Post by Roxi Johnson on Sept 18, 2017 3:54:03 GMT
{The scene opens at Roxi and Keira’s home in Tampa, prior to Hurricane Irma. The television in the background shows the weather channel, with giant warning signs for everyone to leave the area. Roxi holds Nate in her arms as a lot of noise is coming from the other room. Roxi turns her head to figure out what is happening. She picks up Nate and walks to the bedroom, seeing Keira on the ground with 2 safe’s open as she carefully goes through her PoP collection, storing them.}
Roxi – What are you doing?
Keira – Packing.
Roxi – Keira, I think there’s more important things to –
Keira – I know! I just… I spent a lot of money on this stuff and I want it safe.
{Roxi looks at Keira’s face, as she looks frazzled.}
Roxi – I didn’t mean to –
{Keira hand waves Roxi’s concern away.}
Keira – It’s fine. I’m fine. I just, you know, I’m worried.
Roxi – I know. We don’t really have much time for all this stuff though.
Keira - I’m just going to finish this, then I have clothes to pack, and Nate’s toys and I think one or two other things.
{Roxi walks over with Nate sitting next to Keira.}
Roxi – You want to watch him? I can take care of this, and anything else you want to pack.
Keira – No, I got it. I just need to finish this.
Roxi – You keep worrying like this, you’re going to give yourself grey hairs.
{Keira scoffs at this, a small chuckle following it.}
Keira – Funny. Roxi… I… I think we need to move.
Roxi – You think so?
Keira – We’re having to constantly evacuate our own house. Three times this year.
{Roxi smiles, offering Nate one of his car toys to prevent him from grabbing at the PoP’s.}
Roxi – I think it’s more of a coincidence. It’s Florida. It happens.
Keira – I don’t want to keep moving around, Roxi. I want to settle down, raise Nate the right way without having to leave our home every few months because of the weather.
Roxi – We’ll talk about it later. I can hear the wind picking up outside. We probably don’t have much time. Look, why don’t you take care of this, and I will pack the clothes?
Keira – What about Nate?
Roxi – He can sit on the bed while I do the clothes. It’ll be fine.
Keira – I hope Chris and Sasha made it out…
Roxi – Last I talked they were heared to stay with family in Chicago.
Keira – What about your parents?
Roxi – I already made arrangements for them to head to Las Vegas, Mom still has a place out there.
{Keira sighs and gives a slight smile.}
Keira – Alright, back to work.
{Keira leans in and kisses Nate, smiling at him and giggling.}
Keira – I love you Nate.
{Nate giggles and squeals, smiling at Keira as Roxi stands up with him.}
Roxi – Okay little man, let’s get some stuff packed. Blow mommy Keira some kisses.
{Nate blows kisses to Keira, who blows them back and Roxi takes Nate to the other bedroom, with a few backpacks, duffle bags and suitcases laying around. Roxi gently puts Nate on the bed as she puts one of the duffle bags on the bed and opens it.}
Roxi – Let’s get you all ready, since we’re gonna go see Aunt AJ and stay with her for a little while. So we gotta make sure you got all your clothes and things. You’re gonna be one sharp dressed little man up there.
{Roxi carefully packs Nate’s clothing, and a box of diapers among several toys, some bottles and a few pairs of shoes.}
Roxi – Perfect. I think you’ll be all handsome for Aunt AJ…. Of course, you need to make sure Aunt AJ doesn’t teach you any terrible habits along the way.
{Keira walks into that room, running her fingers through her hair and brushing it from her face. Her forehead still sporting beads of sweat as she looks at Roxi.}
Keira – Everything packed?
Roxi – No, Keira, I just started. I got his stuff packed and I’ll take it out to the car here in a moment. Relax.
Keira – It’s kind of hard to relax when a storm is coming. You know I don’t do storms.
Roxi – You’ve lived here your whole life…
Keira – Thus, I don’t do storms!
Roxi – Okay, okay, relax. You can pick out your clothes.
{Roxi turns to go into the closet as Nate plays on the bed with his car. As Roxi lays clothes on the bed, she sees Keira pulling out photo albums into a box, stopping to peek through them.}
Roxi – You okay?
Keira – Huh?... Yeah. I’m fine.
Roxi – Keira…
Keira – I just… I don’t want to lose everything Rox… I feel like… like we’re about to.
Roxi – We’ll be okay. We always are.
Keira – I’m not sure, with this Hurricane coming… I feel like, it’s the end of what’s here. And, I just… I wanted to take something to remind me of what’s here.
{Roxi kneels down, rubbing Keira’s back and kissing the top of her head.}
Roxi - It’ll be okay Keira. I promise you. It’s okay if you want to take the photo albums. There’s no way to tell how bad this is going to be. It’s okay. I would like you to pack some clothes though…
{Keira again smiles weakly, a few tears coming down her face.}
Keira – I figured I could just run around in a bikini.
Roxi – No.
Keira – Thong.
Roxi – Keira, behave. Pack some clothes.
Keira – Sorry, you know how I get.
Roxi – I know, just relax. Let’s finish and get everything ready.
Keira- Right.
Roxi – And we’ll get through this, just like we do everything else.
Keira – Together.
{Roxi and Keira hold hands, with Nate placing his hand with theirs, giggling and slapping his hand onto theirs as if he was giving them five.}
Roxi – Together. The three of us.
{Roxi and Keira finish packing, loading the car up with the essentials as Keira buckles Nate into his car seat soon afterward. Roxi closes the trunk, their dogs Buster and Trixie hop into the back seats. Roxi and Keira get into the car and back out, away from the house. Keira taking a long look at the boarded up windows. Roxi stops, looking at the house and then to Keira.}
Keira – We got everything, right?
Roxi – Yeah, I think so.
Keira – Are you sure?
Roxi - Keira? Did you forget something?
{There is a long pause, but Keira eventually shakes her head.}
Keira – No…. no I got everything I needed.
Roxi – Alright.
{Roxi turns away and drives on up the road, headed to Georgia to seek refuge from the incoming Hurricane. Keira can’t help but look back at the house, before she finally settles in for the long drive the couple has ahead of them.}
Greetings Amigos Y Amigas.
Well, this past month has not been pleasant to say the least. The damage caused by Hurricane Irma effected my home and my personal life and I had to leave the home I bought with my wife to avoid the storm and its effects. So while the storm did not physically affect me, it did so mentally. Have to leave behind possessions and memories, with the unknown of whether or not they would even be there when I returned. Now granted, they were not things that couldn’t be replaced. Material things that can easily be replaced or fixed. That’s not really something I’m worried about. But the mental aspect of it is just so… draining. That is the house that I raised my son in. Where he learned to crawl, to walk, where he took his first steps. Where I changed his diaper and watched him play with toys and meet his grandparents all my amazing friends who have come to visit. I’ve had cookouts, parties, get togethers, birthday’s anniversaries… All these wonderful memories, and… simply put Mother nature can very easily wipe it all away.
So, yes, this hasn’t been the best month. But, GOL was happy to let everyone know that I have officially hit a year with the company, and here I stand, undefeated and the Rey de Reys champion.I faced down the challenge of Sawtooth Grin and walked out the winner. At the very top of the heap. I am at the top of the mountain and now, as I look at what lay ahead, I am filled with a strange mix of emotions going into this particular match. Having to face not only Honey, who I was fortunate enough to see get married and have developed a friendship in and out of the ring with. A for certain up and coming star in the wrestling business nipping at my heels now. That in itself would be a tall task to simply overcome at any point. No, not only that, I have to deal with a true friend, a person who gave me shelter when I sought it, a person who has never said no or failed to be there when I needed her. And now, I have to turn around and wrestle Amy Jo Smyth, again, this time for an even bigger prize. So yeah, I feel the pressure. I feel like, well, I am inside the eye of a hurricane right now. Or maybe the calm before the storm to borrow a phrase. Two people, who have been nothing but good to me and now, I have to turn around and face them down, turn back their challenge as they try to take this championship I worked so hard to get. They want to end my dream run as a wrestler right as it has reached a zenith. And I also have to turn around and say… No. You can’t take this from me. I have to beat you both and remain the champion. And thus, here I am, a ball of emotions.
I worked hard for this. I entered this company and won the Soaring Eagle championship, and no one, not one person could take it from me, try as they might. Including AJ. Not that any test was easier than the other, but I now can see and take a great deal of pride in beating every single person who stepped in front of me in GOL. I helped make this company what it is, and I take a great deal of pride in that as well. I simply did what I had to do, because I love what I do. And this IS wrestling, it IS competitive, and everyone wants to be the best. That goes without saying. I had to prove to myself that I was every bit as good as people gave me credit for, and that I earned the respect I received over the years. I could have very easily coasted on my laurels and just let things go. After all, I have accomplished quite a bit and I am pretty much content with what my career is and was. Plus or minus a couple of things I suppose, but for the most part anyway. And when I won the Rey de Reyes championship, that was another accomplishment for me and I proved that my hard work did pay off in the end.
But now, there is a new challenge.
That challenge is to not only defend the championship, not only defend an undefeated streak, but to do it at the same time, while becoming the greatest champion in GOL history. I am ready to defend this championship against anyone. I’m more than a little excited that I going out there to begin a brand new journey. One goal accomplished, another arises in its place to test me all over again. It’s a new beginning for me and for GOL.
After all, I won the championship, but what kind of champion would I be if I went out and laid an egg the very first defense. GOL clearly wanted me to lead by example and be a true champion, so I get not one, but two challengers out of the gate. Some might say it’s unfair, but this is what happens. Life isn’t fair and I’m not getting any easy matches as champion, that’s for dang sure. I mean, I had Alan Envy already challenge me. I’ve had congratulations and challenges ever since I won the championship. When you are at the top of the mountain, everyone wants to be the one to knock you off. I get that. I only ask that everyone lines up if you want a shot. But the line starts behind my first two opponents, they earned the first shot, so they’re getting the first shot.
What more can I say about Honey? She’s awesome in the ring, she wouldn’t be in this spot if she wasn’t. She cut a pretty swift path through the tournament to get here, through some pretty stiff competition. Honey is no joke, and it’s clear she’s going to be a future superstar in wrestling period. She is, right now, one of the most talent and dangerous women’s wrestlers in the world. Having said all that, I’ve seen a lot of these women come and go, a lot make the claim to be this best and very few can actually back it up. Honey had the chance to prove she was truly one of the best currently, but she while she didn’t lose the finals… she didn’t exactly WIN the finals of the tournament against AJ either. So while the feat of making it to the finals is nothing short of impressive, it’s rings a little hallow since she didn’t complete the job. That’s the hallmark of a great wrestler, you have to be able to finish just as strong as you start. You gotta put people away, and truth be told, Honey didn’t accomplish anything besides making a big mess of the championship contenders. Honey is really getting this shot, as is AJ, because they tied. So for someone as good as Honey is, to not actually have fully earned this shot, leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion. I have no doubts that Honey will learn from both the tournament final, and this upcoming match, hard lessons about not leaving any more doubt about what she needs to do. But, I don’t plan on losing this championship any time soon, and it just means that Honey will in fact because one of the first people I defeat to retain this championship.
But, again, she isn’t the only one.
My good friend Amy Jo Smyth. You have always been good to me, always been a friend and always been a worthy contender. I know you put your heart and soul into being the best. It’s obvious from your success. You are driven and a perfectionist. I admire those qualities about you. And maybe, just maybe it should just be me vs you at Chapter 13 one on one. But, the truth of the matter is, it isn’t. Because as much as I love you AJ, you’re striving for perfection ultimately led to the situation we’re in now. You can blame the refs or anyone else you really want to, in the end, you have to start with the person in the mirror. Much like Honey, you cut though the tournament. Much like Honey, you dazzled to get there. And by the same token, you didn’t win either. It hurts me when you don’t succeed, because I want to see it. Happy AJ is a lot better than buzzkill AJ. Buzzkill AJ just wanders around moping and making excuses, when most of the time, it’s really not as big of a deal as you make it out to be. You had a crack at this very championship before and come up short. I know that feeling, but eventually, you get over it and you move on. But it’s one of your quirks to just be so stubborn and angry at yourself that it actually hurts you. You have been and you are a champion, one of the best. One of the best I’ve ever stepped in the ring with and that’s not me simply blowing smoke, it’s a fact. But it’s sad to see that from my perspective, that this isn’t good enough for you. You want to be greater than great. So, that double edged sword you roll with comes back tenfold. It’s seemingly all or nothing for you all the time. It doesn’t have to be like that, but that’s seemingly how you choose to see it. It’s really not all that bad but I can’t sit here and try to change you. I wish nothing but good things for you all the time, be it in life, or in wrestling. Because you are my friend above everything else. And we stand eye to eye once again with a wrestling championship between us. Last time, I won. And I remember that last time you took it pretty hard. I hated seeing you like that, and I unfortunately have to plan to see it once again after chapter 13. You are so talented, so good in that ring that titles really shouldn’t mean that much anymore, but to you, they are everything. You see it as failure if you don’t win everything. But the reality is AJ, that IS wrestling. You don’t always come out on top. And I fully understand how hollow that sounds coming from me right now, with an undefeated record and a desire to beat you and Honey Sunday, but it’s the truth. I’d wish, almost as much as all the good I wish for you, that you’d see that and accept it as a true reality.
But I know you. Better than most. And you won’t. You CAN’T. That’s who you are. And by the same token, you know me. You know I’m a fan, but I’m not going to let you walk all over me to become the champion simply because you are my friend. It’s not personal. It’s what’s in front of us. You’re going to have to deal with coming up short at Chapter 13. You will always be my friend, I owe you a lot for what you have done for me, my family and my career. I just hope that when this is all said and done and I am still the champion at the end of the night, that you can live with it and not hold this against me and not make me out to be the bad guy. There is no bad guy in this situation. There’s the champion, and the two challengers. And as champion, it is my job to take your challenge and turn you back once again. Nothing is going to change about anything I said just now AJ. Not one word. It’s simply what has to be done.
As the Rey De Reyes champion, I will be a proud champion. I will be a fighting champion, a champion worthy of the title. I do not take it lightly. I do not take the challengers coming for this championship lightly. I have a goal to accomplish of being the very best in GOL history. I made it to the top, and now, it’s all about staying there. And that mission starts at chapter 13. So, Honey, AJ, I wish you both luck. I will be ready come Sunday and I will not back down nor hide behind this championship. It’s not a shield, it’s a badge of honor. And I will show you both why I earned it.
I will see you both in Mexico.
{The hurricane has now passed over Florida, and Roxi and Keira, armed with all their possessions and luggage, drive on the highway back to their home in Tampa. Keira is still very nervous, tugging at her hair as a result.}
Roxi – Stop doing that.
Keira – What?
Roxi – Pulling your hair
Keira – It’s what I do when I’m nervous.
Roxi – We made it through, from the reports, not too much damage in Tampa.
Keira – But what about our home? Did anything come up on it?
Roxi – I’m sure that if something bad happened, we would be notified. I’m pretty sure the house is still there, and maybe at worst, a tree damaged the house, or it’s flooded. We can fix that.
Keira – Are you sure?
Roxi – Positive. It’s gonna be fine. Look at Nate, he’s not nervous at all!
Keira – He also doesn’t understand what’s even happened.
Roxi – No, but still, he’s as cool as a cucumber.
Keira – That’s not helping.
Roxi – Neither is pulling your own hair out.
Keira – It works for me!
Roxi – Just relax.
{Roxi drives on and soon enough, they enter the flooded streets in southern Florida. Power lines are still down, there are displaced houses, trees, and various other signs of devastation. Roxi pulls up to their house, still intact, but flooded all around the outside. Roxi pulls into the driveway and puts the car in park.}
Roxi – I’m going to go look around, let me see your keys.
{Keira nervously hands the keys to Roxi and Roxi gets out and opens the door to their house. She walks around, still some standing water inside, but not much. Some of the cabinets have water damage and the carpets are still pretty wet. Outside of these things, the house looks to be in good shape. She nods, satisfied before exiting and re-entering the car.}
Keira – Well?
Roxi – Water damage, but, everything looks okay. We just gotta grab a shop vaccum to suck up all the water, and steam clean the carpet. Luckily the look fine from the garage.
Keira – That’s it?
Roxi – Yeah, that’s it.
Keira – You’re sure?
Roxi – Yes, I’m sure. I looked.
Keira – I’m going to look.
Roxi – Fine.
{Keira exits the car and she looks around, after a while of being in the house, she exits and gets back in the car.}
Roxi – Satisfied?
Keira – Yeah, looks like we got a rebuild on our hands.
Roxi – Well, no time like the present to get started.
{Roxi and Keira unload the car, bringing Nate and the dogs into the house, putting up Nate’s playpen and putting him in it.}
Roxi – Sit tight light man, the floor is yucky and we can’t have you on it.
{Keira begins to run the shop vaccum while Roxi mops up the standing water in places. They take the boards off the windows to let the light in, and continue the cleaning effort to restore their house.}
Roxi – You gonna be okay?
Keira – Yeah. Of course. I got you and Nate, I’ll be just fine. Look… I … I know I was nervous and things happened and… I just didn’t want to lose all these things and possibly lose you two either.
Roxi – Sorry toots, I’m afraid you’re stuck with us.
{Keira grins.}
Keira – And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
{Roxi and Keira continue their cleanup effort as the scene fades.}
Roxi – What are you doing?
Keira – Packing.
Roxi – Keira, I think there’s more important things to –
Keira – I know! I just… I spent a lot of money on this stuff and I want it safe.
{Roxi looks at Keira’s face, as she looks frazzled.}
Roxi – I didn’t mean to –
{Keira hand waves Roxi’s concern away.}
Keira – It’s fine. I’m fine. I just, you know, I’m worried.
Roxi – I know. We don’t really have much time for all this stuff though.
Keira - I’m just going to finish this, then I have clothes to pack, and Nate’s toys and I think one or two other things.
{Roxi walks over with Nate sitting next to Keira.}
Roxi – You want to watch him? I can take care of this, and anything else you want to pack.
Keira – No, I got it. I just need to finish this.
Roxi – You keep worrying like this, you’re going to give yourself grey hairs.
{Keira scoffs at this, a small chuckle following it.}
Keira – Funny. Roxi… I… I think we need to move.
Roxi – You think so?
Keira – We’re having to constantly evacuate our own house. Three times this year.
{Roxi smiles, offering Nate one of his car toys to prevent him from grabbing at the PoP’s.}
Roxi – I think it’s more of a coincidence. It’s Florida. It happens.
Keira – I don’t want to keep moving around, Roxi. I want to settle down, raise Nate the right way without having to leave our home every few months because of the weather.
Roxi – We’ll talk about it later. I can hear the wind picking up outside. We probably don’t have much time. Look, why don’t you take care of this, and I will pack the clothes?
Keira – What about Nate?
Roxi – He can sit on the bed while I do the clothes. It’ll be fine.
Keira – I hope Chris and Sasha made it out…
Roxi – Last I talked they were heared to stay with family in Chicago.
Keira – What about your parents?
Roxi – I already made arrangements for them to head to Las Vegas, Mom still has a place out there.
{Keira sighs and gives a slight smile.}
Keira – Alright, back to work.
{Keira leans in and kisses Nate, smiling at him and giggling.}
Keira – I love you Nate.
{Nate giggles and squeals, smiling at Keira as Roxi stands up with him.}
Roxi – Okay little man, let’s get some stuff packed. Blow mommy Keira some kisses.
{Nate blows kisses to Keira, who blows them back and Roxi takes Nate to the other bedroom, with a few backpacks, duffle bags and suitcases laying around. Roxi gently puts Nate on the bed as she puts one of the duffle bags on the bed and opens it.}
Roxi – Let’s get you all ready, since we’re gonna go see Aunt AJ and stay with her for a little while. So we gotta make sure you got all your clothes and things. You’re gonna be one sharp dressed little man up there.
{Roxi carefully packs Nate’s clothing, and a box of diapers among several toys, some bottles and a few pairs of shoes.}
Roxi – Perfect. I think you’ll be all handsome for Aunt AJ…. Of course, you need to make sure Aunt AJ doesn’t teach you any terrible habits along the way.
{Keira walks into that room, running her fingers through her hair and brushing it from her face. Her forehead still sporting beads of sweat as she looks at Roxi.}
Keira – Everything packed?
Roxi – No, Keira, I just started. I got his stuff packed and I’ll take it out to the car here in a moment. Relax.
Keira – It’s kind of hard to relax when a storm is coming. You know I don’t do storms.
Roxi – You’ve lived here your whole life…
Keira – Thus, I don’t do storms!
Roxi – Okay, okay, relax. You can pick out your clothes.
{Roxi turns to go into the closet as Nate plays on the bed with his car. As Roxi lays clothes on the bed, she sees Keira pulling out photo albums into a box, stopping to peek through them.}
Roxi – You okay?
Keira – Huh?... Yeah. I’m fine.
Roxi – Keira…
Keira – I just… I don’t want to lose everything Rox… I feel like… like we’re about to.
Roxi – We’ll be okay. We always are.
Keira – I’m not sure, with this Hurricane coming… I feel like, it’s the end of what’s here. And, I just… I wanted to take something to remind me of what’s here.
{Roxi kneels down, rubbing Keira’s back and kissing the top of her head.}
Roxi - It’ll be okay Keira. I promise you. It’s okay if you want to take the photo albums. There’s no way to tell how bad this is going to be. It’s okay. I would like you to pack some clothes though…
{Keira again smiles weakly, a few tears coming down her face.}
Keira – I figured I could just run around in a bikini.
Roxi – No.
Keira – Thong.
Roxi – Keira, behave. Pack some clothes.
Keira – Sorry, you know how I get.
Roxi – I know, just relax. Let’s finish and get everything ready.
Keira- Right.
Roxi – And we’ll get through this, just like we do everything else.
Keira – Together.
{Roxi and Keira hold hands, with Nate placing his hand with theirs, giggling and slapping his hand onto theirs as if he was giving them five.}
Roxi – Together. The three of us.
{Roxi and Keira finish packing, loading the car up with the essentials as Keira buckles Nate into his car seat soon afterward. Roxi closes the trunk, their dogs Buster and Trixie hop into the back seats. Roxi and Keira get into the car and back out, away from the house. Keira taking a long look at the boarded up windows. Roxi stops, looking at the house and then to Keira.}
Keira – We got everything, right?
Roxi – Yeah, I think so.
Keira – Are you sure?
Roxi - Keira? Did you forget something?
{There is a long pause, but Keira eventually shakes her head.}
Keira – No…. no I got everything I needed.
Roxi – Alright.
{Roxi turns away and drives on up the road, headed to Georgia to seek refuge from the incoming Hurricane. Keira can’t help but look back at the house, before she finally settles in for the long drive the couple has ahead of them.}
Greetings Amigos Y Amigas.
Well, this past month has not been pleasant to say the least. The damage caused by Hurricane Irma effected my home and my personal life and I had to leave the home I bought with my wife to avoid the storm and its effects. So while the storm did not physically affect me, it did so mentally. Have to leave behind possessions and memories, with the unknown of whether or not they would even be there when I returned. Now granted, they were not things that couldn’t be replaced. Material things that can easily be replaced or fixed. That’s not really something I’m worried about. But the mental aspect of it is just so… draining. That is the house that I raised my son in. Where he learned to crawl, to walk, where he took his first steps. Where I changed his diaper and watched him play with toys and meet his grandparents all my amazing friends who have come to visit. I’ve had cookouts, parties, get togethers, birthday’s anniversaries… All these wonderful memories, and… simply put Mother nature can very easily wipe it all away.
So, yes, this hasn’t been the best month. But, GOL was happy to let everyone know that I have officially hit a year with the company, and here I stand, undefeated and the Rey de Reys champion.I faced down the challenge of Sawtooth Grin and walked out the winner. At the very top of the heap. I am at the top of the mountain and now, as I look at what lay ahead, I am filled with a strange mix of emotions going into this particular match. Having to face not only Honey, who I was fortunate enough to see get married and have developed a friendship in and out of the ring with. A for certain up and coming star in the wrestling business nipping at my heels now. That in itself would be a tall task to simply overcome at any point. No, not only that, I have to deal with a true friend, a person who gave me shelter when I sought it, a person who has never said no or failed to be there when I needed her. And now, I have to turn around and wrestle Amy Jo Smyth, again, this time for an even bigger prize. So yeah, I feel the pressure. I feel like, well, I am inside the eye of a hurricane right now. Or maybe the calm before the storm to borrow a phrase. Two people, who have been nothing but good to me and now, I have to turn around and face them down, turn back their challenge as they try to take this championship I worked so hard to get. They want to end my dream run as a wrestler right as it has reached a zenith. And I also have to turn around and say… No. You can’t take this from me. I have to beat you both and remain the champion. And thus, here I am, a ball of emotions.
I worked hard for this. I entered this company and won the Soaring Eagle championship, and no one, not one person could take it from me, try as they might. Including AJ. Not that any test was easier than the other, but I now can see and take a great deal of pride in beating every single person who stepped in front of me in GOL. I helped make this company what it is, and I take a great deal of pride in that as well. I simply did what I had to do, because I love what I do. And this IS wrestling, it IS competitive, and everyone wants to be the best. That goes without saying. I had to prove to myself that I was every bit as good as people gave me credit for, and that I earned the respect I received over the years. I could have very easily coasted on my laurels and just let things go. After all, I have accomplished quite a bit and I am pretty much content with what my career is and was. Plus or minus a couple of things I suppose, but for the most part anyway. And when I won the Rey de Reyes championship, that was another accomplishment for me and I proved that my hard work did pay off in the end.
But now, there is a new challenge.
That challenge is to not only defend the championship, not only defend an undefeated streak, but to do it at the same time, while becoming the greatest champion in GOL history. I am ready to defend this championship against anyone. I’m more than a little excited that I going out there to begin a brand new journey. One goal accomplished, another arises in its place to test me all over again. It’s a new beginning for me and for GOL.
After all, I won the championship, but what kind of champion would I be if I went out and laid an egg the very first defense. GOL clearly wanted me to lead by example and be a true champion, so I get not one, but two challengers out of the gate. Some might say it’s unfair, but this is what happens. Life isn’t fair and I’m not getting any easy matches as champion, that’s for dang sure. I mean, I had Alan Envy already challenge me. I’ve had congratulations and challenges ever since I won the championship. When you are at the top of the mountain, everyone wants to be the one to knock you off. I get that. I only ask that everyone lines up if you want a shot. But the line starts behind my first two opponents, they earned the first shot, so they’re getting the first shot.
What more can I say about Honey? She’s awesome in the ring, she wouldn’t be in this spot if she wasn’t. She cut a pretty swift path through the tournament to get here, through some pretty stiff competition. Honey is no joke, and it’s clear she’s going to be a future superstar in wrestling period. She is, right now, one of the most talent and dangerous women’s wrestlers in the world. Having said all that, I’ve seen a lot of these women come and go, a lot make the claim to be this best and very few can actually back it up. Honey had the chance to prove she was truly one of the best currently, but she while she didn’t lose the finals… she didn’t exactly WIN the finals of the tournament against AJ either. So while the feat of making it to the finals is nothing short of impressive, it’s rings a little hallow since she didn’t complete the job. That’s the hallmark of a great wrestler, you have to be able to finish just as strong as you start. You gotta put people away, and truth be told, Honey didn’t accomplish anything besides making a big mess of the championship contenders. Honey is really getting this shot, as is AJ, because they tied. So for someone as good as Honey is, to not actually have fully earned this shot, leaves a lot to be desired in my opinion. I have no doubts that Honey will learn from both the tournament final, and this upcoming match, hard lessons about not leaving any more doubt about what she needs to do. But, I don’t plan on losing this championship any time soon, and it just means that Honey will in fact because one of the first people I defeat to retain this championship.
But, again, she isn’t the only one.
My good friend Amy Jo Smyth. You have always been good to me, always been a friend and always been a worthy contender. I know you put your heart and soul into being the best. It’s obvious from your success. You are driven and a perfectionist. I admire those qualities about you. And maybe, just maybe it should just be me vs you at Chapter 13 one on one. But, the truth of the matter is, it isn’t. Because as much as I love you AJ, you’re striving for perfection ultimately led to the situation we’re in now. You can blame the refs or anyone else you really want to, in the end, you have to start with the person in the mirror. Much like Honey, you cut though the tournament. Much like Honey, you dazzled to get there. And by the same token, you didn’t win either. It hurts me when you don’t succeed, because I want to see it. Happy AJ is a lot better than buzzkill AJ. Buzzkill AJ just wanders around moping and making excuses, when most of the time, it’s really not as big of a deal as you make it out to be. You had a crack at this very championship before and come up short. I know that feeling, but eventually, you get over it and you move on. But it’s one of your quirks to just be so stubborn and angry at yourself that it actually hurts you. You have been and you are a champion, one of the best. One of the best I’ve ever stepped in the ring with and that’s not me simply blowing smoke, it’s a fact. But it’s sad to see that from my perspective, that this isn’t good enough for you. You want to be greater than great. So, that double edged sword you roll with comes back tenfold. It’s seemingly all or nothing for you all the time. It doesn’t have to be like that, but that’s seemingly how you choose to see it. It’s really not all that bad but I can’t sit here and try to change you. I wish nothing but good things for you all the time, be it in life, or in wrestling. Because you are my friend above everything else. And we stand eye to eye once again with a wrestling championship between us. Last time, I won. And I remember that last time you took it pretty hard. I hated seeing you like that, and I unfortunately have to plan to see it once again after chapter 13. You are so talented, so good in that ring that titles really shouldn’t mean that much anymore, but to you, they are everything. You see it as failure if you don’t win everything. But the reality is AJ, that IS wrestling. You don’t always come out on top. And I fully understand how hollow that sounds coming from me right now, with an undefeated record and a desire to beat you and Honey Sunday, but it’s the truth. I’d wish, almost as much as all the good I wish for you, that you’d see that and accept it as a true reality.
But I know you. Better than most. And you won’t. You CAN’T. That’s who you are. And by the same token, you know me. You know I’m a fan, but I’m not going to let you walk all over me to become the champion simply because you are my friend. It’s not personal. It’s what’s in front of us. You’re going to have to deal with coming up short at Chapter 13. You will always be my friend, I owe you a lot for what you have done for me, my family and my career. I just hope that when this is all said and done and I am still the champion at the end of the night, that you can live with it and not hold this against me and not make me out to be the bad guy. There is no bad guy in this situation. There’s the champion, and the two challengers. And as champion, it is my job to take your challenge and turn you back once again. Nothing is going to change about anything I said just now AJ. Not one word. It’s simply what has to be done.
As the Rey De Reyes champion, I will be a proud champion. I will be a fighting champion, a champion worthy of the title. I do not take it lightly. I do not take the challengers coming for this championship lightly. I have a goal to accomplish of being the very best in GOL history. I made it to the top, and now, it’s all about staying there. And that mission starts at chapter 13. So, Honey, AJ, I wish you both luck. I will be ready come Sunday and I will not back down nor hide behind this championship. It’s not a shield, it’s a badge of honor. And I will show you both why I earned it.
I will see you both in Mexico.
{The hurricane has now passed over Florida, and Roxi and Keira, armed with all their possessions and luggage, drive on the highway back to their home in Tampa. Keira is still very nervous, tugging at her hair as a result.}
Roxi – Stop doing that.
Keira – What?
Roxi – Pulling your hair
Keira – It’s what I do when I’m nervous.
Roxi – We made it through, from the reports, not too much damage in Tampa.
Keira – But what about our home? Did anything come up on it?
Roxi – I’m sure that if something bad happened, we would be notified. I’m pretty sure the house is still there, and maybe at worst, a tree damaged the house, or it’s flooded. We can fix that.
Keira – Are you sure?
Roxi – Positive. It’s gonna be fine. Look at Nate, he’s not nervous at all!
Keira – He also doesn’t understand what’s even happened.
Roxi – No, but still, he’s as cool as a cucumber.
Keira – That’s not helping.
Roxi – Neither is pulling your own hair out.
Keira – It works for me!
Roxi – Just relax.
{Roxi drives on and soon enough, they enter the flooded streets in southern Florida. Power lines are still down, there are displaced houses, trees, and various other signs of devastation. Roxi pulls up to their house, still intact, but flooded all around the outside. Roxi pulls into the driveway and puts the car in park.}
Roxi – I’m going to go look around, let me see your keys.
{Keira nervously hands the keys to Roxi and Roxi gets out and opens the door to their house. She walks around, still some standing water inside, but not much. Some of the cabinets have water damage and the carpets are still pretty wet. Outside of these things, the house looks to be in good shape. She nods, satisfied before exiting and re-entering the car.}
Keira – Well?
Roxi – Water damage, but, everything looks okay. We just gotta grab a shop vaccum to suck up all the water, and steam clean the carpet. Luckily the look fine from the garage.
Keira – That’s it?
Roxi – Yeah, that’s it.
Keira – You’re sure?
Roxi – Yes, I’m sure. I looked.
Keira – I’m going to look.
Roxi – Fine.
{Keira exits the car and she looks around, after a while of being in the house, she exits and gets back in the car.}
Roxi – Satisfied?
Keira – Yeah, looks like we got a rebuild on our hands.
Roxi – Well, no time like the present to get started.
{Roxi and Keira unload the car, bringing Nate and the dogs into the house, putting up Nate’s playpen and putting him in it.}
Roxi – Sit tight light man, the floor is yucky and we can’t have you on it.
{Keira begins to run the shop vaccum while Roxi mops up the standing water in places. They take the boards off the windows to let the light in, and continue the cleaning effort to restore their house.}
Roxi – You gonna be okay?
Keira – Yeah. Of course. I got you and Nate, I’ll be just fine. Look… I … I know I was nervous and things happened and… I just didn’t want to lose all these things and possibly lose you two either.
Roxi – Sorry toots, I’m afraid you’re stuck with us.
{Keira grins.}
Keira – And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
{Roxi and Keira continue their cleanup effort as the scene fades.}