath.]

"So in less than two weeks: Falls Count Anywhere. No boundaries, no restrictions. You really think a stipulation is going to change the ending? Please. The difference between me and the both of you is simple: I don’t just talk about respect—I command it. Match after match, year after year, era after era. That’s why I'm a two-time Hall of Famer. That’s why I’m holding this title right now. And after Violent Conduct?”

[She shrugs with casual arrogance, lifting the belt slightly.]

“I’ll still be here.”

[Mercedes leans in, closing the distance with the camera. Gloves come off tone-wise, her smirk cutting ice.]

"You want respect, Kate? You think people are waiting to finally give it to you? Let me help you here: respect isn’t something you announce on a microphone. Respect is earned. Week in, week out. Every night, every match. And the truth is, you’ve been gone so long, people forgot you even work here. And for the ones who do remember? All they remember is that you used to matter."

[Pauses, narrowing her eyes into the lens.]

"But now you’ve got my attention. Dangerous game, mamita. Be careful what you ask for. Because asking for my attention? That’s not putting yourself on my level—you’re volunteering to embarrass yourself in front of me. And trust me, when I’m standing across from you, those cameras you love so much? They’ll be too busy filming your crash-and-burn — and not with your little third-rate garage band this time. No, this time they’re going to capture every second of you realizing just how badly you don’t belong here."

[Mercedes smirks again, her expression ice-cold finality.]

“And when you ask yourself, ‘Why me?’”

[She adjusts the Internet Title on her shoulder, smile widening.]

“We both already know the answer."

[Pause, smirks to the camera.]

"Because you’re a Steele."

[Fade out on the close-up of Mercedes holding the championship high. The smirk never leaves her face.]

[Kate Steele]

South Beach Miami Florida
Four Seasons Hotel

Diamond Steele couldn’t help but have a wicked grin on her face as she lay out on the sandy shores of Miami Beach. She sported her sunglasses as she enjoyed doing everything in her power to take in as much of the sun as she could. She wasn’t alone as she was joined by her little sister Sapphire Steele along with her cousin Ruby Pierce. The three British women smiled as Diamond took it all in.

Diamond: Finally SCW has come to a place that I can deem worthy and it’s only fitting for the most gorgeous woman on the entire bombshell roster. Let’s be honest who in SCW can say they have the best tan line like I do?! Who can say they have the best curves or let alone the best looks like I do?!

Diamond begins to grin as she looks at her relatives before she begins to speak some more.

Diamond: Don’t even bother answering that question. Of course we all know that the answer is me of course. I am the best thing to have joined the roster in a very long time, and I am so happy that Diamond Caldwell isn’t on the roster anymore because I can take my namesake back. I am the ONLY gem that is worthy to be here and on top of that I doubt anybody can shine like I do.

Sapphire: You got that right and it is only a matter of time before you will be in a position where you can add something that will shine brightly around your waist. The Internet Championship is ripe for the taking. All you need to do is walk into Violent Conduct and do what you have always done best and that’s get the job done.

Diamond giggles as she looks back at her sister.

Diamond: Against Mercedes and Lilith Locke?! To be honest I doubt I will even break a sweat. A match like this is worthy of my talents and I know everybody is waiting for me to come and save the division. I just need to look the part and as long as I can perfect these tan lines I will at least be in a position where I can beautify the rest of the match. Lord knows Vargas is an old hag and she is so far away from being anything close that resembles beauty, and as far as Lilith is concerned she could use a makeover. I will happily give her one though it may not be one she will enjoy.

Diamond continues to smirk as she turns over in the sand but eventually Ruby walks over to Diamond with a Pina Colada in her hands. He hands the drink over to her cousin as she forms a wicked grin.

Ruby: Isn’t this the life?! It’s about time SCW is giving you the rightful respect that you deserve. I know that double or nothing match didn’t go the way you had hoped for it to go but beating Frankie really put you back on track and now look at you. You are one match away from becoming a three time Internet Champion. It doesn’t get better than that does it?!

Diamond laughs again as she is about to reply back but that’s when something catches her attention. Footsteps are headed in her direction. Kate slowly turns her attention over to the person causing the steps and that is when she can see Michelle Chavez-Warren in front of her along with her four year old daughter Marlene. Michelle was not only Seleana’s best friend but she was also the current wife of Diamond’s ex-husband Teddy. The little girl jumps in the sand as she looks over at her mother.

Marlene: Mommy I want to build a sand castle!

Michelle: Of course pumpkin go for it, mommy will be right with you. I just need to speak to somebody first!

The little girl runs off and she begins to play in the sand. Michelle however walks over to Kate and forms her hands together as she stares down looking at the overly tanned Brit.

Michelle: I think the two of us need to have a little chat with one another especially when it comes to your ex-husband, my CURRENT husband Teddy. I know that the two of you exchanged some words with one another. I respect that the two of us have a history with one another but I just want to be upfront with you. I don’t appreciate you talking down to Teddy. Nobody disrespects my husband. Regardless how you might feel about him, Teddy is an amazing man. He is an excellent father to Marlene and I would do anything for him.

Diamond rises up out of the sand as she gazes up into the eyes of Michelle. She takes her shades off and throws them to the side as she forms an uneasy expression on her face.

Diamond: Excuse me?! I don’t need to hear that and quite frankly I don’t care on how Teddy treats you. While we were married the truth is he was abusive to me. He tried to take my kid away from me. I loved him with everything in my heart but he should have never treated me like that. Good for you if you find Teddy to be some perfect spouse but that wasn’t the case with me. So if you don’t mind I would appreciate it if you just left me alone.

Michelle just rolls her eyes as she keeps them fixated on Diamond.

Michelle: You really are quite the brat aren’t you. The world doesn’t revolve around you Kath-Lyn. It never did and it never will. You may have gotten the plastic surgery and you could coat yourself with so much fake tan that it makes you bronze but it will never hide who you really are. You are the one that’s the abuser. You are a heart breaker and that’s why you constantly find yourself in situations that don’t really go in your favor.

Ruby and Sapphire look over at the woman as a long sigh escapes from out of their mouths.

Sapphire: I advise that you leave my sister alone.

Ruby: Exactly, it’s OUTRAGEOUS that you are approaching her in the way that you are.

Michelle: The ONLY OUTRAGEOUS thing is the fact that I enjoy when Juliet spends time with her father. She really loves bonding with her sister and just the other day she actually started to call me mom. It felt really amazing.

Diamond is fuming at this point as she looks daggers into Michelle. She snaps her fingers and it’s at that moment that Ruby and Sapphire both walk away knowing that Kate would rather be alone in this situation, Diamond just shrugs her shoulders as she stands up to confront the woman.

Diamond: Let me tell you something. I advise that you walk away. My daughter will never look at you at being anything that closely resembles a mother. I am her mother. I always have been and I always will be. It’s Juliet and I against the world and I don’t want her to have anything to do with you. So like I said just bugger off Michelle, and let me be. I don’t even know why you are in Miami.

Michelle: I am in Miami because my best friend needs me. Seleana is having issues with her wife and I rather her not spend time alone worrying about what her wife might do to her in a wrestling match. I would always be there for her in heartbeat. Things are rough in my household considering that Teddy is the best with Crystal so we are having issues on who we should support in their dispute.

Diamond: Michelle I thought I told you that I don’t care. One thing you won’t have to worry about though is Mercedes because I am going to rip her apart. Seleana and I are really close. Our daughters are best friends so as a way to protect my goddaughter Aurora I am going to beat the unholy hell out of Vargas. So that’s ONE less thing you will have to be worried about but that’s my problem. You can go. Your presence is no longer required.

Diamond begins to giggle but Chavy just crosses her arms as she keeps her eyes locked on Diamond.

Michelle: You really think that the world revolves around you. As much as I want to be here for Seleana the real reason why I wanted to confront you is because I wanted to tell you that I didn’t appreciate what you did to my older sister Marcia. She prided herself on being a Mexican Soap Opera star and for a short while she was dating you. She loved you Kate. When things didn’t work out between Dawn Lohan and you, she was there to give you the love that you needed.

Michelle shakes her head as she continues to speak.

Michelle: Instead of portraying and reciprocating that love in return. You just left her high and dry so that you could jump back to Dawn. That didn’t even last that long and immediately after finding yourself in a breakup you go on to get married again to somebody else. Are you that desperate for attention that you just want to fall in love for anybody?! I don’t get you Kate. I thought you were better than that but it honestly just looks like you are just one individual who is in so much need of attention. It’s wrong.

Michelle stands face to face with Diamond.

Michelle: Marcia deserved better, and deep down just with what I am witnessing with Seleana I know she deserves better as well. The only reason why I am talking to you right now is that I hope you can find yourself one day. I hope you can be an inspiration to Juliet so that she doesn’t grow up to be the same woman that you are. Do better and in turn I pray your daughter does better, take care Diamond. I will go back to my daughter and my loving husband. What you thought was trash I value as my biggest treasure. Bye and please grow up…

With that Michelle begins to walk away. She grabs her little daughter by the hand and the two of them begin to walk away. Sapphire and Ruby walk over to where Diamond is standing. No matter how much facial reconstruction and heavy application of make-up and fake tan, nothing could hide the pain that she felt. The questioning of her as mother, and the calling out on the constant need to be accepted.

Sapphire: Sis, is everything okay?!

Ruby: What’s wrong Kath-Lyn because if you want I will go over and grab that Bitch and throw her into the ocean.

Diamond however couldn’t say anything nor did she feel like saying anything. She tried her best to hide her tears and emotion. Instead she just sat back on her lounge chair and tried to do everything in her power to take in as much sun as she possibly could. She placed the sunglasses over her eyes as a way to hide the tears. She turned over so that she was face down on the chair. It was better to try to force herself to be numb to the pain. Whether Kate tried to deny it or not was another thing but she couldn’t hide form the pain that she felt. Maybe she needed to be accepted. Maybe what Michelle said to her was the truth. One thing was certainly for sure, Kate couldn’t get wrapped up in thinking about what was or what could have been. Instead she knew she had to be focused to the task at hand. She had to be ready for her big match at Violent Conduct. As long as she focused on that she knew nothing could stop her. Its on this image that we fade out on.

Bloody hell what it going on SCW. I just want to say from the bottom of my heart that I feel so thrilled to be in the position that I am in right now. A few weeks ago I made a plea that I deserved to be added to the Internet Championship match and long behold Christmas certainly must have come early because I am getting exactly what I had asked for. I get to compete at this Super Card in a match for the Internet Championship. Some people would be overly excited about being in a position where they could earn a championship on such a high stage but to be honest there isn’t anything to celebrate.

You want to know why I am not popping champagne or lighting the fireworks off yet?! It’s a simple reasoning really. The reason why I am not over the top excited about all of this is because deep down inside of my heart I know for a fact that I deserve what I am getting. Everybody seems to be getting off on the fact that Frankie Holliday was able to outlast a bunch of women and now she is in the main event of Violent Conduct because Andrea Hernandez had to take care of personal business.

Let me be blunt, obviously the number one contender for the World title can’t be all that good when I single handedly decimated her in the middle of the ring. I bet I could have made the World title contender issue simplified easier as well. Instead of going through the hoops of trying to figure out who should be deemed worthy to challenge Kayla you could have put me into that spot inside. Let’s give Kayla somebody she hasn’t really faced before instead having to watch the same old shit over and over again.

It’s whatever. I am sure Kayla will find a way to somehow retain over Frankie and then we will be on the road to High Stakes our biggest show where all the cards are on the table. As much as I would love to vent about not even being considered for that battle royal let me focus on the challenge that’s right in front of me.

I get to compete in a South Beach falls count anywhere match to claim my right to be Internet Champion. As I look at the Internet division I realize that everything seems unstable and honestly it’s a shit show. The title hasn’t really meant anything since Tempest held it for close to six months and after that Julianna held it for about four months.

The title seems like it’s been passed around like a hot potato since those glory days. Since Bella Madison had her first reign with the championship at the end of the year there has been six different title reigns from then until now. That’s absolutely disgusting.

People get so caught up in stating how they became a champion but nobody actually knows what it means to BE THE CHAMPION. It’s definitely a fall from grace since the days when women like me were shattering the longest reign and combined reign with the title, and dare I say my biggest nemesis in Myra Rivers going on to shatter my record.

I may not like Myra and she certainly didn’t care for me even though she stated she saw a lot of herself in me but one thing that we both can get behind is that there was a level of respect between of us and the drive we had in order to make the Internet Title the most sought after title in all of SCW. We built this division from the ground up and now to see that legacy being tarnished by women who can’t even muster a few defenses with the title is disgusting and to be quite frank utterly pathetic.

But hey let’s all get excited because now we have ourselves a triple threat match and the title seems to be in jeopardy more than ever. I know that Vargas is probably pissing in her pants because she can go on to lose the title without actually being pinned.

Now I know Lilith will probably try to talk up a bunch of useless nonsense on how she is going to do everything in her power to get her title back, and Vargas is obviously going to run her mouth because that’s all she ever tries to do. She runs her mouth how she has accomplished so much but in my eyes while she might think she is reinventing her legacy she is honestly regressing and it’s a shame she hasn’t seen it yet.

If I was in her shoes I would have been trying to chase after the World title but maybe just maybe she knows deep in her heart that she doesn’t have the talent to chase after that title anymore and actually be relevant in today’s SCW.

Now a lot could happen in a Falls Count Anyway match. This match could end up happening anywhere in South Beach but to be honest I was built for this type of match. It’s no secret that I am a multiple Roulette Champion in this company and I built my entire early legacy in wrestling by being a woman who dominated wrestling company after wrestling company by being a strong Hardcore Champion. It didn’t matter the company but long before I prided myself on being a submission specialist I was the queen of Hardcore and I took over every hardcore division I have ever been part of it.

SCW was no different and I built a legacy with the Roulette division claiming the longest reign at the time and being prepared for whatever stipulation that I might have found myself in. While I may not be competing in a Roulette match next Sunday a Falls Count Anywhere match is no different than what I am accustomed too. It will be business as usual as I enter the ring and prove to both women that I am the best wrestler in this match.

I know that there will be some people who won’t agree with what I am saying and those dissenters come in the form of my opponents. First and foremost let’s start with the champion herself in Mercedes Vargas.

Vargas I could say job well done because finally you seem to be on a roll in this company. I know people think you are witty by with the way you report on things and your overall knowledge of everything that has ever happened in this company.

Let’s be honest though. Most of the stuff you ever say is always a day late and a dollar short. You sound so happy to constantly bring up how you have so many lifetime wins and that makes you this special individual but you do realize that you are where you are because of longevity. It has nothing to do with actual skill.

You talk up the wins but your record isn’t really the best but hey I guess you need to hold onto something because it’s all you really got. Looking at the roster you and Crystal are basically the only Hall of Famer Bombshells that are left in this company so I would hope you would actually manage to accomplish something. It took a long time but you are proving to finally be credible in wrestling.

Congratulations you are a three time Internet Champion but let’s be blunt. That last title reign is all bull shit. It’s not like you earned it on your own. The only reason why you are where you are now in today’s wrestling world is because you somehow managed to brain wash Crystal Hilton and now she is serving as your lackey to do whatever she can possibly do to keep the title around your waist. It’s not like you actually earned it on your own merit. You are only where you are because you have Crystal to bail you out.

Your entire alliance is stupid. You aren’t as dominant as you think you are, and you are a fool for trusting Crystal, and she’s a fool for trusting you. Be honest with yourselves at some point one of you is going to betray the other and when that happens you will go back to the world of mediocrity and irrelevancy.

You can’t get on by yourself and at Violent Conduct you will be exposed. I promise you that much. As far as you go Lilith how’s it going girl. The name is Kate Steele. I am the woman who will personally deny your claim to become a champion for a second time because I am going to take that honor for myself. If I can be honest I really don’t know that much about you but you were a fool for falling victim for letting Crystal and Mercedes get the better of you.

You have had your five seconds of fame and I know it must have felt good to been a champion in SCW but those days are officially over with. Don’t assume you are going to go back to being a champion again because now that I am locked into this match and in a position to get the Internet Champion. I am the individual who is going to do everything in her power to make sure that it is her who walks away as champion.

I may not have a Crystal to help aid me in winning my matches for me but I have my own set of Gems who would do whatever I say so that I could come out on top. I have my cousin Ruby who has been called worthless by so many different people in SCW. I have my sister Sapphire who is at my side for all of my matches and in the way she helped me get the edge in my match with Frankie I know she will be there to make sure I win this title match.

I am not above using all of my resources to prove a point and to make sure that this entire division is focused on me. You both can come at me with everything that you got but at the end of the day there’s only one person who deserves to win this match more so than the others. That woman is me.

I have been built for this moment and it’s been a long time since I have been a champion. It’s time to make people notice me again, and I am on the quest to one day get my name into the Hall of Fame.

How do I go about doing that?! I need to get through every challenge that is put in front of me. I need to get through the both of you. I am that Phoenix. I may have been burned to a crisp and it might have been a while since people have thought of my name in a positive light but it’s time leave all of those doubters behind.

Out of the ashes I will arise and I will be better than I have ever been. It’s time to take my place back near the top of this company and then I can focus on getting in the ring with the woman that I have been calling out since I came back to SCW. I want Victoria Lyons.

Maybe just maybe the Internet Championship might be the perfect thing to get her to agree to a match with me and that’s why I am going to pour everything into beating the two of you. Losing is not an option. At Violent Conduct this Diamond shines brighter than she has ever shined. I take my career back and I get back to the top of the food chain. SCW watch and see, but you will indeed that Diamonds indeed last forever. See you soon and it won’t be long until everyone hears the words AND NEW…

Tick Tock… It’s almost approaching and I can’t wait for that moment…

[Mercedes Vargas]

Almighty Fire
semana del 7 de 14 de septiembre de 2025

Alright, let's get into this.

Kate, you’ve spent the past few weeks writing love letters to yourself about all the things you’re owed. Another chance in the spotlight. Another opportunity to shine. Another reminder that you’re relevant. Like clockwork, you show up demanding the world pay attention, as if any of us forgot who you were.

The irony, of course, is that nobody forgot you.

They just stopped caring.

Let’s separate fact from fiction, shall we?

You spin this story about deserving a bigger stage, about belonging in the world title picture, about how Andrea Hernandez, Frankie Holliday, or even Kayla Richards don’t measure up compared to you. But there’s something you never say, Kate, probably because you can’t bear to.

So let’s be blunt.

When was the last time you won when it actually mattered?

Go ahead. Take your time, cariño. Take all the time you need.

Because that silence you’re hearing right now? That silence is louder than your excuses or every promo you’ve ever cut.

You call the Internet Championship division unstable. You call it pathetic. How the title’s been devalued. How reigns don’t mean what they used to. Honey, if anyone is qualified to discuss devaluing championships, it’s you. Because your track record of desperately clawing for glory that never lasts is your real legacy.

You say you built this division. Maybe you fooled yourself into believing that, but the rest of us? We never forgot who carried it when it mattered. Julianna. Tempest. Even Myra. They gave this championship value. You stripped it away every time you made it about yourself.

A Hall of Fame-worthy career isn’t built on complaints, Kate. It’s built on results. And if results are the metric, then you fail.

Your little speech about being a phoenix was inspiring though, I’ll give you that. Almost sounded convincing. The great Kate Steele—the Diamond rising from the ashes, ready to shine again. Very poetic. But here’s the issue:

Diamonds don’t burn. And phoenixes burn out far more often than they rise. You, dear, are not a diamond. You’re definitely not a phoenix. You’re a recycled slogan in search of an audience willing to buy the merch.

I’ve listened carefully to all your excuses, Kate. How if it weren’t for politics, you’d be in the world title picture. How Frankie Holliday isn’t that good, since you beat her. How the Internet division fell apart after you and Myra set the standard.

Your problem has never been talent, Kate. I’ll give you that. Underneath the drama, the empty words, the entourage—yes, there is ability. Your problem has always been projection. That’s the truth no one else will say to your face. Every insult you hurl, every accusation, every rant about my reign being weak or undeserved—it all reflects back on you.

See, you call my reign a joke because of Crystal Caldwell. You call my success undeserved. That’s rich coming from someone who can’t stand the mirror without trying to convince herself she belongs there. All of your words, Kate, are just projections of your insecurity. And to be blunt, that little speech about controlling the Gemstones? Ruby, Sapphire, the entourage—you just admitted you can’t win without them.

Then again, that’s always been your story, hasn’t it?

Mientras tanto, yo soy las dos cosa.

You need validation. I don’t.
You need hype. I don’t.
You need slogans to keep yourself afloat. I’ve already proven myself permanent

And Lilith, unlike Kate, I can’t even be mad at you. You’re not delusional—you’re just… misplaced. Your first taste of gold hooked you, didn’t it? The rush of being champion. The buzz of mattering. But it’s gone now, and as much as you try to chase it, you know deep down it won’t last. It didn’t before, and it won’t at Violent Conduct.

I almost pity you. Almost.

But pity doesn’t win championships. Precision does. Legacy does. And when I look at both of you, I don’t see star power or destiny. I don’t see war-hardened veterans ready for greatness. All I see are two women who can’t decide whether they want relevance or respect—because deep down, they’re terrified they’ll never have either. Meanwhile, me? I’m both. I’m everything you crave and everything you’ll never be.

When championships fall apart, they call me.
When divisions lose value, my name saves them.
When legacy needs legitimacy, they turn to Mercedes Vargas.

That’s the difference. That’s what a Hall of Fame career actually looks like. That's what separates me from everyone else. And now, at Violent Conduct, I don’t just defend my championship—I stand on the verge of history. Win number one hundred in Sin City Wrestling is within my grasp, and it won’t be Kate Steele or Lilith Locke who stops me from taking it.

You both think this is your moment. The defining match of your careers. The rise. The return. The rebirth.

But what you forget is simple: Esta es mi división. Este campeonato es mi historia. Esta compañía… es mi legado. And Violent Conduct isn’t a fairy tale, ladies—it’s reality.

Reality doesn’t care about phoenixes, or diamonds, or second chances. Reality crowns the one consistent truth. And the truth is that Mercedes Vargas is inevitable.

So here’s how the story ends. After the last fall is counted, when the lights go out over South Beach, when Violent Conduct is finished and Ocean Drive settles back into silence, there won’t be questions left. No one will be wondering if Kate or Lilith finally made it. There won’t be chatter of redemption, or comebacks, or finally breaking through.

The only sound left will be a statement that echoes louder than all your wasted speeches, every flimsy excuse, every hollow promise you’ve ever made.

And still.

The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.

~~~

INT. CRYSTAL’S MIAMI APARTMENT – NIGHT

[The room is dim, shadows pooling in corners. The ceiling fan spins lazily, moving little of the heavy Miami heat. City sounds drift faintly through cracked open windows. Outside, reggaetón thumps from a passing car mixing with city horns and voices in Spanish drifting up from the street. Crystal and Mercedes sit across from each other, quiet except for the faint hum of the city outside. Mercedes holds up ten fingers, breaking a quiet tension with the start of a game.]

MERCEDES
Never have I ever lied about why I was late to a gig.

[Crystal lowers a finger, her smile twitching, almost forced.]

CRYSTAL
More times than I’m proud of. Your turn.

[Mercedes pauses, eyes distant but resolute.]

MERCEDES
Never have I ever felt like I’m losing control of my life.

[Crystal’s fingers drop slowly, a shadow passing over her face.]

CRYSTAL
Yeah. More than I want to admit.

[They lean in, the playfulness fading into something heavier.]

CRYSTAL
Mercedes... I don’t know how much longer I can do this.

MERCEDES
Do what? Live with my flawless taste in snacks?

CRYSTAL
Keep it all together. You, everything else, my marriage. It’s like juggling fire, but the fire is jealous and keeps texting me in all caps.

[Mercedes raises her brows like she’s just discovered a new workout fad.]

MERCEDES
Wait-wait-wait. Seleana thinks you’re choosing me? That’s adorable. Nobody’s chosen me for anything since eighth grade kickball.

CRYSTAL
Pretty sure they were still talking about it at the reunion.

[Mercedes gasps, points at her; Crystal smirks smugly.]

MERCEDES
Oh great, I finally win something—Most Distracting Best Friend.

CRYSTAL
Congrats. Your acceptance speech should be under two minutes, unlike your karaoke.

[Mercedes clutches her chest dramatically.]

MERCEDES:
Is my trophy just Seleana glaring at me?

CRYSTAL
Don’t worry, it comes with unlimited awkward silences too.

CRYSTAL
It’s not funny. She’s serious. She says I’m putting you first. And honestly… she might be right.

[Mercedes reaches out, steadying Crystal’s shaking hand.]

MERCEDES
Listen. You don’t have to choose. Hell, no one should make you. But if you don’t start scheduling your life like a Google calendar on steroids, you’re gonna combust like microwave spaghetti. Ugly. Everywhere.

CRYSTAL
I’m scared I’ll lose it all… the marriage, the friendship, maybe even my pizza delivery discounts.

MERCEDES
Then we make a plan. Easy. Step one: no more dramatic confessions during Never Have I Ever. Step two: therapy. Step three: pretend therapy worked… while using double coupons.

[The laughter dies quick, hanging in the air like smoke after a pyro pop. Crystal wipes at her eyes, embarrassed she cracked. Mercedes leans back, arms folded, her smirk faded into something heavier. Neither talks right away. The city hum drifts through the cracked window, restless and low.]

CRYSTAL
I keep waiting for… something to break. Maybe it’s me. Maybe it’s everything. With all the history and glamour, I’ve attracted plenty of haters. Just as many fans who want to see me win also love to see me fail.

[Mercedes studies her, voice calm but firm.]

MERCEDES
You’re tougher than you think. But tough don’t mean unbreakable. You keep running both sides of the card—friendship, marriage—you’ll snap.

[Crystal looks up, defensive. Mercedes sees it, pushes.]

MERCEDES
Pick a lane, Crystal. Either with her… or with yourself. But you can’t keep pretending you can play it both ways.

[Crystal closes her eyes, rubs at her temples, like the weight is pressing. She looks at Mercedes, voice raw.]

CRYSTAL
You think I don’t already know that? You think I don’t see it slipping through my fingers every damn day? I’m losing her, Mercy. And if I lose her, if I lose this… us… then what the hell am I even holding onto?

[The words land hard. Mercedes sits back, quiet, absorbing them. For once, she doesn’t quip. She nods slow, like taking the hit and deciding whether to sell it or fight back.]

MERCEDES
So let me get this straight—you’re spinning out ‘cause you might lose your marriage… while the company’s selling tickets to watch you try and kick each other’s faces in a mud pit?

[Crystal lets out a bitter laugh, but it’s hollow. She wipes at her eyes, smearing eyeliner.]

CRYSTAL
Story of my life, right? The fight’s always real whether I want it to be or not. Out there it’s mud and cameras. In here it’s my home. And somehow, both feel like I’m drowning.

MERCEDES
Then you fight for it. Both of them. Own your mistakes. Admit you’re stretched thin. But don’t let it all burn down just because you’re scared to say the truth to her face.

[Crystal looks at her. The silence stretches. She breathes unsteady, caught between anger and despair.]

CRYSTAL
What if she asks me to cut you out?

[Mercedes stiffens. Her jaw tightens, eyes cold, her voice dropping low. Her voice is quiet, but dangerous with truth.]

MERCEDES
Then you’ll know if you’ve been fighting for her… or just fighting not to lose.

[The words hang heavy. Crystal’s face hardens through her tears. Mercedes leans back in her chair, arms crossed. A siren wails outside before fading. Crystal turns to the dark window, her reflection staring back. The weight of what’s been said lingers like a tolling bell.]

END.

~~~

Present Day ♦ M I A M I • F L O R I D A

[REC•]

[The camera fades in from black to the warm glow of the Miami sun. We see the glistening coastline of South Beach dotted with luxury umbrellas, bronzed sunbathers, yachts anchored close by, and the distinct hum of seagulls cutting across the beachside chatter. The waves crash gently at the shoreline, and with the radiant backdrop, the scene slowly shifts as the camera tilts down toward Mercedes Vargas, who stands alone in front of the surf.

Dressed purposefully in a pristine white sundress with gold accents—deliberate, elegant, and calculated. Oversized designer sunglasses sit perfectly across her face, one corner tilted slightly in the way only someone comfortable with status can pull off. A Louis Vuitton tote is slung across one arm, but what stands out most is the gleam of the Bombshell Internet Championship draped proudly over her shoulder.

She smirks, staring directly into the camera, with that calm, unflappable confidence—a confidence that doesn’t need yelling to get the point across.

She removes her sunglasses just enough to peer with calculated precision into the lens. Her body language oozes control.

For a moment, she doesn’t speak. The distant soundscape of waves and chatter lingers. She lets the audience wait—because with Mercedes Vargas, silence is not emptiness but punctuation.

Only then does she start.]

"You know… South Beach has a way of humbling people.

Think about it… tourists come here every day believing that this—this glitz, this glamour, these million-dollar yachts and high-rise condos—belongs to them. They walk along Ocean Drive in their cheap flip-flops, mouth open in awe, pretending like they’re part of it all. But the thing is… South Beach belongs to the elite. To those who have earned their way here. The few who actually belong at the top.

"I guess in a way, it’s not too different from Sin City Wrestling, is it? Everyone wants to play at the top of the mountain, wants to act like they’ve made it, wants to claim they’ve ‘earned’ it… without realizing that longevity matters. Legacy matters. Position matters. And not everyone gets to sit at this table.”

[She gestures subtly to her right where a waiter in a vest and bowtie approaches, carrying the Bombshell Internet Championship on a silver tray. He bows politely before presenting it to Mercedes, never more than a background character. Mercedes takes the title with casual grace, sliding it off the tray and holding it in both hands, letting the gold glisten under the Miami sun. Tilting it slightly toward the camera, she almost teases the audience with the reminder of what’s truly at stake.]

“As I stand here in South Beach, ahead of Violent Conduct, I hear people trying to convince themselves of their greatness. Trying to sell the world on why they are the one, why they deserve this, why they’ve been built for this. The speeches, the fiery passion, the declarations of destiny…

"Kate Steele, that’s you I’m talking about.”

[A pause. She slips her sunglasses slowly down to the tip of her nose and peers over them at the camera.]

"You’re welcome, by the way. I should probably congratulate you on finally getting noticed again. You’ve spent so long burning your bridges, bouncing between allegiances, trying to remind people that you’re still relevant—that now someone has finally handed you what you begged for.

"Merry Christmas, right? You said it yourself. Christmas came early, no thanks to jolly Saint Evelyn. Unfortunately for you, Kateykins? You never learned how to handle gifts. Every time the company handed you momentum, you squandered it. Every time you were given legacy, you poisoned it. You’re out here talking about how you deserve this, how you should’ve been in the world title picture, how you’re above where you are—yet here you are… begging to be Bombshell Internet Champion again. The audacity.”

[Mercedes smirks, turning slightly toward the water as a group of tourists point in her direction, some trying to sneak pictures of her. She doesn’t object, she doesn’t even turn—it’s expected. She waves them off as if to say: “Keep watching, you’re not worth my time.”]

“You painted a picture of history, Kate. How the title meant something when you held it, when Myra Rivers held it, when this division was pure and proud and respected. You rant about how the title turned into a hot potato, how the division collapsed. I find it so funny—you talk like the historian you wish you were… but unlike me, you cherry-pick.

"See, darling, I was there. I lived it. This division, this company—SCW—it doesn’t make champions. It exposes them. Always has, always will. And the truth is, people like you? You’ve been exposed one too many times already.”

[She straightens her stance, slipping her sunglasses back up and reclaiming her champagne glass, holding it delicately between her fingers. With her left arm, she rests on the table in that relaxed, you-can’t-rush-me energy.]

“You want everyone to believe that you’ve been overlooked, that you’re the phoenix rising from the ashes, that you’re some diamond about to shine again. Cute branding, I’ll give you that. But let me let you in on something, Kate. Diamonds don’t shine again. They either shine… or they never did in the first place.

"And sweetheart, you can keep telling everybody that this is the moment where people notice you again, that this is how you get back on the road to relevancy.

"But me? I don’t need to get back anywhere. I never left the conversation. The difference between you and I is so simple: you need this one moment to make yourself relevant. Me? My career? My legacy? It’s already cemented. I am relevance. When they mention SCW, Mercedes Vargas is in that conversation whether I’m holding a title or not.”

[Mercedes pauses to get her thoughts together before addressing the camera directly again.]

“And then there’s Lilith. Poor Lilith. Suddenly, she finds herself in the middle of this chaos—desperate to prove she’s not just another footnote, desperate to matter again. You talk up how you’ll take back what’s yours, Lilith, but let’s not pretend here. You rode the wave, you got a moment under the spotlight, and like the tide it moved back out to sea. That’s what fleeting reigns do. You already know how temporary that was because you felt it. And trust me… you’re about to feel it again.”

[Mercedes steps forward toward the lens, standing so close now that the reflection of the waves shimmer in her sunglasses. Still calm, still precise.]

“You see, unlike either of you, I don’t hide. I don’t mask my reality with overblown speeches about destiny, phoenixes, diamonds, promises, or five-second fame.

"You call my reigns ‘bullshit,’ Kate? Let’s be honest—it’s projection. Blaming Crystal. Accusing me of not standing on my own. Interesting. Here’s the problem with that little theory: results.

"Crystal or not, alliances or not, the fact remains—I’m sitting here as a three-time Bombshell Internet Champion. And yes, numbers matter. Longevity matters. History matters. Wins matter. All the things you call irrelevant, Kate, only because they don’t belong to you. Because when you look in the mirror, you see the bitter truth—that you’ve been clawing for respect I already have.”

[Mercedes pats the center plate of the championship before letting it dangle at her side as she strolls closer to the crashing surf. She takes a step back, composing herself, and glances out toward the rows of luxury yachts.]

“South Beach. The perfect metaphor. Everybody wants to pretend they belong. They rent fancy cars for a day, post selfies by hotels they can’t afford, and play dress-up. Yet at the end of it all, the tourists go home, and the elite remain.

"That’s the match at Violent Conduct. Lilith? She’ll go back chasing a claim that won’t materialize. Kate? She’ll go back ranting about how the world owes her recognition, how people don’t appreciate her, how she’s destined for Hall of Fame while never quite stepping into it.

"And me? Well… I’ll go exactly where I’ve always been. The one woman you can’t erase. The name you can’t stop uttering even when you claim to hate it. The constant. The history maker. The benchmark.

"The champion.”

[She saunters toward the camera, the sound of her heels crunching softly into the sand. When she gets close, she lowers her voice into that crisp, deliberate whisper that forces the audience to hang onto every syllable.]

“So, by all means—do your rebel speeches, fire off your insults, pretend like you’re built for this moment. Sell yourself like you’ve always done. Because Sunday, when this Falls Count Anywhere match ends, there will only be one truth left on everyone’s lips.

*It’s not phoenixes. It’s not diamonds. It’s not fairy tales.

"It’s Mercedes Vargas.

"And still.”

[She raises a champagne glass in a toast toward the camera, smirks, then downs the drink in one polished motion.]

"Prepare for the worst, hope for the best. And may the odds be ever in your favor."

[The screen fades to black on the beach shore as the last light of the sun slips beneath the horizon, leaving only the gentle roar of the waves.]

[***Fade***]