Healing: Part 4

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Off Camera

Scene 1

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It’s barely been a month since Fatal Fortunes when Marie Annabelle Jones made her return to Supreme Championship Wrestling.  She returned determined not necessarily to dominate or win championship gold, but to just simply redeem herself.  It was as simple as that.  Jones wanted redemption and to prove that she had changed, that she was different.  And now not only has her quest for redemption come to fruition but she has now achieved the ultimate sign of that redemption; the SCW United States Championship.

More importantly than actually winning the championship to Marie is the fact that she did it on her own.  Her previous time in SCW she had been using dirty tactics and cheap tricks to achieve victory.  She even made use of her identical twin, Kimberly Williams.  The sibling pair loved to pull the old switcheroo on Marie’s opponents, thus turning a one on one match into a virtual handicap match.  But now she’s a changed person.  Now she has proven that she can get the job done on her own.  She won the US Championship and more importantly, she did it without any outside interference from Kimberly Williams or anyone else for that matter.

Jones knows that she will have to defend that United States Championship against Regan Street and Tyler Tucker in a triple threat match at Taking Hold of the Flame.  That will be tough enough as it is, but now the time has come to turn her attention to the Taking Hold of the Flame Battle Royal itself.  Forty superstars, all of whom with one goal in mind; earning a shot at the SCW World Championship at the biggest, grandest pay per view of them all; Rise To Greatness.

She’s tasted world championship before.  Marie recalls rather pleasantly the time she was in the main event of UWA’s first Olympus pay per view where she won the UWA World Championship.  Now she’s here in Supreme Championship Wrestling and she can potentially make an even bigger name for herself.  But the first obstacle in her path will be a big one indeed and that obstacle includes thirty-nine other superstars, all of whom are after that same grand prize.

Marie longs to be a world champion again, thus Taking Hold of the Flame is very important to her, almost as much as being United States Champion is to her, and she will have to defend that title at Taking Hold of the Flame as well.

Yet with all of this going on she still has to deal with her identical twin Kimberly Williams.  Kimberly says she wants to make changes of her own and to her credit she has made those first few steps towards making those changes.  Kimberly has placed herself in the care of a mental institution, under the watchful eye of head psychiatrist Dr. Jennifer Warren.  Kimberly has admitted that she does indeed have problems and she is ready to deal with those problems.

Kimberly merely wants to be accepted by her family.  Unfortunately that is easier said than done.  Kimberly burned a great many bridges in her past.  At one point she was jealous of her twin sister and tried to ruin her life.  She tried many times to destroy Marie and her family but ultimately all of her plans failed.  But one can easily see how Kimberly cannot be trusted by her mother Angelica Jones, her aunt Kayla Jones, or even her half-sister Jessica Jones.  It’s a wonder that Marie, her twin, is willing to give her a chance at redemption.

For Marie giving Kimberly a chance at redemption made sense.  Marie knows that she has needed redemption from time to time.  It would be hypocritical of her not to offer her twin sister that same opportunity.  And she’s willing to give Kimberly that opportunity, she wants Kimberly accepted back into the Jones family...

…but the Jones family isn’t the only family that wants Kimberly back.  Carolyn Williams, the only surviving member of the Williams family outside of Marie and Kimberly.  Carolyn’s brother and Marie and Kim’s biological father, Sean Williams, died a long time ago.  Carolyn is the only one left.  She would love to have Kimberly back in her life to serve as some reminder of her late brother.

Unfortunately, Kimberly wants nothing to do with her father’s family.  Marie knows this but promised to do whatever she could to talk Kimberly into a reunion, but that will be easier said than done.

The face of Marie Annabelle Jones tells the story of a woman who knows that she is about to face a difficult challenge when she speaks with her sister Kimberly, who walks with her down the hall of the dormitory.  Kimberly is oblivious to what is coming up, as a great big grin is on her face.  Kimberly is thrilled to have visitors, even if those visitors tend to only be Marie and Marie’s husband Arthur.

“The place seems empty, Kim…” Marie quips “…where is everyone?”

“Oh here and there,” Kim remarks “mostly in recreation.  They got some kind of Bluegrass band crap coming in to play for us.  I don’t care for that shit, though.  Besides…”

Kimberly pats Marie on the back “…I’d rather be in the company of the SCW United States Champion!”

Despite the awkward situation that is coming up, even Marie cannot help but chuckle at her twin’s rather jovial personality about things.  It’s also good to see Kim keeping up a good attitude, considering that she is at a mental institution after all.  This seems to indicate to Marie that there is hope for her sister.

“Thanks for that, Kim, but I may not be United States Champion for long.”

“Oh don’t be that way,” Kim retorts “you got things well in hand.”

“I defend against Tyler Tucker, a former US Champion, and Regan Street, a former world champion, and it’s a triple threat match in which I do not have to get beaten to lose the title.”

“Those losers?” Kimberly scoffs, seemingly making light of the situation Marie finds herself in. “You got them beat, babe.  Trust me.”

Marie wishes she were as confident as Kimberly is.  Kimberly seems to be her biggest cheerleader and truly believes Marie can get the job done.  And granted, Kimberly has been right lately.  She was right that Marie was going to become United States Champion.  Now she’s predicting a successful retention in what will no doubt be a tough challenge, yet Marie isn’t as certain.

But the United States Championship isn’t the only thing on Marie’s mind.  The Taking Hold of the Flame Battle Royal itself is that night and Marie very well could end the night with not only the United States Championship but also a shot at the SCW World Championship in the bag.  Defeating Regan and Tyler is one thing, but defeating thirty-nine other superstars to earn a shot at the SCW World Championship in the main event of Rise To Greatness is something entirely different and much more difficult.

Marie has faced odds like that before.  Back when she was in the Independent Wrestling Cartel, Marie competed in the Last Stand Rumble not once but twice and one year tied for second place.  Her performance that year earned her a main event world title match at Invictus, despite not winning the whole thing.

Earlier this year at Collision Course, Marie competed in a rumble match and once again placed in the final four and damn near won the whole thing.  Marie has come close to winning these types of matches on several occasions.  But as they say, close only counts in horse shoes and hand grenades.  She knows that for Taking Hold of the Flame, she will have to win.

She will have to perform better than she has ever performed in her entire life.

These thoughts are going through her head as the twins stop in front of a door.  Kimberly turns the knob and enters inside.  Marie follows Kim and watches with a pleasant smile as Kimberly spins around on her heel, taking in the atmosphere.

“It isn’t the Ritz, but I call it home.”

Kimberly walks over and flops down on a single bed next to a window.  The bed was nice and neatly made up but that was ruined with Kimberly’s jump.  The rest of room is rather plain with pale green walls and a cream colored hard floor.  There is what appears to be a bathroom off to the side.

Jones approaches the bed and, with a desire to sit down, motions to it. “May I?”

“Be my guest.”

Kimberly moves her feet up to allow her sister room to sit down, which Marie promptly does.  She then continues to scan the room, noticing its emptiness.

“No, it definitely isn’t the Ritz.   And it’s rather…um…”

“Small?”

Marie nods her head. “Yeah.  Definitely small.  Are you sure you’re ok here?”

“Definitely!” Kimberly nods her head enthusiastically. “Doc Warren offered me a better spot but I turned her down.”

“I’m surprised you’re ok with this setup, Kim.  I mean…” her voice trails off.

“You know as well as I do that lived off the radar all my life and to top that, I didn’t even have any steady living place for all of my adult life.” Kimberly sits up in bed. “So this place, it actually is like the Ritz when you compare it to other places I’d been.”

Marie grins. “Good point.”

She looks over and notes a few pictures on the nightstand.  One of which is of her and her mother Angelica, during happier times.  Marie picks up the photo to get a better view and smiles.

“You have a picture of me and mom?”

“Of course,” Kimberly says with a sly grin “it isn’t likely I’ll see a picture of me and our mom together, so seeing you and mom together is pretty damn close, you know, being identical twins and all.”

“Now Kim,” Marie shakes her head “don’t think like that.  Mom is thrilled that you’re willing to try and better yourself.”

Kimberly chuckles. “Maybe so, but she certainly isn’t showing it.”

Marie places the photograph back on the nightstand and then takes Kimberly’s tightly into her grasp, squeezing it.

“Mom will visit you.  Trust me.”

“Seems less and less likely…” Kimberly wipes a tear from her eye “…but enough about me, I’m not the one who is facing up to destiny!”

“Destiny?” Marie furrows her brow out of curiosity. “What the hell are you talking about, Kim?”

Kim smirks knowingly. “Taking Hold of the Flame, of course!”

Marie nods her head with a look of realization on her face.  Taking Hold of the Flame is going to be someone’s destiny, the destiny for one person out of a possible forty.  But will that person be Marie Annabelle Jones?

“I’m not so sure about destiny, Kim.” Marie sighs. “This is a match with forty individuals competing in it.  What is the likelihood that I can beat the thirty nine other superstars?”

“Quit being so damned down on yourself, kiddo,” Kim slaps her on the back “this isn’t your first rodeo.”

“Kiddo?” Marie rolls her eyes. “You are the same age as I am.  And please, don’t use cheesy lines about rodeos or crap like that.”

“Sorry!” Kimberly snickers. “But seriously, this isn’t like the first rumble match you’ve been in.”

Marie sighs and nods her head as she ponders Kimberly’s words.  “I guess you’re right, I have competed in many rumble matches before.  And besides, those other thirty nine have just as much a chance at winning as I do.”

“That’s the spirit!” Kimberly says, again slapping her sister on the back. “You got this well in hand!”

“I’m not sure I’d go that far.  If anyone could be said to have it in hand, it would be Syren.”

Kimberly frowns. “What’s so damn special about her?”

“She enters the match at number forty.” Marie states matter-of-factly. “What number you enter could decide the whole thing, you know?  If I get a late entrant, then my chances get better.”

“You’ll whip Syren’s ass,” Kimberly scoffs “and anyone else who gets in your way, for that matter.”

“I’ll do my best, Kim.  That’s all I can promise.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Kim smirks knowingly “I look forward to being there at Rising To Greatness alongside mom and Aunt Kayla to watch you main event for the SCW World Championship.”

Marie nods her head. “Right, mom and Aunt Kayla…”

“Anything wrong?” Kimberly looks on, puzzled at Marie’s slight pause.

“Kimberly, I saw someone the other week.”

“Oh really?” Kimberly says with an ear to ear grin. “Who would that be?”

“Family.”

“Right, then family got it, but WHO…” Kimberly’s voice trails off “…mom?  Aunt Kayla?  Sister Jessica?”

“Not any of them” Marie says, shaking her head. “It was Carolyn.  Our Aunt Carolyn.”

“Carolyn?” Kimberly’s voice is puzzled and curious at first but then she grows wide-eyed with a look of realization. “Wait…dad’s sister?!”

Marie nods her head. “Yes.”

The mood in the room seems to grow cold.  Kimberly’s atmosphere and demeanor seems to drop as well.  She’s no longer her happy, jovial self as the scowl on her face seems to indicate.

“What the hell did she want?”

“She wanted to see me. That’s all.  And…” her voice trails off

“And what?”

“…and she wants to see you.”

“No dice.” Kimberly vehemently shakes her head. “Not going to happen.”

“You do realize that the three of us, meaning Carolyn, you and me, we are the last remaining members of the Williams bloodline.”

“Yeah,” she nods her head “and hopefully it’ll be extinguished soon.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I’m dead serious.”

“Yeah, well, we are Williams sisters too, you know?”  She points to Kim “Hell, your last name is Williams.”

“Only because mom and Aunt Kayla aren’t exactly accepting of me, yet.  As soon as they’re accepting of me, I’m officially a Jones.  Simple as that.”

“But, Kim…”

“No, Marie!” Kimberly shouts, silencing her twin sister. “It isn’t going to happen and I don’t want to discuss it any further.”

Marie sighs, shaking her head. “I don’t understand what your problem with the Williams family is.”

“Our father’s family has been a curse, a cancer.  Need I remind you of what our uncle did to you?”

Marie recalls being raped all too well.  She shakes her head. “No…”

“So maybe you understand why I don’t want to talk about her or that family again.  I just want to enjoy your time with me, is that enough to ask, Marie?”

Marie sighs. “I guess not.”

“Good.” Kimberly smiles pleasantly. “So, what’s for lunch?”

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Off Camera

Scene 2

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So Marie’s initial attempt to convince her twin sister Kimberly to meet with Carolyn fell flat.  She expected as much.  The truth is, Marie has a hard time blaming Kimberly for not wanting to meet with their paternal aunt.  Marie has many bad memories of the Williams family as well.  Her own father and mother were at physical war with one another for years before a bullet took his life.  Years later her uncle would kidnap and rape her.  The painful mental and emotional scarring will forever be etched into the mind of Marie Annabelle Jones.

Perhaps that is why Marie dropped the subject so easily after Kimberly initially refused to visit their Aunt Carolyn?  Or perhaps it’s just a matter of Marie not wanting to deal with her own mental and emotional issues relating to their father’s family that caused her to just give up.  The point is, Marie has given up, at least for now, on trying to convince Kimberly to go see their Aunt Carolyn.  Her mind tells her that she should continue, that seeing their Aunt Carolyn could help Kimberly, but Marie’s heart cannot continue.  Not right now.  She’s mentally and emotionally exhausted.

Besides, this may have been a bad time anyway.  Just like Kimberly accurately pointed out, this was to be a visit.  Kimberly and Marie catching up.  This was meant to be a happy time, not a sad time.  So why bring back painful memories?

Drop it she did and so Marie now finds herself in the mental institution’s cafeteria.  It’s plainly and simply designed, much like Kimberly’s room, with off green walls and cream colored hard floor. Booths line the center area of the cafeteria.  One of the booths in the center houses Marie Annabelle Jones and her twin sister Kimberly.  Though they are joined by a guest; Kimberly’s doctor and the head of this institution, Dr. Jennifer Warren.  All three have trays of food sitting in front of them.  Marie’s remains mostly uneaten while Warren and Kimberly have already dug into their food.

“Go ahead, sis, dig in.” Kimberly teases. “Trust me, the food ceases to taste like raw sewage after the third bite!”

“Gee, thanks, Kim.” Marie responds, rolling her eyes.

“Kimberly is just teasing you, Marie.” Dr. Warren responds with a pleasant grin. “But if you don’t want to eat any of it you don’t have to.”

“It’s ok,” Marie says as she shovels some mashed potatoes into her mouth “I can try them.”

“When you’re not here,” Kimberly begins “I like to mash up my peas, swallow them, and then vomit them out like that chick from Exorcist!”

Marie snickers. “Too bad your head doesn’t spin around.”

“Believe me, I’ve tried.” Kimberly winks.

“You run off at the mouth too much, Kimberly.” Dr. Warren responds. “Despite your crazy talk, you’ve actually made some great progress.”

“Oh really?” Marie responds questioningly. “How much progress?”

“She’s right, sis,” Kimberly chimes in “now I only want to brutally kill someone twice a week instead of three times a week.”

Marie rolls her eyes. “Yeah, great progress…”

“On a serious note,” Dr. Warren chimes in as she shovels some peas into her mouth “she has made progress.  Well, except for one minor issue.”

“What’s that?”

“Yeah,” Kimberly states, as if to protest “what minor issue?!”

“SCW Breakdown.” Dr. Warren announces. “I watched that little episode when you attacked Regan Street and harassed Marie’s boss Mr. D…”

Dr. Warren shakes her head “…not good.”

“Sorry,” Kimberly smiles sheepishly “I was just having fun!”

“There are better ways to have fun. Besides,” Dr. Warren looks to Marie “I think your sister wants to win on her own now, right?”

Marie grins and nods her head. “Absolutely right.  And I fully intend to win Taking Hold of the Flame the right way also.”

“There’s the spirit!” Kimberly starts applauding joyfully. “That’s The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling that I know!”

“Kim…”

“Hush!” Kimberly quickly says, silencing her sister. “Earlier you were all down on yourself about that damn rumble.  Now the confidence has been restored.”

Kimberly winks. “I like it!”

“Well, you got to believe in yourself.” Marie states. “If you don’t believe in yourself, then who will believe in you?”

“I believe in you!” Kimberly states proudly. “What is it that the Ice Bitch Selena always says?  I BELIEVE!  BELIEVE IT!”

Marie snickers. “Yeah, that’s it.  Believe it.  Believe I will win Taking Hold of the Flame.”

Dr. Warren chuckles lightly through a mouth full of potatoes. “Funny.”

“What’s funny?” Marie and Kim ask, almost in unison.

“You two.” Dr. Warren states. “You seem so active and full of life when you talk about wrestling.”

“Well wrestling is in our blood, Dr. Warren.” Marie states.

“Yeah, can’t hardly avoid the subject when mommy has won three billion world titles.” Kimberly chimes in.

“I know, but surely you have lives outside of wrestling.” Dr. Warren points to Marie. “Like you, for instance.  What did you do lately that doesn’t involve wrestling?”

“Well, there is this one thing…” Marie’s voice trails off, as she doesn’t really want to discuss it again.  Kimberly even warned her not to.

And the nervous gaze from her twin sister seems to indicate that Kimberly knows exactly what Marie is referring to.

“Well tell me, Marie.  What is it?” Dr. Warren presses.

“Uh,” Marie shakes her head “I’d rather not.”

“Come on.” Dr. Warren rests her head on her hands. “Spill the beans.”

Marie gazes nervously at Dr. Warren, who really wants to hear but then back at Kimberly, who definitely doesn’t want this brought up again.  Facing pressure from both sides, Marie finally breaks.

“Well, I…”

“Marie, don’t.” Kimberly shakes her head.

“Sorry, Kim…” Marie sighs “…but what’s the harm in telling her?”

“Telling me what?” Dr. Warren asks.

“I saw my aunt the other week.”

“Your Aunt Kayla?”

“No,” Marie shakes her head “my Aunt Carolyn.  My father’s sister.”

“Oh,” Dr. Warren looks over at Kimberly “I see.”

“Now do ya see why I didn’t want it brought up, Doc?” Kimberly asks with a sigh of frustration.

“How was the meeting, Marie?” Warren asks, seemingly ignoring Kimberly’s statement.

“It was difficult, I’ll admit that.” Marie sighs. “There are some things from my past with that family that few people know, not even you, doctor; things that I’d rather not discuss.  But…”

Marie smiles “…ultimately, I am glad I saw her.  It was a pleasant visit overall.”

“Great, good,” Kimberly says with sarcasm dripping from her voice “I’m glad you enjoyed it.”

“What’s wrong, Kimberly?” Dr. Warren prods. “This is your aunt, too.”

Kimberly scowls. “I have my own problems with our father’s family.”

“She wants to see Kimberly as well.”

“Yeah, and that isn’t gonna happen!” Kimberly snaps back.

“Well, in my professional opinion, as your doctor, you should go see your aunt.”

Kimberly arches her brow. “What did you say?”

“I think you heard me loud and clear, Kimberly.” Dr. Warren responds. “I think you should go see your aunt Carolyn.”

“Why?!” Kimberly bangs her balled up fists on the table, creating a loud noise that gets the attention of some other visitors and patients here at the cafeteria. “Why the hell should I?!”

“Do you want a clean bill of mental and emotional health?” Dr. Warren asks, to which Kimberly nods her head. “Then you need to take this step.  From everything you’ve told me in private sessions, your problems boil down to the Williams family.”

“No shit, Sherlock.” Kimberly says, rolling her eyes. “Everyone knew that.”

“Your parents were both victims of the same person, Kimberly.  Sean Williams and Angelica Jones were both victims of the same woman.  You need to realize that and try to forgive not only your deceased father but his family.”

Marie takes Kimberly’s hand and holds it tight. “She’s right, Kim.  Even if he is to blame for some of what went wrong with the two of us, you can’t hold that grudge against his entire family.”

Marie sighs with some difficulty. “And…maybe I should take my own advice and let go of my own grudges.”

Kimberly looks over at Marie quizzically. “Are you sure?  I mean, what happened was…”

“It was, painful.  Very painful.  And no, I will never forget it.  But I can’t keep holding onto it forever.  Maybe it is time that I broke this vicious cycle.”

She motions to herself and Kim. “Maybe it’s time we BOTH broke that vicious cycle?”

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On Camera

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Being in the main event of the greatest pay per event of a company’s year, wrestling for the world championship, that’s something I’m not unfamiliar with.  But here at Supreme Championship Wrestling, with the level of competition we have and its rich history, well, Rise To Greatness is just something special on an entirely different level.  And being in the main event of Rise To Greatness, competing for the SCW World Championship, that would be an honor and a privilege.

Oh but not just anyone can go to Rise To Greatness.  You have to earn your way onto that card period, so imagine what you have to go through to earn your way into the main event competing for the SCW World Championship.

Thirty nine people.  That’s what I will have to go through if I want to stamp my ticket to the main event.  Quite frankly, I do believe I have already made enough of an impact to deserve a spot at Rise To Greatness.  I am the SCW United States Champion, after all.  But I am a competitor and more than that, I am a Jones. I am unwilling to just settle for second best.

I do want the main event spotlight and I do want that SCW World Championship.  Anyone alive and breathing today should want to be their company’s world champion and if you’re not in it to be that champion, to be the best, then get out of this business, because you’re wasting everyone’s time.

Yes, I do want that main event spot and as great as it is being United States Champion, as much of an honor as it is to be the United States Champion, I am not going to sit idly by on the sidelines  while a potential opportunity to wrestle for the world title passes me by; even if that opportunity is a slim to none chance where I have to survive thirty-nine other superstars, I will still stand up and say “put me in coach, I want to play!  I want to play this game!”

But this is more than just a game to me.  This is my life.  I was born into a wrestling family and that’s why I take this so very seriously.  I grew up alongside my mother, traveling from arena to arena, and I watched people sacrifice their bodies for this sport.  I watched people’s careers end as they were giving it their all for this sport.  I was there when my Aunt Kayla broke her neck in the middle of a match.  I was much younger then, and at the time I didn’t understand.  All I knew was that my Aunt Kayla could’ve been paralyzed or died.

But now with experience and age and maturity I know why.  I know why people like my mother and my aunt are willing to sacrifice so much for this sport.

It’s a desire; a desire that burns in the heart of any wrestler worth his or her salt.  It is a desire to be the best in the world at what they do.  And to be the best in Supreme Championship Wrestling you have to be the World Champion.  And my opportunity to prove that I am the best, it’s right here in front of me for the taking…

…unfortunately, it’s there for thirty-nine others to take, as well.  It’s that brass ring that you have to reach up and take, but I have to take hold of it at the expense of my thirty-nine opponents.

That’s what makes Taking Hold of the Flame a unique challenge.  Thirty-nine superstars.  To say that endurance is needed would be an understatement.

But I have played this game before.  I have experience.  I submit to you my experience with the Independent Wrestling Cartel.  I competed in three of their Last Stand rumble matches and in two of those I lasted over an hour.  And here recently at UWA Collision Course, I entered their rumble match at number three and I went to the very end, tying for second place.

Can I endure?  You damn right I can endure.  I can endure anything that anyone decides to throw at me.

I’m encountering Regan Street earlier in the night as I defend my United States Championship.  I hope to see her again in the rumble.  To beat her not just once but twice in one night, that would shut her up once and for all.

Samantha Raine and I go way back.  Girl, you and I were great together as Hidden Desires.  And I helped you out so much.  I practically handed you a world championship on a silver platter.

You’re welcome, by the way.

But I have matured a great deal since then.  Don’t expect any favors from me.  I’m out to win this, Sam.  And I won’t hesitate to eliminate you, despite our history.

Some may feel that Syren is the odds on favorite, as she is number forty.  But I don’t bet on odds.  She may not have to endure as long as the others, but that means nothing.  Twice I lasted over an hour in these types of matches.  And furthermore, while I am impressed by Syren’s reputation and resume here in SCW, I am not going to back down.  If I have to, I’ll kick her ass too.

Line them all up and I’ll knock them down one by damn one.  The Cornerstone won’t be enough to hold Donovan Kayl upright.  Sienna Swann won’t get her opportunity at a third championship.  And I believe that Selena Frost will be a true believer of The Phoenix after I eliminate her along with everyone else that gets in my way.

This isn’t about redemption anymore.  I redeemed myself the day I proved that I could get the job done on my own without any help.  I won the SCW United States Championship.  This is now about me taking back control of my career.

I had to put my career on hold because of stupid decisions I made.  Stupid decisions I made set me back and forced me to find myself again, to reevaluate who I was and what I wanted to be.  I was The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling but that wasn’t who I wanted to be.  I wanted to be The Phoenix, the mythical bird of prey who rises up from the ashes of death because you cannot kill it.

And that’s my message to the other thirty-nine competitors in the Flame.  You cannot keep me down, you cannot kill me, you cannot stop me.  I will win the Flame and it doesn’t matter if I enter number one or number thirty nine.

Hell, I kind of hope I get an early number like a one or two so I can go bell to bell and prove to the world that The Phoenix is the real deal and maybe, just maybe, after winning the Flame, when I go to Rise To Greatness and main event against the world champion, I can earn back that old moniker, and maybe I can once again claim to be The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling.

They say luck is a determining factor in matches like these; luck of the draw, who is in the ring when your number gets called, and so on…

…but I say to hell with luck.  If you don’t win you just weren’t good enough.  I make no excuses heading into the Flame.  If I don’t win, I just wasn’t good enough.  But by God I know I have the skill to get the job done and I have enough skill that I don’t need any damn luck.  I will win based on my skill alone and when I do win, I won’t be punching my ticket to Rise To Greatness, because I’m confident that I already got that one signed sealed and delivered.

I’m just going to upgrade that ticket to the main event.