Beyond the Horizon #21
July 30
Las Vegas
It's been a while, hasn't it Dear Readers?
I'm excited to be writing another edition of Beyond the Horizon though. Since the last one, things have been incredibly busy. The New Horizon shelter has been at near capacity. In one way this is terrible, because seeing women and kids in bad situations always makes me upset. But it's also a blessing, that these survivors heard about New Horizon, made the brave decision to leave, seek us out, and ask for help. The fact we have so many at the shelter means that more and more victims of Domestic Violence are taking that brave step to walk away and become survivors.
I have also been busy with BlackOut Academy. We have a new crop of students that started up a few weeks ago, and a few new graduates I'm helping to get started. One in particular, Jamison Logan, you need to keep your eyes on. He is with me here in Las Vegas for the Rise to Greatness festivities, and I'm hoping you'll soon see more of him and what he is capable of.
Speaking of BOA graduates, I've gotten a lot of questions about my former client Spencer Pryce. I haven't answered any of them out of respect for privacy, but I've been given permission to share a few details now. Following Spencer's release from SCW, he and I had a talk, and he did speak with Simon Lyman, who Spencer claims is his biological father. Simon believes his claim. A few weeks after leaving SCW, Spencer moved back to his hometown of Beaumont, Texas, to spend time with his brother. All I can tell you about the relationship between Spencer and Simon, is that they have kept in contact. But the nature of those talks and how things are currently between them is not my place to tell.
What I can tell you about... is the birth of my nephew! Bree and Dom Teller welcomed their son Heath – named for her deceased brother (and was one of my best friends) – at the end of April. It's been a long time since we had a baby in the family and everyone is head over heels in love. My husband Wyatt (Bree's brother, for those who don't remember) and I have done our share of looking after little Heath while Bree's been working hard at getting back into shape. Does this mean she plans on making a return to SCW? If you know anything about Bree Lancaster at all... you already know the answer to that question.
One thing I want to bring attention to before I focus on Rise to Greatness, is another BOA graduate who is currently wrestling for GCW – Global Championship Wrestling. That woman is D'Nae Moore. She's been working hard in GCW for a few years now, and next week will be competing in a Triple Threat Ladder match at GCW's super show event For Glory and Gold. The match is a World and Global Unification match. If you've never watched GCW, or only caught a few shows, I highly suggest you make an effort to watch this one. One of D'Nae's opponets is familiar to SCW, Kelsai Adamson-Mason. She is the current World Champion. The other woman involved is also from a well-known wrestling family, Julia Braddock, Glory Braddock's sister, who holds the Global Championship. D'Nae has worked hard to get to where she is, and whoever ends up with the Unified GCW World Championship will have earned it. I expect the match to be nothing short of fantastic. Go out of your way to watch – Tuesday, August 2.
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Now. It's time to take a close look at everything happening later tonight at Rise to Greatness, the main show! Last night's Pre-show was full of hard-hitting action. Everyone put on their best performances, and I send my personal congratulations to the winners.
Tonight though is the Greatest Spectacle in Professional Wrestling. I may have skipped a few PPV blogs, and not been on the road, but I have kept up with everything SCW, so let's run down this card and I'll give you my thoughts and predictions. Are you ready? LET'S GO!
Gimmick Battle Royal
This looks like a fun match. We'll see people who haven't been in SCW in a long time, such as my old VWA colleague Aaron Rupp. We'll see some SCW favorites, such as Derek Adonis, and some not-so-favorites, like Loretta Inglewood. We'll even see my daughter, Jaina Lancaster, getting back into the ring. Battle royals are always chaotic and unpredictable so I'm not going to try to guess a winner. I just predict a lot of fun.
SCW United States Championship Number One Contendership
Double Jeopardy Match
Christy Matthews vs. Konrad Raab
Danny Darko vs. Glory Braddock
This is the second Double Jeopardy match we've see this year, the first involving the SCW World Championship. This time, a shot at the United Stated Championship is up for grabs. Christy Matthews and Konrad Raab are both known for their hard hitting and sometimes (well, usually in Raab's case) brutal fighting style. In the other match, Danny Darko has made a return to wrestling, and Glory Braddock thinks it's a huge mistake. These two fights will go on at the same time. In the end a contender will be crowned. My pick? Glory. Danny is a great talent but he's facing a woman who works in more than one company and is always at the top of her game, while he is still working out the kinks in getting back into the ring. On the other side, I think Christy and Konrad will cancel each other out with their violent style, and whoever wins that bout will not be in any shape to fend off a determined Glory Braddock.
Nicole Kinneck vs. Ravyn Taylor
This will depend on who is in the driver's seat when Nicole Kinneck walks down the ramp. The way things have been going lately, I'm expecting Pro. If that's the case, this will quickly devolve into chaos, and we likely won't see an actual winner. And if by some chance Luna appears... Ravyn is going to get more than she bargained for.
SCW World Tag Team Championship
Happy Farmstead Fight
Sarah Wolf & Kimberly Williams vs. Happy Farmstead Friends
I'm not quite sure what a Happy Farmstead Fight will entail, but it does cater to the champions' side. They've been a team longer than Sarah Wolf and Kim Williams. Add to the fact both Sarah and Kim have a tendency to go off the rails, and I expect the champions to retain here.
SCW Adrenaline Championship
GiGi Aries vs. Datura vs. Alexis Quinne vs. Autumn Valentine
This is an interesting four way mix. Aries is coming off a recent unsuccessful World Championship bout. Datura is looking to make a big comeback and win her first (sanctioned) SCW championship. Alexis Quinne has been tearing things up lately and the next step is Gold. Champion Autumn Valentine has her hands full with her manager Lexy Chapel but she seems to be keeping things all together. Add in the fact that Aries has recruited Datura into the Haus of Nirvana, and things could get messy. Datura has expressed a few doubts about Aries' methods, so it will be interesting to see how this plays out with both of them in this match. Aries and Datura will fight between themselves, and Autumn will likely have to contend with Lexy at rigside, trying to “help.” I'll give the nod to Alexis Quinne. She has a knack for pulling wins out of nowhere, especially when her opponents are distracted.
Cid Turner vs. Holly Adams
Cid Turner has been a loyal follower of Holly Adams for a long time. They created and promoted The Brand together, he pushed The Positive State. But recently, Cid has become more and more disillusioned by Holly's methods and he's finally seen the light and had enough. The former allies will clash, with nothing on the line but pride. Holly wants to prove Cid is nothing without her. Cid wants to prove her wrong. In the end, I see Cid coming out with the win. Vindication is a powerful motivator.
Thirty Minute Ironperson Match
Gavin Taylor vs. Syren
Full disclosure here. I've been in an Ironwoman match with Syren. It was a triple threat including Regan Street, at Rise to Greatness in 2016. Syren won. I also had a World Championship match with her on Breakdown, that if I'm not mistaken, is still the longest match that's ever happened on Breakdown, clocking in at around 45 minutes. Syren won, taking the World Championship from me. My point here is... Syren is well experienced in these kind of matches, she has the endurance. Granted, those two matches I mentioned were years ago, and Syren is older now, as everyone is. But I still believe she has that same endurance, that same ability to go the distance. Taking Hold of the Flame showed that. Gavin Taylor is a great athlete, no doubt about that. I just can't see very many people outlasting and out maneuvering Syren in this environment.
SCW United States Championship
Submission Match
Owen Lee vs. Josh Hudson
This is a classic example of the old guard versus the new guard. Josh Hudson became United States Champion after it was vacated when Spencer Pyrce was released. Owen Lee has been trying to find redemption for the way he behaved during his last run. So far, most people have believed that Owen has indeed turned the corner and grown, matured. Hudson though, doesn't think so. He feels Owen hasn't done enough, hasn't paid enough. The match was made into a Submission Match, which just happens to be one of Hudson's specialties. Owen is more know for his high flying and speed. He's made it known he's been training in other styles to better compete at a high level, and he'll need every bit of that if he's going to keep up and defeat Hudson at his own game. Owen is also know for taking big risks, that sometimes backfire. I think Hudson's experience will take advantage of that, find one small mistake Owen makes out of over-exuberance and he will remain United States Champion.
SCW World Championship
Adam Allocco vs. Selena Frost
Here we have another example of clashing styles, this time not ring work but in morality. Selena has made this reign all about integrity. Her battles and controversial finishes with Holly Adams proved that. Selena did not want questionable victories. Selena takes pride in doing things the right way, to uphold the prestige of the World Championship she carries. Adam Allocco on the other hand, subscribes to the belief that doing anything and everything – including taking shortcut and taking liberties with the rules – shows more integrity, because it shows a person's willingness to do whatever it takes to get what they want. I can admit both viewpoints have their merits. The last near-year though, Selena has proven time and time again that her method? Works. She now holds the record for longest World Championship reign in SCW. Adam has made it his goal to do whatever he can to end this reign, and become World Champion himself. Let me go on a slight tangent about Adam here. He's made no secret about the fact he is a recovering alcoholic. He went to rehab, the whole thing. From that viewpoint, I can understand his desire to come back and prove that he's better, that he's healthy, and that he's overcome everything to become a champion. In any other case, it would be a great story of growth and redemption. In Adam's case though, he's let his ego over getting sober take over and he's using the process as a pedestal, acting like he is better than everyone else because he took care of his problems. Listen, I an proud of anyone who recognizes their problem and takes steps to get help, and moves into recovery. What I can't abide though is someone then using that process as a way to act high and mighty over everyone else. There is no room for conceit in recovery, it can easily lead to relapse if a person fails at something they set out to do. Staying humble, realizing that recovery isn't something you do once and you're done, but an every day choice, is what keeps a person in recover sober. I'm actually concerned about Adam, because I believe (pun intended) that Selena will continue to prove her methods work, and she will overcome whatever Adam throws at her to remain World Champion. If and when that happens, for his own sake I hope Adam Allocco can keep control of himself and not stumble off the wagon.
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There you are, Dear Readers. My personal thoughts and predictions for Rise to Greatness XIX. It's going to be a fantastic show tonight. It's the biggest show of the year, where you should expect the unexpected, surprises along the way, and where legends and iconic moments are made. You do not want to miss it!
As Always, Be Brave
~ Amy Chastaine