|
|
Post by The BombTrax on Jul 9, 2016 3:16:04 GMT
One (1) Role Play Max
Final Role Play Deadline: Wednesday July 20th, 2016 @ 10:59 PM CST
Segment Deadline: Tuesday, July 19th, 2016 @ 11:59 PM CST
Opening Bout {When The PAW Debuts Attack!} Five Way Match Caroline O'Hara Burchill versus Roscar versus Hunter Storms versus Black Jack Colter versus Anastasia Hayden |
|
|
|
Post by roscar on Jul 19, 2016 13:40:02 GMT
Location: Louisiana, New Orleans
-The shithole I call home-
***6 days before***
A nearly empty parking lot is shown. It's dark and the only things in this parking lot are an old car and a probably abandoned motorcycle. Suddenly, a motorcycle can be seen entering the parking lot. A tall, muscular man, wearing a Dead Kennedy's T-shirt is the rider of the Harley Davidson.
He gets of the bike and he starts walking towards the other end of the parking lot, where the entrance of a really old condo is located. The condo looks like it's abandoned. Graffitis and broken windows are dominant in its facade. The man seems rather dissapointed.
Roscar: "What the fuck? This is where I am supposed to leave? Really?"
Roscar gets a piece of paper out of his pocket. He checks, if the adress is correct and when he's sure that he is in the right place, he tosses the paper away furiously.
Roscar: "Bullshit! That's the place, that a Greek God, like me will live. Unfortunately, the closure of BFW was destructive for me. I lost my one and only job. I was nearly homeless. But, I didn't want to quit on wrestling. I know, that I have what it takes to make it in this bussines. I have all those
things that the others lack. And that's why I decided to keep doing, what I love, what I was meant to do for my whole life. Wrestling! Anyway, this is the best I can afford for now. I guess I'll live with it."
He grabs his handbags from the back of his bike and gets inside the building. Inside the lobby, a bearded man can be seen. He is sitting on a chair, watching TV. An empty glas of whiskeybis besides him. He didn't notice Roscar entering.
Roscar: "Hey man! Are you some kind of doorman of this shithole? 'Cause, if you are, I'll need your help."
The man gets up and he's clearly frustrated, that Roscar disrupted him. He gets close to Roscar and says:
Doorman: "Yeah, I'm the doorman, but I was watching Tv and you fucking ruined it for me. What do you want, you bastard? You're the new guy?"
Roscar approaches the doorman. He's pretty angry. Suddenly, he grabs the doorman from his shirt's collar and lifts him so he can look him straight in his eyes.
Roscar: "Call me bastard again and I swear to God, that I will kick your ass, so hard, that I'll break every single bone of your fucking body. Got that?"
Doorman: "Easy man, easy! You seem really familiar to me. Are you someone I might know?"
Roscar puts down the doorman and relaxes.
Roscar: "I'm the Greek God Roscar. The best professional wrestler. And yeah, I'm the new guy here."
Doorman: "Oh yeah, you were in BFW, right? You were in that team... what was its name? I can't remember now."
Roscar: "Hydra... That was the name, Hydra and we were ready to bring a FUCKING revolution to the wretling industry. But the closure of BFW, ruined our plans. We decided to take separate ways, so I'll try my luck in the singles division."
Doorman: "Where did you sign? PAW? I heard it's a quality promotion amd as far as I know it's only wrestling promotion in this area."
Roscar starts looking around the room, searching for something, as he speaks with the doorman.
Roscar: "Yeah, I heard that PAW is a really good promotion and I came here to see how things are. Lots of people from BFW joined PAW too, so it is a new challenge for me. A new place to thrive. A new place to dominate. When BFW closed, I was nearly homeless. I had nothing. So, I decided that PAW is the place, where I'll prove my talent to everyone. This is the perfect chance for me, as I have nothing to lose, but a whole world to win. At the next PAW show, I have a match against some other newcomers. I know some of them, like Jack Colter and Hunter Storms from BFW. I'll be ready to fight and win this match. I've been working out and I'm looking forward to my return inside the rings. And all I want is a win for my debut at PAW. It wiil ne an interesting match for sure."
Roscar is still looking around the room, searching for something.
Doorman: "You're looking for something?"
Roscar: "Do you have any alcohol over here? Any beers? Whiskey? Anything? I need some alcohol, even a little bit."
Doorman: "Wait a second. I've got some whiskey."
The doorman approaches his old dusty chair. He reaches under the chair and gets a bottle of whiskey.
He goes to bring a glass, but Roscar immediately grabs the bottle and starts drinking from it. He takes a few sips and then he hands it back to the doorman reliefed.
Doorman: "You have a match at the next PAW show and you drink whiskey?"
Roscar: "I can't hold my self. I need some alcohol every day. I just can't help it! But, when I have a match, I try to reduce the amount of alcohol I drink. I try to not get wasted every day. Anyway, you'll show me my appartement?"
Doorman: "Sure! Follow me."
The doorman walks towards the old dusty stairs and Roscar follows him. He seems surprised.
Roscar: You don't have a fucking elevator? Really? What a dump!"
Doorman: "That's all you can pay for. So don't complain".
|
|
|
|
Post by Hunter Storms on Jul 20, 2016 1:10:04 GMT
Location: Boston,MA
Time: 6:45 a.m.
Date: 7/16/16
Sounds of rustling and things bumping radiate in the black screen. A muffled voice constantly talks,but the words are inaudible. After a few more minutes,color fills the screen as a hand is drawn back from the screen,revealing the silent Hunter Storms. A bandage is on his forehead,more than likely protecting a cut he suffered. After taking the time to adjust more things around him,he takes a seat in front of the camera,but a unsure look sits upon his face. Taking the time to think things through,he takes out his phone,now going into a habit of constantly flicking his thumb against the screen. About five minutes pass,before he tosses the phone aside and picks up one of his Kinnikuman mangas. Upon picking it up though,he looks up at the camera and a look of realization pops up on his face before he readjusts himself in his seat,manga still in hand. After about another minute of him clearing his throat,he begins to address the camera.
“Bloody hell,where do I start on this...” He clears his throat once more. “Hello to all fans of Pure Amusement Wrestling.”
He tries to hold a smile on his face,but instead he presses his face into this hands.
“That has got to be one of the most bland intros I've ever done for myself. “He looks back up at the camera,resting his chin in the palm of his hand,pondering what to say instead of the terrible intro he just gave. “I never really was good at introducing myself,I would always be the quiet one in a conversation or watching two people argue.....pfft,what's the point of me babbling about that.” He takes one last look at the camera before inhaling and exhaling a deep sigh.
“My name is Hunter Storms. A freelance wrestler who isn't much for talking,but I had to get this done in order to give you fans some background. I recently joined the company following some drama that forced the previous company I was with to shut down. It wasn't a happy week,hell I wasn't even able to make my in ring debut for the company,I just showed up for one show,and next thing I knew the place just shut down without warning.”
He wipes away at some of the sweat that begins to perspire from his forehead,he almost seems a bit nervous to even continue talking as his gaze turns to the floor. Another exhalation of a deep breath rolls through as he looks back up at the camera.
“Believe it or not,I actually do come from a wrestling family......sorta. My father was a well known wrestler when this huge group known as the National Wrestling Council took over in the '90s. I was probably no more than five when all of this started going down. I just remember turning on the television and just seeing nothing but wrestling being broadcasted.” “This is what caused me to become a wrestler. I wanted to follow in my father's footsteps,become a world champion,and possibly even become a hall of famer in a company. I've already accomplished one of those things,but uh.......the future holds the key to whether or not I obtain the glory I seek in the industry. It holds whether I'll go down a legend remembered by fans as a man who won countless titles,awards,known for his wrestling style and technique in the ring,or I'll go down as a man who failed to reach his potential and possibly end up working in some lousy office space just make ends meet. Not like I'm already doing that though in this business.” He slightly chuckles to himself at the thought of what he just said,but soon enough his serious demeanor returns as he clears his throat.
“Jeez,where do I go next from here......” He scratches the back of his head as he turns his gaze away from the camera,debating on what to say next. Wanting to not look awkward enough,he opens up the Kinnikuman manga and starts flipping through it,but can't seem to find his composure as he eventually tosses it off screen before pressing his face into his hands again. “Why is this so difficult for me to get over with. I swear others make this look so much easier than it actually is,either way I need to get this done.” He looks up at camera hesitantly before fumbling around with something in his jeans pocket,eventually pulling out a folded piece of paper. Unfolding it,his eyes scan each line that becomes visible to his eyes and his demeanor changes ever so slightly,but it still seems the same. At the same time he checks his watch,his eyes widen at the time. “Damn it,I'll have to finish on the road. Sorry folks,looks like I won't finish this till I'm on the road.”
He hurriedly grabs a duffel bag from off screen and grabs a hold of the camera before shutting it off.
Location: Baton Rouge,LA
Time: 8:30 p.m.
Date: 7/17/16
The camera opens up to a dashboard view of Storms who does his best to adjust the positioning of the camera and ensures that it doesn't fall off while he drives,the same piece of paper from earlier sits idly in the passenger seat. The dark skyline sits in the background through his rear window as sounds of traffic driving by are heard in the background. After taking one last minute to ensure the camera is balanced enough on the dashboard,he begins to pull out of lot he was parked in. “Okay,I apologize for the sudden ending from earlier,but I realized I needed to get myself moving so I can make the show,anyway where was I in telling the story......ah,that's the right,the match that's coming up.” At that moment,he picks up the paper from the passenger seat and quickly scans his eyes over it before putting it back down.
“So I've been told that my first match,is a Fatal Five Way.......Five Man.......screw it,it's a five man free for all from what I've been told. It's me,and four other people who recently signed up with the promotion and I'm under the assumption that we were all looking for some work.....well at least two of the people I've been scheduled in the match with. Those two being “The Greek God” Roscar and Jack Colter. I had formerly been apart of the BFW roster with those two,and I'll admit,I did like some of matches I had seen done by them from previous months,despite I was only there for about two-three weeks,I still enjoyed being there. Yet,that's not the case anymore. I now have to step in the ring against these two competitors in order to prove that I have the potential to put in work here at PAW.” A loud car horn interrupts as he drives through an intersection,a look of anger briefly appears before he shakes his head and returns his focus to driving.“Damn where was I.....oh yeah. Roscar and Jack aren't the only people I have to worry about going into this match. Two other competitors,who I have never heard of in the slightest,are being tossed in with us for this match. All I know is that they were highly praised in the other promotions they worked in. I mean congrats to you and all,but that doesn't mean anything going into a match that contains five people,and the crowd you're wrestling in front of knows nothing about you.”
“What we've been assigned to do,is put on a fiery opening contest so this crowd and company know what we're here bring to their table. We didn't join for pure banter,we all joined for one simple reason,and that's to spread our reputation as superstars in this business. I know what I'm saying may sound absolutely cheesy to some people,but what I'm telling is the truth.”
He briefly glimpses to his side,before pulling the car over to the side in order to avoid the traffic before he resumes speaking.
“I started out in a place where it used to be big,but boy did that place spiral out of control and I feel like I had done everything I could've done to possibly save that place,but by then it was way,way too late to even save the ticket sales of that place. That was a sign that I needed to start freelancing in order to find better work,and it certainly has paid off for a reputation boost. You won't get far in the business unless you spread your rep through other companies,or hone your skills somewhere else. That's what I'm here to do,that is why I came here. I want to be a top tier superstar so I will be well known in this industry. want to live up to my father's legacy,and I plan to continue living up to it at Wicked #15. I'll see you all there,until then,take care and be safe.”
He grabs the video camera off the dashboard before abruptly turning it off,ending the recording. |
|
|
|
Post by Black Jack on Jul 21, 2016 1:56:46 GMT
Don't You Forget About Me
Off Camera
♪ Won't you come see about me?
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby ♪A splitting headache awakens Jack Colter from his dirt nap. He opens his eyes to the blazing sun beating down on him and sits up groggily, holding his temple in obvious discomfort. His ears are ringing so hard that he can't barely hear Simple Mind serenading him with "Don't You (Forget About Me)" in the distance. ♪ Tell me your troubles and doubts
Giving me everything inside and out and
Love's strange so real in the dark
Think of the tender things that we were working on ♪Jack sticks a finger in his ear and jostles it around before looking down at the ground to find himself in a ditch. A cool breeze blows through his hair, carrying a scent of smoke with it. Jack Colter: "The fuck?"Colter rolls over onto his knees and begins to push himself to his feet. A sharp pain shoots up his right leg as he stands and Jack faceplants back into the ditch, his cry of agony only muffled by the dirt in his mouth. ♪ Slow change may pull us apart
When the light gets into your heart, baby ♪Colter spits out the dirt in his mouth and sees car tail lights in the distance. Gritting his teeth, Jack looks behind him to see his ankle bent sideways, then chomps down on the neckband of his t-shirt and crawls forward. ♪ Don't you, forget about me
Don't, don't, don't, don't
Don't you, forget about me ♪The music grows louder as Jack pulls himself up onto the road, inching closer to the vehicle. He finally gets close enough to get a good look at the plates. It's his own car. ♪ Will you stand above me?
Look my way, never love me
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down ♪
Gaining little headway, Jack eventually decides to bite the bullet and try to stand again. He pushes himself up and puts all his weight on his left leg before staggering forward, dragging his limp left ankle on the asphalt, leaving a red line running parallel with the white line on the side of the road.
♪ Will you recognize me?
Call my name or walk on by
Rain keeps falling, rain keeps falling
Down, down, down, down ♪Jack collapses in a heap once he gets within five feet of the vehicle. The vehicle is running and appears to have careened into a tree just off the side of the road. ♪ Hey, hey, hey, hey
Oohooohoooohwoh ♪Having crawled to the open driver's side door of the vehicle, Jack pulls himself up to stand on his left foot again. ♪ Don't you try and pretend
It's my feeling we'll win in the end
I won't harm you or touch your defenses
Vanity and security ♪Jack stares across the vehicle in a stupor at a man with his head resting on the dashboard. ♪ Don't you forget about me
I'll be alone, dancing you know it baby
Going to take you apart
I'll put us back together at heart, baby ♪Jack reaches across the vehicle and tilts the man's head up and screams in terror. ♪ Don't you, forget about me
Don't, don't, don't, don't
Don't you, forget about me ♪Jack Colter: "Nonononono no! Frank?! Frank!!"Jack pulls away from his tag team partner's lifeless body and stares at his bloody hands. He stumbles out of the car and falls onto the ground, his screams drowned out by the song paying on the car stereo. ♪ As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
As you walk on by
Will you call my name?
When you walk away ♪Jack jolts awake to be met with the eyes of his psychologist, Dr. Sawyer. The doctor is fervently snapping her fingers in Black Jack's face. Dr. Sawyer: "Jack? Hello? Jack?"Jack Colter: "Hmm?"Dr. Sawyer: "It's time for our session to begin."With a shake of his head, Jack springs to his feet and lazily wipes the saliva dripping from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. The doctor smirks and points toward her office door. Dr. Sawyer: "Follow me."She heads toward the door and Colter trails behind her, lurching across the waiting room like a zombie on Xanax. The doctor holds the door for Jack, studying the old grappler as he walks slowly past her. Dr. Sawyer: "Trouble sleeping again?"Jack yawns as he plops down onto the chaise lounge. Jack Colter: "Nah."Jack blinks a few more times to clear the cobwebs and allows himself to slump back into the chaise lounge. Comfortable, it is not, but he can find respite in any seat at the moment. Dr. Sawyer sits down opposite him in a leather chair and gives Jack a knowing look. When Jack offers no further explanation, the doctor crosses her legs and begins to scribble notes on the clipboard resting on her lap. Dr. Sawyer: "As you know, with BFW's pending closure, this will be the last session you will be obligated to attend. If you have had any new developments, now is the time to let me know. This will help ensure that you will get the best care for your needs at your next place of employment."Jack Colter: "Noted."Colter checks his watch. It mocks him by seemingly moving in slow motion. Dr. Sawyer: "Let's run down the checklist then. Have you experienced any blackouts recently?"As Dr. Sawyer flips the page on her forms, Jack straightens up in his chair. He instinctively reaches toward his collar to tighten the knot of a tie that isn't there. These things always felt more like a deposition than a mental health evaluation. Jack Colter: "Would I know if I had?"Dr. Sawyer scribbles down some more notes. Normally Jack would crack wise about his hatred for those pen strokes but today he is too exhausted to say anything. Suddenly Dr. Sawyer sets her pen down and looks up at Jack. Dr. Sawyer: "I hadn't thought to ask. Where are you headed next? Do you have any leads?"She's trying to make small talk. Jack hated small talk. Colter shrugs his shoulders and holds his palms upright. Jack Colter: "Charlie Abernathy was my public relations liaison."Sawyer nods curtly. Dr. Sawyer: "The foul-mouthed, chauvinistic, compulsive liar with the nicotine-stained teeth? That Charlie Abernathy?"Jack Colter: "That's the one. Ironing out contracts - that was Charlie's bag and, uh--"
Dr. Sawyer: "And the last time you saw Charlie, you were holding a gun to his head."Jack Colter: "Well, when you say it that way..."The doctor shakes her head, annoyed. Dr. Sawyer: "After all these years in the business, you don't have any contacts? No one you can call?"Jack Colter: "I'm not what you'd call a 'people person'."Dr. Sawyer: "I wish I could help. I really do. But the only contacts I have in your business went down with Brutal Force Wrestling."Jack Colter: "Oh, don't worry about me, doc. I'll figure something out."Dr. Sawyer: "Any updates on the progress of your appeal?"Jack shakes his head. Jack Colter: "I was using Adler's attorneys. His attempt of keeping me focused on the business, I suppose... for all the good that did. Now that BFW is sunk, he has no reason to continue to help me. Millionaires don't stay millionaires by giving out handouts."Sawyer's eyes suddenly widen. Dr. Sawyer: "I just remembered. I might have someone who can help you out."Jack Colter: "I think I'm done with lawyers."Dr. Sawyer: "Not a lawyer."Dr. Sawyer lifts her wrist and studies her watch. Dr. Sawyer: "I'll be right back."Jack sighs and drops his head back onto the cushion of the chaise lounge. Soon enough, a creak at the door interrupts his count of the ceiling tiles. Dr. Sawyer: "Jack, I believe you know my next client."Colter looks up to see a stout older gentleman in a bright blue madras suit and matching sunglasses standing alongside the doc. Jack Colter: "Franchise?"Bobby Franchise shoots his trademark finger gun at Black Jack with a click of the tongue. Jack pushes himself out of the chaise lounge and onto his feet. Jack Colter: "Client, huh? What's your damage? Flashbacks to the Korean War?"Bobby Franchise: "Sex addiction."Bobby winks at Dr. Sawyer, whom blushes and looks down to the floor. Jack turns away and retches over the trash can. Jack Colter: "I'm sorry I asked."Jack spits in the trash and wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. Bobby Franchise: "Heard you're on the job hunt. I might have just the spot."Jack Colter: "Why are you helping me? What do you get out of this?"Bobby Franchise: "To put it bluntly, I've been in your position before. Hard to believe, but yes, at one point The Franchise was considered virtually unhireable due to mental health concerns. Deemed an insurance risk. Most suits are afraid to take that risk. I'm going to get you in front of some people who aren't."The Franchise removes his sunglasses and rests them atop his shiny bald head. Bobby Franchise: "I look at you and see a man who's desperate to do right by his fallen friend's family. Maybe that's enough for me."Bobby nods his head, causing his sunglasses to fall back over his eyes. Bobby Franchise: "That and 10%."Jack squints at the old man. Bobby Franchise: "Hey, millionaires don't stay millionaires by giving handouts."A gleam of terror flashes in Jack's eyes as Bobby utters the phrase he'd used before. Dr. Sawyer bursts into laughter. Jack Colter: "Goddamn, I'm getting old."Bobby Franchise: "So...Ever been to Louisiana?"Jack Colter: "It's been years."Bobby Franchise: "Better pack your bug spray."
New Again
On Camera "You've got a fresh slate, kid. How do you feel?""You've got your thumb over the camera."A white flash splashes across the screen before the camera is able to refocus itself on Jack Colter. Jack has his arms folded and he's staring at the man holding the camera with a tepid facial expression. Jack Colter: "Why are you filming this like it's your daughter's quinceañera again?"Bobby Franchise: "Trust me. The kiddos love this behind-the-scenes shit. They're gonna eat it up."Jack Colter: "And certainly you're always in the know on all the latest trends."Jack cocks his head sideways as he looks below the camera. Bobby tilts the camera downwards to reveal his lavender and sky blue floral-patterned suit, then darkness. Bobby Franchise: "You mean this? This is ageless."Jack Colter: "They only say that about old things. And your thumb is covering the camera again."Another white flash and the camera focuses in on Jack Colter a little closer now. Bobby Franchise: "Let's get back to the topic at hand. You've just signed a deal with PAW and you will be competing in the opener at Wicked #15. How's it feel to start over?"Jack narrows his eyes on the camera as a vein threatens to burst on his brow line. Jack Colter: "I've never been afraid of starting over. In fact, I've wished for nothing more on many different occasions."Jack unfolds his arms. Jack Colter: "See, when you've done the things I've done, or rather the things I've been accused of, you begin to get a certain reputation. Public perception is a bitch, especially in today's 24 hour news cycle. There's no time to fact check and so these things snowball. You could go from a simple DUI charge to being a drug kingpin in a day without ever stepping off your front lawn. That word spreads, whispering campaigns ensue, and soon enough you find yourself blackballed by half of the companies in the south."Jack stares into the distance as Bobby gets real intimate with the zoom feature on his camera phone. Jack Colter: "You know, I initially made my name as a tag team competitor down in these parts."Bobby follows Jack with the camera as Jack steps out onto a pier and looks into the water as a fishing boat crosses the lake. Jack Colter: "I was convinced that I'd burnt every bridge I'd ever crossed around here. There was a time when I thought I'd never return. But I guess when you've burnt too many bridges, you invest in a boat."Colter turns around to look head on at the camera once more. Jack Colter: "To my four opponents, I'm not going to stand here and give you a list of accolades to try to convince you I'm a threat. I'll let you find out for yourselves inside that ring. I've lived beneath the shadow of my own reputation for far too long. I think it's about time to step into the spotlight and prove that the man is bigger than the myth."Jack smiles genuinely as he heads back to the car. The smile is a peculiar look on him, almost as if he's using muscles he hasn't used in a long time. |
|
|
|
Post by Caroline O'Hara Burchill on Jul 21, 2016 2:44:46 GMT
A COMEBACK CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING...
Sure, Caroline may have never had the chance to wrap a championship belt around her waist. That much she knew. She was fully aware of that. It would've been nice to cap off her XWF run with her holding a title above her head for the masses to see, but she wasn't going to complain about it. There was no point in her crying about the fact that she lost every #1 contender match that she had been a part of as it wouldn't change anything. However, that was all in the past.
Now, she had the chance to start over and rebuild her career from the ground up in P.A.W.
Joining Pure Amusement Wrestling was like a fresh sheet of paper for Caroline O'Hara Burchill. She could create a new story where she can scribble down all of the eventual good fortune and accolades that she would receive later on in her career. However, before she can place the point of her pen down on the paper, she had a debut match coming up - and she had to win it.
First impressions are vital for an individual. It's what can turn a wrestler into either a potential prospect or a piece of shit, and for Caroline, she greatly preferred to be the former rather than the latter. Heading into this match, Caroline was fully aware of what needed to be accomplished, and she wanted to start off with a bang by emerging victorious in her match. Losing was not an option at all. She had been in the eyes of the professional wrestling world before, and she wanted to recapture the attention of everyone come Thursday night.
The Queen has finally arrived in P.A.W, and her reign will be a remarkable one for all to witness.
 this is my revival. The day thus far had been one filled with stress and labor. A ridiculous amount of boxes occupied the small studio apartment, so much so that one would have to meticulously traverse through the sea of cardboard boxes just so that they could get around the damn place. It was all just a unnecessary hassle for Caroline, who seemed to be swallowed up whole by everything. She hated moving. In fact, she preferred it if she were able to go back to her beloved condo in New York City. It was much more inviting and reflective of the Aussie's lavish taste than this shithole that she had to preoccupy. However, Amy suggested to her that it would be for the best if she were move to Louisiana as that was where Pure Amusement Wrestling was based out of. At first, Caroline was a bit hesitant as she didn't want to go through the process of leaving her beautiful condo behind. However, after so much begging and nagging from Amy, she finally decided to pack up everything and bring her new life with her to the Pelican State.
Now, she was quite possibly regretting everything. Unfortunately for Caroline, there was nothing she could do. She already drove 1,378 miles to get here, and she already wasted close to six hours unpacking, organizing and adjusting all of her belongings. She might as well just stay here.
By the time Caroline took out the last item from a cardboard box, her back was aching and a thin veil of sweat covered her entire face. It was hot and she was completely exhausted. Her back came in contact with a wall and Caroline slowly slid herself down to sit on the floor, closing her eyes as she took the time to collect herself. Gather her thoughts. Understand why she was here and what compelled her to return to this type of profession.
What has actually been a year seemed like an eternity. It was almost as if she hadn't stepped inside a wrestling ring for such a long time. Months would pass on by, and Caroline completely distanced herself from professional wrestling. She hadn't watched any of it during hiatus, nor did she care to do so at the time. Back then, Caroline was exhausted mentally and couldn't subject herself to seeing everyone else being more successful than her. She didn't want to acknowledge the fact that despite everything she has done or said, she has yet to claim championship gold. It was disheartening to her for a long time, but eventually, the desire to return to the ring manifested within her and she couldn’t resist. She contacted her agent about it and the two desperately looked for wrestling companies that would be interested in hiring her. Majority of them turned her down, citing that Caroline was someone that would be a “bad representation” for them. However, there would be one federation that actually took interest in her: P.A.W. Sure, it may not be a major wrestling promotion that everyone from around the world would know about, but it was a nice little place for Caroline to regain her place in the wrestling industry. Besides, the fed boasts to have some of the best wrestlers in the world working for it, and with the recent wave of wrestlers that were coming in, it was clear to see why.
Of course, in Caroline’s mind, she thought that she alone greatly contributed to the steady rise of competition and star power that the fed possessed. However, Caroline would soon have to realize that she would need to put in a lot of hard work if she ever wanted to climb up the ranks of the P.A.W roster. While she may think of herself as someone who is an impeccably gifted athlete, she would need to show her talent off and solidify herself as a viable competitor. In just a couple of days, she would be making her P.A.W debut, and Caroline knew first hand that impressions are everything.
Slowly opening her eyes, the Aussie let out a sigh and wiped away the thin layer of sweat from her face with the back of her hand, getting up to look down at the item that was in her other hand. It was just a simple photograph of Caroline alongside Shawn, her older brother. She was wearing a simple T-shirt paired with leggings, knee pads and wrestling boots. Her brother was wearing a similar attire, and the two were smiling into the camera as they were hugging one another. The picture was taken during Caroline’s first training session with Shawn. She remembered how excited she was when she got the opportunity to have her very first pro wrestling class, and she was even more ecstatic at the fact that her dream of becoming a professional wrestler would finally come true.
Upon looking at the photograph, a soft smile graced the face of Caroline as she recalled the emotions that she had been experiencing at the time. Though, interestingly enough, she felt the exact same way about her P.A.W debut. It was as if she had been granted a new lease on life; another chance to showcase what she was capable of. It was almost as though she had risen from a grave that buried her in failure and she had been rejuvenated by the idea of success. She no longer had that heavy weight on her shoulders. She no longer had that dirt that had been dragging her name mercilessly. Now, she had been revived. Reincarnated. Reinvigorated.
She was more than prepared to get what is rightfully hers. Soon, everyone would be taking note of her, and she will become the greatest fucking wrestler to have ever laced up a pair of boots. “The best is the enemy of good.”
― Voltaire ♚ PRAY YOU BEAT ME  "It feels damn good to be back." Those words ring out as the scene slowly fades in to a woman with her back faced to the camera. The sequin-silver stars that were painted on the midnight velvet canvas of the sky winked down upon her, giving her an ethereal-like glow. She stood before a calm lake, almost as though she was admiring the beauty of the scenery that was within her line of sight. Soon, the woman turned around and she revealed herself to be none other than Caroline O'Hara Burchill. Her rosy-mauve lips curved upward into a curt little smirk as she chuckled lightly, placing her hands within the distressed denim jeans that she was clad in. She took the time to breathe in the summer night's air and sighed blissfully before looking back into the camera; the smirk that was etched across her face never leaving the Australian's face for a single second."It's odd, isn't it? I'm quite certain that many of you weren't expecting to see me at all. Of course, that's just an educated guess as the entire internet nearly broke as I stated that I would be emerging from the shadows of my hiatus and return to being a full-time professional wrestler after taking a year off. As a matter of fact, some people were even convinced that I was retired. It was such a shocking, but momentous event as I proclaimed that I would come back, and here I am standing before you all. This is not a joke nor some petty little prank. What you are currently seeing is not a figment of your imagination. I, Caroline O'Hara Burchill, have returned, and I can assure you with the utmost confidence that I am more than ready to leave a permanent mark in this sport."“I missed it all. I missed every damn thing about this. The adrenaline that flows within my system; the feeling of superiority and the satisfactory feeling of having my hand raised. It was something so delectable that I craved, and I loved every single bit of it all. I couldn’t get enough of it. I wanted nothing more but to further stomp out my competition and forge my own path of success. I wanted nothing more but to feel the weight of a coveted championship and bask in the impending fame that I would garner. However… that never really happened for me.”Caroline shrugged, sighing once more as she continued on with what she had to say.“Unfortunately, I had to step away from the ring for a while. So much has happened and it required me to reluctantly take a break from it all. Injuries, personal drama, just pretty much everything underneath the damn sun. You think I actually wanted to take a break from something that I was so passionate about?”She slowly shook her head, scoffing.“I had no choice. I had to step back and take care of what needed to be taken care of… and clearly, I did all of that. You see, we will all experience challenging times. We will all come across something that may place us in unfortunate circumstances. It will momentarily hold us back, but eventually, every problem will go away. The vices that once plagued me and attempted to hold me back are now gone. Now, I can assert myself into something that I love again, and this time, I’m coming back better than ever before. I now have the opportunity to rebuild my kingdom and fortify it so that it can withstand anything. I can now go back to my quest of obtaining glory and gold, for I am more determined and dead set on claiming what is rightfully mine. I am here, and I will do whatever is necessary for me to ensure that I am able to successfully craft a legacy that will stand through the test of time. The Queen will take her rightful place on the throne, and those who oppose me will have to face the ramifications of their reckless defiance. I am fully prepared to take on anyone, and I will show to the whole world that I haven't missed a single beat at the upcoming Wicked event. What better way to showcase my superiority than to decimate four other worthless and pathetically insignificant scoundrels that stand in my way." Caroline chuckled, seemingly amused at the words that came out of her."Hunter Storms, Roscar, Black Jack Colter and Anastasia Hayden. My poor, defenseless and inferior little crumb cakes. I'm sure the four of you think that your name matters, right? I bet the four of you were coming into Pure Amusement Wrestling with the preconceived allusion that you can become a major player here and be the face of the company. I can imagine how giddy you all were when you signed your names on the dotted lines, foolishly thinking that you can somehow be the best. Unfortunately for you all, you have been placed in a very troubling predicament that will greatly hinder you. You see, you four are set to do battle with someone that is the literal personification of perfection. I have come from a major company where I have proven how much of a skilled talent I am. Hell, I haven't won a fucking title, but the entire world seemed to care more about me signing with P.A.W than the four of you at all. That's because I'm a well-established name in our sport, and I don't even need to have a pretty little belt to be considered relevant. My presence in itself is commanding and people automatically know who I am. Meanwhile, the rest of you are coming from failing companies, desperately feeding off the scraps of what used to be successful careers for you all. So, you've carried your woes here to P.A.W, believing that you can revive your careers or seek some kind of way to further validate yourselves. It's pitiful, but it's also tragically cute.""Let's start off with the Brutal Force Wrestling Butt Buddies: Roscar, Hunter Storms and Black Jack Colter. The Dynamic Trio of Dipshittery are coming from having relatively mundane careers with the now-defunct company. I can definitely proclaim that I have had more number one contender matches than the three of these degenerates combined. I'm not even joking. These three have not done anything significant or important during their abysmal runs in BFW. Roscar has never won a BFW title, Colter lost in his last championship match at the company's final event, and Storms couldn't even get in a fucking match before the damn promotion closed its doors. I mean... wow. You can't get any more pathetic than that."
"What's even more baffling is that Roscar and Hunter Storms have been champions before in their careers, but for whatever ludicrous reason, they have been unable to reach that same kind of pedestal that they had been on at some point in the past. Again, look at their recent body of work. It's absolutely saddening that two people who had been champions before can never reach that kind of limelight again. As for Colter, well... he's just fucking shit. He has some experience in the sport, but he has yet to feel the weight of a gold belt within his grasp."Caroline sighed and shook her head disappointingly, pinching the bridge of her nose. However, she placed her hand back in her pocket and continued on with what she had to say."Speaking of people who have not won a championship within a failing company, I have to bring up Ms. Anastasia Hayden herself. For the past six months Anastasia has had a fairly good track record, yet she hasn't won a significant title at all in her career. Not that she hasn't earned her chance at having a title match, but she couldn't even get the chance to set a single foot into the match because she got fired. Some may consider my attitude to be disgraceful, but even I haven't placed myself in such a disparaging situation where the management of a fed decided to release me. Someone would have to be the spawn of Satan in order to get themselves thrown into a pot of boiling water like that. Though, I'm pretty sure that Hayden is just going to shield the unfortunate events of her career with rose-colored glasses and think that she'll still have what it takes to be a dominant force here. She's more than likely going to ignore that simple fact that looms over her to this very day... and even though she's going to go on her soap box and claim how invincible she is, she's just like any other person that has flaws in them."The young Aussie laughed lightly, rolling her eyes before retaining her snide smirk.
"Beyond the fact that these people haven't won a championship within their respective promotions, they are also a bunch of untalented and generic wrestlers who have no impressive skills or techniques to them. I, on the other hand, have the tools necessary to destroy each and every single last one of them. My technical abilities are unmatched, my speed cannot be halted, and I can use every trick in the trade to outwit them in the match. I'm not only an amazingly gifted wrestler, but I can use everything at my disposal to overwhelm them and place them in holds that are damn near inescapable. I can exploit any weakness, and once I can exploit that weakness I will use it to my advantage. Go look at the many matches that I've had over the years. I'm unpredictable and I can always adapt to any situation. Majority of my opponents have crumbled to their feet as I've broken down every bit of their limbs. My precision and methodical mindset cannot be flawed. Still, you all will undoubtedly think that little ol' Caroline is all talk but no action. You all will probably try to come up with some ineffective rebuttal and try to discredit everything that I've said."
"However, if the four of you fucks think for a second that you can beat me, well, you're greatly mistaken. To walk into this match with such a willfully ignorant mindset is like a career suicide for you all. Never in this existing reality can any of you pin my shoulders down to the mat for the three count. Sorry, but it's just the simple truth."
"Don't say that you will beat me. Pray that you beat me, because your chances are slim to none. You are just a bunch of peasants who can never be as immaculate or superior as me. You'll just crumble in defeat whereas I will go on to have a career filled with prosperity and gold. I shall see you all at your losses at Wicked #15"With that, Caroline blew a kiss toward the camera and winked before laughing and walking off. The camera would then slowly pan upwards toward the night sky before the scene completely faded to black. |
|
|
|
Post by Anastasia Hayden on Jul 21, 2016 3:21:11 GMT
 Call me a safe bet, I'm betting I'm not
I'm glad that you can forgive, only hoping as time goes, you can forget At what point do you just hang up the boots? When your body can’t keep up the wear and tear of travel and wrestling? Or when you’re just not interested in wrestling anymore? The latter was the dilemma that Anastasia Hayden was facing. With nearly being out of the ring for two months, she spent most nights in her London flat thinking over things. Often overthinking things. She thought coming to England was going to offer a change in her life, an escape. The same thought she had when she left her home in North Dakota to train in Oklahoma. Most of her life was spent trying to escape from something, but more often than not, a someone.
But in England, that dynamic changed. Instead of running away from someone, everyone decided to run away from her. She started off in England without knowing anyone, formed a tight knit of friends, and then they all left her. When she needed them most, they abandoned her. Getting unceremoniously fired from Monarchy was never part of the plan, but it was one that Ana had to adapt to. When she fell, no one was there to catch her. Her To The Wolves stablemates had all left to go back stateside, her best friend Terry McKenna had gone off on drinking binge, and her boyfriend at the time had joined Terry. Leaving Ana all alone in London.
So when it came to professional wrestling, it was just an afterthought to her. The only thing she was ever good at had now been ripped from her just as she was reaching the top of an imaginary mountain. The will to start the climb again had fallen with her. And without anyone there supporting her, why bother? Instead, she just sat dormant in her flat for two months, working a day job of a personal fitness instructor. Not the dream, but certainly enough to pay the rent. Wrestling was an option, but it didn’t feel like one. Everything felt too muddied. Too complicated.
Nightly, she’d have reflections of her career. Was wrestling the end goal? Or was she just better off being a personal trainer? Ana shook her head, now wasn’t the time to be fussed with any of that. Just waking up, she rolled over in bed and was greeted by a smile from Benjamin Haskell, a fellow wrestler who had fared a lot better in life than Ana. The two didn’t really know each other outside of a few brief conversations after shows, but Ana couldn’t help being drawn in by his Jim Morrison-esque charm.
While the two lived vastly different lifestyles, they shared a similar philosophy when it came to wrestling. Both doubted their own abilities. Benji at least had the excuse of wrestling being more of a hobby and him still improving. Ana, on the other hand, always saw her flaws in her matches and hated watching them. It was always much easier to go out, do the match, and leave without thinking about it. Easier said than done for Ana, as she always thought about her flaws. Not just in wrestling. She sat up in bed and let her feet hang over the edge, the blanket half covering her as she looked back at Benjamin.
“Ben, can I ask you a question?”
“Absolutely, babe.”
“Why do you wrestle?”
He paused for a moment. Bit early in the morning for a somewhat deep question, but it didn’t seem to bother Benjamin much.
“I’ve loved it all my life. Never needed to do it, but it’s a hobby. One I’m very fond of. I’m not the best...probably never will be, but I’m all about improving. Never giving up. What about you?”
Ana scoffed at the question and Ben chuckled. Asking why Ana wasn’t wrestling would’ve been a better question.
“I don’t know. It’s the only thing I was ever good at and...that’s not saying much. I guess for the money. What little there is.”
“You know, that answer can kind of come off as...depressing.”
She shrugged her shoulders and let out a laugh.
“Yeah, I get that a lot.”
“But surely you’ve got to have some kind of passion, don’t you? Otherwise you wouldn’t be here in England. You wouldn’t have just left the States to come out here.”
“Then things got complicated.”
“Well, that just sounds like wrestling to me, babe. Ups, downs, and confusion. I’ve got a question for you.”
Ana took a sharp breath, already knowing what the question was going to be.
“Shoot.”
“Why aren’t you wrestling at all?”
She dug her nails into the side of her thighs. The question she was hoping to avoid, but knew it’d pop up with her asking questions.
“I’ve received offers. But...I just can’t. I feel like all I do is rise up and trip right into disappointment. It happened in Japan, happened in Monarchy, and it’s probably going to keep happening. Everywhere I go…I fuck up.”
Benjamin nodded his head as Ana turned hers away, not wanting to look him in the eyes after her response. She just shrugged her shoulders again as she stood up and started collecting her articles of clothing to get dressed.
“You shouldn’t be scared.”
“But that’s the thing, Ben. I am scared. I’m horrified! What if I what I did in Monarchy was just a fluke? What if I go out into the world and just become a big flop? I can’t be like you! Where wrestling is just a hobby. I need a steady job! I can’t chase this dream anymore.”
She felt bad for raising her voice, but she got caught in the moment. There was a half-smile on Benji’s face, a bit intrigued by the fire coming out through Ana’s tone.
“I’m sorry….I didn’t mean for it to come out that way.”
“No, no, it’s quite alright. I get your point, Anastasia, but you’ve got to get a grip on things. Your time in Monarchy wasn’t a fluke. You’re so much more than you project yourself to be. Look, I can set barriers because this is just a hobby, but you...you’ve got so much more to give, Ana. Why waste your potential?”
“What potential?”
“Limitless potential. Let Monarchy serve as a lesson, a start rather than an end to a chapter. Give it one more go...if it fails...it fails, but at least you did it. That personal trainer rubbish isn’t going anywhere, but wrestling is a once in a lifetime thing.”
Benjamin was right and Ana knew it. She spent her whole life fighting just to become a wrestler and now that the opportunity presented itself, she wanted to escape it. When things were going steady, going great, she wanted to escape it. The pressure that mounted on her shoulders was too much for her to withstand, especially without a support system. But maybe that’s what she needed. To take a dive and venture into the world without any help.
She still had Bryan and Bronx available to talk to, but they were off in their own part of the world. Even Benjamin had his own life to worry about. And she didn’t know if they were just a fling or what. It was complicated. Potentially messy. In a way, Ana was alone again. Something she always thought she preferred, but far from it in actuality. She wouldn’t have a hand to hold. It was a rough dive into choppy waters, but it was a dive she needed. A crutch to rely on was only hindering her. No longer a wolf in a pack or even a lone wolf, but a creature of its own. A creature, a beast known as Anastasia Hayden.
As she adjusted the straps of her dress, she looked back at Benjamin and smiled.
“Thank you.”
“You’re welcome. Not to brag, but lectures are what I do for a living after all…”
“Guess they are...maybe you should give up on that wrestling dream. Save it for the pros like me.”
A sly grin on Ana’s face as Benjamin rolled his eyes in return.
“What’s say I make you some breakfast, yeah?”
Ana walked towards the door, looking at Benjamin once more
“Nah...I think I’ve got some training to do.”
“See you soon.”
Pure Amusement Wrestling. The next stop in Anastasia’s career. Wrestling in an amusement park was something different for Ana. Of course, she wouldn’t actually be making her debut in the amusement park for a few more weeks, but the idea was still there. A strange one, but wrestling is wrestling. Ana sat in front of her laptop inside of her hotel room, looking at pictures of the park. Among all the airbrushed artwork on the rides and all the attractions were pictures of wrestlers. Felt a bit strange, but she just shrugged it off as a callback to the carny roots of wrestling.
She came across the pictures of some familiar faces. Bryan Williams and Calvin Harris noticeably. The next picture went away from the wrestlers and Ana saw a close-up of one of the PAW performers, a clown. Burying her face in her hand, she shook her head at the fact that she just let a picture of a clown startle her. Before clicking off, she looked at a few more mascots and entertainers that littered the park. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Perhaps they viewed wrestling to be just as strange.
Pressing down the lid of her laptop, Ana stood up and walked over to the bedside window. It was late and the sun was starting to settle down. The view of the parking lot wasn’t quite the same view she got back in London, but she didn’t care. There was only one thing she was focused on at the moment. Getting back into the swing of things and to just wrestle again. PAW would be a new vessel for her to try and conquer.
Or maybe it wouldn’t. Maybe Ana was just setting herself up for failure. These were the kind of thoughts Ana so desperately tried to keep out. It was a longing war as she tried to take her mind off things as she shut the blinds and locked the door. All of these thoughts and emotions were just better kept outside. Just like the people Ana often cut out of her life, she had to cut what she felt out too. Emotions made her weak. Her doubt in her abilities made her weak. Doing so always felt like such a physically draining task to do, but she couldn’t allow for anyone to see her as weak. Especially not in the ring.
She already made that mistake once and she wasn’t determined on letting it happen again. Moments of weakness were acceptable, but breaking down wasn’t. And Ana always felt like she was on the verge of breaking down. Just a few days out from her PAW, that was the last thing she needed. So wrestling it was. That was her escape. Sitting down in the bed, Ana turned the lamp off and brushed her hand up her thigh. An instant regret as she felt the scars at the cut off of her shorts. A reminder of her last breakdown.
“It’s been a long time coming. Feels like ages since I last had the opportunity to step inside of a wrestling ring. I took a sabbatical for nearly two months from professional wrestling. I went from being one of the absolute best to just being dormant. All because I could. I was able to step away from the wrestling ring with a lot of confidence knowing that when I came back, I’d pick up right where I left off. You see, back in England, where I plateaued...that’s where many of you ‘wrestlers’ peak. The best Anastasia Hayden hadn’t even been seen yet in Monarchy, but the history books will talk about how that fared for me.”
“Monarchy fired me just when I was about to send their kingdom of tyrants to a shallow grave. I’ve got an ‘attitude’, I’ve been called ‘toxic’, but I can promise that’s not why I was fired. I was fired simply for the fact that I was too fucking good for them. I beat their champion, I beat the next champion, oh and Calvin Harris? Their last champion? PAW’s soon to be little golden boy? I beat him too. Everyone worth beating in Monarchy, I beat. I didn’t need their belt to prove that I was the champion.”
“Of course, look at Monarchy now. I didn’t need them. They needed me! I was the hottest free agent in independent wrestling and I plan on keeping that title. I’m a Future Champion for a reason. Nobody can match me. I’ve sat back and watched PAW develop. I see that you brought in that little rat Calvin Harris. I beat him once and I really, truly hope that the universe can align for us to cross paths yet again. But I’m being too optimistic, I’m looking ahead at my future when I need to ground myself in what’s coming ahead.”
“I don’t need to introduce myself. You should already know who I am. I’ve wrestled in America, I’ve wrestled in the United Kingdom, and I’ve wrestled in Japan. The only places where wrestling actually matters, I’ve been to and I’ve competed with the absolute best. Now I’ve decided to come back to America and showcase my talents once more. After my time trotting across the world, I need a platform again to prove just how dominant I am. PAW may have a batch of quality talent, but I can promise you that none of them are as good as me.”
“When I debut at Wicked, I’m opening the show, but I can guarantee my performance is going to be the only thing people talk about. It doesn’t matter what closes the show or even whatever else happens in it. If it doesn’t involve Anastasia Hayden, there’s no point in talking about it. Unlike everyone else here, I don’t need to hang an impressive win-loss record above my head or a championship. I’m already the best wrestler here and I haven’t even started. So go ahead, stop wasting my time, and crown me the PAW Heavyweight Champion. Crown me the Titan of the Midway. Whatever belts you make, I can guarantee that I’m already better than them AND the champions holding them.”
“This opening match is the only match I need for PAW to realize that I am the best they’ve got. Some of my opponents have history together and while that’s all real cute, it doesn’t mean anything to me. Do losers tend to flock together? That’s alright though, cause once I’m done with you lot, you’ll be right back out on the unemployment line. I don’t really give a fuck what the three of you did back in your previous company, but just know that you won’t have a history to bitch about here in PAW.”
“And my fourth opponent, whatever. I fear no opponent. I do not care for their height, weight, or whatever advantage. None of that matters to me. When I step into the ring, it’s all about the present. I’ve never been about the entertaining part of wrestling. All I care about is what happens in the ring. And I can go ahead and tell you what happens in the ring at Wicked. I beat you four, I beat whoever next time, and then I become the champion of this dump.”
“But hey, is it too forward or too soon for me to ask a favor of you four? As soon as that bell rings...I want a fight. I mean, I want us all on the ground bleeding and scrambling, begging for mercy. Well...in reality, that’s just going to be you lot. See, I’m already setting myself up to be disappointed by you. I’ve yet to get the fight that I’ve wanted inside of a ring and I don’t imagine I’ll be getting it from you all.”
“That’s fine though. No need to worry. If you don’t want to bring the fight, rest easy, I will. I count four sets of teeth that I get to kicked in. I’m going to be personally responsible for ending four careers in one night. Wild! Then, any of you sore losers up for a round two, I’ll happily deliver. After that, I’ve got bigger things to do with my life. Hell, at the end of the month, I’ll be wrestling and winning in Japan, while the rest of you are just sitting around like complete fucks. So do I need PAW? No. Course not. Does PAW need Anastasia Hayden? Absolutely. And they’re gonna get her. At Wicked #15, I come in as a nobody, but I leave as a Future Champion.” |
|
