Under Attack 2022 #2
The episode of Hollywood Backstage that Dom filmed that day in August never aired. As soon as we got home in Santa Monica, Dom called Detective Morrison. After that, he called Lisa. And Lisa... called a Lionsgate attorney. The episode was meant to air the next afternoon, but it was scrapped. Maybe it's on the same shelf as Deep Cover 2. The media caught wind of the fact Hollywood Backstage had to scrap a show, and it soon came out that they had booked both Dom and Elias on the same show, filmed in the same building back to back. The term 'snowball effect' was made for things like this. The show was put on hiatus. The executive producer, James Sutton, that Dom had actually spoken with before finding Elias grabbing me, was fired. All of this happened within a week of the incident, and the following Tuesday, exactly a week later.... LAPD formally charged Elias Stone with three counts of sexual battery and one count of rape. He turned himself in a day later, and was bonded out in a matter of hours. The important part though, is that he was actually charged. I have no idea if the incident with me had anything to do with it, or if the police might need me later. I'd rather stay out of it if I can. These things always take a while to work their way through the court system; unfortunately I've had experience with enough criminal court cases to know that. So for now, things are in a sort of limbo. Stone is free on bond but being watched closely. I haven't been back to Los Angeles since.
I have been back to SCW, though.
I went in with a mission. To help Datura, my friend Liz, break away from Holly Adams' Brand, and all of the garbage that goes along with her 'life coaching' scam. It wasn't even all about getting her away from those miscreants though. In order to do that, Liz had to find herself, too. The reason she was taken in by them was because she was searching for something. Self-confidence, inner strength, some kind of sense of worth. Anyone in that kind of state is easily susceptible to the mindgames played by Adams and Aries. But I know Liz is stronger than that. She just needed to be reminded. My mission was a success, and it worked out even better than I planned, or could have even imagined. That's why now I'm headed to London for Under Attack as one of two women challenging Datura for her Adrenaline Championship.
I'm not sure I'm ready for this.
{{ Friday, November 4
Over the Atlantic
Bree's Private Plane }}
Flying from New Orleans to London is a fairly long flight. It's even longer when you have a six-month old baby and a six year old neurotic chihuahua on board. Luckily for everyone, Donatella never had one moment where she seemed jealous of Heath at all. Instead, she immediately became protective of him. Kinda like... he is my 'puppy' which means he is hers, too. It's super adorable if you think about it.
Currently, we are about three hours into the flight. Both Heath and Tella are sleeping, each in their own custom airplane seats. Jaina is also with us, reclining in the seat that a year ago was Scott's usual seat. It's still strange being on the road without him, but I know it's what's best for both of us. I need to things on my own this time, and his fashion brand is getting more and more attention. He needs to be in New York and Los Angeles and Paris, not backstage with me. So, Jaina claimed his seat. She's also sleeping, or at least looks like it, with headphones in her ears. And of course we have Nora with us. She's in one of the middle seats, with her laptop out and headphones on. It looks like she's watching a movie.
Dom and I are on the divan in the back, staying quiet to not wake anyone up. I've been playing a mindless game on my phone, and he's been reading emails. Or more specifically, scripts and pitches sent to him in emails. Word had got out around the business that Dom might be interested in doing TV again, so Lisa has been filtering the offers coming in and sending him the better ones. Just as I'm about to put this game away because I can't pass this level, Dom nudges me with his shoulder.
“Hey... take a look at this.”
I put the phone down. “What?” Dom hands me his tablet. He's been using that for emails and work stuff for a few months now, it's easier to read than his phone screen. I look at it, and a pitch synopsis is open.
“Series pitch. They're looking at me for the lead, apparently.”
I read. It's a drama about an ex-Navy SEAL who starts working for the FBI. “You're starting to get a little typecast, baby.” I smirk.
“Hey, when you're good at something, you stick with it.” He smirks back. “But seriously though, what do you think?”
I read the rest of it. The main character would have a tragic past in the SEALs that affected his current judgment on FBI ops. It reads like not just an action drama, but a psychological one, too.
“It looks really good. Like there's depth.”
“You see that too, huh? This is honestly the first one Lisa has sent me that interests me. Out of about a dozen.”
“If you really like it baby, then move on it. It does look good to me, but in the end you're the one who has to be happy with what you're doing. My opinion doesn't matter.”
“It matters to me.” He grins, then kisses my forehead. I hand him the tablet back. “I'll tell Lisa to hold on to this one.”
“I like that you're starting to get back into things.”
“I wouldn't say that. Reading pitches and scripts isn't the same as getting on a set. I don't think I'm doing that any time soon. You and Heath are my priorities right now.”
“I know we are. Our family is my main focus too, but look at me... I went back to work. We're literally flying over the Atlantic ocean for my match this weekend. If I can work and keep up with family life, so can you.”
“Maybe. It was far more important for you to go back to work than me, though. Wrestling is far more fickle and forgetful than Hollywood. You said yourself, you needed to get your name back out there, remind people who you are before the business moves on. It's totally different in my world. I could be out of film for years, then go back and it would be like nothing changed.”
“Are you saying you're taking years off?” I sit up straight, he'd never said anything like that before. Dom shrugs.
“I don't know. At least one. I don't want to miss all the baby things. First word, walking, that stuff.”
“Neither do I. There's a good chance I might, though...” I had never thought about that. I glance at Heath in his seat, sleeping peacefully. Maybe coming back to work so soon was a mistake.
“Hey. I know what you're thinking, and you're wrong. Going back to SCW was the right thing for you. Look at what you've done already in just a month or so. Got your friend back. That group basically fell apart. Now you're in a title match.”
I take a deep breath and sit back again. “Yeah... and I don't know if I'm ready for this. It's my fourth match back, baby. I'm still shaking rust off.”
“You are not. There isn't a speck of rust on you, I've watched you.”
“I feel like there is.”
“Hey. You got through to Liz and she found her confidence again. You need to do the same thing.”
I close my eyes, letting out another deep breath. I know Dom is right. It just seems to me like things in SCW are moving much faster than I expected. “I'm trying.” I lean on Dom's shoulder, and he wraps his arm around me. I settle in, my eyes still closed, and my thoughts go back to Apocalypse, after the tag match where Liz made her stand....
* * * * * {{ September 25 – Apocalypse }} * * * * *
The match is over. My first match back in SCW and I teamed with Alexis Quinne, against Holly Adams and Datura. Yes, my friend. And someone Alexis respects. She and I rarely got along in the past but we made it work tonight. Both of us wanted to see Liz turn away from The Brand and Holly's influence. Liz always seemed to get it when I spoke to her, like the night she faced Clamidya defending her championship and Holly demanded that she lay down and let Clamidya win. Liz stood up for herself then, she refused to do it. She knew it was wrong. She knew Holly had selfish motives. Yet... every time Liz was around Holly and Giovanni, she seemed to keep falling for their bullshit. I didn't understand it, I thought I was getting through to her, but then she'd sort of revert. Everything came to a head tonight during the match. In the end, Liz just up and walked away from the match. She left Holly alone in the ring with me and Alexis. I dropped Sammy Thomas Davies with my new finisher, leaving Alexis to score the pinfall on Holly. On the books I won my first match back, but I knew I didn't get the finish. That only bugged me a little, the important thing was Liz.
She did it.
She walked away from The Brand. She realized she was better than that, she didn't need their kind of help. She can be a strong champion on her own.
Liz had gone to the back before the match was over, so after the bell rang and I finally got backstage, I had to go looking for her. My first stop was the women's locker room. One of the new women, I don't remember her name, told me Liz wasn't there. After the way she walked out of the match I knew she wouldn't be near The Brand's locker room, so there was only one other place she would have gone.
I head to my locker room, and when I walk in, there Liz is. Sitting in the middle of the floor with her legs crossed. The title belt is draped over a chair next to her.
“Liz.”
“Hi Bree. I was waiting for you.”
“I see that...” I walk in all the way and shut the door. “You did it.”
“I did it.” Liz gets to her feet and I can't stop myself from rushing up and hugging her. She laughs a little dry as she hugs me back.
“I'm so proud of you, babe.”
“I'm so very lucky to have you as a friend.”
We part and share smiles. Both of our hair is wild from the match and we both brush loose strands out of our face at the same time.
“As excited as I am that you finally took a stand and walked away from them... I have to ask you something.” Liz gives me a headtilt, waiting for the question. “I saw your promo. Why did you make it sound like you were fully on their side? I was so worried going into this tonight that after everything we'd talked about, that I'd failed. You, SCW. Myself, cause I-”
“Oh Bree. You could never fail. Not yourself or this company or especially me. I said what I had to say to get this point. Do you think Holly would have gone out there with me if she suspected I was dissassociating?”
“I suppose not.”
“I'm certain not. Instead, she would have had Sammy and Clamidya attack me before the match, and got one of them or Gio to replace me. There's no way she would have put herself in a position to look bad or weak if she though for one moment that I wasn't fully on the side of The Brand. I'm sorry I worried you, and Alexis too. But it had to be done this way, so that I could do what I did. Tell me you understand.”
“I do. It makes sense when you put it like that. You couldn't tell me or Alexis because it had to look real.” Liz nods, smiling. “I'm just so glad all of this is over.”
“Looking back at things... so am I. I was probably a fool to think they could do anything for me, but I kept looking at the Adrenaline Title belt. They claimed I won it because of them. And in a twisted way, they're right. I was in the match because of them.”
“Liz-”
“But. I won it on my own. I know that. I choose to believe I would have been given an opportunity at some point regardless, and end with the same result. I am Adrenaline Champion. They created the circumstances but I took advantage and made myself a champion. You were right all along, Bree. They were using me. They wanted my title. Well, they're not going to get it. And I have you and Alexis to thank for that.”
Liz leaned in and hugged me again. I patted her back and pulled away. “You need to credit yourself more than anyone. You had the strength to do what needed to be done. That's all on you, babe. That's why I'm so proud. It takes a lot of strength to realize when it's time to leave something behind and then actually do it. Change is hard. But seeing the truth and following it out of the darkness and into the light is empowering.”
“It truly is. And maybe you don't think you deserve it, but I will find a way to thank you, for everything you've helped me with.”
I smile, holding both her hands in mine. “You don't have to do-”
“But I do. And I will. You'll see.”
“If you insist.”
“I insist. And you know how stubborn I can be.”
“Just as much as me.” We both laugh.
After another hug, we both hit the shower. I was sore but it felt good. It was good to be back.
* * * * * {{ Bree's Plane }} * * * * *
Liz's way of thanking me – and Alexis – was getting us both into a match to challenge her for the Adrenaline Championship. I thought we were going to team up and enter the tag division, and we will. But Liz set this up first. Shaun Cruze even said it himself, it may be a little early for me. But Liz wanted it, and Shaun thinks I'm deserving.... so here we are. I laugh to myself, a memory coming to mind.
“What's funny?”
I shake my head. “I was just thinking about Shaun Cruze. A few years ago we hated each other, when we were fighting over the Tag Titles.”
“I don't think I remember that.”
“You weren't around then. He was teaming with AJ Helms and I was with Blake. We beat them for the titles, a few weeks later we were basically screwed out of them...” I shake my head again, remembering being forced to fight by myself, in a dress. I mean, we were trying to duck the whole thing so I probably deserved it, but I was so pissed at the time. It seems like a lifetime ago now. “And now he's the GM and thinks I deserve a chance at a title only a month after returning. Wrestling is weird.”
“He recognizes that you're a completely different person now.”
“I really am. I was just thinking that all of that feels like a lifetime ago. Anything before I met you is, really.” I look up and smile. Dom rubs my cheek and kisses me.
“I could say the same.”
I kiss him back, deeper. After a few seconds, he slides his hand around me then up, as he typically does to take my top off right before getting busy. I grab his hand.
“Dom!” I put as much force in that as I can while keeping my voice down, I don't want anyone sleeping to wake up. “Did you forget there are other people on this plane?”
He smirks, and rubs my ribs where I stopped his hand. “Come on cakes, they're all sleeping...”
“Absolutely not!” I stare at him horror at the suggestion. He chuckles a bit.
“Okay, okay... I'm kidding. Well, mostly.” He smirks. I let go of his hand and he leaves it there, still rubbing my side gently.
“If we were alone....” I really wish we were. Plane sex is amazing.
“You did book us a suite, right?”
“Yes.” He slides his hand up a little more, right under my breast.
“Heath has his own room?” His thumb slides over my nipple. My breath catches. I love him but I hate him.
“Mhmm.”
“Nora too?” Another thumb rub.
“Mm. Mhmm.”
Dom leans over and whispers in my ear, “Can't wait to check in and get you alone.”
Before I can react or say anything, his hand is off me, and he sits up straight, scoots over a bit, and picks up his tablet.
“Ooh. I hate you so much right now.” He smirks at me, and 'adjusts' himself. “Do you realize how much longer we have on this flight?”
“The longer the anticipation, the better the payoff. Just think about your match.” Another smirk, then he turns his attention to the tablet screen. All I can do is shake my head, and cross my legs. This was gonna be an even longer flight than I thought. At least he made me forget all about being nervous about the title match. I guess that was his intention. But... ugh!
{{ Saturday, November 5
London
King Edward VII Memorial Park }}
So, the accommodations I booked weren't exactly what Dom meant when he asked me those questions. The Hilton here doesn't have suites with more than one bedroom, so I booked two suites, across the hall from each other. One for us and Heath, and one for Nora, with room for Heath when she needed to keep him. The result was the same though, after check in, getting luggage put away, and sorting out scheduling (as well as getting Jaina to her room on the floor just below us), Dom and I were finally alone and able to make full use of the privacy. He was right... anticipation makes it better.
This afternoon we let Nora go out on her own to do the tourist thing, since she's ever been outside the States, and we took Heath to a park. I told the cab driver “King Edward Park” because we knew that was the name of the park not far from the Hilton we are staying at near Wembly Stadium. The cab driver though thought I meant King Edward Memorial park, which I didn't know was a thing, and apparently the English don't have a problem with naming two parks almost the same name.... so we ended up at the Memorial park instead, almost an hour (and a much larger cab fare) away. We were halfway there by the time either of us realized we'd been driving for far too long, so there was no point in turning around. Dom thinks the driver pretended to mishear me to get the larger fare. Maybe. Doesn't matter now, we're here, so we might as well walk around.
There's been a light rain off and on all afternoon, but for now the rain has stopped and the sun is even out a bit, dodging in and out between the clouds. We've walked all around the walking trail, and now we're headed towards the actual King Edward monument. It looks like a miniature monolith, with a plaque about the King. I have Heath in the sling wrap, adjusted so he can face outward and see everything. I'll tell you something, carting this child around has done more to improve my strength than any weight training ever did. At the monument, there's a cement rail of sorts surrounding it, and we sit on it like a bench. Heath leans back into me on my lap and I wrap my arms around him. Dom gets up and takes a few pictures of us.
“These are going on the wall. You two are beautiful.”
“We need one of all of us.”
“We'll get one sometime while we're here.” Done with the pictures, he sits next to me, and shows me the shots. We are kind of adorable. I smile as I slide through the pictures. Dom took several, so I keep swiping. A few more shots later, I've gone past the ones he just took today, and stop on the last one he took that he saved. My smile fades a little as I stare at it. It's from a few weeks ago, when we went to the cemetery to take my son Heath to my brother Heath's grave.
“I didn't know you took this...”
The shot is from behind me. I'm holding my son up to the engraved headstone, and he's reaching out towards the letters.
“It seemed like something that needed to be recorded.”
“Why didn't you show me? This is... amazing.”
Dom sighs. “Honestly? I was going to have it printed and framed and give it to you for Christmas. I just forgot to hide it from the camera roll.” I look up, and he's giving me that half-grin, half-smirk I love.
“Baby....”
“I mean I can still do that.”
“You better. Did you take others there?”
“Look.”
I go back to the phone and swipe again. There are a few more, one I remember him snapping, of me and Amy while we were talking. I can't help but remember the day.
* * * * * {{ October 18 – St. Patrick Number One Cemetery, New Orleans }} * * * * *
It was a clear sky day, which made me a little happier on a somber day such as today. More than once I've made my yearly visit to my brother Heath's grave in the rain. Seems cliché, but it just happens to rain in the fall a lot in New Orleans. But not today. It's a sunny morning as Dom and I walk in, pushing our son in his stroller. Most of the time I like to come here alone to see my brother, but this year, everyone is meeting at the same time. Wyatt, Amy, Nadine, Kayla, and us. Call it a macabre family reunion of sorts. But everyone wanted to be present when I took my son to 'meet' the uncle he's named for. Jaina was never able to make herself come here though, it's too hard for her. And Loki never really knew him, he was just a baby when Heath died, so they were excused.
We turned down the aisle my brother's grave is located on. It's not a grave in the ground, there aren't many of those here, the city is below sea level. Instead, his final resting place is an above-ground grave, sort of like a single-person mausoleum. Wyatt and Amy were already here. Amy turns and smiles when she saw us approaching.
“Hey... I thought we were early.”
“Not really. You're just first.”
“Nadine should be here in a few minutes, she just texted.”
Wyatt came up and hugged me. I love my brother's hugs. “How are you doing?”
“Good. Better than I thought, so far. But we'll see how this goes.”
I glanced towards the grave, it looks clean. I didn't know who came here and touched it up last, but it wasn't me. The letters didn't have any dirt in them, and the fake flowers looked new. The bronze covered frame that contains a picture even seemed polished. Amy caught me looking.
“Nadine and I came out here last week and cleaned up. Looks good, doesn't it?”
“It does, you guys did a great job.”
A voice spoke from behind me. “Thanks.” I turn and smile at Nadine. It had been a while since I'd seen her, we're both so busy. Kayla, my niece, waved at me.
“Hey you two. It's good to see you.” I hugged them both quickly, then went back to the stroller. Nugget was awake, sitting up in the seat and looking all around. It was a whole new place for him and everything is interesting. I looked down at him and gently clapped my hands together a few times, to get his attention, that I want to pick him up. Nugget smiled at me and raised his arms.
“Ooh, come here you big boy, you.” I turned him around so he was sort of sitting in the crook of my arm, facing out. “Okay Nugget, I want to show you something, okay? Let's go see.” I walked up to the grave, where the engraving is just below eye level.
HEATH MICHAEL LANCASTER
6/11/1972 – 10/18/2008
As always when I come here, I ran my fingertips over the name, then down across the dates.
“Hey, brother. I want you to meet someone. I'm sure you've been watching over him, us, as usual. But I brought him to you anyway. He's carrying your name, so...” I stopped myself, as I could tell my voice was about to crack. Instead of saying anything else, I held my son up closer to the tomb. He looked up at it, then back at me. I smiled at him. He turned back, and his eyes found the only shiny thing around – the oval bronze covered frame to the side of the engraving. To see the picture, you have to turn it sideways to swing open, rather than opening like a compact, if that makes sense. Nugget reached for it, so I held him a little higher to reach it. He grabbed it, and tried to pull it off. When it didn't move, he whined.
“Nono, let me show you.” I reached up and open the frame, revealing my brother's picture. We replace it with a copy of the same headshot every few years, when it gets faded. We did that last year, so it still looks good this year. Nugget reached out again, and patted the glass with his little chubby hand. He babbled happily, as if he knew what, or who, he was looking at.
“Do you think he knows?” I heard Amy behind me, on my right.
“I think so.” I looked at my son's face, and he was smiling. The kind of smile he gives when he sees me or Dom after a while of being away from one of us. “Yeah. He does.”
Nugget said more babble, then reached over towards the letters. He must have seen what I did, because he took his little hand and rubbed across them, then patted the concrete, still babbling happily. I wondered what he was saying, and if my brother understood it. I looked up at Heath's picture, and smiled at it, at him. Even though it's been fourteen years now and I miss him every day, ever since he died I've always thought of my brother as a sort of guardian angel. I might have turned away from the church and the mainstream view of god and angels and such, but I'll always see him that way.
“What do you think of the newest family member? Isn't he sweet?” Nugget reached over and patted the glass over the picture again. No babble this time, he was looking up at the picture with all the focus his six-month old brain could muster. “Worthy of your name, right?”
“I doubt we'll hear that answer, but if my opinion counts, I'd say so.” I looked at Wyatt at my left, and smiled at him.
“Your opinion always counts.”
I noticed Nadine step up, on the side of Amy. The four of us, me holding Nugget, stood there a few moments, each to our own thoughts. Dom stayed back, he never knew my brother. And Kayla, the daughter Heath never knew was coming, she knows he's her father but she doesn't have the connection we do. All of us – Wyatt, Amy, Nadine, and myself – each had our own relationship with Heath, with our own complications, our own moments. Wyatt and the way he never got to reconcile with him before he died. Amy and the closeness of their friendship, through the HVW years. Nadine and their entire relationship, how she had been scared to commit. Me and the fact he was technically an adult when I was born but he never treated me like an annoyance like you might think an eighteen year old boy would do to a baby girl. Babygirl, that's what he called me. A few years ago this family was splintered, we all had done wrong and said terrible things. And it was the memory of a dead man and the need to honor him that helped to bring us back together. I slid my hand into Wyatt's and squeezed. He squeezed back. I felt Amy's hand on my other shoulder. No one needed to say anything. We knew.
Nugget squirmed in my arm and whined, breaking the silence and ending the moment. Just as well, all of this was for him. If he was done, we're done. Wyatt and Amy stepped back. Nadine gave the engraving a swipe with her hand, then flipped the frame closed. She turned to me.
“You do know how proud of you he'd be, right?”
“Is. How proud he is. And yeah... I know.” I wiped my teary eyes with my free hand.
After a few more minutes, filled with a little catching up and making plans to meet up again soon (which may or may not be followed up on), my family dispersed. Nadine and Kayla left first, then Wyatt and Amy, leaving me with my husband and son.
“You probably think this is all for nothing, that my brother can't see or hear any of this and its a waste of time.”
Dom looked at me, then at our son in his arms, and smiled. “I wouldn't say that. Just because there isn't any all-powerful deity up there controlling things doesn't mean spirits don't linger. Maybe you're on to something, and your brother knows all about his namesake.”
“You really believe that?” If Dom admitted that, it would be the first time he admitted believing in anything remotely related to spirits or the afterlife. He shrugged.
“I don't know. Nugget here did look like he recognized his picture.”
“He did, didn't he?”
“So... who knows, right?”
I just smiled. That was as good as I was going to get, I thought. I'll take it.
* * * * * {{ King Edward Park – London }} * * * * *
Having seen the few pictures from the cemetery, I hand Dom his phone back.
“I'm really glad you took those. I didn't think about it.”
“You were a little preoccupied.”
“A little.” I want to ask about the spirits thing, but this doesn't seem like the time. I get up and gesture to the path, suggesting we walk again. Dom nods, gets up, and snaps two or three pictures of the memorial monument. While he does that, I adjust the sling wrap to turn Heath around to face me again. When Dom is done, he joins me to walk back the way we came. Whether or not Dom believes my brother is up there, or around us, or whatever... I do. I've even wondered if his spirit came back in my son... but that was a little too much for me to say out loud to anyone. All I did know, was that my brother Heath always believed in me, always supported me in anything I wanted to do. Here in London just a few weeks after paying him a visit and taking Nugget to see him, it occurs to me that it's the worst time for me to be doubting myself.
Yes, Under Attack is only my fourth match back after being away for over a year. But, in that short time I've helped a friend find herself and her strength again. I never expected any kind of repayment for that, I just saw Liz was in a bad place and I had to fix it. But she wanted to thank me, she thought I earned or deserved a shot at her championship. The man calling the shots agreed. I might be nervous about it, or think I haven't earned it yet, but I had to admit to myself that I wanted it. If everyone around me, living and dead, believe in me and that I am ready for this, who am I to disagree?
Datura made me proud in finding her strength. I can pay her back by walking in as confident as I can and give her and Alexis the challenge my respect for them demands.
I can do this. I will do this.
ON CAMERA
The sky looks overcast above the foliage of what UKers will recognize as King Edward VII Park, the one near Wembly Stadium, not the one some shady cabbie “accidentally” took Bree for a ride to. Bree herself is seated on a bench in the middle of a small grove of trees. Its a crisp fall morning, so Bree is wearing black jeans, a baby blue thin sweater, and black Doc Marten boots. She's kept her hair down, the waves falling over her shoulders. With her legs crossed at the ankle Bree sits with her hands folded in her lap. She gives the camera a smile, then looks around a little bit.
Isn't this a beautiful park? I've become something of a park aficionado since having my son. He loves to be outside, so everywhere we travel, I make sure to find a nearby park to take him to. We take pictures for his album, so he can see them when he gets older and know all the places he's been. I lucked out with this park, it isn't far from where we're staying while here in London for Under Attack. And yes, he loved it. I sat him in the grass over there-
Bree nods her head towards the right side of the shot.
-and he had a blast playing with the fallen leaves.
Bree grins a little, and brushes a lock of hair back out of her face.
I know, I know. You aren't here to listen to me talk about my son playing in a park. And I'm not really here to tell you about it, although it's a nice perk for my family. No... we are here in London for Under Attack, as I said. I've always enjoyed being in London, and this time is no exception. Pretty sure I've never wrestled in Wembly Stadium before though, so that will be an experience itself. The fact that my match is an Adrenaline Championship match, with two women I respect, makes it an even bigger experience.
Listen, I heard what Shaun Cruze said when he confirmed he was adding me to this match. It may be a bit early, he said. And at first, I was inclined to agree. I mean, I've had a grand total of three matches since I've been back. Technically I won all three, but I only pinned my opponent once. I feel like maybe I'm still shaking off some rust, you know? But after pretty much everyone disagreed with me, I sat back and thought about it. Apocalypse, my team won. Sure, Alexis pinned Holly, but it's not like I didn't do anything to contribute. I planted Sammy to stop him from interfering, and that was after going hard in the ring. And the recent tag with Jamison? Well, our opponents were DQ'd for not letting me go at the five-count. I would have liked to beat them by pinfall, but it was out of my hands. Now, suddenly, I'm challenging for the Adrenaline Championship, all because Datura asked, and Shaun agreed.
Bree pauses a moment, and takes a deep cleansing breath.
The Adrenaline Championship is one I've never held. I've ever even had a shot at it before now. There was a tournament, years ago right after Rise to Greatness. Amy Chastaine had lost it to her long-time rival William Hush, who happens to be my ex, but that's not important. Unfortunately, Will was injured in the match and had to retire, vacating the title. Mr. D set up a tournament that honestly Amy should have been in, being the previous champion.... but SCW forced her to go to rehab instead. That was... kindasorta me and Blake's fault, I admit. But that's ancient history-
Bree waves her hand in the air dismissively.
-the point is... I was in the tournament to fill the vacant championship. I lost in the second round, and have never come close to the Adrenaline Championship since. So having this chance is a big deal for me. I'm sure that people who care about such things have looked at my record, the list of championships I've held, and realized that if I do become Adrenaline Champion, I'll be one title short of being a Supreme Champion. I know this, because Scott, you remember him, right? He called me and pointed it out. That's not really something I'm concerned with, if it happens, fabulous. But creating a collection that checks boxes off a list has never been my goal here. You all know that, I've called more than one person out for it in the past. My goal has always been to just be the best I can be, to show the world every time I'm in the ring that I am one of the best there is at this, and to never forget that there's always room to get better.
Right now, in this time and place, that means accepting that yes... I am ready for this match. It is still a little intimidating, I will admit. Getting into the ring with two of the best in the company, all trying to be the one to walk out with that championship. Even the style of the division gives me pause. It's all about speed and quickness and agility. I'm the one building up a comeback, I'm the one who knows I am not back at what I consider to be my one hundred percent yet.
But. I am ready.
Bree gets up from the bench and walks around behind it, leaning on the back with her hands.
I am ready to rise up to challenge in front of me. Datura and Alexis Quinne. Formidable opponents individually. So lets talk individually.
Alexis. Everyone knows that you and I haven't exactly gotten along in the past. Yet here we are now, we both saw Datura was in a bad place and we both decided to do something about it. It's amazing what having a common goal can do, isn't it? Later tonight, we have the same goal, but not a common one. We both want to walk out as champion. We're in each other's way of that. You and I, we're both former World Champions. We know the pressure, the expectations that come with carrying a championship, representing this company. We both go hard because it's all we know how to do. I was happy to team with you at Apocalypse, and now I'm looking forward to testing myself against you.
One thing I do want you to know, is that I didn't ask for this like you did. You stepped up and challenged Datura yourself. Had it crossed my mind, to ask her since we are friends? Sure. But you put yourself out there and asked the question. Once that happened, I didn't have any intention of getting in your way. Datura though, Liz... she had other plans. Little did either of us know that she had already spoken to Shaun about me, giving me an opportunity as a thank you. I guess that's why she was so eager to tell you to find Shaun and make it happen when you challenged her. She wanted to thank us both. I don't know if you're upset about this development or not, and if you are I'm sorry. But if my friend wants to give me this chance as a thank-you gift, there's no way I'm gonna turn it down. I think you understand that. I think you wouldn't turn it down either. Because you understand respect, you understand honor. You understand that friendships, real friendships in this business are hard to come by and once you find one, you don't disrespect it by rejecting their gratitude.
Bree pauses again, and a smile forms on her face softening her expression.
Datura. My dear Liz. You and I have spoken about facing each other for a long time, we always intended it to be one on one. We didn't get that at Apocalypse and we don't get it now, but maybe one day... we'll have that one on one dance we've promised each other. We've also spoken about teaming up, jumping into the Tag Division, because every existing god knows it needs help. I am very much looking forward to when we get to do that together.
With those things in mind, I know you know just how grateful to you I am for asking to defend your championship against me. I know how hard you fought to become a champion. And I don't just mean in that four-way match, or by outmaneuvering The Brand's attempts to take it away from you. No, I mean further back than that. Before Holly Adams hurt your knee. And especially after. Your surgery, your recovery, your physical therapy, your return to training... all of it. I know how much finally becoming a champion here in SCW meant to you, and the fact that you chose me as someone you felt deserved the chance to try to take it from you... well, it just touches my heart.
Bree places a hand over her heart.
I know that the best way to honor that, the best way to show respect for how highly you regard me as a friend and as a competitor, is show up in that ring tonight and throw everything I have at you, try my damndest to take from you what you worked so hard for, what you have offered up as a sign of respect and a token of gratitude. I know you wouldn't accept anything less from me, and I don't plan to disappoint you, babe.
Walking back around the bench, Bree sits once more, crossing one leg over the other at the knee.
That's why I'm so convinced that I am ready for this, SCW Faithful. I have to be. I can't let Liz down. She handed me this gift and I'd better do my damn best to prove myself worthy of it. In another life, I might have sat here and rattled off everything I've already done in SCW. Titles I've held, people I've beat. But I'm not going to do that right now. One, you already know my resume. I don't need to repeat it. Two, and most importantly though... all of it was over a year ago. I am not the same person I was when I accomplished all of those things. A year and change ago, I didn't have to prove anything, I was on top of this company, a threat at any given moment to anyone. Then... I lost the World Championship. I failed trying to get it back. I was broken, physically and mentally. I tried to work through it but I wasn't doing a very good job. My surprise pregnancy was a blessing in a lot of ways.
Firstly, a wanted child is always a blessing. I didn't know I wanted him until I was told he existed, but he is the best thing in my life. Added to that though, is that being away for so long while pregnant gave me time to really work through things. Process what happened to me. Understand how to come to terms with it and move forward from it. I won't say move on, some things never really go away. But you can still move forward, as long as you learn how to properly carry that baggage so that it doesn't hurt you.
If things in my life had played out any other way, I wouldn't be ready for this at all. I would be still living in the past, trying to convince everyone that I deserved a shot at whatever championship I wanted, just based on my body of work. But I know better now. So many people in this business rely on their past accomplishments to push themselves ahead. I won't name names, you know the ones I'm referring to. All these title reigns and people defeated are used as a stepladder to whatever they're reaching for next. But I've come to believe that's not how this works.
After each accomplishment, what happens is you jump down from the peak you just reached, and you start over. Proving yourself isn't a one time thing, where once you've held a certain title or beat a certain person, that's it. You're established forever.
Bree shakes her head.
No, that's just ego talking. Trust me, I know a little something about it. Experience taught me though that you can't stop there and expect this business to cater to you. No, you have to keep working. Even harder than before. Once you get to a certain position, you still have to work to stay there. Me? Right now... I'm behind almost everyone else on this roster, because I haven't done anything here in over a year. Sure, I'm a former World Champion, but that was a long time ago. I need to prove myself now, show the world what I am capable of today. If I came in here trying to be the champion and wrestler I was in 2020 when I was on top of the world, I would fail before I even walked into the building.
What I am going to do, is show what kind of wrestler, what kind of competitor I am now. Maybe on paper it is too soon for me to be in this position. But I know, up here-
Bree points to her temple.
-and in here-
Then points to her heart.
-that I can do this. Similar to my son, I didn't know how much I wanted this, the Adrenaline Champonship, until it was put in front of me. I might not win, but I will give everything I have in that ring. Because that's what both of you ladies deserve, and that's how I prove myself worthy of any opportunities I may get.
And if I do become Adrenaline Champion tonight? I promse you all that I will never stop working as hard as I can to keep proving I deserve to hold it.
Bree nods once with confidence and closes with a small smile before fading out.