Post by Jill Park on Nov 4, 2022 14:15:48 GMT -5
Driving along the countryside in a pink Mustang convertible with Jake Paul by her side, Jill Park was loving life. It had been an incredibly tumultuous year, and had felt like she was always on the brink of ruin. A runner-up in Havoc could’ve done more harm than good. At several points throughout the year, it looked as if Affluenza would finally implode and destroy her only friendship within Action Wrestling. After finally climbing to the summit, Dandy DiVito threatened everything. Jill was embarrassed time and time again and left wondering where she would land at the end of Dandy’s scorched earth tactics.
But here she was, heading into her second Turmoil tournament, at the number three seed. That was an impressive thirteen-spot improvement on her sixteenth seed appearance last year, which ended before it really began with a loss to Ash Blake.
For right now, none of that mattered. She was free from the bright lights and also the cameras, both of Action Wrestling and Paramount+. Jake’s outstretched arm came to rest on her shoulders which got a smile out of her. For all their issues, they’d stayed together.
As Jill looked ahead to miles and miles of open highways, she felt content.
“Jill?!”
Then it all came crashing down. Crashing back into reality.
Snapped out of her daydream, Jill was, in fact, not driving on open highways. She was in New York, at Paramount headquarters, in yet another casting meeting. As she tried to pretend she hadn’t just been daydreaming, she looked across at an incredibly nervous twenty-year old girl, who was staring at her sheepishly. A couple of men sat around her as well, looking much more upset about Jill’s effort towards the meeting.
“Well? What do you think about Mazy?”
Silence followed the question. As it hung in the air, Jill peered down at an empty notepad. She had spaced on the entire audition. She quickly closed it and looked to the much more interested and involved producers in the room. Jill quickly averted her gaze. She knew casting needed to be done. It had been months since Remington ‘left’ and her replacement had not been named. On top of that, there had been pressure on the network for more cast members. Jill looked at Mazy. She looked so nervous and out of place.
Actually, that made Jill smile. She took a few more seconds for the inquiry to marinate before declaring:
“She’s perfect.”
She hid her grin well. This girl was someone Jill thought she could manipulate. No doubt about it. The older balding gentleman closest stood up and approached Mazy, causing her to stand as well. He wiped some crumbs off of his lap as he stood, while the young girl pretended not to notice. He smiled wide as he extended his hand to her. “Welcome to License to Jill, Mazy.”
Mazy seemed to be on wobbly legs and holding back so much emotion as she shook his hand. She then took one more look at Jill and came undone.
“Oh EM GEE! I can’t believe this! Ohmygod this is like, such an honor! I watched you for the past year and you’re just unbelievable! You’re a role model to women everywhere! Such a boss!”
She continued jumping up and down until Jill stood and approached her. She leaned in and whispered “Save it for the show.”.
Mazy again tried to remain subdued as she shook Jill’s hand, and then left the room, almost in tears. Jill watched as the door shut behind her, before turning back to her team of producers again.
“Well, that was the wrong call. Jesus.”
She noticed now the producers looked a little uncomfortable. They kept nudging one another and whispering.
“What?”
One of them finally stepped forward. The yungest amongst them. He was only about thirty. Definitely the most well put together of them.
“Well, Miss Park…” He began. “Having you weigh in on the casting wasn’t the only reason we had you come down here. There has been an additional hire.”
Jill looked back at them, wearily.
“For what exactly?”
“Dionysus.
Over the past year our paths have crossed but a few times. As Affluenza intended to make its mark on the tag team division and Action Wrestling in general, The Vanguard was leading it’s way as Tag Team Champions. For two-hundred and eighty eight days, you and Downfall led the way. The longest reigning Tag Team Champions in the history of Action Wrestling.
But…
When you lost those belts, Downfall was still considered a top-tier talent. Downfall was still a former World Champion. Where did that leave you, Dion?
It left you nowhere.
When Downfall finally came to his sense, and he realized what it takes to get what he wants, you were left behind. Despite his encouragement, you wouldn’t share his very surreal world view, would you?
That is exactly why I can’t take this new ‘change in attitude’ seriously. This whole ‘Crimson Gladiator’ cosplay. You’re upset that things haven’t gone your way, huh? Sad that nobody takes you seriously after you’ve spent a year being little more than a Downfall cheerleader. Don’t take it the wrong way, Dion. I’m not about to stand here and prattle on and on about how you’re in Downfall’s shadow and the only reason you’ve ever amounted to anything in Action Wrestling.
Because I know. I know that’s what’s running through your mind every time you look in the mirror. You hear it every time you walk backstage; Every time you step from behind the curtain and out to the ring. I’m sure it’s ingrained in your fucking mind.
So one night, eventually…finally, you address the Action Wrestling faithful. You address the locker room. You say it ain’t the year of wine and roses. It ain’t time to be happy go lucky. You say what’s in your HEART and in your SOUL. You’re tired of playing second fiddle. You’re sick of being treated as the court jester. You say that’s not who you are. You’re a GLADIATOR. Is that right?
You take that big dick energy straight into your Turmoil match and, to everyone’s surprise, you actually find a way to WIN. Well, shit. You’re in Turmoil!
Then what do you do, Dion?
You tell Downfall. You tell THE WORLD that you’re the same guy. You’re still the same guy that’s all about cracking jokes and being chill, or whatever mind numbing bullshit you said.
You had me fooled for a minute, Dionysus. You really did. I thought maybe, just maybe you had begun taking this seriously. That maybe you saw Downfall being the lead pipe-wielding sicko, and you aspired to that. Or at least, you aspired to reach the same level of success and notoriety.
But no.
It was a lie. It was nothing more than lip service.
You want the success. You want the notoriety. You want to be taken seriously, but you don’t want to be serious. You don’t want to take THIS seriously. You don’t want to take ME seriously.
And I’ll tell ya, Dion. That’s the biggest fucking mistake you’ll EVER make. You wanna sit there and say, and think you’re gonna fucking joke your way through Action Wrestling, through the Wrestler of the Year tournament, through JILL FUCKING PARK?
I’ve spent that past year doing heavy soul-searching. I figured out what was truly important. What it took to reach the goals I’ve set for myself. I’ve taken this entire company BY STORM. I crawled out of the box that all of the so called ‘stars’ in this company wanted to trap me in. I stepped out from the shadow of those who came before me. I defied expectations. I overcame it ALL to become a DOUBLE CHAMPION as well as your 2022 All-In briefcase winner.
I’ve always taken this seriously.
Meanwhile, Dion the fool can flippantly decide when he’s serious. He can flip between court jester and gladiator.
Fucking bullshit.
You ain’t no fucking gladiator, Dion. You’re a fucking fraud.
And there is NO WAY I am ending this year by having a FRAUD remove me from the Wrestler of the Year tournament. There is no way that I am allowing it to happen. No way that I am LOSING in the first round of this tournament for a second straight year.
This has been my year. It has been my ascension. Turmoil last year was my greatest failure. My biggest and most public humiliation. But this year? It will be my greatest victory. I WILL become Wrestler of the Year. Then, I WILL become Action Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion. I’ve made it my mission to dominate Action Wrestling in 2022.
And I’m not finished yet.
Not by a long shot.”
The producers all looked increasingly nervous with each passing moment. None of them seemed to want to answer the question. This of course made Jill that most more erratic.
“Tell me.” She demanded.
Again, one of them stepped close towards her.
“Well…we needed to hire a consultant. Someone that knows the business, as well as being familiar with you, Miss Park.”
Jill backed up, just a step. She eyed him wearily.
Before either of them could say another word, there was loud knock on the door.
Jill slowly turned to face the door as it slowly creaked open.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
Caylee Park stood in the doorway.
“Hi, Jill.” Caylee greeted her, with a smirk and a wink. Jill rushed past her, their shoulders bumping slightly.
The door slammed behind her.
“In the past twelve months, I’ve headlined in a World Championship match.
I won the first Hell in a Cell match on Clash.
I was the runner-up in Havoc.
2022 Glory winner. United States Champion.
I won the biggest Main Event in Clash history, and with it, the Women’s Championship.
I won All-In.
But for the longest time, this level of success was far from guaranteed. I was a laughing stock. I choked in big matches all of the time. I allowed it to happen, and that’s my biggest regret.
At Havoc, when I saw Carter Shaw celebrating his monumental win, I knew.
Something needed to change. Action Wrestling wasn’t going to fall in line because I said so. I needed to be that change.
I needed to smash my way to the top, and I don’t mean in the manner that Lissie Hope does.
I needed to be violent, unforgiving, and cold.
So that’s exactly what I did.
I changed the paradigm. I altered expectations and I put this entire company on notice. Dandy DiVito had one of the longest World title reigns in company history. Gerard Angelo won the title inside his first year in Action Wrestling.
Yet they BOTH pale in comparison to what I’ve accomplished; What I’ve done. The fact that I am ranked lower than them is of no surprise. It’s exactly the kind of thing I’ve been fighting against since day one. It is the constant DISRESPECT that I encounter. When Dandy was trying his best to embarrass me, do you think the offices of AW gave a shit? No. The only one that’s ever TRULY had my back, is myself.
That’s why Dionysus, your attitude is disappointing. More than anyone, I could understand the obstacles you face. You too are trying to step out of the shadows. Out from the shadow of Downfall. More and more though, it seems like you’re not prepared to do what it takes to accomplish that. You want to joke. You want to meme. You’re not serious about this, and that, more than anything else, is why you’ll fail.
You were right about one thing, though. This hasn’t been the year of wine and roses. It was never going to be. But don’t get it twisted: it’s not going to be the year of the ‘Crimson Gladiator’ either.
It’s gonna be the same year it’s been for the past eleven months.
The year of Jill Park.”
But here she was, heading into her second Turmoil tournament, at the number three seed. That was an impressive thirteen-spot improvement on her sixteenth seed appearance last year, which ended before it really began with a loss to Ash Blake.
For right now, none of that mattered. She was free from the bright lights and also the cameras, both of Action Wrestling and Paramount+. Jake’s outstretched arm came to rest on her shoulders which got a smile out of her. For all their issues, they’d stayed together.
As Jill looked ahead to miles and miles of open highways, she felt content.
“Jill?!”
Then it all came crashing down. Crashing back into reality.
Snapped out of her daydream, Jill was, in fact, not driving on open highways. She was in New York, at Paramount headquarters, in yet another casting meeting. As she tried to pretend she hadn’t just been daydreaming, she looked across at an incredibly nervous twenty-year old girl, who was staring at her sheepishly. A couple of men sat around her as well, looking much more upset about Jill’s effort towards the meeting.
“Well? What do you think about Mazy?”
Silence followed the question. As it hung in the air, Jill peered down at an empty notepad. She had spaced on the entire audition. She quickly closed it and looked to the much more interested and involved producers in the room. Jill quickly averted her gaze. She knew casting needed to be done. It had been months since Remington ‘left’ and her replacement had not been named. On top of that, there had been pressure on the network for more cast members. Jill looked at Mazy. She looked so nervous and out of place.
Actually, that made Jill smile. She took a few more seconds for the inquiry to marinate before declaring:
“She’s perfect.”
She hid her grin well. This girl was someone Jill thought she could manipulate. No doubt about it. The older balding gentleman closest stood up and approached Mazy, causing her to stand as well. He wiped some crumbs off of his lap as he stood, while the young girl pretended not to notice. He smiled wide as he extended his hand to her. “Welcome to License to Jill, Mazy.”
Mazy seemed to be on wobbly legs and holding back so much emotion as she shook his hand. She then took one more look at Jill and came undone.
“Oh EM GEE! I can’t believe this! Ohmygod this is like, such an honor! I watched you for the past year and you’re just unbelievable! You’re a role model to women everywhere! Such a boss!”
She continued jumping up and down until Jill stood and approached her. She leaned in and whispered “Save it for the show.”.
Mazy again tried to remain subdued as she shook Jill’s hand, and then left the room, almost in tears. Jill watched as the door shut behind her, before turning back to her team of producers again.
“Well, that was the wrong call. Jesus.”
She noticed now the producers looked a little uncomfortable. They kept nudging one another and whispering.
“What?”
One of them finally stepped forward. The yungest amongst them. He was only about thirty. Definitely the most well put together of them.
“Well, Miss Park…” He began. “Having you weigh in on the casting wasn’t the only reason we had you come down here. There has been an additional hire.”
Jill looked back at them, wearily.
“For what exactly?”
“Dionysus.
Over the past year our paths have crossed but a few times. As Affluenza intended to make its mark on the tag team division and Action Wrestling in general, The Vanguard was leading it’s way as Tag Team Champions. For two-hundred and eighty eight days, you and Downfall led the way. The longest reigning Tag Team Champions in the history of Action Wrestling.
But…
When you lost those belts, Downfall was still considered a top-tier talent. Downfall was still a former World Champion. Where did that leave you, Dion?
It left you nowhere.
When Downfall finally came to his sense, and he realized what it takes to get what he wants, you were left behind. Despite his encouragement, you wouldn’t share his very surreal world view, would you?
That is exactly why I can’t take this new ‘change in attitude’ seriously. This whole ‘Crimson Gladiator’ cosplay. You’re upset that things haven’t gone your way, huh? Sad that nobody takes you seriously after you’ve spent a year being little more than a Downfall cheerleader. Don’t take it the wrong way, Dion. I’m not about to stand here and prattle on and on about how you’re in Downfall’s shadow and the only reason you’ve ever amounted to anything in Action Wrestling.
Because I know. I know that’s what’s running through your mind every time you look in the mirror. You hear it every time you walk backstage; Every time you step from behind the curtain and out to the ring. I’m sure it’s ingrained in your fucking mind.
So one night, eventually…finally, you address the Action Wrestling faithful. You address the locker room. You say it ain’t the year of wine and roses. It ain’t time to be happy go lucky. You say what’s in your HEART and in your SOUL. You’re tired of playing second fiddle. You’re sick of being treated as the court jester. You say that’s not who you are. You’re a GLADIATOR. Is that right?
You take that big dick energy straight into your Turmoil match and, to everyone’s surprise, you actually find a way to WIN. Well, shit. You’re in Turmoil!
Then what do you do, Dion?
You tell Downfall. You tell THE WORLD that you’re the same guy. You’re still the same guy that’s all about cracking jokes and being chill, or whatever mind numbing bullshit you said.
You had me fooled for a minute, Dionysus. You really did. I thought maybe, just maybe you had begun taking this seriously. That maybe you saw Downfall being the lead pipe-wielding sicko, and you aspired to that. Or at least, you aspired to reach the same level of success and notoriety.
But no.
It was a lie. It was nothing more than lip service.
You want the success. You want the notoriety. You want to be taken seriously, but you don’t want to be serious. You don’t want to take THIS seriously. You don’t want to take ME seriously.
And I’ll tell ya, Dion. That’s the biggest fucking mistake you’ll EVER make. You wanna sit there and say, and think you’re gonna fucking joke your way through Action Wrestling, through the Wrestler of the Year tournament, through JILL FUCKING PARK?
I’ve spent that past year doing heavy soul-searching. I figured out what was truly important. What it took to reach the goals I’ve set for myself. I’ve taken this entire company BY STORM. I crawled out of the box that all of the so called ‘stars’ in this company wanted to trap me in. I stepped out from the shadow of those who came before me. I defied expectations. I overcame it ALL to become a DOUBLE CHAMPION as well as your 2022 All-In briefcase winner.
I’ve always taken this seriously.
Meanwhile, Dion the fool can flippantly decide when he’s serious. He can flip between court jester and gladiator.
Fucking bullshit.
You ain’t no fucking gladiator, Dion. You’re a fucking fraud.
And there is NO WAY I am ending this year by having a FRAUD remove me from the Wrestler of the Year tournament. There is no way that I am allowing it to happen. No way that I am LOSING in the first round of this tournament for a second straight year.
This has been my year. It has been my ascension. Turmoil last year was my greatest failure. My biggest and most public humiliation. But this year? It will be my greatest victory. I WILL become Wrestler of the Year. Then, I WILL become Action Wrestling World Heavyweight Champion. I’ve made it my mission to dominate Action Wrestling in 2022.
And I’m not finished yet.
Not by a long shot.”
The producers all looked increasingly nervous with each passing moment. None of them seemed to want to answer the question. This of course made Jill that most more erratic.
“Tell me.” She demanded.
Again, one of them stepped close towards her.
“Well…we needed to hire a consultant. Someone that knows the business, as well as being familiar with you, Miss Park.”
Jill backed up, just a step. She eyed him wearily.
Before either of them could say another word, there was loud knock on the door.
Jill slowly turned to face the door as it slowly creaked open.
“Are you fucking kidding me?”
Caylee Park stood in the doorway.
“Hi, Jill.” Caylee greeted her, with a smirk and a wink. Jill rushed past her, their shoulders bumping slightly.
The door slammed behind her.
“In the past twelve months, I’ve headlined in a World Championship match.
I won the first Hell in a Cell match on Clash.
I was the runner-up in Havoc.
2022 Glory winner. United States Champion.
I won the biggest Main Event in Clash history, and with it, the Women’s Championship.
I won All-In.
But for the longest time, this level of success was far from guaranteed. I was a laughing stock. I choked in big matches all of the time. I allowed it to happen, and that’s my biggest regret.
At Havoc, when I saw Carter Shaw celebrating his monumental win, I knew.
Something needed to change. Action Wrestling wasn’t going to fall in line because I said so. I needed to be that change.
I needed to smash my way to the top, and I don’t mean in the manner that Lissie Hope does.
I needed to be violent, unforgiving, and cold.
So that’s exactly what I did.
I changed the paradigm. I altered expectations and I put this entire company on notice. Dandy DiVito had one of the longest World title reigns in company history. Gerard Angelo won the title inside his first year in Action Wrestling.
Yet they BOTH pale in comparison to what I’ve accomplished; What I’ve done. The fact that I am ranked lower than them is of no surprise. It’s exactly the kind of thing I’ve been fighting against since day one. It is the constant DISRESPECT that I encounter. When Dandy was trying his best to embarrass me, do you think the offices of AW gave a shit? No. The only one that’s ever TRULY had my back, is myself.
That’s why Dionysus, your attitude is disappointing. More than anyone, I could understand the obstacles you face. You too are trying to step out of the shadows. Out from the shadow of Downfall. More and more though, it seems like you’re not prepared to do what it takes to accomplish that. You want to joke. You want to meme. You’re not serious about this, and that, more than anything else, is why you’ll fail.
You were right about one thing, though. This hasn’t been the year of wine and roses. It was never going to be. But don’t get it twisted: it’s not going to be the year of the ‘Crimson Gladiator’ either.
It’s gonna be the same year it’s been for the past eleven months.
The year of Jill Park.”
