Post by Serenity Holmes on Feb 18, 2022 11:02:02 GMT -5
"Things have been set in motion now. I started strong and Action Wrestling has recognized that which means I will have to continue the momentum. They put their faith in me because they know I am the future. I have to say that the odds are stacked against us but I'm not content with being incompetent nor steady. I always strive to be the best no matter what."
MOTIVATED.
"Well, I wouldn't be telling the truth if I didn't say I was a fan of yours, Claire."
Serenity's voice was an echoing whisper in the cusp of an abandoned building left alone in the ruins near Charlotte. The young teenager had a knack for finding such arbitrary environments to populate although the danger preceded beyond her control. The day was at its highest and she was on the first floor of this old three-story building staring towards the grimy walls, the dusty cracked concrete floors, and the stained windows barely held together.
"It's an honor to say that you are the longest-tenured and home-grown talent of Action Wrestling. I figured our paths would cross one day given that you are the current Action Wrestling CBS Champion but what better way to meet than in the Battlebowl Tournament. My first one to be exact but not yours for sure."
She sat down on the edge of a worn-down workstation.
"Claire. You've been in Action Wrestling the longest out of anyone here in this company. You're the record-holding four-time television champion and current CBS champion. That's five championship reigns during your employment. You've done it all. The Metal Witch has been immortalized which leaves me the ultimate question; Why haven't you ever been in the main event picture all this time?"
It was the one thing she noticed during her time being a fan before her training began with her father. She rolled her eyes and rocked her legs knowing that was a pattern with Claire.
"When you talked about utilizing the CBS championship to give others opportunities, I laughed. It was noble but we both know you only did it to feed your ego and hide your insecurity. You can't stomach the fact that you are the definition of 'average at best' because every top name that you have faced in the past has gone to bigger things than you. Claire, the perfect example is our match in Charlotte. You are the co-main event because of the Battlebowl against Jessie Lee, the Women's Champion, and a starting legacy in this business."
Serenity scoffed.
"What can you teach me, Claire? What opportunity can you present to me other than what Action Wrestling has? They provided both of us with our co-main event picture and you've been here for four years, I've been here for two weeks! All you do is constantly win and lose, there's no consistency which was why I lost faith in you. Every time you're about to go past the surface, you drown a few inches in the water then scurry right back up for air. Despite everything you've accomplished, you've proven the typical stereotype of every woman in a business setting that there is a glass ceiling and you've crashed into it every. single. time!"
There was no doubt in her mind of Claire's unfortunate fluctuating success. She never understood how a competitive person could remain in the mid-card for so long but as she thought about it, it hit her. Serenity chuckled for a mere moment until really learning about her future opponent.
"I can't fathom nor ponder how an employer would like at someone like you and be okay. Despite everything you've accomplished and the records you've set, you haven't grasped the brass ring. There's a reason they call it the midcard and that's exactly what you are. Mid! Everything about you is Mid! You've been television champion four times, current CBS champion but never have been in the main event picture on your outside of Havoc and All In's. Claire, this is why you resort to using the CBS championship as an opportunity to no names because they don't realize you are mid as fuck!"
She stood up from the workstation and went back on her pacing scavenging through the empty vicinity.
"But don't worry Claire. I'm not looking for an opportunity. I already have one. The opportunity to win the Battlebowl Tournament of 2022. Something you haven't done yourself given you had four times to do so? I promise you Claire that after I beat you, The Mid Witch, you can continue being average while I catapult my career off your name as so many have done."
The mere thought left a bad taste in her mouth. Who was Claire Hawkins to offer sanctuary to the daughter of a man more accomplished than her? Although she was the literal rookie with the odds stacked against her, she knew she could achieve the impossible, especially with Jessie Lee at her side.
"But Jonny? I'm going to apologize on behalf of management for putting you in an uncomfortable position. You deserve to be in the Battlebowl tournament but you're going to be burdening the weight of Claire Hawkins."
Serenity hated the idea of the predicament she was in with Jonny Cedrone as she respected his character. The Battlebowl tournament was an opportunity to gain the biggest advantage in the upcoming Havoc pay-per-view.
"Jonny. There is no doubt you are a good man who has accomplished world championship success outside of Action Wrestling. Despite everything you've accomplished, the consequences of your actions had spilled here with Zolton. The two of you were ready for war but although you have done good deed after deed, you're sucked into hell all the damn time because they hate you for just wanting to be a world champion more than anything."
She found herself grazed against the sunlight peeking through the stained glasses of what turned out to be an old office building. Her finger traced against the broken mess that was once a peaceful building.
"I appreciate a good man always. You kind of remind me of my father but Jonny, we both know that the opportunity to have the odds of a world championship in our favor is too big to miss. You've been the world champion in other promotions and I respect that. However, the world championship in Action Wrestling is by far an accolade people would kill for. So what will you do Jonny?"
This was the hard truth she was about to deliver as she stood at the entrance staring towards the forests ahead.
"Can you trust Claire to not hold this over your head when you both lose? Zolton came after you like a parasite latching onto its final host and made you do things you didn't want to do? I can feel it. The Casket Match? Costing you the Hardcore Championship? Everything made you turn into this monster you hated to be and it breaks my heart to see a good man being pushed beyond his limits. Cedrone, although you are a world-class competitor, you're going to be the babysitter of someone less than you and the envy of your tag team partner."
Serenity took a few steps outside and enjoyed the feeling of the wind brushing against her cheek. She closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and opened them ready for the biggest match of her professional career so far.
"Jonny. I want this. This is the second match of my professional career and I'm already in the co-main event of Monday Night Class in the opening round of a Battlebowl tournament partnering with Jessie Lee against Claire Hawkins and Jonny Cedrone for a chance to not only win the tournament but also be the final entrant of the 2022 Havoc Rumble. Don't you understand?"
She smiled.
"Action Wrestling saw something in me that I know about myself. They know my lineage and they also know that I am not someone who is going to be naive like every young upstart in Action Wrestling. We're going to win, Jessie and I, but I will win the Battlebowl tournament. Claire had her chances and she blew them time and time again; Cedrone may be a great man and an amazing athlete but I need this more than him."
Serenity knew this was her moment to become the breakout star of 2022. She was already the legacy of a hall of fame wrestler and her expectations were extremely high. She wouldn't let him down but Serenity wanted to be higher.
"I'm not going to lay down and be a stepping stone. Well, in this case, another statistic to two veterans in the ring. I want to be the best in the quickest time and this tournament will be that for me. Jessie Lee and I won't let you two be the victors because I for damn sure am willing to put everything on the line to cause Havoc!"
