Rise to Greatness 2023
After Taking Hold of the Flame, Dom's TV show started filming for real, following the one week off the director Chris Safford called for after our situation with Nora taking Heath from the set. During that time, Chris met with studio people and they improved their security protocols. At home, we spent the week after the Flame mostly at home, making sure Heath felt safe and comfortable. We decided to leave him home with Marie while I went to Breakdown and Dom was working on the show. Some days he was gone twelve or fourteen hours. He never complained though because he got to come home, rather than back to a hotel or a tiny apartment like most of the others working on the show. We planned on inviting everyone over for dinner one weekend after Rise to Greatness was over and I had a lot of downtime.
Right now, things are picking up pace in SCW. As both TV Champion and United States Champion, my schedule was set to be full every week. The first Breakdown after the Flame, I defended the TV against Willow Aspen, and retained. The following week though, I faced Justin Davis. Instead of the match being straight forward though, Ace Marshall decided to walk down the ramp with his friend Sophie James and cause a distraction. Liz was in my corner and she had her head on a swivel, because we both knew Ravyn Taylor couldn't be far away. Sure enough, she and Alexander Crowe came out of the crowd. Before Liz could react or Ravyn and Alexander could really do anything, The One – sorry, Kirsten Scott, and Pro came up behind them and jumped them. Both Liz and I watched the ruckus, me in the ring and Liz on the floor. It seemed like Kirsten and Pro had it covered so I turned back to Justin.... and he caught me. One, two, three. I couldn't be mad at him. It was my own fault, I let myself get distracted by the outside activity and he saw a moment and took it. I'd have done the same thing. If I was going to be mad at anyone, it would be Ace and Ravyn, because it was clear they set the whole thing up. They are the Tag Champions and Liz and I are their next challengers even if it hadn't yet been made official because Liz didn't have clearance. But Ace and Ravyn knew it was coming. Maybe we should be thanking Kirsten and Pro, because no doubt Ravyn and maybe Alexander were about to interfere and jump me. They have their own heat with X Rated and this whole thing was getting incredibly messy.
The following week, Liz had her clearance. We spoke to Mr. D. We got our title match, finally – despite the fact we still had not been booked in a single tag match together. I was also told that as United States Champion, I was expected to work twice. I anticipated that and have no problem with it.
But then, the week after that.... we were told that the Tag Team Championship match also included Kirsten Scott and Pro Kinneck. Not only that, it isn't a normal triple threat... its a Three Way Dance, which means elimination. If Statera is going to become Tag Champions, we have to outlast both teams. No pressure, right?
Oh and on the same night, my challenger for the United States Championship was determined – Deanna Frost. Mr. D kinda did me a favor and booked it on the Pre-show, so I'm not working twice in one night. I'd never had any issues with Deanna before, but I have to admit I haven't really cared for either her or Selena's attitude as of late.
After the Tag announcement, I approached Liz with an idea, and she agreed almost before I was done asking the question. She will stay with me at home for a week so we can train together. On top of everything going on at Rise, the final Breakdown before the big show features a six person tag match. Me, Liz, and Selena, against Ace, Ravyn, and Kandis. It's a weird smush-up of two title feuds, and I just know its going to become a mess.
{{ Saturday, July 8
Gretna, LA
BlackOut Academy }}
The Academy doesn't run classes on weekends, but Amy keeps the floor open for anyone who wants to come in and do some extra training. Occasionally, she'll book it for someone, or a small group, to use privately. Like today, she booked it for me and Liz from nine AM til two PM. She had plans for it herself in the afternoon/early evening. With her own match to get ready for, I didn't blame her.
Anyway, Liz and I are sitting cross-legged in the middle of the larger training ring, the one that's SCW's size. We are both in workout gear, looking very much like a visual representation of our team name and phrases. Liz is in all black, long tights and a sports tank, with black boots. I am wearing white capri length tights and a matching sports halter top, both with bright pink stripes down the sides, and pink sneakers. We both have our hair pulled back and up. Liz also has a notebook and a pen. I have no idea what she plans on writing.
“Okay, so. First of all. Have you ever been in a Three Way Dance match?”
“Actually, yes.”
“Great! I was supposed to a few years ago... but David Helms hurt himself and had to back out.”
“I remember that. Shame.”
“Yeah, well... it all worked out in the end. Anyway.. Did you win it?”
“I did.” Liz grins a little, leaving me to wonder if she really did. Then again, she has no reason to lie to me. Stop being paranoid, Bree.
“Even better. I didn't get to have mine, but Amy was in a Three Way Dance a long time ago, that she won. So, when I was supposed to have mine, she shared some strategy with me. I was going to go over that with you, but I guess I don't have to.”
“You can share what she told you, and we can compare. Between us we can build a strategy that neither the champions nor the other challengers will be able to overcome.”
“I love your confidence.”
“You're very inspiring.”
I smile. “It's not all me. I know how motivated you are. You've been wanting to do this for a long time.”
“Too long. Majestic with the Lohan girls was a lifetime ago.”
“Seems like it. Definitely before my time around SCW. Okay, so!” I clap once, trying to get this strategy session started. “Do you want to tell me your thoughts on this first, or should I?”
“You go ahead. I'd love to get a glimpse into Amy's mind, based on what she told you.”
“Alright. Well, she explained that there's basically two ways to go into this. Either you play your opponents against each other, let one take out the other, then go in for the win. Or you leave nothing to chance and take out both yourself.”
Liz was nodding halfway through. “Solid. I would add a third option. Irritate the opponent who dislikes you the most enough to where they get themselves DQ'd. Less work than trying to pin them.”
“I see you took what Mr. D told Ace and Ravyn seriously.”
“Of course I did. Those two are very easy to needle, trust me.”
“Oh, you don't have to tell me, babe. Ace and I go way back.”
Liz leans forward a little, interested. “Do you? How so?”
“Uh, well... I went on a Valentine's Day date with him several years ago.”
Liz stares at me a few seconds, then bursts into laughter. “You did not.”
“I did! It was in Central Park, he gave me a white flower, and the most chaste goodnight kiss ever.”
“That's absolutely insane.”
I shrug. “I was new to SCW, I didn't know any better yet. That's my defense, anyway.” I laugh.
“Gods know you need one.”
“Being friends with him was... interesting. I have no idea what he thinks of me now. I've gone back and forth in my opinion over the years. He's so... fluid.”
“What is your opinion now?”
“Well... he's working with Ravyn, so that's definitely a negative.”
“So you'll have no problem getting into his head or doing whatever needs to be done?”
“Of course not! Babe... it doesn't matter who else is in the ring, even if it was Amy herself, I'm on your side, and Statera being handed those belts in the end is the priority.”
Liz gives me a wide smile. “I knew that. I just wanted you to say it.”
I smack her knee, that's nearly touching mine. “Goofball.” We laugh. “Okay. So do we use your plan to force them to get DQ'd?”
“We could try. They may expect us to make that play though, so we need to be ready to switch tactics. For that I think your, or rather Amy's, suggestion about playing your opponents against each other has merit. There's clearly a lot of heat between them, and we'd be silly not to utilize that.”
“I can't argue with that. I personally don't have issue with either Kirsten or Pro. I think they only have issue with us because our contendership has sort of held the line up.”
“So they said.”
“So, we play them straight. And let Ace and Ravyn antagonize them?”
Liz nods. “I like it. One will eliminate the other, then we come in.”
I sit and think for a moment. “That doesn't sound very proactive of us, though. Its like we're scavenging scraps.”
“So? It's still a valid play. Work smarter, not harder.”
“Fair. But does that align with our values? Are we doing ourselves a service or disservice by standing back and letting fate decide for us who we'll have to defeat to become champions?”
Now Liz tilts her head and thinks. “Hmmm. When you put it that way, I see your point. We could just go in guns blazing and take out everyone ourselves. Really make a statement that we're serious about this.”
“I don't know about guns blazing, we should be more focused than that. Surgical knife, rather than a chainsaw.”
Liz nods. “Of course. We have time to think about it. And we can give it a run through next week for the six man.”
“We can try. I have a feeling that will become chaos very quickly.”
“Likely. But we can still see what works and what doesn't.”
“Fair. Anything else strategy-wise you want to talk about?”
“No, I think we're good. Unless you have any thoughts about my Unsanctioned Title match?”
I shake my head. “Nope. No ma'am. I have zero comments on a match that can end with a staple to the ass.”
Liz laughs. “Fine, fine! Ready for spars, then?”
“Yep!” We both spin up to our feet, and back up to opposite corners.
“Easy, or full steam?”
“Easy at first, to get warmed up.”
Liz nods, and grins. “Ding ding.”
After half an hour of warm up sparring, we spent most of the time practicing our finishers on each other, including submissions. Amy arrived early, and agreed to help us practice our team moves. All in all, it was a very productive Saturday for Statera.
ON CAMERA
Standing in front of her favorite fireplace, Bree Lancaster has her arms folded across her chest and a determined look on her face.
It's taken a long time for Datura and I to get to this point.
Statera, our team, have been waiting and waiting and waiting for this opportunity since Retribution. Our debut as a team was pushed back over and over again. In fact, Sunday night at Rise to Greatness, is our very first match together as a duo. Last Breakdown was advertised as our tag team debut, except it wasn't. We were in a six-person match, which we had done before.
Some of this can be blamed on Liz's injuries. But some of it also rests on booking. Don't interpret this as a complaint, it's really not. I was placed in a tournament for the United States Championship. I was Television Champion for a few weeks. There was little opportunity to squeeze a tag match in just to give us a chance to work one.
I'm only bringing this up because I'm almost certain both teams we're facing Sunday night will try to make a big deal about the fact that Statera hasn't had a traditional tag match yet. Go ahead. It's easy pickings. But it doesn't matter. Just because you haven't seen us work together as a team doesn't mean we haven't been working together at all. In fact, Liz just spent an entire week with me in New Orleans, working out and training with me almost daily. Preparing for this Three Way Dance.
The truth.... is that the fact you haven't seen what we can do, is a plus for us. You have no idea what to expect.
With a smile, Bree uncrosses her arms, and takes a step forward away from the fireplace, putting her hands behind her back, clasped.
On the other hand, we have a pretty good idea what to expect from X Rated, the current Tag Team Champions. Ace.... you and I have known each other for a very long time. In fact, we go way back all the way to my very first appearance here in SCW. We've been friends, we've gone on at least one date.... I'm not sure if the children's hospital or the church service counts as dates though so we'll leave that ambiguous. We've been opponents, enemies. The point is... we know each other well. I know you have talent, when you choose to use it rather than playing games and fooling around. You know that I have a stubborn streak that usually helps me attain whatever goal I set, no matter the challenge in front of me. Going into combat against you is going to be... interesting, to say the least.
Bree grins.
Ravyn Taylor. You and I go back, too. Not as involved as Ace and I have been over the years, but I've held animosity towards you for a long time. Your scheme is what ruined what was supposed to be my first one on one World Championship match. Eventually, I became World Champion and you challenged me. I overcame that and retained. That was a long time ago though, so I admit I have less of an idea what to expect from you, other than a hard hitting challenge, because you are without a doubt one of the toughest competitors in this company.
With a deep breath, Bree gives herself a small nod.
Those are our current champions. But they are not the only team Datura and I will be fighting against. No, we have the addition of The One, or Kirsten Scott. Can I call you Kirsten? Along with Pro Kinneck. This team is even less predicable, and that makes this Three Way Dance dangerous for not only Statera, but also the champions. Kirsten is strong, she is driven, and she's had enough of X Rated's shenanigans. She's also been very frustrated at having to wait for her shot at the Tag Titles, due to Statera's contendership status being on hold while Datura got herself healthy. I understand that. I'd be frustrated if I had to wait, too. Please remember though how you got your place in line in the first place. Eliminator match at Retribution. I won the whole thing... by pinning both you and Aisling at the same time. You may think it was unfair to be made to wait, but its just the way the results played out.
Bree shrugs.
Then we have Pro Kinneck. Pro has been in charge, so to speak, of the body she shares with Nicole and Ducky for a while now. She is just as motivated as Kirsten, maybe more so, due to her long history of bad blood with Ravyn Taylor. That makes perfect sense, Ravyn has been antagonizing Nicole and Ducky for longer than I can even remember, just to entertain herself. Pro has every right to do everything she can to make Ravyn pay for that, including taking the titles away from X Rated. And Pro has shown many times that she is not a patient woman.
Here's the thing though.
You two aren't the only ones who have waited what seems like forever for your chance to become Tag Team Champions. While you were waiting, so were Datura and I. We were ready to go before Liz's unfortunate injury. Take all of that frustration that you felt, having to wait by no fault of your own... and try to imagine how we felt... how Datura felt, knowing how close we were to our shot, only to have to stand down due to a freak accident. It seems to be the story of Liz's career, and she's fed up with it. Me? Of course I was frustrated, but Liz didn't get hurt on purpose. I could never blame her for that. But I wanted her to be sure she was healthy, fully healed, and as close to one hundred percent as possible before getting cleared for this opportunity, because it may be the only one we get and we can't afford to let anything reduce our chances.
So we've trained. We've strategized. We've studied film. And we're as ready as we'll ever be to outlast both Kirsten and Pro, and X Rated.
Statera will bring the Tag Titles the balance they need. Light and dark. Lux Veritatis et Umbra Honestas.
{{ Sunday, July 9
Kenner, LA
Bree's home }}
When I was a little girl, I thought being thirty was ancient. Probably because Heath was thirty when I was twelve and he was just so adult. Today though, two years on the other side of thirty, I realize that none of us who are technically adults know what we're doing. All of us are just making it up as we go along, and there are a lot of days where I don't feel like an adult at all.
On my birthday though?
I revert to a teenager on purpose.
I woke up to a plate of two cupcakes – 'baby cakes' – on my nightstand. One chocolate and one red velvet. My husband knows what I like. Alongside the cakes was a large mug of coffee. After my sweet breakfast, I was further treated by my husband to other 'delights.' An hour and a shower later, and we both went into Heath's room to get him up and dressed for the day. It's been insanely hot lately, we've had heat advisories every day for like two weeks. So my baby boy gets a sleeveless shirt and shorts that cover his diaper and nothing else. As for me, I am dressed pretty similar. A pale blue cotton tank with straps instead of sleeves, and cut off stonewash denim shorts. We plan on swimming later, so I chose something easy to change out of. Dom has blue gym shorts and a gray sleeveless t-shirt. When the three of us get downstairs, Liz is already in the kitchen at the breakfast table. She's sipping coffee, and dressed, also very appropriately for the extreme heat, in a tube top and light linen knee-length skirt, both black.
“Good morning, babe.”
Liz looks up from her coffee and smiles. “Happy birthday, you beautiful creature, you!”
“Thank you.” I sit with my large coffee mug, freshly refilled, as Dom gets Heath settled into his high chair for breakfast.
“Do you feel older?”
“That's impossible when I wake up to cupcakes.”
“They're baby cakes!” Dom laughs.
“Sorry... baby cakes. Cause Dom thinks it's cute.” I giggle. Liz shakes her head.
“You two are just stupidly adorable.”
Dom sets Heath's plate of grapes and dry Cheerios down in front of him. “You hear that, Nugget? Lizzie thinks you and Momma are adorable.”
“Pretty sure I meant you. That progeny of yours is on a scale of his own.” Liz waves her fingers at Heath. He giggles with his hand in his mouth, stuffing a grape in.
Dom sits next to me, and speaks to Liz. “I hope Bree reminded you to bring a swimsuit. Bree's birthday plans are basically swim all day until the family dinner tonight.”
“She did! In fact I brought two, just in case.”
“In case of what?”
“Emergency? Like changing my mind about what I want to wear.”
I nod. “Valid. I have like a dozen.”
Liz gestures her hand towards me, as if saying 'you see?' Dom shakes his head. “Women.”
“Oh, says the man who has like six wardrobe changes a day on set.”
“Hey! Those are not my decision!” We all laugh.
“Speaking of on set, do you not work today?”
“Nope. Sundays are our one day a week off. Director is more than slightly religious.”
“In other words, he's Christian as fuck.” I said the last two words in a whisper. The last thing I need is for my son's first word to be 'fuck' instead of 'momma.' Liz laughs.
“Amazing. At least it worked out for your birthday.”
After Heath finished his breakfast and us grownups finished our coffee, we went outside to the pool. A few weeks ago I had a retractable awning installed over the shallow end so Heath could swim but not be in direct sunlight. It's been up steadily since being installed though. It's really nice. We swam and splashed and played for a while, until it started to get too hot for Heath to be outside at all. It was his naptime anyway. We all got out and dried off, then Dom brought Heath in to put him down for his nap. Liz and I sit on the patio in the shade, under the outdoor fans.
Dom comes back outside with the baby monitor speaker. He sets it down on the table. “I'll keep an ear on this if you two want to go back in.”
Liz stands up. “Actually, if you don't mind I think I'd like to go up and take a nap myself.”
“Of course, babe.” I know that Liz sometimes has trouble sleeping, so a daytime nap isn't strange for her at all.
“Thanks. Just go on about your day, don't worry about me. I'll be up when I'm up.”
“Okay. Rest well.”
Liz smiles then goes inside, her towel still wrapped around her waist.
“Is she okay?”
“Probably. Sleep problems.”
“Oh... I see. Well, it'll be good and quiet for her to rest. You guys doing some more training today?”
I scoff. “You think I'm working on my birthday if I don't have to?”
Dom laughs. “Point taken.” His amusement fades, and he takes a deep breath, changing his tone. “So, there is something I wanted to talk to you about, about the show.”
“Don't tell me they canceled it mid-production?”
“No, nothing like that. Just some content. I know I'm not technically supposed to let you read the script or tell you things, but I read ahead, and the scenes we're doing in the next few days....” He shakes his head. “I really think you should know about before you watch the finished product. I ran it by Chris, and he agreed.”
“Oh.” I suddenly have a bad feeling in my stomach. “What do you have to do?”
“Well, you know my character is ex-SEAL now working for the FBI. He left the SEALs due to a pretty traumatic mission gone wrong. And the arc of the season is his struggle with putting SEAL training aside to work more like an agent.”
“Yeah, I read that much when you got the synopsis.”
“Okay, so. We're on the second episode. My guy, Cross, has been helping them look for a female domestic terrorist. She's been acting like sort of a spy inside the NOPD, but the Fibs aren't sure what the ultimate plan is. So, we catch her. And Cross... has to interrogate her.”
I take this in for a moment. “So... you have to be mean to a woman?”
“More than mean. All he thinks is 'terrorist' and SEAL's are trained to handle them a certain way. So... it's... it's ugly. I almost refused to do it.”
I lean forward on the table, arms folded. “Baby. Just tell me exactly what it is you have to do.”
“Okay. So, they detain her, and she's not talking. Cross demands to be allowed to question her. Reason being, she is connected somehow to the past mission that went south. But he doesn't tell the Fibs that. So, when he gets in the room with her...” Dom sighs. It must be something violent if he's having so much trouble just telling me. I nod, prompting him to just say it. “They bicker a little, he doesn't like what she says, and... he grabs her and shoves her against the wall, grabbing her throat. Yelling in her face. Just... pretty rough.” He stops, looking very apprehensive about my reaction.
“Oh. Okay. Um.... I can see why you'd want to warn me about that.” Several times where I've been physically threatened was by being grabbed by the throat, including the rapist. “But at this point I am able to know the difference between you and whatever character you're playing. It doesn't seem any different than watching you in the movies in those sex scenes.” I shrug. Acting is acting. Dom wasn't going to actually strangle that woman, just like he obviously didn't actually have sex with Kennedy Street. Ugh... why did I think about that?
“Maybe... but there's a big difference between having sex, and choking a woman out. And with what you went through... I just thought.... I almost refused because I didn't want you to see me like that. Acting or not.”
I sit back again, and the gravity of what he's saying hits me. “Oh. Oh.... I hadn't even thought about that until you said it.”
“And that's good, because it means you're getting through and past things. I was worried about triggering some kind of relapse or something.”
“I guess that might be possible... but I know that person in whatever show or movie you're in isn't you.” He nods, but doesn't seem convinced. “You almost refused? What made you agree to do it?”
“Oh... they edited the scene a little. Originally he was going to be much more rough. Shove her to the floor. And... well, I'd rather not repeat the rest. But they toned it down to still fit the story they want, but something I'm more comfortable with.”
“I see. I appreciate you giving me a warning about it. If it's that bad I can just skip that episode, or scene.”
“Well, I did have an idea, maybe it'll help. What if you came to the set and watched us film it? Seeing it on the stage with all the lights and cameras and crew, and however many takes they need to get it right could reinforce in your mind how not real it is.”
“Like when I watched that one scene from the boxing movie where you and whatsherface got busy on the weight bench. And they shot it like five times.”
“Exactly.” He smiles, I guess glad that I get it. “What do you think?”
I'm not sure why he thinks seeing multiple takes of him being rough with a woman will make seeing the finished product better.... but he might have a point about all the crew and equipment.
“It's worth a shot, I suppose. When is that filming?”
“Wednesday.”
“Okay. Well, if you think it'll be good for me, I trust you. I can always just leave the set if it bothers me.”
“So you'll come?”
“Yeah. I'll call Marie to stay here with Heath. I am not taking him back there. I don't want him to think he's gonna get taken away again.”
“Good idea.” He reaches across the table and grabs my hand. “I really think this is gonna help. I'd hate for you to be uncomfortable watching anything I do on screen.”
“Baby... I've already watched you pretend to have sex with one of my coworkers, and pretend to kill like a dozen people with a semi-automatic. I can probably handle this one.”
“I'm not sure you really grasp what the scene is supposed to look like...” He looks uncomfortable again.
“I said I'll go watch. I trust your judgment.”
We got up and after turning the volume on the baby monitor all the way up and setting it as close to the pool as safely possible, we went back in for another swim for a little while. The more I thought about this scene though, the more I started to think maybe Dom was right to be concerned. Shooting a gun and a few fistfights isn't the same as choking a woman. I just had to trust him.
{{ Wednesday, July 12
New Orleans
Starlight Studios }}
When I agreed to come to the set with Dom and watch the scene he was concerned about being filmed, I didn't know that he had to be here at the ass-crack of dawn. It's six AM as we walk into the Agent: SEAL soundstage. I yawn as Amanda approaches me. She's already in her character's wardrobe, as evidenced by the fake badge on her belt.
“Hi Bree, it's good to see you again!” She gives me a hug.
“You too, Amanda. You look sharp as... wait, I don't even know your character's name.”
Amanda laughs. “It's Ella.”
“Ella... yeah, you look like an Ella.”
“Do I look like a Connor?”
I made a show of looking Dom up and down, we'd just arrived so he isn't in his costume yet.
“It'll do.”
The three of us laugh. “Speaking of Connor, I should get to wardrobe.”
“And I should get back to makeup, they weren't done with me.”
“Where do I belong?” I look around and don't see an area that immediately looks like a place for a spectator.
“Oh. A production assistant was supposed to meet us here and show you, but she probably got tied up. I don't mind. Follow me.” Amanda smiles, and turns. I follow. She leads me to the far right side of the set they were using today, which is a two room set up. An FBI office, and the other is an interrogation room. At the end of the set, there is a small freestanding set of bleacher seats. Made of metal, they would be more in place at a playground or baseball park. “Here you go. These are here for the crew when they're not being used for a certain shot, but Chris said you can sit here. There's a good view.”
I put one foot on the bottom step hesitantly, and step up. It's a lot sturdier than it looks. I climb up two seats, and sit. Amanda is right, it's a good view. Right between two main cameras and no lights or booms in the way. I give her a smile.
“This is great, thank you.”
“No problem. If you need anything, Kelly, the PA, can help you.” Amanda looks around, then sees a young blonde woman walking by. “Kelly! Would you come over for a minute?”
The blonde turns at her name, then nods and strides over. She has a yellow folder in hand that she tucks under her arm. She's almost as tall as Amanda is. “Yes ma'am?”
“Kelly, this is Bree Lancaster, she's Dominic's wife, here to observe today's shoots. Can you make sure she's taken care of?”
“Of course!” Kelly gives me a smile and sticks her hand out. “Great to meet you. Do you need anything right now?” It's clear this young woman is not a wrestling fan, as either she has no idea who I am, or she does but doesn't really care.
“Um... maybe just a water?”
“Sure! I need to get this folder to Chris and then I'll be right on that.”
“Take your time. Thank you.” Kelly nods and sprints away. “Is she always that fast?”
“Yes. Almost a job requirement.” Amanda grins. “Alright, I have to get back to makeup. Hope you enjoy watching.”
“Thanks.”
Amanda walks off and I am alone. I look around, and see Dom on the set. He's in costume now, the uniform looks like plain black police style fatigues like a SWAT team member would wear. He wears it well. He's near the table in the interrogation room set, speaking with a brunette woman, her hair a short pixie-style cut. She's dressed in dark blue jeans, a red and darker red striped shirt, with a brown jacket over it. I'm assuming she's the actor playing the woman Dom's character is supposed to be rough with. I watch as they speak, and then they start doing slow motion movements. Him stepping close to her, she puts her hand up, he reaches for her neck, they move towards the wall, all very slow. It's obvious they're going over the choreography. It almost reminds me of watching Amy teach her students new moves. After three run-throughs, they nod and walk off the set talking. I hear a slight noise behind me and a water bottle has magically appeared near my feet. I guess Kelly put it there between the seats. I look back up to see Dom looking around, then he sees me. He smiles and leads the woman over towards me. Apparently he's going to introduce us. I get up and go down the few steps to the floor.
“I see someone showed you to the good seats.”
“Amanda did. It's a good vantage point.”
Dom turns to glance at the view for a second. “Yeah, it is. Anyway... so I wanted you to meet the lady I'm doing that scene with, I guess you just saw us going over it.” I nod. “Right, so this is Nina Spell. Nina, my wife Bree.”
We shake hands. “Hi, so happy to meet you.”
“Same to you.”
“Dominic says you came to see this scene shot to be comfortable with it?”
“It was his idea. From what he told me, its different from anything he's ever done.”
“Understandable.”
“Different is an understatement. I've fought plenty of men on screen, never a woman though, so...” Dom makes a face, I can tell he's still trying to make himself comfortable doing it at all.
“Well, I've told Dominic so I'll repeat it to you. I typically play the bad guy in shows I've been on. So I've been tossed around plenty of sets. Just another day at the office.” She grins.
“I watched the last one you did, I can promise you I'm not gonna throw you that far.”
Nina laughs. “Yeah, I don't think you're required to slide me across the entire floor into the wall. At least not today.”
“Good, cause I didn't rehearse that.” They both laugh. I don't see the humor.
“Anyway, Bree. Let me assure you that I'm used to doing this kind of work and I have complete trust that everything will be safe.”
It's clear to me that Dom asked her to speak to me and say these things. I glance at him as I give her a smile. “I appreciate that.”
Behind them, closer to the set, a bell chimes. “Oh. Five minute call. We should go.”
“I'll be fine here.”
Dom and Nina go back to the set, and I go back to my seat in the bleacher stand.
About a dozen people scurry around the set area, cameras move, lights change, and people take their positions. Dom and Nina sit across from each other at the table in the interrogation room set. A crew member walks up and puts cuffs on her, obviously fake because they don't lock. I watch her adjust them as the crew guy walks away. Then the countdown, and action.
“Who are you working for?”
“You already know that, that's why I'm here.”
“Nah... I know what the Fibs have you here for. I'm going deeper.” He leans over the table into her face, glaring. “Who do you really work for?”
“I have no idea what you're talking about.” She looks smug.
He slams the table with both hands and yells. “Wrong answer!” He quickly steps around the table, grabs her by the top of the open jacket, whips her around and slams her into the wall, ending with one hand around her throat. She grabs it with both hands. I clap my hand over my mouth, cause I know I'm supposed to be quiet.
“Try again.”
She coughs and sputters and pulls at his hand.
“CUT!”
Dom immediately lets go and steps back. Nina adjusts her jacket. Chris steps forward a little.
“Nina, you okay?”
“Pristine.” She smiles.
Chris seems surprised. Honestly so am I. I remind myself to breathe. There had been angry and yelling and fighting scenes in pretty much everything else of Dom's I'd watched. But that....
Chris speaks to them and interrupts my thoughts.
“Okay, that looked great. Very convincing. Let's try it again though, and this time Dominic, try to knock her chair over when you're spinning around, make it look a little more reckless. Remember, Cross is looking for anything he can find to solve the mission, and he'll do anything he needs to get that information. Got it?”
“Yep.”
“Anything for me?”
“Not a thing different, Nina. Places.”
They reset, and run it through again. Dom manages to push her into the chair while spinning, knocking it over as asked. The slam against the wall looks harder than the first one, Nina's head bounces off it a little. He delivers the line a little differently, slower. More intimidating.
“Try. Again.”
“CUT!”
I get up and go down the steps and turn away from the whole set. That scene looks nothing like what their rehearsal motions suggested earlier, and the way Dom described it to me yesterday gave me zero idea how rough and... threatening, the whole thing would be. A table between them, hitting a wall... I can't do this.
I walk behind all the cameras and crew, as close to the back wall as I can, and get almost to the door when I hear steps behind me. I turn, and Dom is right behind me. I step backwards. He puts his hands up in a calming motion.
“Whoa... hey... are you okay?”
“I... I think this was a very bad idea.” My voice sounds much more fearful than I wanted it to. Dom's face falls and his shoulders sag. He reaches for me, slowly, and takes my hand. I let him but it feels weird after what I just watched.
“I'm sorry. I thought seeing all the production would-”
“No, no. It's okay. You tried, you meant well. I just... I can't be here.” I pull my hand out of his, and he just lets his fall. I rub mine with the other. “I'm sorry.”
“At least tell me you're not afraid of me...?”
“I can't answer that right now. I should go.”
I spin and walk off towards the door. I hear Dom swear behind me, “Fuck...” Not angry, more distraught. I hate that he's upset, but I just can't be here. I exit the soundstage and practically sprint to my car. We drove separately so I could leave when I wanted. I didn't think I'd be leaving less than two hours after arriving.
* * * * *
I drove back to Kenner, and then around the city aimlessly a little bit, not ready to go home yet. I stopped at a local grocery store and picked up salad items. I didn't remember if we had some at home or not, and I just wanted to do something normal. I also grabbed a box of strawberries. No reason other than they looked pretty.
Once home, I put the few items away (we had been out of tomatoes so I did one thing right) and look for Marie. She's in the den, and Heath hasn't woken up yet. It's only just past nine. That means that Liz is probably still in bed, too. Marie seems confused as to why I'm home already. I tell her I wasn't feeling well so I came back to lie down, and ask if she would please stay. She agrees, and I go upstairs to my room. I lay back on the bed, then pry my shoes off with my toes.
What the hell happened back there?
I don't understand it myself. But I'd have to figure it out before Dom came home, because I knew he'd have questions. I had another seven hours to think about it. I got myself comfortable on my pillow, and fell asleep, still in my clothes. Hours later, Liz woke me up to ask if I wanted lunch. I really didn't, but I made myself a small salad from the items I'd bought earlier anyway. Liz asked me what was wrong, if I was okay. I gave her the same line I gave Marie, that I just wasn't feeling well. I didn't want to explain to anyone, not even one of my best friends, because it sounded so silly in my own head. I did my best to distract myself by playing games with Heath, and when the sun started going down a little around six in the afternoon, we had a short swim.
Dom's work day was supposed to end at six, but traffic from the city to here at that time of day moves like molasses so he didn't actually get home until just after seven. We had dinner as if nothing was off, we were both putting on a show because Liz and Marie were still here. Liz and I are flying to Pittsburgh in the morning for Breakdown, and Marie is staying over to stay with Heath while Dom is working.
After dinner, Dom went into the library to read his pages for tomorrow, and Liz and I went upstairs to pack for Breakdown. She had made herself very much at home in the guest room and needed to repack everything. I offered to help, but she insisted she could handle it and that I should get my things done. Marie had already given Heath his bath so I had no reason (or excuse) to not go into my bedroom and get packed. It's after nine PM now and I am almost done, but my large suitcase is still on the bed and wide open. I have my gear tights in my hands, folding them, when Dom walks into the room. I'm on the other side of the bed from the door cause that's where my closet is, so it serves as a rather large barrier.
“Hey... getting ready for tomorrow now?”
“Yeah. I didn't want to be rushing in the morning. I'll have all this off the bed soon, I'm almost done.”
“Don't rush for me, I'll just go stay in the library.”
I drop my gear tights. “What?”
“It got a little weird this morning, I thought you would want the space.”
“That's not really necessary, I-”
“Are you sure?” Dom takes a step towards the bed as if he is going to walk around it to my side. I find myself involuntarily stepping backwards. Dammit! He stops, a pinched look on his face. “Thought so.”
“Wait, I didn't mean to-”
“But you did. It's okay. It's my fault. I had an idea and it backfired.”
“It's not your fault my brain is weird.”
He grins. “No... but it is mine for not thinking the idea through.”
“I agreed though. So stop it.”
“Okay.” He shrugs. “It's no ones fault. But it's still a thing, so I'll give you the room.”
I started to protest again, then remembered how I backed away without wanting to, my body just did it. I let out a resigned sigh. “Okay.”
“Okay. I'll just get a shower then go down. I have to be up and out of here before you anyway so at least I won't wake you.” He grins, trying to make it sound like a plus. I'm not buying it.
“I really hate this, you know. It's been two years, I'm supposed to be over this.”
“You aren't supposed to be anything. You're just you, and we work with that.” With a smile, he turns towards the bathroom. Not that I had a reply for that anyway.
I finish packing my bag and set it aside, ready to grab in the morning. When Dom is done with the shower, he grabs clothes for the morning and his pillow off the bed, then blows me a kiss before going downstairs. If we didn't have both Marie and Liz here, he could have used one of the guest rooms, like he did for a few weeks after I was attacked. The large couch in the library is super comfortable, but that didn't make me feel any better about this.
{{ Thursday, July 13
Pittsburgh, PA
Breakdown }}
The show just ended, and I am exhausted. Liz and I have been fighting literally all night, not just in the main event. She and Ravyn Taylor have this thing with the Unsanctioned Title going on, and of course Ravyn got Ace involved, along with their friend Sophie. I wasn't going to leave Liz to fend them all off herself, so I helped. During the chaos, at one point Liz's Unsanctioned belt was stolen. I don't even remember who took it. What I do remember, is handing Jaina my US Title belt to hold for me so it wouldn't get stolen, too.
Now, Liz and I make it back to our locker room, where Jaina is waiting, my belt next to her on the bench.
“Hey... you guys okay?”
“I'll live.” I rub my forehead, which just a few minutes ago became closely acquainted with Ravyn's knees.
“Yeah, I'm good too. I'd be better if I knew where those bastards took my belt.” Liz spins a chair around and straddles it, rubbing her knee.
“They'll bring it to Rise to Greatness. If only to taunt you with it.”
Liz growls. I slide my belt to the side and sit next to Jaina. “Thanks for keeping this safe for me.”
“Of course. I know how much it means to you. But um... I don't think Deanna Frost does.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well... she saw me walking backstage carrying it, and said something to me.”
I glare. “What'd she say?”
“Just that she thought it was weird that I was holding it for you, you shouldn't be 'playing their game'”- Jaina makes air quotes. “ - and it makes her want to beat you more, like you don't care enough. Or something like that. I don't remember her exact words, but that's obviously what she meant.”
I scoff and shake my head. “That girl doesn't know what she's talking about. She really thinks I don't care about my championship because I took time to help my friend?”
“It was more insinuated than stated, really passive aggressive. But that's really what it sounded like.”
“She should ask her fucking wife how much I care about that championship!” I take a deep breath. I can't let Deanna get to me like that. I have too much on the line at Rise to let myself become unfocused.
“That's right, just breathe darling. She knows not what she says.” Liz reaches over and pats my knee.
“She'll learn. I'll make sure she sees the error of her thinking.”
“You certainly will. And the next night not only will we get my Unsanctioned Title back... but we'll liberate the Tag Titles from X Rated, too.”
“Those championships deserve better.”
“We'll give it to them.” Liz smiles, and I make myself smile back. Fucking Deanna. Just when I was starting to like she and Selena a little bit, too. I push myself up from the bench.
“Okay, shower. Then maybe a long soak when I get back to my room. I am beyond worn out.”
“You and me both, sister.” Liz gets up and heads to the showers too, peeling her top off as she walks.
“You both go, the belt is safe here.” Jaina pats it, with a smirk.
“My niece, the hero.” Jaina giggles.
As I scrub off the night's worth of sweat and grit in the shower, it occurs to me that I might have been using helping Liz with her issues to work out some frustration over the way things were left at home.
{{ Friday, July 14
Kenner, LA
Bree's home }}
Liz went home following Breakdown, but we promised to meet in Toronto early, the Thursday before Rise to Greatness, to regroup and solidify our strategy. Once we landed, I asked Jaina for a favor – if she could take Heath home with her for the night. She gave me an odd look as she agreed, but didn't ask why. After getting in just before noon, I explained and Marie packed Heath's travel bag. I gave him a big hug and we played on the floor with one of his trucks until Marie had his things ready. He was all too eager to leave with Jaina when she asked if he wanted to go to her house. I thanked her again, and the girls left. I think I heard them saying something about Marie staying over, too. I hoped Heath wasn't too confused about going somewhere without me right after I got home, but it was necessary today. The flight home was quiet and I had time to think, and everything became clear to me before the plane landed. I just hoped I could explain it to my husband.
I am currently sitting in bed, showered and dressed in comfortably, watching an old movie on Netflix, when I hear Donatella bark. She was downstairs sleeping in the den when I came up and I didn't want to wake her up. My babygirl was getting old and needed her sleep. Anyway, the bark told me that Dom was home. I check the time – half past seven. I turn the volume down a little and listen for him to come upstairs. Soon, I hear his steps. I sit up a little straighter just as he enters the room.
“Hey... was wondering where you were.”
“Last night was a clusterfuck and I just wanted to relax.” I didn't have to explain where Heath was; I had texted earlier and told him.
“I saw. Don't blame you.”
I turn the TV off and sit up, crossing my legs in the bed. “Dom, I think-”
He puts a hand up. “I know. But we were on outdoor location today, all day, and I really need to jump in the shower.”
“That sounds terrible. Of course.” It's the middle of summer in the deep south. I completely understood. The man grew up in New Jersey, he'd likely never get used to this humidtity.
“It was absolutely not pleasant. I won't be long.”
Dom disappears into the bathroom, and shortly after I hear the water come on. I decide to take advantage of the few minutes, and move. Rather than sitting up on my side of the bed, I crawl over to his side, which is closer to the bathroom door, and sit on the edge. It's a silent statement that I'm not using the large piece of furniture as a buffer.
Maybe five or so minutes later, the door opens, and Dom walks out. Already dressed in shorts, he's still drying off his hair with one end of the towel draped over his shoulders. He looks up and sees me, where I'm sitting, and stops, then tosses the towel aside onto the chair.
“Okay...”
“First of all, we're not doing this 'space' thing anymore, there's no reason for it.” He nods, but says nothing. “There's no reason for it, because I figured out what happened the other morning.”
“Did you?”
“Yes, and I came to a decision because of it. I don't think I should go to any of your shoots anymore.”
“If that's what you want, okay. But that doesn't really tell me what happened.”
“Well... okay. So, when I watch one of your movies on a screen, it's easy to see and understand that I'm watching a character, and not my husband. But, being there in person while you're working, and going in and out of character, it's obviously you, because I'm watching you work. And for whatever reason, my brain doesn't separate you from the character that quickly. Am I making any sense?”
Dom looks down, then back up at me, dejected. “What I'm hearing is... it turned out the exact opposite from what I expected. I thought seeing the on and off, so to speak, would make it more clear.”
I shook my head. “No, not at all. Cause you, in front of me, in the same room, are you. I know intellectually you're playing a character, but I guess brain chemicals don't know the difference, and it just incites panic. And I can't even blame what happened to me two years ago, because I reacted badly to watching you work the very first time I was at a shoot. You remember.”
“Yeah.... that's true. We weren't even officially a thing yet, and you walked off.”
“Exactly. So. I think that going forward it's best if I don't go to shoots anymore, and just wait to see the end product.”
“If that's all it takes for me to never see you backing away from me again with that look in your eyes, I'm all for it. I don't want you to ever be afraid of me, for any reason.”
“I'm not.”
“But you-”
“I know what I did... but that wasn't me. That was brain chemicals I can't control. That's why when you asked me if I was afraid, I couldn't answer you. Saying yes would have been the cortisol talking, not me, and I didn't want to lie to you.” I was sitting on the edge of the bed this whole time, so I stand and step close, grabbing a hand. “I couldn't stop that chemical from making me need to leave the situation, but I know, here and here-” I point to my head, then my chest, meaning my heart. “- that what you did as that character is not who you are. I could never be afraid of you. This-” I take his hands and put them around my waist, then slide my arms around him. He gets the idea and hugs me. “-is the safest place I know.”
Dom pulls me closer and hugs tighter. I lean my head against his chest, and feel him lean his head down on top of mine. “That's all I needed to know.”
I pull back enough to look up at him, and smile. “I'll make sure you never forget.”
I start to reach up with both hands to grab his face ad pull him down, but he reads my mind and leans down, meeting me halfway with a gentle but deep kiss. I grab his face anyway, and his arms wrap around me. After a few seconds he stops, and before I can wonder why, he scoops me up and carries me the four or five steps to the bed, and sets me down. I get comfortable as he slides in next to me, leans close, and cups my face.
“Do you have any idea how much I love you?”
I grin. “Hmm. I'm not sure. Maybe you should show me.” He grins back, and leans in to kiss me again.
It seems like we were starting our anniversary celebration a few days early.
ON CAMERA
Current United States Champion Bree Lancaster sits in a comfortable looking armchair, positioned in front of the familiar fireplace in her home. There is a very small fire lit, not for warmth obvious since it's the dead of summer in the deep south, but more as a representation of the light of truth - Lux Veritatis - that Bree now follows as her mantra. The championship belt is not in it's usual place on the mantle, rather Bree sits with it resting in her lap, the straps folded back and propped up against her stomach to ensure the faceplate is seen clearly.
I want to talk about a concept... the idea of assumption. The way a person looks at another or a situation and puts together in their own mind what they think will happen, or what they think another person thinks, or how they think another person feels. If you really know a person well... like they're your partner, or your parent, or child... maybe even best friend? You might turn out to be correct. But in most cases... you're not. And the reason for that is another concept I want to point out.
Projection.
It's human nature to look at a situation, and put ourselves into that place. Think about how we would feel, what we would do, if it were us facing that challenge. But sometimes, we assume that just because we would feel a certain way, or a certain thing about it... that so would everyone else. Because the way it makes sense in our minds is so clear, so simple, that it never occurs to us that someone else might feel or think or act differently.
That, is projection. Assuming that someone will act the same way you would. Not only is this dangerous because you can't prepare for a person's real feelings and reactions, it's also a sign of something far more dangerous in the long run.
Ego.
If you can't see past your own thoughts and feelings on things, can't imagine that someone else might do something differently, because the way you see it makes the most sense? Then you're letting your ego take over.
If you were wondering what everything I've been talking about has to do with wrestling? There you are. Ego. Listen... I'm not gonna pretend like I didn't used to walk around here with one of the largest ego's SCW has ever seen. But let's not also pretend like I haven't learned from my mistakes and grown and moved forward. If anyone is capable of seeing and calling out an overactive ego in others, it's someone who used to behave the same way and overcame the triggers in their shadow that created the problem.
Before I get too deep into things, I want to acknowledge the fact that I am working twice this weekend, Saturday defending my United States Championship, and Sunday with Datura challenging for the Tag Team Championships. Right now though, I have my attention on Deanna Frost.
Adjusting the belt slightly, Bree leans forward just a bit, a sign of her full attention being on this opponent.
I'm not going to begin this trading niceties with you, like I would normally do, and the reason for that is you. Let's go back to Breakdown, shall we? Two weeks ago, I was more than happy when I was told my challenger would be you. My reaction was practically the opposite of Alexis Quinne's. She seemed to think you did nothing to earn the opportunity, since there wasn't a contenders match, but earning a championship match isn't always as linear as that, and honestly I would think that someone as experienced as Alexis would understand that. Deanna, we have watched you start out less than two years ago, make your fumbles, work through the rookie struggles that I certainly remember about my first year or two in the business, and grow into the competitor you are today. I didn't bat an eye when Mr. D announced you as my challenger, it seemed like a natural and worthy choice to me.
But then... you began to disappoint me Not as a challenger or competitor, but as a person. You began to let your ego take over. Opening yourself up to this has caused you to make several incorrect assumptions, throw some projection that doesn't apply, and act as if both of those miscalculations are truth.
Let's start with that same Breakdown, that conversation with Mr. D and Alexis. You took such strong offense to what Alexis said to you that you immediately jumped to a defensive position and offered to face her, too. This, after your first reaction to being given a chance to become United States Champion was to say, 'I wish it was on the main show.'
Bree shakes her head in dissappointment.
Your assumption here, is that the pre-show of Rise to Greatness is somehow less important or less prestigious than the main show. I cannot and have not ever been able to understand that assumption. This is Rise to Greatness, babe. Being included in this event at all is an honor. My very first Rise, I was on the pre-show. It was a six-woman battle royal to name a number one contender for the Women's Championship. Was I offended that I wasn't on the main show? No. Did I go into that happy for the opportunity but with disappointment at the match's placement? No! I went into that match excited for the opportunity and motivated to take a step towards my first championship in SCW. History shows I won that match, and then won the Women's Championship as a result. Imagine how my motivation and effort might have been different if I'd walked into it with disappointment instead of passion?
The point I'm making here Deanna, is that it's ridiculous to me to think that a match at Rise is more or less important based on what show it's on. The only match that is more important than any other this weekend, is the main event. The World Championship match. Having fought in one myself, I feel like I have the leeway to say that. Everything else though? All just as important as the next. Title matches, challenges out of the spirit of competition, personal feuds... each and every one is the most important match of the weekend, to the people who are in it. The terms pre-show and main show mean nothing, other than what night the match is on, unless you project meaning onto it. You may or may not remember this, but a few years ago back when I was at my most arrogant, Blake and I did everything we could to make the pre-show – or as Blake paid to have it called for me, the Bree-show – feel like the bigger show of the weekend. In hindsight, we did not accomplish that. It was more of a power play than anything else. But the concept remains. We tried to change the perception.
I have to ask you Deanna, and I want you to sincerely reflect on this. Don't answer me, answer yourself. Do you truly believe that anyone or any title booked on the pre-show is somehow inferior to everything on the main show? Your total and utter offense to being 'stuck' on the pre-show, does that mean that you see yourself as better than everyone and everything on it?
Better than Syren and the Adrenaline Championship?
Better than me, and the United States Championship?
Too good for the very championship that you claim you're going to give everything you have to claim? Why would you want to do that, if being defended on the pre-show means it's less-than? Do you want a less-than championship?
Do you think you're going to 'save' it?
Leaning forward more, Bree glares as she stresses the point.
The audacity.
Please reconsider the insinuation of the words you're saying before you put your name behind them.
Try thinking of it this way for a moment, Deanna. My matches this weekend could very well have been reversed. What if Mr. D had instead decided to have the Tag Team Championships contested on the pre-show? It's been done before. That would have put our match on the main show. Would that suddenly make the Tag Team Championships less important than the US? The championships that you and Selena were so proud to carry, and were defeated for by the very team Datura and I will be trying to take them from? Do you hear how ridiculous that sounds?
The truth... is that being on the pre-show doesn't lower the value of the United States Championship. Instead, the United States Championship raises the importance of the pre-show. Having not one but two of SCW's major championships defended on it shows the world that the pre-show isn't just for rookies and warmups. It's just as important and just as unmissable as the main show is, and if you skip it because you think it doesn't matter, you are missing out.
The thing that saddens me the most, I think, is that you could be doing your best to promote a championship match at one of SCW's biggest shows of the year. Build the show up, build the match up. Make our match over this championship sound so important to you and so meaningful that it doesn't matter when you get to fight for it, that you can't wait to do it, and everyone should watch! Instead, you are calling yourself too good for this match, and by association, too good for the championship. Luckily for the title and for SCW... I know how to keep it safe.
Sitting back again, Bree adjusts the belt again, keeping a hand on the top edge.
Speaking of keeping the title safe, let's talk about that for a minute. Another thing you seem to have taken great offense to, was last week when I gave my title belt to Jaina for safekeeping. Once again, you saw that action and made an assumption. You clearly viewed my action as 'leaving it behind.' I know where that assumption comes from, and I am honestly getting tired of the rhetoric. A few years ago when I was both World and US Champion, I made the difficult decision to vacate the US. I have since explained that decision a dozen times over and I am not going to do that again. The point here, is that it seems like you don't think I care about the United States Championship.
If I didn't care, I wouldn't have done what I did years ago, to allow it the focus it deserved.
If I didn't care, I wouldn't have thrown everything I have into fighting through that tournament to reclaim it for a record-breaking fourth time.
If I didn't care.... I wouldn't have handed it to one of the people I trust most in the world, to keep it safely away from belt-snatching thieves.
The mistake you're making here, Deanna, is acting as if the physical belt is the United States Championship itself. The truth though... is that it's a signifier.
Bree holds the belt up on display for a moment, the light from the small fire reflecting on the gold.
It's a beautiful representation of the title of Champion. It is important and meaningful and deserves proper treatment and respect.
But it is not the actual title, Champion.
Replacing the belt into her lap, Bree keeps a hand on it like before.
How many times in the history of wrestling has someone stolen a champion's physical belt? Countless, right? I mean, it happened at the last Breakdown. Does that mean the champion is no longer the champion, and the person who took it is? No, of course not. Because the right to be called a champion is fought for, and earned by winning. One would think you'd know that, considering what happened to the United States belt years ago when your wife Selena was champion, and Giovanni Aries defeated her for it. It's well known his feelings about championships, that they're meaningless trinkets. He took it upon himself to destroy not one, but two physical belts. Did the lack of a physical belt mean the United States Championship no longer existed? Obviously not. Did the lack of a physical belt stop me from wanting to face him for it, or from defeating him to reclaim the title? Of course not! After I did so, I was then given a new belt. That represented the fact I was the United States Champion. But I won the title of champion without a belt being involved. The bekt itself is not the idea, the essence, of what being a champion is.
That said, I made a judgment call to protect the belt I am responsible for by handing it to Jaina to keep it safe from being stolen, like Datura's belt was. To be accused of leaving it behind, as if I don't care? Well that just doesn't make any sense at all. Maybe you see title belts that way, but you can't project your views on to me and expect me to act as if you would.
We are not the same, babe.
That brings us to another assumption you've made about me, Deanna. You seem to think that I can't focus on more than one thing, because you can't. You weren't trained that way. You have a year and change experience, and you were trained by your wife. I'm not discounting Selena's ability at all. She's World Champion about to main event her third Rise to Greatness, and I've faced her far too many times in my career to cast even the lightest of shadows on her talents. I'm also not going to suggest that she isn't a good trainer or teacher. You clearly have skills yourself. Underground Champion, Tag Champion, wins over some of the biggest names in the company. What I'm getting at though, is that you've also picked up one of Selena's more negative traits.... that being tunnel vision.
When Selena sets her mind to do something, nothing else matters. Chasing a certain title, supreme status, for herself or helping a friend, like she did with Regan Street, or even just facing and beating a certain person just to say she did.... whatever she sets as a goal, nothing else in the world matters to her. You've started to do the same thing. Tag Tile contention? You worked with a broken arm, refusing to let that stop you from being champions. Rise to Greatness? You had to be on this show, one way or another. And nothing but the main show was good enough for you! Despite the fact you were given this chance against me, you also immediately challenged Alexis too, just to be on the show you deem more important. Nothing but beating me and being US Champion so that it can be defended on the main show will do! Nevermind the fact that due to your instant challenge because getting a whole championship match wasn't good enough for you.... you're facing Alexis whether you beat me or not. What happens if I beat you? Does facing Alexis no longer matter?
Bree shakes her head once again, this time in annoyance and perhaps a little disbelief.
This is just more projection. You assume... that just because you are laser focused on one thing, that I must also only be focused on one thing too, That being the Tag Team Championship match, because it's on the main show. You know, since the pre-show matches aren't important, so I must feel like the United States Championship match is secondary in importance. See how we come back to that? You're expecting me to hold back against you, to have more energy in the Tag Title match, because you think I value winning the Tag Team Championships more than I value retaining the United States. It's incomprehensible to you that I could possibly have equal passion and give equal effort to both. Because you rank importance based on arbitrary booking placement.
I don't think that way. I have never thought that way.
If you're walking into our match truly believing that I will hold anything back and that's what you're preparing for.. or maybe even hoping for so you have a better chance? Then our match is going to be a lot shorter than it should be because you will be in over your head. There is no difference in importance for me, and I promise you that I will be fighting both Saturday and Sunday as if each match is the most important thing I'm doing this weekend. The truth is... they both are. For different reasons.
You're treating this almost as an inconvenience, that you have to lower yourself to working the pre-show, so that you can then move on to the bigger show and have your moment. I am not going to allow you to insinuate that the championship I worked my ass off to reclaim is worth less just because of where Mr. D decided to hold the match. With that kind of attitude? Letting your ego overtake you? You are not worthy to hold the title of United States Champion, or carry the belt.
Bree rises from the chair and places the belt over her shoulder.
As an adherent of Lux Veritatis, I cannot and will not allow someone with a false sense of superiority and lack of understanding of what this championship means and stands for fall into the hands of someone who does not deserve to hold it. And after I ensure the United States Championship remains in good hands, my hands... I will be more than happy to defend it against Alexis Quinne myself. Sunday night, after the summer break... doesn't matter. I'll be ready.
Turning, Bree sets the belt back in its place on the mantle, and gives it a proud smile as we fade out.