The scene opens inside a locker room, at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, on Sunday 20th July, during Into The Void III. As Rage and TJ Codair are in the ring, doing battle in a contest that will see them fight all over the building, sat on a bench in the locker room, away from all of the drama, is Simon Jones, who is unwinding, having already competed - successfully - earlier in the evening, in what was his final match in SCW. In the locker room with Simon, stood opposite him, is the latest addition to the SCW roster, Natalie McKinley, who is feeling elated, for two reasons: firstly, at having been given a contract with SCW; and secondly, at having been accepted into the New XTremes, by Spike Staggs.
Having showered and changed, following his match, Simon is wearing a pair of black trousers and a purple button-up shirt; Natalie is wearing a pair of pale blue jeans and a white sleeveless t-shirt, while her long hair is being worn loose.
Simon directs a comment towards Natalie, who continues to shun the locker room benches, in favour of standing.
Simon: 'You are allowed to sit down, you know - if you want to.'
Natalie's current mood is easily apparent from the broad smile on her face; she gives a slight shake of her head, as she responds to Simon.
Natalie: 'I'm too excited to sit down; I'm still struggling to believe that this is all actually happening - part of me is worried that I'm going to wake up, and discover it was all a dream.'
A smile of his own creeps across Simon's face, cheerful at the obvious happiness of the woman in front of him. However, Simon then frowns, as he recalls something.
Simon: 'Didn't you say to me a few minutes ago, that when I told you two weeks ago that you should be here for this show, you hoped that you weren't coming here just to watch my final match in SCW?'
Natalie now nods her head.
Natalie: 'Yes, I did say that. And I meant it: I hoped that the reason you told me to be here, was because you were making good progress in your efforts to secure me a spot on the roster. But to hope that something is going to happen is one thing - to then get here, and be told that I'm being given the opportunity I have longed for, is something else altogether.'
Natalie let's out a sigh of satisfaction.
Natalie: 'It feels terrific, to become a part of SCW - this is what I've been waiting for; I can't remember the last time that I felt this happy.'
Simon: 'How about last April, when Cardiff won promotion?'
Natalie laughs slightly, as she shakes her head at Simon's suggestion.
Natalie: 'That was great - but not on a par with this.'
Simon: 'Well, in all seriousness, Natalie, I'm pleased that this has come to fruition for you.'
Natalie: 'Thanks, Simon; I'm not sure if I can properly express my gratitude for what you have done for me.'
Simon holds up his right hand, in acknowledgement of the recognition given to him by Natalie.
Simon: 'I told you that I would try to help you to get a break in this sport, somewhere - and that's what I did; to see how happy it has made you, well, that's all of the thanks that I need.'
Natalie: 'Yeah, but you didn't have to help me: when I asked you for your assistance, you could just as easily have said no - that definitely would have been the simpler option for you.'
Simon shrugs his shoulders.
Simon: 'Perhaps. But perhaps Spike Staggs isn't the only one that has trouble turning away from a good thing; when you first told me of your aspirations to become a professional wrestler, you spoke with such enthusiasm, that you made me feel obligated to help you.'
Natalie: 'I just hope that, now I've gotten the chance I wanted, I don't let either you or Spike down.'
Simon: 'I don't think there's any danger of that happening - I know that you will do everything you can, to try to give yourself the best possible chance of being successful.'
Simon glances off to one side for a moment; he then looks back to Natalie.
Simon: 'So, are you looking forward to handing in your notice at the gym, when you get back to Cardiff?'
Natalie: 'I won't be going back to Cardiff.'
A look of surprise crosses Simon's face - an expression that is matched by the tone of his voice.
Simon: 'You what? What do you mean, you won't be going back to Cardiff?'
Natalie: 'I mean that there isn't any need for me to go back there; I handed in my notice a couple of weeks ago - yesterday was my last day working at the gym.'
Still surprised at what he is hearing, Simon gets up from the bench, so that he can stand face-to-face with Natalie.
Simon: 'Let me get this straight: you quit your job as a personal trainer, before you were even assured of a job with SCW.'
Natalie responds with a nod.
Natalie: 'I was already confident that you would manage to convince the people that matter to offer me a contract - but once I found out that Spike Staggs had given me his backing as well, well, then I thought it was a done deal.'
Simon: 'I suppose I should appreciate your confidence in me. That was a bold decision you made - but it also could have turned out to be a reckless one.'
Natalie lowers her gaze, as she looks away from Simon.
Natalie: 'I know, but, like I said, with you and Spike fighting my cause, I was confident that a job offer from SCW would be forthcoming.'
Natalie quickly glances around the locker room, before returning her attention to Simon.
Natalie: 'I didn't want to come here tonight, sign my contract, get a taste of what it's like to be a part of SCW, only to then have to go back home to work out my notice at the gym, leaving me forced me into a longer wait, before being able to embark upon my new career. So that's why I quit my job a couple of weeks ago: in two weeks' time, I want to be in here, ready to make my debut on the next episode of Climax Control, and not elsewhere, having to wait another a week or two, while SCW goes on without me.'
Simon: 'I can understand that - I'm just glad it didn't backfire on you.'
Natalie: 'You and me both.'
Simon retakes his seat on the bench; Natalie continues to stand.
Simon: 'So, I guess I know what you'll be doing tomorrow, then - other than going to the gym, I mean.'
Natalie raises an eyebrow, in curiosity.
Natalie: 'What's that?'
Simon: 'Looking for somewhere in Vegas for you to live.'
Natalie: 'Yeah, I suppose you're right; I don't want to have to stay in a hotel any longer than is necessary - I want to find somewhere in this city that I can call home.'
Natalie then smirks.
Natalie: 'And how do you know that I'll go to the gym tomorrow? I might not.'
Simon scoffs at the thought.
Simon: 'Yeah, right; in Cardiff, you practically lived at the gym. And today, so that you could fly out here, you've actually had to go through a whole day without once setting foot in a gym - I can't imagine you going two days without doing any weight training.'
Natalie: 'Okay, that's true.'
Natalie sighs, in a reluctant manner.
Natalie: 'And in fact, I do kind of feeling like going to the gym now.'
Simon: 'As if to prove my point.'
Natalie: 'I don't mean it like that - I am okay with having to go a day without visiting a gym - it's just that, thanks to all of this excitement, I've built up a load of nervous energy, and I need to do something to work it off.'
Simon laughs.
Simon: 'I was just teasing you; you know that I admire how hard you work, and how much effort that you put into not just your training, but anything that you do - it's factors like that, which leave me in no doubt that you have what it takes to be successful as a wrestler.
Natalie nods her head, and then sighs again.
Natalie: 'I almost wish that I could have my debut be tomorrow, rather than in two weeks from now.'
Simon: 'Well, look at this way: that's two weeks for you to train at Staggs Dungeon, to make sure that when the time comes for you to step into the six-sided ring, on Climax Control, you're ready for your opponent, and the challenges that they will pose.'
Natalie finally allows herself to relax, as she takes a seat on the bench, alongside Simon, releasing some of the tension from her body.
Natalie: 'I'm intrigued as to who is going to be my opponent for my first ever match; I wonder who it will be.'
Simon shrugs his shoulders.
Simon: 'There's no way to predict that - but in seven days from now, you'll find out. And then, in a further seven days' time, you'll get to put into practice the things that you will pick up from Spike, as well of course as finally getting to make use of everything that you have already learned, from all of your training up to this point - including the bits of advice that I've given to you.'
Simon leans forward, rubbing his chin.
Simon: 'Although there's one of piece of advice that I gave to you - which I know you took on board - that will be of use to you before you even arrive at the venue for Climax Control.'
Natalie looks at Simon with confusion etched on her face.
Natalie: 'Which piece of advice?'
We leave Natalie and Simon, sat inside the locker room at the Gold Coast Hotel and Casino, and switch to a scene from earlier this year, as we go inside Coffee#1, in Cardiff, on Monday 21st April - the day on which Natalie McKinley and Simon Jones became acquainted.
The gym where Natalie worked prior to joining SCW - and where she first met Simon - is around two hundred yards away from Coffee#1. The events of that first meeting between the two will be revealed at a later time, but for now, we are just going to observe part of the subsequent conversation that they had, during which Natalie discussed with Simon, her aspirations to become a professional wrestler.
Natalie is wearing a pair of black trousers and a white polo shirt - the uniform of the gym that she was employed by - and has her hair tied back in a ponytail; Simon is wearing a pair of navy blue tracksuit bottoms and a grey t-shirt. The pair are sat opposite one another, at a small table; both of them have almost-empty mugs - containing the remnants of indiscernible drinks - in front of them, on the table.
As the conversation continues, Simon asks Natalie a question.
Simon: 'Do you think that you would be comfortable competing in front of an audience? I mean, you saw the size of the crowd at the Big Blue Tent; the number of fans there last night was similar to the attendances for SCW shows - how do you think you would cope with having all of your matches be staged in front of that many people?'
Natalie sighs, before replying.
Natalie: 'Although I don't suffer from social anxiety, I can't claim to have any past experience of having performed in front of anything like a crowd of that size. But, if you want to be a professional wrestler - or for that matter, a professional athlete in any sport - then I guess it's something that comes with the territory. And I do want to be a professional wrestler. So, while it may feel alien at first, I believe I'll soon get used to it, and that in time, the presence of the fans will be a help to me, rather than a hindrance.'
Simon nods his head, satisfied with Natalie's response.
Simon: 'Okay, good. Because it's no good me getting you a place on a promotion's roster - whether in SCW, or elsewhere - if you're then going to have an attack of stage fright, when it's time for your debut; I don't want you to go out to the ring, and then be like a deer caught in the headlights.'
Natalie: 'Don't worry, Simon - I can assure you that won't happen.'
Simon: 'Alright, well, on a not completely unrelated topic, how are you with public speaking?'
Natalie shrugs her shoulders.
Natalie: 'Again, it's not really something that I have any experience of; at the gym, all of my work with my trainees is normally done one-on-one - I'm not an instructor that takes classes, so I don't usually have to speak in front of a group of people.'
Simon: 'Well, at the shows, you won't need to speak in front of the fans as often as you'll need to perform in front of them. However, you will need to be comfortable being interviewed - should you be asked to do an interview. If you do have to do an interview, while there may only be a handful of people there in the room, there will also be a camera there, recording the interview for a countless number of people to see - which is a bit different to talking privately with someone in the gym, not having to worry about anybody else hearing what you say. And even just doing a piece to camera, on your own - which the majority of wrestlers do in advance of their matches - when you can go at your own pace, will still probably be unlike anything that you've done previously.'
Natalie: 'The only interviews that I've ever had to do are job interviews - not quite the same. And the few occasions that I have appeared on camera, have been when I've been a spectator at sporting events; is there anything you can suggest, that I could do to better prepare myself to be able to talk about my matches?'
Simon pauses for a moment to ponder Natalie's question, before he answers.
Simon: 'Maybe it would help if you took some acting classes. I know there's the obvious difference, that actors say lines that have been pre-prepared for them - unless they throw in an ad-lib - whereas if you do an interview, or speak about a match, then whatever you say will be spontaneous. But still, taking acting classes should help improve your skills as an orator, and make you more confident about speaking in public.'
Natalie nods her head, acknowledging Simon's advice.
Natalie: 'Okay, Simon, I'll look into that; thanks.'
And that is where we will leave that particular conversation between Natalie and Simon - we will pick up the conversation again at a later date, but for now, we are fast forwarding to the present day, as the scene switches to show a Las Vegas landmark: the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign. After focusing on the sign for just a moment, the camera zooms out, and into view - stood beneath the sign, leaning against one of the poles on which it is mounted - comes Natalie McKinley. Natalie is wearing a pair of black leggings and a green crop top; she is also wearing a navy blue headband, with her hair loose.
Natalie stands up straight, looks to the camera, and begins to speak.
Natalie: 'So, my debut in SCW is almost upon me - and not just my first match in SCW, but also my first match in any wrestling promotion, anywhere. It feels like I've been waiting an eternity for this chance - the chance to set foot in a ring, to have a competitive match, and to show what I can do. But the wait is nearly over, now - only three more days to go, and then it's showtime.'
Natalie takes a step forward.
Natalie: 'And with the match this coming Sunday being the first match of my career, it means that this is also the first time that I have had to anything like this.'
Natalie gestures towards the camera with both of her hands, trying to indicate her unfamiliarity with the scenario that she now finds herself in.
Natalie: 'It's only been eleven days since I arrived in Vegas, so I don't yet know that many places here - I'm still finding my way around the city. So at the risk of looking like a stereotypical tourist, I've chosen to record this with a Las Vegas landmark in the background.'
Natalie turns to look over her left shoulder, and up at the sign.
Natalie: 'Oh well, I'm sure there are worse places that I could have picked.'
Natalie then turns back to look at the camera.
Natalie: 'My match this Sunday will see me up against another bombshell making her debut in SCW, in La Paloma. I've seen the match be referred to as a David versus Goliath battle, presumably because of the difference in size between myself and La Paloma - which would mean me playing the role of Goliath. And while it should be safe to assume that I will have an advantage in strength over La Paloma, by referring to me as Goliath, and to her as David, it can be inferred that it would be an upset if I was to lose - when it reality, it is the other way round: if I'm the one that is victorious on Sunday, then it will be a giant-killing.'
Natalie puts her hands on her hips.
Natalie: 'You see, while I am a novice in this sport, La Paloma is very much in the veteran category. La Paloma's biography on the SCW website proudly boasts the she has too many achievements to list them all - whereas I, being a rookie, have of course yet to achieve anything in wrestling; I may be bigger than La Paloma, but as far as the context of David versus Goliath is concerned, if anyone is going to be in the role of David in our match, then it will most certainly be me - I'm undoubtedly the underdog in this contest.'
Natalie then takes her hands off her hips.
Natalie: 'That doesn't mean, though, that I'm expecting to lose on Sunday - never having been involved in a competitive match before, I don't know what to expect the outcome to be, as I still don't fully know quite what I'm capable of in the ring. But regardless of who does win on Sunday, I want to make sure that my performance doesn't disappoint everyone that has helped me get here; hopefully, though, I can surprise some people along the way, and maybe, just maybe, be successful in my debut.'
Natalie tucks a stray strand of her long hair behind her left ear.
Natalie: 'My arrival in SCW prompted some of the other bombshells to comment on my appearance; some of them had positive things to say, while some of them were not so positive - although, overall, the positive comments outnumbered the negative ones. Now, that didn't surprise me - I know that my physique makes me stand out amongst most women, and over the course of the past several years, I've heard what plenty of people think about the way that I look. I'm also used to getting mixed reactions; I once overhead a group of men debate amongst themselves whether I was "hot" or "too manly" - again, opinions were divided, with one of them even simply saying "both."'
Natalie laughs, as she replays the incident in her mind.
Natalie: 'If you follow me on Twitter, then earlier you will have seen two pictures that I tweeted, which show how I used to look, once upon a time. It was in 2007 that I started to fully concentrate on weight training; I had picked up weights before then, but I didn't do anything like the heavy training that I have now been doing for the past seven years. Prior to me beginning to train with weights, I was actually told that if I lost weight, I could have a chance of being a model. However, I didn't like the idea of having a thin body, and so I opted not to pursue that; I suppose that instead, I actually went in the opposite direction, as by building muscle, I would of course end up gaining weight.'
Natalie sighs.
Natalie: 'Whether you like the way that I look, or you don't like the way that I look, I'm really not bothered - all that matters is that I like the way that I look; I've worked hard, to create a body that I'm proud of.'
Having just remembered something else, Natalie smiles, and takes a quick glance towards her feet.
Natalie: 'Oh, and on the subject of things that I've tweeted recently, I'm happy to report that my custom-made boots have now arrived, sparing me from being forced to wrestle barefoot on Sunday.'
Natalie again glances down at her feet, before returning her attention to the camera.
Natalie: 'When I step into the ring on Sunday evening, I'm sure there will be some people hoping that this rookie embarrasses herself - people hoping that I will fall flat on my face...'
There is the briefest of pauses, as Natalie lowers her eyes, towards her...
Natalie: '...or perhaps that should be, fall flat on my chest.'
Natalie looks back up at the camera.
Natalie: 'But I have no intention of letting that happen; I'll be heading to Santa Rosa, aiming to win - and though I may not succeed, it certainly won't be for the want of trying.'
The camera zooms in on Natalie, causing the "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas" sign to disappear from view.
Natalie: 'There's just three more days to go until Climax Control, and my debut in the world of professional wrestling; it's time for the winds of change, to blow through SCW.'
As Natalie looks confidently towards the camera, the scene fades to black.
