Beyond the Horizon #19
January 23
Detroit, MI
Happy New Year, Dear Readers. I hope the holiday season treated you all well, with great family time, well-loved gifts, happiness, and health. For me and mine, we had a quiet Christmas, with family dinner at Bree's. Bree and Dom gifted us with the name they've chosen for the son they are eagerly awaiting to meet. They've asked to keep it under wraps until his birth, but I will say that I couldn't be more in love with the choice if I tried, and Aunt Amy is just as excited as Mom and Dad are for his arrival.
In professional news... BlackOut Academy reopened for 2022 at the beginning of the month and everyone jumped right back into work. We have a great crop of students right now, and have a few spaces open if there is anyone interested in coming to New Orleans and learning from some of the best. Marie Caedes recently made the move from Savannah to New Orleans to improve her already well rounded skills. I've agreed to manage her in SCW along with Spencer Pryce. It helps that they get along and as we saw in the one tag match, they can work together as well.
I did get a surprise in finding out my daughter Jaina had been secretly training in the ring, sometimes almost under my nose, and I never knew. She thought I would be against it, but she was wrong. I admit I am nervous about it, but that's more to do with the fact she's my daughter and not anything to do with her skill level. Since finding out about her training, I've seen her work and.... it's hard to describe. In some ways it's like watching myself from sixteen or seventeen years ago. Despite the way her debut went sideways, I hope she perseveres. I see a bright future in-ring for her, if she decides to stick with it. I've offered to manage her as well... she's thinking about it. Kids, what can you do? :)
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With those personal and BOA updates out of the way, it's time to discuss the first SCW PPV of 2022, Body, Heart, and Soul. Gotta love the throwback name to SCW's earlier days. We have a pretty stacked card, so let's get to it.
Cassidy Carter vs. Polly Playtime vs. Crystal Zdunich
Cassidy Carter recently made yet another return to the SCW ring, and she claims this time she means business. Polly Playtime is trying to climb the ranks, also looking to be taken seriously after losing the Purity Pixie alias. Crystal Zdunich has been hot and cold since coming to SCW, she's aiming to get back on track. All three of these women are motivated to be taken more seriously than they have been in the past. A win here would go a long way in that perception. My pick? Crystal Zdunich. Simply due to the experience factor. Most of her experience has been for other companies, but she's been at this a long time.
Justin Davis vs. Josh Hudson vs. Alexis Quinne
Three former SCW Stars who made their returns at the End of the Year Special. All three were hoping to make it their moment. Alexis Quinne arguably made it hers by winning the Invitational Battle Royal. Justin Davis took offense to this, ad Josh Hudson stepped in due to his history with Davis. This three way could get heated very quickly, as all three are going to want to solidify their position now that they've made full comebacks. Quinne has the momentum, no question. Hudson has the experience, Davis has the attitude. If I had a three-sided coin, I'd flip it, because any one of these competitors could take it. Those don't exist though, so I'm going to go with my gut feeling and pick Hudson. He came in second place to Quinne in the Battle Royal, and Josh Hudson doesn't like being second to anyone.
Owen Lee vs. Kandis
This might seem like it only started recently, when Owen made his return by attacking the Jackals as they laid waste to everyone in the ring. But it actually goes back much further than that. Owen is a close friend of Peyton Rice, the young woman who was brutally attacked and injured by Minerva last year, a scheme hatched between Minerva and... Kandis. Owen had some personal issues, got his head turned around for a while. I admit I was not happy with a lot of the things he said and did months ago. I've known Owen a long time, he and Jaina used to date a few years ago. I know he's smarter than he showed last year. It looks like he's gotten himself on the right track again, partially thanks to the influence of Daisy Lee. I've known Daisy a long time, too, she once went by Red Rayne and wrecked havoc on SCW as part of Blood Grove when I first came to SCW. I had my very first SCW title match against her, an Adrenaline shot that I lost. I have my reservations about her influence but for the time being... things seem on the up and up. Kandis, on the other hand... has been on the warpath since Trios, if not before. She is desperate for a star-making moment (pun intended) and furious that after two attempts, she and Tommy Valentine did not get that moment by becoming Tag Team Champions a record-breaking fifth time. It seems the Thunderdome pushed the Connection out of contention for the time being, which leaves Kandis with a need to let out her anger somehow. Enter Owen Lee – the man who made his return by standing up to Kandis and her friends. This one could get brutal quickly if Owen allows Kandis an opening. If he utilizes his quickness correctly though, he could throw off her game plan. I'm going to go with Kandis, cautiously. It can be hard to overcome the kind of pure anger and desperation to be noticed that Kandis has. If Owen's desire for redemption is strong enough though, it's very possible he could prove me wrong.
SCW Underground Championship
Konrad Raab vs. Lucas Knight
This bout has been a long time in the making. Konrad and Lucas have been going at each other's throats – at times literally – for months. Waging war on Twitter, backstage, and in the ring. It all began when Konrad was part of the Jackals, and continued even after Minerva walked away from SCW, leaving the rest of the Jackals to push Konrad out. With the return of the Underground Championship and Konrad's admitted love for violence and blood, it was only a matter of time before this came to a head. I predict mayhem, weapons, brutality, and yes... a lot of blood. Lucas has the experience factor here, although Konrad may have the motivation. He's been wanting a PPV title match for years, and this one is right in his wheelhouse. With Lucas fresh off a Tag Team Championship loss in the Thunderdome, this could be Konrad's moment to take advantage and take SCW gold. I'm going with him for the upset.
Glory Braddock vs. Syren
Both these women are former World Champions – one with record reigns and length of reign, the other might have the record for shortest reign. Regardless... both want more. Syren has been pushing to get her name back into title contention for months. Glory had seemed to put it on the back burner for a while after the Gauntlet last year but she's now refocused. The last time Syren put herself in a position for a match where she and her opponent were looking to earn a title match, she lost... Selena Frost won and was given the opportunity, and now Selena is the current World Champion. Both Syren and Glory would love for that to be their path following Body, Heart, and Soul. Yet, both are coming off losses they were not happy with. Syren to Kim Williams and Glory to Kandis. I think the factor here will be, who is more angry at their recent performances, and who will be more determined to make up for it? This match isn't listed as a contender's match, but in may very well be taken into consideration when choosing the next challenger. Syren has all the records, she doesn't need to prove herself any further. Glory on the other hand? Her brief time as World Champion has been called into question by some, asking if it really counts as a title reign since it was in the middle of a Gauntlet match where anyone could have been World Champion by the end. She has the motivation to prove herself worthy of another shot, because she wants a chance to have a reign that is unquestionable. For that reason. I'm going with Glory for the win.
SCW Adrenaline Championship
Cid Turner vs. Brittany Lohan vs. Tommy Valentine vs. Jordan Majors
Pardon my language Dear Readers, but this Fatal Four Way has 'clusterfuck' written all over it. Jordan Majors stunned a lot of people by pulling what many considered to be an upset when she won the Adrenaline Championship in the Chamber at Under Attack. I wasn't stunned, and nor did I consider it an upset. Jordan has been on the verge of breaking out and becoming the start she is meant to be for a long time, this big win of hers was overdue. Enter... all of this. Jordan is angry at Cid Turner for, in her mind, leading her friend Cookie astray. Brittany Lohan and Tommy Valentine have the same issue with Turner – the way he did nothing in the Trios finals and caused his team to lose. That team consisted of Tommy Valentine, and Kennedy Street. Tommy is out for his own revenge as usual, and Lohan is being paid by Kennedy to do the same in her stead. This led to new GM Shaun Cruze to throw everyone together and put the title on the line. Can Jordan handle and win another multiple person match and retain her championship? I believe she can.... but I also believe that Tommy Valentine isn't going to make it easy for anyone else in this match. Brittany isn't doing this for her own reasons, she's being literally paid to care. She likely doesn't even want the title, she just wants to cause pain. Cid has been in a bad state since losing the World Championship, his confidence took a hit and I'm not sure he can recover in time to come out strong here. He talks like he's found himself again with this Geebnorb thing, but it's usually the ones who rely on some form of religion the most that are the least confident in themselves. Tommy though? He's been after Cid almost since Trios ended, and with the Adrenaline Championship on the line, the one title he needs to become a Supreme Champion, and no Tag Team Championship matches anytime in the foreseeable future? As much as I would love to see Jordan continue to shine, I have a feeling Tommy may pull this one out and add his name to that Supreme list.
SCW World Tag Team Championship
Team SU (Nicole Kinneck & Gavin Taylor) vs. LexyCorp (Ace Marshall & Autumn Valentine)
LexyCorp are champions again, having survived the Thunderdome at the last Breakdown of the year. Team SU are two-thirds of the Trios winners, minus Xander Valentine, who is unfortunately out due to injury. With the Thunderdome clearing the deck in the Tag Team Championship scene, who better to give a chance to, than two members of the team who won Trios? I understand the thinking, but I'm not sure that in practice Team SU will hold up. Nicole Kinnick has been... I'm not sure how to word this, presenting? Led by? Ducky for a few months now, and Ducky likes to play around and laugh. Gavin Taylor has fun with this, and it creates entertaining scenes at Breakdown. Where my skepticism lies is, can Gavin get Ducky to focus and take a title opportunity seriously? Can he make her understand this isn't a game or for funsies, but a title match against champions, who went through hell to reclaim the titles and are in no hurry to lose them again? If he can... great. Nicole and Gavin are very skilled wrestlers and they could put Autumn and Ace away if they stay focused and work together. Perhaps even if Gavin could encourage Ducky to let Nicole take over for a bit. If not though, if we get a Ducky who's distracted by pretty things, it won't be hard for the champions to retain. I'm going with the champions, as I question Gavin's ability to make Ducky take this seriously.
SCW United States Championship
Spencer Pryce vs. Christy Matthews
I'm excited for this rematch, and I think these two have the potential to steal the show. Christy may be coming off a Tag Team Championship loss, but she still has gold to defend. Spencer Pryce gave her a good challenge a few weeks ago, right up until the Jackals showed up and ruined the match. Had the match continued... I really believe Spencer had a very good chance of pulling off the upset. Yes, I helped train him, I am his manager, but I admit it would have been an upset. Christy is a Hall of Fame veteran, Spencer is a rookie. Any way you look at it, regardless of the skill he's shown so far, him beating her would be considered an upset. Nevertheless.. I still believe it can happen. Not because Christy isn't good enough. Not because she isn't motivated to remain champion. But because Spencer is one of the most driven young talents I've met since I've been in the business of training the next generation of stars. There is no quit in him. There's no doubt. He believes in himself like no one else. And I'd go as far as to say that a competitors mindset is just as important as their skillset when the bell rings. Spencer is determined, and he was angry when his chance to shake SCW up was denied by the Jackals. As hard as I know Christy will fight, as talented as I know from experience she is, and in no way am I saying it's going to be easy.... but I do believe we are going to seethe upset that could have happened last month, if not for the interference.
SCW World Championship
Holly Adams vs. Selena Frost
The only reason this match is happening, is because Selena accidentally hit Holly with the title belt at the End of the Year Special. It can be argued that Holly might have won anyway and this would be a rematch for Selena to try to get the title back. It can also be argued that Selena wouldn't have had the title in her hands in the first place if not for all the chaos at ringside. Those arguments don't matter. This match is happening, and Holly, for all her insults and games and pandering to the TV cameras that constantly follow her.... she is motivated. She wants the World Championship. She's wanted it since she saw Cid Turner carrying it, and now she has a chance to actually be champion. Another chance, I should say. On the other side, we have Selena Frost. A proud competitor, who often has no time for silliness or playing games. She and Holly are polar opposites in many ways... except in their desire to carry that championship. Selena was the first person to defeat Cid Turner since his return, and she did it taking the title from him. They traded it again, and Selena has been doing her level best to carry it with pride and honor. I can't imagine a world where someone like Holly Adams is walking around as a legitimate champion, and I'm sure that Selena can't either. I believe she will do everything she can to ensure that SCW continues to be represented by a champion the company can be proud of. Selena for the win.
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There it is, Dear Readers. My thoughts and predictions for Body, Heart, and Soul, SCW's first PPV of 2022. I'm not always right, in fact I am often proven wrong. That just goes to show you the volatile nature of this sport we so love, and the competition level SCW provides. The show will be airing live from Detroit tonight. I am in attendance, if you are in or near Detroit, you should be too. The rest of you? Don't forget to order the show, you will not want to miss all the action. I know you will love every second.
Be Brave,
Amy Chastaine