The Big Apple

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Off Camera

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Winning a world championship doesn’t just happen in one day.  You have to work for it.  You have to bust your ass for years, paying your dues, working your way tirelessly up that figurative ladder, up the metaphorical mountain, until you reach the summit and claim its prize; the World Championship.  And now, after over a year in Supreme Championship Wrestling, Marie is getting very close to her first opportunity at the top prize in wrestling.

This wouldn’t be her first taste of world championship gold.  The Phoenix first tasted world championship gold back in Global Championship Wrestling and most recently in the now closed down UWA.  But Marie left UWA after she was not granted an opportunity a world title rematch after losing it to Vanilla Skyy.  She went to SCW and in that time she became SCW United States Champion. But that is all in the past as Marie now focuses on potentially making the next step to reclaiming that top spot and becoming a world champion again.

It all started at the Future Is Now where Marie came in fourth place in a battle royal of top world title contenders.  The top five would continue the journey and that journey’s next stop is Breakdown where she will face Alistaire Allocco.

Allocco was the most recent champion before losing it to Jake Starr.  Marie knows that this could very well be a proving ground for her.  A chance to prove that she belongs in the world title discussion.

“The Big Apple!”

But before we get to Breakdown, a show being held in Syracuse, she and her twin sister Kimberly are visiting another city in New York; New York City.  They are walking the streets of what Kimberly loudly proclaimed as “The Big Apple” and they certainly are a contrast in styles.  Marie, the more conservative of the two, wearing an ankle length maxi skirt and a long sleeve red sweater.  Her long gorgeous red hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.  Kimberly Williams, on the other hand, wears a much simpler attire of torn denim jeans, tennis shoes, and her own signature t-shirt which reads “STABBY! STABBY! STABBY!” on the front.

“That’s right, Kim.  We’re in New York City.” Marie takes in a deep breath, sighs, and lets it out.  She smiles as she looks from left to right at the sights in front of her and Kim as they continue their walk down the streets. “Even though we travel all over the world and get to see so many great places, I still find New York City to be somewhere special.”

“But why do they call it The Big Apple?”

“Kim…”

“I mean, think about it, this city doesn’t resemble an apple at all!”

“Kim…”

“I haven’t even seen an apple!  Most of these New Yorkers have been chowing down on hot dogs or cheese burgers.”

“Kim!”

“Huh?” Kimberly turns her head to face Marie, grinning innocently. “What’s up, sis?”

“Just calm down, sis.” Marie says with a slight chuckle in her voice. “Why they call it the Big Apple isn’t important.  Just enjoy the scenery.”

Marie stops walking momentarily, as does Kim.  Marie then places a hand on her sister’s shoulder.

“That’s what today is about, Kim.  You and I enjoying ourselves and more specifically you getting out to see the sights.”

“I know, sis,” Kimberly nods her head “you don’t have to try to soften the blow to protect my feelings.  I’m ok with it.  Really.”

“Huh?” Marie asks, slightly confused.

“I appreciate everything you’re doing for me, Marie, I really do.  But don’t think I haven’t noticed it.  Heck, you and mom both have been doing this a lot more lately…”

“Doing what, exactly?”

“Spending more quality time with me.” Kimberly answers. “At least that’s how mom referenced it.”

“Kim, listen…” Marie sighs but before she can continue she is interrupted by Kimberly.

“No, it’s ok.” Kimberly grins warmly from ear to ear. “I spent my entire life up until adulthood as a recluse, off the radar, being raised by a sociopath.  It’s no wonder I turned out the way I did, eh?  I did eventually get to know you but I never got to know mom.  So spending more time getting to know her is great.  And this right here….”

She waves her arms at the sights and surroundings. “This is awesome, Marie.  I spent most of my life away from my real family, living off the radar, and thus I never got to see any of this, the sights and sounds of the real world.”

Kimberly leans in and embraces her sister in a tight hug. “Thanks, Marie!”

“Don’t mention it, Kim…” the embrace is broken and Marie grins warmly “…it’s the right thing to do.”

“The right thing?” A look of mischief crosses across Kimberly’s face. “I want to concern myself with the fun thing!”

With that, Kimberly turns and bolts away from Marie, who in turn rolls her eyes. “For the love of God…Kim, wait up!”

Marie takes off after her sister, wishing now that she had worn a pair of sneakers like Kimberly did, it would make the rush to keep up with Kimberly a lot easier.  Granted, Marie is wearing a simple pair of black flats.  At least she’s not trying to run in heels.  But Marie knows she needs to catch up with her sister Kimberly.  Taking her to New York City was her idea to introduce her to the real world.  As Kimberly accurately pointed out, she was never raised in a normal environment and given proper social training.  She does not know how to act properly in society.  And that fact scares Marie.

“Kimberly, hold on!  Wait a second!”

Marie finally catches up to Kimberly just as she stops in front of what appears to be a homeless man wearing raggedy clothes.  He does have a guitar to his name and is strumming on that guitar, playing some music.  The guitar case is open in front of him, obviously expecting some sort of payment.

“Nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen…nobody knows my sorrow…nobody knows the trouble I’ve seen…Glory, Hallelujah!”

“GLORY!” Kimberly exclaims.

“Nobody knows the trouble I've seen…Nobody knows but Jesus…Nobody knows the trouble I've seen…Glory, Hallelujah!”

“Hallelujah! Praise Jesus!”

Kimberly has a big wide grin on her face as she takes in his singing.  Marie, though, doesn’t appear to be sharing in her sentiments as she looks on in disgust.

“He seems to be a bit of a downer, isn’t he?”

“Well he is homeless, Marie.” Kim remarks before turning to face her sister. “May I keep him?”

“Huh?!”

“I promise I’ll love him and care for him and take him out for walks and poop him every day!”

“Kim, I really don’t think…”

“I’ll love him and hug him and name him George!”

“Uh, actually, ma’am,” the man with the guitar, now realizing that he is the topic of discussion, stops playing “my name is Percy!”

“NO!” Kim snaps and glares angrily at him. “YOUR NAME IS GEORGE!”

“Uh, right…” the man backs away slowly “…George it is…”

“See?” Kim looks on proudly at Marie. “George!”

“Kimberly, we really need to go elsewhere.  Ok?”

“But can I keep him?” She motions to the man and his guitar.

“No!”

“Fine, party pooper.  But we should at least give him something for his great musical ability.” Before Marie can react, Kimberly reaches into Marie’s purse and produces a wad of cash and throws it into the guitar case. “Merry Christmas, George!”

“It’s Percy, ma’am!  Merry Christmas!”

Kimberly skips away with Marie dumbfounded, staring back at Percy.  Marie finally regains her composure a few moments later and rushes to catch back up with Kimberly and when she does catch up she has a shocked look on her face as she stares at her seemingly carefree sister.

“That was ALL of the cash money I had on my person, Kim!”

“Oh really?  How much was that, then?”

“TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS!” Marie exclaims.

“You really shouldn’t be keeping that much on you, sis.” Kimberly remarks playfully. “No one uses cash money anyway. It’s all debit card or credit card…or was that bitcoin?”

“Oh Lord, Kim…” Marie sighs deeply with a hint of frustration.

“What’s wrong, Ma…” Kim’s eyes grow wide as she kneels down and picks up an empty water bottle that was cast aside “…I know what we can do…”

“Find the litter bug and make a citizen’s arrest?” Marie suggests half-jokingly.

“No…” Kimberly throws the empty water bottle at Marie “…we can throw things at old people!”

“WHAT?!” Marie barely ducks out of the way in time to avoid being hit by the empty bottle.  Marie looks back up at Kimberly with a dumbfounded look on her face. “What was THAT for?!”

“I’m throwing things at old people.”

“You threw it at me!”

“Yup!” Kimberly says, nodding her head enthusiastically.

“I’m not old!”

“Sure you are!” Kimberly picks up another piece of litter, this time a wadded up McDonald’s cheese burger wrapper, and throws it at Marie.  This time it hits her square on the forehead.

“Two things, Kim.” Marie begins. “First, we look ridiculous out here with you throwing things at me!  Second, I’m not old!”

“You are old, sis.”

“No older than you.” Marie says, rolling her eyes. “We’re twins, remember?”

“Oh, yeah, I forgot!” Kimberly giggles uncontrollably.

“Kim, I do want to spend more quality time with you, and I do want to show you the sights and sounds of the world that you missed when you were growing up, but…”

“…but I can’t be taken out in public, can I?” Kimberly answers back, seemingly to finish Marie’s own thought.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You don’t have to.” Kim remarks. “It’s the truth.  Like I said, I accept the fact that I don’t have any real social training of any sort due to being raised by a sociopath.”

“You can’t help it, I get that, but Kim…” Marie embraces her sister in a tight hug “…it doesn’t mean you have to like it.”

“So you’re not kicking me out?” Kimberly asks as they break the embrace. “You’re not giving up on me?”

“I would never give up on you, Kim.” Marie says with a knowing grin. “You are family and I’m here to help every step of the way.”

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On Camera

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The Christmas season is when we look back on the past year while, at the same time, look forward to what the New Year might bring.  The Christmas season is unique in the sense that we look at the past and future simultaneously.

Now I could go on and continue to dwell on what brought me here to SCW in the first place, how I want a legitimate shot at being a world champion again, but this isn’t a time for whining, complaining, or dwelling on a past that I cannot change.  I haven’t been dwelling on that past and instead I have focused on doing everything I can to earn that world championship match that I still feel should’ve been mine over a year ago.

I could’ve had that title shot at the End of the Year Special but I didn’t quite get enough votes, did I?  But I don’t care.  I honestly prefer it this way, because I want to bust my ass and earn the title shot.  As much as I love our SCW fans, I don’t want a title shot handed to me because of a fan vote.  I want the world to know that I’ve earned it and that my subsequent reign as SCW World Champion is legitimate because of my hard work, my dedication, my sacrifice.

Allistaire Allocco, you claim to want to earn that title shot as well.  You claim to want to work your way back to that spot rather than just be handed an automatic rematch.  I can respect that.  I respect that you aren’t dwelling on the past but looking forward into what the future might bring.

We both have been to the top of the mountain, Allocco.  Granted, you have been to the top of the highest mountain, the SCW mountain, but we’ve both tasted world championship gold.  So we both know the feeling of what it is like to have had that top spot and then to have lost it.  What makes us different, Allocco, is that this is the very reason why I even came to Supreme Championship Wrestling in the first place.  I want to return to that top spot but I’m not just settling for anywhere.  I want to be the very best wrestler in the world and the very best wrestler in the world is whoever holds the SCW World Championship.

You know the funny thing about the future?  No one knows what it will bring.  You and I just endured a battle royal at The Future Is Now and that’s how we earned our spots of number two and number four.  We know that we’ll do battle this coming Breakdown but other than that, no one knows.  Ace could even decide to get involved and it would be perfectly legal if he invokes his right as number three contender to choose.

So because dwelling on the past cannot help and we cannot know the future, I am just going to focus on the here and now.  I am going to focus on the one thing I can control and that is my own performance on Breakdown from Syracuse, New York as I go head to head against you, Allocco.  My very best against your very best…and quite possibly, Ace’s too…

…I’m not under any illusions or delusions that this will be easy or even fair.  In my time here in SCW I’ve learned the hard way that nothing is ever fair, that this place can be and usually is cutthroat.  So will I be prepared for anything?

You damn right I will be prepared for anything because I want this more than you.  You have been SCW World Champion, Allocco.  I commend you for that achievement.  But you’ve already proven to the world that you can do it once and therefore you can do it again.  Anyone who says otherwise, or says that it was a fluke, is wrong.

But what about me?  I am a former SCW United States Champion, that much is true, but can I win the big one?  Do I even belong in this title picture?  Some don’t think I do.  I want this opportunity and this victory because I want to prove each and every single doubter and critic wrong.  I want to make them all realize that I belong here and that I am no fluke.  I want to show the world that I am exactly what I say I am…

…The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling.