Post by Tatiana on Nov 19, 2023 11:25:38 GMT -5
Prologue: Soy Boy (On Camera)
The more things change, the more they stay the same… Or, at least that’s what I’m starting to feel as I prepare for one more match against the biggest self-aggrandizing asshole in the wrestling business today.
The one, and thankfully only - Gerrard Angelo.
So, should we re-hash all the grievances created during my effort to defeat you for the United States Title last year? Perhaps discuss how you never seem to be able to get along without a handful of goons at your side to do your heavy lifting, or maybe even bring up the fact that you had to have your boys squash me to put my challenge of the U.S. title out of reach?
Or… Hear me out.
We could just get to the part where I call you a feckless prick with an egotistical complex so massive that you should be running for elected office as opposed to wrestling for a living.
Eh… It doesn’t really matter either way, does it?
It doesn’t change the fact that you and I hate each other.
Nor does it affect just how important CLASH is for both of us on Monday Night.
This isn’t about our past - or even our ongoing dislike for one another. It’s about advancing to the finals of Turmoil with the second most coveted award in the federation up for grabs. Everyone knows you hold the briefcase, guaranteeing you a World Championship challenge anytime, anywhere with no questions asked. And though the noble thing to do would be to use it to set the time, place, and stipulation.
We also know that decorum isn’t your strong suit.
And that’s fine, you’re entitled to your little cash in whenever you feel necessary. But if you think even for a moment that you’re going to be able to leverage some kind of cerebral advantage over me because you happen to have that stupid briefcase - then you’re sadly mistaken.
I said it last week, and I’ll say it again…
Bring it on, soy boy.
Anytime. Anywhere. Anyplace.
And if you're able to slither into a situation where you can take advantage of me, and win steal the title away. Then you’ll have to come to terms with my rematch clause and the fact that I’ll be getting a shot at you in a match that I’ll be ready, prepared, and adequately motivated for.
Which is a bad thing if you’ve managed to piss me off.
Just ask Jill Park.
She’s gone from a crown to a neck halo.
(Too soon?)
But hey, let’s talk about Turmoil.
Last week, I advanced into the semi-finals by defeating the AW United States Champion. The Sitcom is an absolute giant of a man who for all intents and purposes is a rising star in this business, nobody can take away the fact that he is a threat to the very top of the mountain so long as he stays injury-free and motivated. I won’t sit here and claim that the match was an easy one by any measure - hell, if you’re in the turmoil tournament, it means you’re already one of the very BEST in the world.
I did exactly what I said I would do when I walked into that fight. And as the most innovative submission wrestler on god’s green earth - I was able to leverage his size against him and put him away like he was the boy next door…
Or more adequately, his older sister.
Regardless, one big win over a HUGE man and I’ve moved into the semi-finals against everyone’s favorite frat boy… A self-involved prick who defeated an equally giant opponent with whom both of us are VERY familiar. Hell, our mutual dislike for Odin Balfore is about the only thing in the world Gerrard and I both agree on.
And yet, kindred spirits - we are NOT.
As far as I’m concerned, whether I was to meet Angelo or Balfore in the semi-finals only mattered to me so much as me using them as a steppingstone towards the ultimate goal of finishing 2023 as both the Action Wrestling Champion and AW wrestler of the year.
A goal that might have sounded inconceivable last November.
So, what’s the strategy against a known scoundrel and compulsive cheater?
It’s actually pretty simple. I’m going to go into our match with one goal in mind - and that’s to WIN. There are no distractions, no worries about that briefcase, and no desire to make this into anything but a Turmoil semi-final to remember.
It’s actually pretty simple. I’m going to go into our match with one goal in mind - and that’s to WIN. There are no distractions, no worries about that briefcase, and no desire to make this into anything but a Turmoil semi-final to remember.
And though Angelo is a god-damned weasel who uses his quick wit and ‘charm’ to distract everyone from his own insecurities… He’s also a more than capable wrestler in his own right. And let's not forget that he's a former World Champion to boot.
The possibility that he might actually wake up on Monday morning and choose to try and out-wrestle me as opposed to opting for the low-hanging fruit of making a mockery of Turmoil is the outcome we’re all hopeful for.
The possibility that he might actually wake up on Monday morning and choose to try and out-wrestle me as opposed to opting for the low-hanging fruit of making a mockery of Turmoil is the outcome we’re all hopeful for.
However, hope and expectation are two different things.
He and I have a HUGE opportunity (there’s that word again) to potentially put on the match of the year.
Not to mention adding even more grandeur and lore to the greatest tournament in pro wrestling.
All we need to do in order to make that happen is go out there and have an old-fashioned shooter vs shooter match with the better wrestler advancing into the finals. Our combined talent in the ring would almost guarantee a five-star rating out of Denzel Porter and have the whole industry buzzing for years to come.
But… Let’s face it.
Gerrard Angelo is likely too much of a coward for that.
And so, I suspect he will try to pull some sort of B.S. in an effort to put me away to send himself into the finals in my stead. I mean, his pride would absolutely swell over the prospect of dealing my dream year a deathblow by knocking me from this tournament, and maybe - with that briefcase of his - end my reign as AW World Champion.
God, I love this business… Where else can you go for drama this real?
Whatever may happen… You have my word that Monday Night is the start of something big. And despite all the drama that has hovered over this federation in the past month - including losing several high-profile stars to free agency - That we’re still the BEST wrestling federation on planet Earth - yes, we’ll miss a guy like Corey Black, or a gal like Serenity Holmes. But their exit only opens the door for a new class of stars to rise up and become future AW Legends.
And I plan to lead that class into this new era.
No matter what Angelo or anyone else has in store.
You have my word on that.
- - - -
ACT I: Fallibility (OFF CAMERA)
-riiiiing…..riiiing-
-riiiing….. riiing-
|You’ve reached the voicemail for Tatiana Greymore, if you have this number then I assume you’re important enough to me to leave a voicemail, and I’ll get back to you. Thanks!|
-beep-
“Hey TJ… It’s Charlie. I don’t know how to say this to you… But…” -sigh- “Well, maybe I should do this over voicemail. Can we meet someplace to talk, like… Alone? Please call me back, ok?”
|end voicemail|
Another beautiful sunny day here in Sacramento, California - and what a day it would be if she didn’t also have the whole world bearing down upon her all at once. Between the pressures of being the Action Wrestling Champion, trying to keep herself in Turmoil, and facing the prospect of this out-of-the-blue meeting with her ex-wife over what she was told is an urgent matter… Today has the prospect of being anything but sunny and bright.
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
Tatiana wondered quietly to herself as she sat in the hotel lounge. Surely this weekend was anything but ordinary - only a fool would actually think such a thing ahead of such a pivotal match against a guy like Gerard Angelo. Despite her outwardly confident dismissal of the threat his briefcase poses to her - Tatiana was anything but unconcerned about it.
What if he cashes in on Clash?
What if he has somebody help him to steal the title away?
What if he simply beats her outright and dents her credibility as champion?
There were so many potential outcomes, and it was human nature to assume the WORST was going to happen. Of course, it could go the opposite way - he could attempt to cash in and fail, thus losing the briefcase. He could get beat clean in the middle like she intended him to and put his credibility as a contender on the back burner.
“Here’s to hoping”
She mutters to herself in a mock toast before taking a sip of her Molson Canadian.
In truth, the possibilities were endless. And they were made more complicated by the fact that Angelo was such a weasel. He’s never been above taking shortcuts or downright cheating to achieve his goals - that’s what makes him so dangerous - He was a man with top-tier talent in the ring. One of the few in the business that could go toe to toe with anyone from any generation and have a real good chance of success. Couple that with his complete lack of shame and the fact that he’s always going for the win at any cost (and by any means) makes him a dangerous gambit in the ring.
“Can’t let him inside my head though…” She says to her beer bottle. “That prick would never pay rent.”
She had to look past his stupid wit and unreasonably prolific ability to be an asshole to everyone in his orbit. He was like that one jock in high school who thought that the best way to big himself up was by belittling everyone else. And for some reason, always had the biggest kid in class as his muscle on the playground.
What’s with the high school references?
Jesus Christ, she graduated 23 years ago.
After what she did to Jill Park - putting her on the shelf with a neck injury for at least a year, and possibly even ending her career - Angelo knows he’s not messing with the same Tatiana he’s used to.
Or at least he better know. Otherwise, he’s in for a rude surprise.
“I’m going to stretch that son of a bitch and make him tap out. This is my year, and I'll be damned if I let anyone knock me out of Turmoil or even steal my championship away.”
Her words were salty but also spoken under her breath lest she end up in the tabloids for talking crazy to herself in what amounts to a public bar. I could see it now | AW World Champion found delusional in a hotel bar | Angelo would NEVER let her hear the end of a headline like that.
-grumble, grumble-
“TJ?”
Her attention quickly shifted away from her beer bottle and onto the tall and beautiful form of her ex-wife, Charlee Venice. With a heavy gulp, she stood up to greet her with a friendly hug.
“Hey you… What’s up? What’s with the whole we need to talk thing? Is everything okay?”
Tatiana had so many questions. It was rare to hear from her ex - even despite them having a good relationship post-divorce. Still, the tone of her voice on the phone and the urgency of this meeting gave TJ room for nervous speculation.
What was going on?
Was Charlee in trouble?
What could this possibly be about?
“Okay…”
TJ sat back down in her chair, eyeing her ex as she took the seat across the small table from her. Charlee appeared reluctant, even forlorn as she fidgeted with her hands. It was a nervous habit that she'd always had - at least as long as Tatiana's known her...
The last time I saw her like this was the day she told me she wanted a divorce…
The mere recollection of that talk still makes my guts turn like a ball of razor blades.
The mere recollection of that talk still makes my guts turn like a ball of razor blades.
She said, reaching across the table to place a hand on Charlee's only to have her recoil and sit back in her chair, almost as if reluctant to talk about this despite having come all the way from Seattle to do so.
“A week ago, somebody I know… Who I consider to be reputable. Told me something that has been eating me up inside. I’ve spent the past week torn between talking to you about this and just staying out of it.”
What the hell was this all about?
“But… I… I decided that you deserved to know. But please, TJ… Please know that this comes from a place of love. I want you to be happy, and the thought of having to tell you this is killing me inside.”
“Jesus… What’s going on? You’re starting to scare me.”
“It’s about Hope.”
This caused a bit of a pause for TJ… This was about Hope?
What on earth could her fiancée have to do with anything in regard to her ex-wife?
This wasn’t a soap opera… Right?
“Oookay…?”
“Somebody I know, who works for Valkyrie Wrestling told me that Hope had a dalliance with one of her peers in the federation.”
A what? Dalliance… Okay, this wasn’t a big word, but the implications were what?
Exactly what did she mean by a ‘dalliance’ with one of her peers?
WHAT THE HELL WAS THIS ABOUT!?
“She cheated on you, TJ…”
Jolee’s gaze seemed to drift into space as the color drained from her… She must’ve looked like a ghost, sitting there in a trance.
What did Charlee just say? No… That can’t be true… It… No… God, no…
No…
“What? when?”
She came around enough to respond in what was almost a catatonic whisper - her gaze remaining fixed upon a vast empty space with the sound of her heart beating rhythmically in her ears.
“September… It was when they were in the United Kingdom.”
September…. Christ… That was only a couple of months ago.
“With who…?”
“I… I don’t think I should tell you that right now. Not until you’ve had time to process this…”
This was likely to save TJ from herself and prevent her from doing something irrational in a moment of shock. It didn’t really matter though, did it?
“Tatiana…”
This time it was Charlee reaching across the table to place a hand on hers.
“I’m so sorry… I hate this. I literally cried for a day for you. But I knew I couldn’t just stay silent.”
“How do you know your friend isn’t lying?”
She wanted desperately to believe that might be the case. What if this was all some sick asshole telling a lie for the sake of lying? Or maybe it’s an enemy of Hope’s looking to get revenge for a loss or something?
Yeah… That HAS to be it, right?
“Because they aren’t a wrestler, they work backstage and have nothing to gain from this. In fact, they have a real risk of losing their job over the disclosure.”
“So why tell you… For what reason?”
“Because they don’t want you to get married without knowing the truth.”
God, how could this be happening?
Was it because she wasn’t attractive enough?
Was she not good enough to keep Hope happy?
Maybe it’s the age thing?
Fuck… It’s probably that.
Hope must be seeing that she can do better than TJ.
That she could be with somebody in their 20’s and not their 40’s.
What did I do to push her away?
Why am I such a fuck up?
Tatiana’s mind began to race as she stood from the table. Charlee’s baby blue eyes were fixed upon her short figure with concerned curiosity. What was she going to do? How was she going to address this? WHAT IF IT WAS SOME HOAX? She prayed that it was some kind of sick joke - that it was just a rumor.
It would be so much easier that way…
“Are you ok?”
“No.”
She turned from the table.
“I have to go.”
“Tatiana…”
It was useless… She walked quietly and quickly out of the lounge, her eyes burning with indignation as she fought back her tears. It would be best to be alone now… To turn her phone off, and just disappear into her hotel room.
FOCUS on Clash
FOCUS on Turmoil
Try to forget about everything else.
God, life sucks…