Breakdown 2-22-24
February 1
Charlotte, NC
Breakdown
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The show had just ended, and I was pretty proud of myself. Selena tried to start shit with me and I shut that down pretty damn quick. She thinks she has one over on me because she schemed her way into getting the rematch that should have been mine, but she only succeeded in making it even more certain that when I do get my match.... the title is coming back to me. I am simply better than she is. And the fact she felt she had to find a way to get around me to get the championship back proves that she knows it.
I was walking backstage after Breakdown ended, pulling my luggage behind me with one hand, my phone in the other, as I spoke to Tommy.
“I know, isn't it just ridiculous? She really thinks she has the upper hand here.”
“Nah, that's you babe. Always will be. She'll find out the hard way. Again.”
I turned the corner towards the talent exit, and almost ran into Dean Black. He put a hand up to get my attention. Great. He wanted to talk to me.
“Let me call you back, a suit wants to talk to me.”
“Suit? What suit?”
“A Black one.”
Tommy snickered, catching my meaning. “Have fun with that.”
I end the call and slide my phone into my cleavage. “Looking for me?”
“Matter of fact... I was. There's something I need to discuss with you.”
I sighed, hard. “What did I supposedly do now?”
“Nothing. At least, that I know of. It's something else entirely, and you might actually like it.”
“Okay. You have my attention.”
“Good. So, I'm sure you are aware of the Make-A-Wish Foundation, yes?”
I gave him a blank stare. “Is there anyone who isn't?”
“That's a fair comment. Okay. SCW has worked with them in the past, we do get requests. Many times we aren't able to provide what's asked, due to, well... implausibility, or scheduling conflicts. But in this case, we think we can meet the request, provided one person agrees.”
“That's great, Dean. Why are you talking to me about it? Do I need to call Tommy back right now? I thought you had his number?”
Dean gave me my blank stare back. “They haven't asked for him. They asked for you.”
I laughed. Immediately. “You can't be serious?”
“Have I ever struck you as the kind of person to make jokes of that nature?”
“Hm. I guess not. So wait... some kid actually put in a request for me?”
“Indeed. Young girl, fifteen or sixteen I believe. She's waiting on a heart transplant, but she has a rare blood type, making her chances... well, rather slim.”
“That's terrible.” And I thought I had it rough at that age. “So, what does she want?”
“Well, she'd like to meet you. Spend a few hours together, she has a list of suggested activities, you can pick one of those, or come up with something yourself. We'd fly you out to her city, her condition doesn't allow her to fly. Then we-”
“Wait, wait, wait. I didn't say yes.”
Dean took a step back. “Are you saying no?” He eyed me with suspicion.
“Not exactly. I just need more details. You can't throw this at me five minutes before I walk out the door and expect me to just nod and wait for instructions.”
“What would you like to know? I can get you a copy of her case file before you leave. I meant to have it with me to speak to you, but it's in the production office.”
“Okay, great, I'll read that. But, like... what do I have to do? Where? When? You do know I'm not the world's best influence on kids, right? Like... her parents are okay with this?”
“Apparently your influence... is why she chose you. And yes, her mother is on board. When would depend on your schedule, and where... I already said. Her city. I forget where she lives, I'd have to get the file.”
I looked around, almost expecting to see a camera hiding, or someone watching. “This is for real? You're not setting me up?”
“Kandis. Why would I waste my time doing that? Listen. SCW knows that while you don't care to let people see it, you have a soft spot for troubled kids. Just because this one is sick instead of orphaned doesn't make her any less troubled. I honestly thought you'd be all over this.”
“I didn't say I'm not. I'm just... it's hard to believe a teenage girl admires me enough to make this her wish, and that her mom approves. I mean.... you know me, Dean.”
He cracked a rare smirk. “Yes, I do know you. According to what's in the file, both the girl and her mother see you as a strong woman who isn't afraid to be herself, and therefore something of a role model.”
I had to stop myself from laughing again. “Role model?”
Dean shrugged. “That's what I remember of what I read. Follow me to production and I'll give you her file. Take a few days to look it over and consider. But we do need your response sooner rather than later. She's quite sick.”
I just nodded and followed Dean to the production office. While walking I texted Tommy: [“You're not gonna believe this shit.”]
At the office, Dean handed me a yellow envelope. “Here you are. All the information the Foundation sent us. This is yours, I made you a copy.”
“Thanks.” I took it, and peeked inside. It was several pages thick. The top page featured a picture, I assumed of the girl. She's pretty, dark black hair, with a smile and look in her eyes that made her look older than fifteen or sixteen. I recognized that look. It's the one of a child made to grow up too fast. I see it all the time, every time I look into a mirror.
“When do you think we can expect an answer?”
“I don't know....” I looked up from the envelope. “A few days? So I can read this, and talk to Tommy about it.”
“A few days should be fine. You have my cell, just call me.”
“Yeah. I will.”
“Thanks. Have a safe trip home.”
Dean walked off down the hall, leaving me with my luggage and the envelope. Tommy replied to my text but I didn't look at it. I was too caught up staring at the envelope. I'm me. I claimed the 'whore' tag, I don't think there's anything wrong with it but most of the rest of the world does. I've probably gotten more complaints thrown at SCW than anyone else in the history of the company, just for my look and behavior. And this girl wants to meet me before she dies?
I'm not sure I deserve the honor.
February 2
Santa Barbara
Valentine Home
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“Don't be silly, why wouldn't you be worth it?”
I had explained everything Dean told me to Tommy, and we were discussing it over dinner.
“I just feel like it's some kind of set up. Like... just pretending to look up to me that much just to make a huge joke out of it.”
“Kandis. That's paranoid.”
“Babe. Anyone can literally go on the internet right now and find actual footage of my cunt getting pounded. And this teenager's mother allowed her to ask for this? I don't buy it.”
“Can we not bring that up?”
“No, we can't not. I have to bring it up, because it exists. Just because I won the rights to the video doesn't mean the clip the prick made isn't out there. And SCW really wants me to agree to this? Even I can see the PR nightmare on the horizon, and I don't usually care about that shit.”
“That's not your concern, though. If it went through the channels and made it's way to you, that's the end of the line. It's been approved the whole way down. So yes, SCW clearly has no issue with it. Maybe they think the PR will be positive. Those office fuckers can spin anything when they want to.”
“Positive how? Selena Frost accused me of teaching girls to be whores.”
Tommy laughed. “Since when do you give a flip what Selena says?”
“Because she isn't the only one saying it! You think I don't know what people say about me? I don't care, not for myself. But SCW-”
“Still employs you, and they brought this to you. If they thought it was anything close to a bad idea, you wouldn't have heard a damn thing about it, they'd have said no, thrown the request away, and you'd never know. This might be hard for you to accept, because you've spent most of your life bucking the system... but the company is behind you, babe.”
I looked at Tommy across the table, over the steak and veggies he'd cooked. “You really believe that.”
“I don't just believe it, I know it. No company is going to present this to the talent if there's any doubt whatsoever about how it will look to the public.”
It was starting to sink in. I had said to the world that the fans had clearly made their choice, they preferred my brand of entertainment over whatever the hell Selena was offering. SCW let me say what I wanted, they never gave me any shit over the video. Yet it never once crossed my mind that they actively supported me, rather than just overlooked my antics.
“So, you think I should do it?”
“You'd be fucking insane not to. That would be bad PR, turning this girl down.”
I let that sit in my head for a few moments. “I jut don't know.”
“This is could be great for you, you know. You, SCW, everyone. And especially the girl. What's her name?”
I didn't have to get the file out; I'd practically memorized the whole thing. “Rose.”
“You want to legitimately be the best representative of SCW? Keep being yourself, take no shit about it... but do this, too. Let the idiots think you're inspiring girls to be whores. They're looking at it all wrong. You're inspiring them to be themselves and make no apologies for it.”
“Like me.”
“Like you.” He smiled at me. That did it.
“Okay. I'll do it.”
“Damn right you will!” Tommy held up his beer bottle to me. I lifted mine and clunked it to his.
“I'll call Dean tomorrow. Let me at least sleep on it.” We drank, and Tommy was all smiles the rest of the night.
I have no idea what I'm getting myself into.
ON CAMERA
Can you believe the audacity of this bitch?
Selena Frost just going around handing out title shots like candy, thinking that just because the Tag Team Champions decided to be idiots and offer a shot for no reason, means that she can do the same thing. And don't even get me started on CHBK and his bullshit 'my hands are tied' line. That's getting real old, real fast. You're in charge motherfucker, take some charge!
But I get it. I know what Selena was trying to do. She wants me mad, she wants me seeing red, she's trying to rub it in my face that she got her goddamn rematch before I did... by handing the first shot at her to someone else. She thinks she's so fucking smart, pulling out these little mind games, but Selena seems to have forgotten who she's fucking around with.
I'm the one who got so deep into her head that she took an off-hand comment I made about offering a favor for a Flame number and turned it into the biggest SCW scandal since Dark Fantasy played hot potato with the Tag Titles back SCW still ran house shows.
Yeah, I will never not be pissed about that.
Anyway. Selena seems to forget that while she ran around here for years preaching integrity and righteousness, I was the one living rent free in so many heads that I could have been charged with tax evasion. You can't bullshit a bullshitter, doll. And I'm not falling for her particular stink.
I made that clear when I beat the bitch at her own game and made sure that while Wright was stupid enough to try to fight her anyway after I beat the snot out of him, that he was in no condition to actually fight anyone... therefore ruining Selena's little game. I bet she had it all planned out, too. Oversell, make it look like the psycho might actually beat her... only to kick his face in at the end. Well, she did kick his face in, but she didn't get to play the rest of her game.
That's the difference here, isn't it? All of this is just a game to her, when for me? It's fucking everything.
So at Breakdown, I want Selena and the rest of the world to pay real close attention to what I do in the ring with.... let me check my notes... Ace Sky? Is that a real name? Whatever... Ace Sky. He's been around a long time, people talk up his accomplishments and longevity. I don't know anything about that. All I know about Sky is that he came to SCW talking a lot of shit, and so far... hasn't backed any of it up. Maybe he's playing games, too. Maybe he thinks of SCW as a side piece and he gives his real affection, attention, and energy to some other company.
SCW is no one's side piece. SCW is the peak of professional wrestling, there is no greater place to be, and if Ace Sky can't treat this place with the respect it deserves? Well... why should I have to show him any respect at all? I am a World Champion, I should be carrying that belt right now, and I am not gonna let this motherfucker, or any motherfucker... treat this place like a side hustle.
I wanted a match this week to make sure Selena was watching, so she would know exactly what she's s stepping up against, because I don't want any fucking excuses after I kick her ass and embarrass her again. CHBK gives me Ace Sky?
I hope Sky has life insurance and a burial policy. Because CHBK just booked his funeral.