Momento de claridad XX: deja vú una y otra vez/Moment of Clarity XX: Déjà vu All Over Again
5 de augusto de 2016 ♦ ABOARD THE SUN PRINCESS CRUISE SHIP
[Nothing else needed to be said. The look on her face told the story. Mercedes Vargas sits in her cabin, on the Dolphin deck of the Sun Princess, between packing up her suitcase and going through the painful ordeal of another supercard loss. Earlier, she grabbed a bite to eat at Regency Restaurant – the main dining room of the Emerald deck below and located at the back of the ship and splurged on jewelry, watches, and gifts at Reflections, the gift shop on the deck. But neither morsel or materialistic possessions could fill the empty void of another disappointing cruise.]
“It's going to take a couple of weeks to get over it. I don't know what else to tell you.”
[Summer XXXtreme had come and gone and for the third time at the supercard, Vargas walked into a title match but had nothing to show for it. Then again, like her debut match at the supercard three years ago, this was a multi-person match, so her chances of winning wasn't guaranteed. Still, the loss stung. Jessie Salco pinning her didn't brighten her mood.]
“I wouldn't be surprised if Jess is telling everyone that would listen that's she's had my number lately. For some reason, I can't shake her and it's frustrating. This whole year has been frustrating.”
[2016 has been the case for the Grand Slam Champion. In 13 matches, she's just won four, with her last win coming at Climax Control 148 – the night of her controversial World Bombshell Championship win. She's gone 0-3-1 since that win. With Summer XXXtreme being her fourth consecutive championship match at a supercard and her third loss in a row, there could be a chance that her title match days are long behind her.]
“I don't want to hog the spotlight from other people getting title opportunities, but let's face it: I'm in a free fall right now. I'm not going to bury my head in the sand and say that's it's okay. It's not.”
[Still fixing her suitcase, the Argentine turns to throw in the last article of clothing from the cruise, Panama hats. Being that it was summer, the weather in Nevada was mostly unbearable, with tempetures hitting the triple digits on most days. The conversation turned to Crystal Millar, who submitted Samantha Marlowe to win the match and retain the title.]
“No one picked her to win and she went out there and proved the critics wrong. Am I surprised that she won? I am. I'm not going to lie. Tommy Knocks had her winning the match, the fans had either her or Mikah winning, but in a match like that walking out and retaining has to be due to a degree of luck. Not that luck helps in winning a title. Crystal won't let us hear the end of it at the next Climax Control. Mark my words.”
[Consider them marked. So, what's next for Vargas when SCW returns to the States for the next cycle of shows leading up towards the next supercard? She shrugs with a defeated “I don't know.”]
“I guess we'll see what happens. For now, I've got to figure out a way to get our of the mess I'm in right now. That's what I need to focus on right now.”
~ ~ ~
Blog: Una serie de eventos desafortunado the 22nd: Causa y efecto IV: saltar al vacío/A Series of Unfortunate Events the 22nd: Cause & Effect IV: Freefalling
]semana del 31 de julio del 6 de augusto de 2 0 1 6
It's mid-August and most people are looking to the final dog days of summer.
I'll go ahead and raise my hand. Why? Why not? It's been a cruel summer for me and I'm just ready to turn the page and get back to winning again. As it stands right now, I can't buy a win if my life depended on it, even if it was promised as a surprise in a box of Cracker Jacks. Summer XXXtreme was supposed to be the night where I redeemed myself after Crystal interfered and “giftwrapped” a title win I didn't feel comfortable with. It was supposed to be the night where I had an opportunity to a match with Crystal and end her reign myself if it came to that. It was supposed to be the night where I made history just like Samantha did and become the third two-time World Bombshell Champion. Well, none of that happened.
And now Jessie Salco can gloat about pinning me again and making the final three in the match. Crystal can gloat about overcoming the odds and once again beating Sam Marlowe when it mattered most. The world can point fingers at me and claim that I never stood a chance because I was too focused on the Internet Championship and using that as an excuse on why I was eliminated early in the main event. And while I would love to do just that, that's not how I'm wired. I don't make excuses. What happened happened but I know that I came into Summer XXXtreme ready and focused for that match. It's no secret that the World Bombshell Championship has been my white whale since I came to SCW, but I'm not going to go on Twitter and demand another title shot like some people, because I'm better than that. My time will come again and I'll earn another opportunity, just like I've earned every title opportunity since day one.
For now, I'm going tot pick myself up from off the ground, dust myself off and get ready for my next match.
They say that things can only get worse before they get better, right? Labor Day is typically the end of summer.
I've already reached my summer of discontent.
~ ~ ~
Momento de claridad XXI/Moment of Clarity XXI
10 de augusto de 2016 ♦ LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
“Do you ever think you should just stop doing this?"
“Doing what?”
[[Carmen and I are in her police cruiser while she's on duty. Any other day, this ride-along would have been silent, save for the radio playing. Today, she was in one of her talkative moods.]]
Carmen: Your wrestling career.
Mercedes: No, not really. I happen to enjoy my work. The pay is good, the travel is paid for, and I get to beat people up for a living. What more can you ask for?
Carmen: Better heath benefits, for one. How many times have you been concussed or injured in your career again?
[Mercedes raises an eyebrow.]
Mercedes: What are you, my doctor?
Carmen: Just keep an open mind, alright. All I'm saying.
Mercedes: I'll think about it. Happy?
Carmen: How was the cruise?
Mercedes: Five words or less: about as what you expect.
[[I stare out the window. As crappy as I've been feeling since the supercard, I didn't feel like giving details of what happened. I stare at the Downtown Los Angeles sign ahead. This isn't the way home.]]
Mercedes: Where are we going? Aren't you usually slaving away at desk duty? Did you get out today for good behavior?
Carmen: I've got to pick up my partner. We're not too far away. Sit tight.
[[After twenty minutes, we stop in front of a Chinese place in Koreatown. Carmen's partner is carrying takeout. He looks in and he passes the box to her. I read the nametag. Landry. Carmen's partner gives her a smile.]]
Officer Landry: What took you so long? Food was getting cold.
Carmen: Maybe I should get out a disclaimer that I'll get to you as fast as traffic allows? I'm here, aren't I? Stop complaining. Damn.
Officer Landry: I didn't know you had family. What gives?
Carmen: Oh, I don't know her.
[[Her partner gives her a look.]]
Officer Landry: Now, Carmen Reyes, what did I tell you about picking up hitchhikers? If I told you once, I told you a thousand times: Hitchhikers are trouble.
[[ He extends his hand out to me.]]
Officer Landry: I'm Malcolm.
[[He noticed that I didn't shake his hand.]]
Mercedes: My mother told me never to talk to strangers.
[[Carmen exchange looks with Kyle, who mouths wow. What was I supposed to say?]]
♦ ♦ ♦
[[Carmen and Malcolm sit in the front; I'm in the back. The car goes over the winding Hollywood Freeway. Echo Park is far below. The ride-along starts out pretty boring and uneventful. I learned on the way about Malcolm and his career with the bureau. Four years on the force following acting school. A string of other details that I tuned out or maybe he'd didn't want to share. Carmen and Malcolm move on to police stuff and using the lingo as if I'm eavesdropping on them. I''m beginning to think that I should have gone back home on the bus when I had the chance. Malcolm looks back at me through the rearview.]]
Malcolm: What do you do for a living?
Mercedes: I'm a wrestler.
[[I thought I saw him raise an eyebrow. Was he expecting waitress, secretary, working in adult entertainer? Anyway, I've learned to accept that look from people I meet. And we're still talking about equal pay in the workplace? Some things never change.]]
Malcolm: How long have you've been wrestling?
Mercedes: Seven years.
Malcolm: You any good?
Mercedes: Won more matches than I've lost, a few championship here and there.
[[I didn't really want to brag because, really, that would take all day and I wanted to go home. The only problem with that is I never even had the chance. Carmen turned up the radio as the dispatcher came on. A crime was happening in their beat. Carmen turned to Malcolm.]]
Carmen: Where's Alcove Avenue?
Malcolm: Half a mile.
[[Carmen lifts her radio.]]
Carmen: This is 1254. I'm on my way.
[[A female voice crackle back with a 10-4. Things were about to pick up. The Lo Mein I ate along the ride included.]]
Mercedes: This isn't going to be another shootout, is it?
Carmen: Maaaaybe.
[[The color left my face. The last ride-along was really a shootout. I don't think I got over that one, especially since it was on the night of the Super Bowl. Malcolm took interest in my fear.]]
Malcolm: You like shootouts? You haven't lived until you've been in one of those.
Carmen: Don't even joke like that, Mal. Can't you see you're scaring her? Have you no decency?
[[Ninety minutes later we see a crowd gathered around a building. We look up and see that someone is standing on the ledge, looking to jump. Carmen and Malcolm hear a police officer close to them mention that the person is about to commit suicide. He also mentions the person’s name.]]
Carmen: Irma Perez?
Malcolm: Yeah, I think that was her name.
Mercedes: Irma Perez? I know her! We've got to help her!
♦ ♦ ♦
[[When we got to the fire escape, Carmen held back her partner and told him to stay put. Carmen and I cautiously approached Irma. I call out to her and she looked at us in amazement.]]
Carmen: Miss Perez. We're here to help you. Please, honey, come on back from the ledge. Everything will be alright.
Mercedes: You don't want to do this, Irma!
Irma: There's nothing to live for.
[[I get a little closer in an attempt to talk her down.]]
Mercedes: Irma, there's always something to live for. What happened?
Irma: I got fired from the movie studio. It's been a few months now since I've been out of work and...Why should you care? You're the spokesmodel for L'Oreal! Do you know how many people want to be where you are?
Mercedes: Walk a mile in my shoes. You know I'm a professional wrestler, Irma. L'Oreal would have found a better rep for their company than me. I can barely remember my lines. If you take your life, you'll taking a foolish gamble. Where's Tomas and Hugo?
Irma: They took his side and they moved the studio to England.
Mercedes: How do you feel about a change of scenery?
Irma: Like what?
[[Irma seemed to becoming around. I put a warm hand on her shoulder and talk her back to the ledge. Carmen radios the police down below and the crowd are relieved that nothing happened. A news reporter talks with Carmen while Irma is being comforted by her family. I stood back and just waited by the cruiser. I wanted this night to end. I'll living with this memory for the rest of my life. ]]
[Fade.]
~ ~ ~
Blog: Una serie de eventos desafortunado the 23rd: Tres Gracia de Días/A Series of Unfortunate Events the 23rd: Three Days Grace
semana del 14 al 21 de augusto de 2 0 1 6
Most of the time, I like to start my promos slow. I introduce myself to my opponent. Sometimes I offer a little interesting fact about them or a little history lesson that can be hit or miss. But I don't think I'll need to do that with you, right, Melody Grace? I mean, this weekend may be our first singles match against each other, but we've met before. Both tag matches, both times you've won, though the last time you actually pinned me so I'm not going to have an easy time Sunday.
You've been on a roll since you came back and over the last couple of months you've proven people wrong again and again. Now that you're holding championship gold, you've become unstoppable. So why aren't you getting the respect you deserve?
Or as Zelda Clark puts it in her latest blog post: “The Bombshell Internet Championship: Where's the Love?”
Is it because of the title or the one holding it? You took it as an insult that everyone focused on the World Bombshell Championship while no one came to your doorstep. When no one else showed interest, I raised my hand and what did you do, Melody? You laughed off my challenge. Now you just hurt my feelings. I heard what you had to say and, to be honest, I'm glad you answered my challenge right away. And maybe because you know how this is going to end. I thought you would at least welcome a challenge for once. With all due respect to Amy, as good as she is, she didn't provide enough of a challenge in the two times you defended the belt. Maybe you think that like her that I never earned this title match. Zelda seems to think so, but what she seems to forget is that I never got a rematch after I lost to Jessie Salco, who you beat for the title, but that neither here or there. I't's not so much that I want to add a second title reign or getting a return match or ending your singles unbeaten streak why I challenged you for the title. I'm doing this because I like a good challenge. And because somebody has to give you a reality check, Melody. I think I'm the one to do that. I KNOW, I'm the one to do that.
You talked about being cursed? Oh, no, you're not cursed. There isn't a dark cloud hanging over your head. You don't have a case of bad luck. It's quite the opposite. No, Melody, you have it too good. You're 22., you're part of a power couple, or even a golden couple, and Mark Ward signed you to a new contract – OK, maybe he used blackmail to get you sign on the dotted line, but still. And you've got your fans and Odette and Despayre and Gabriel as your besties. Sounds like a charmed life to me.
But that charmed life can't last forever.
Sunday, Melody, you wished for somebody, anybody, to provide you a challenge and the deal breaker here is SCW booked the match. Only, you should know better than to be careful what you wish for. Now you signed your deathwish, and I'm going to grant it.
I will see you in Calgary.
