The Next Generation: Part 2

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February 23rd, 2019

Austin, Texas

Off Camera

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In life there are those who plan out their every move and then there are those who are spontaneous who just operate based on how the wind blows.  Glory Braddock has always been a planner.  It’s something her father drilled into her head from a young child.  Planning and strategizing for your future has always been a wise choice, according to the legendary Glenn Braddock.

Unfortunately, there are circumstances that you cannot always prepare for.  Sometimes life will throw a “curveball” at you that you are not anticipating.  Glory Braddock, in the back of her mind, knew that one day her father would be physically unable to run his wrestling school in London, England.  She just didn’t anticipate or plan for that time to come so soon.  While her and her father were in Miami, Florida for the Trios Tournament, Glenn Braddock collapsed and had a massive seizure.

The good news for the Braddock patriarch is that he appears to be on track for a full recovery.  The bad news is that he took the scare hard; very hard.  He took the scare so hard that he has chosen to step down from running the school.  He’s washed his hands of the school altogether and has passed control over to his daughter.   Now Glory has to make the judgment call of whether to keep it up and running, and if so how, or to shut it down altogether.

Glenn’s health scare wasn’t the only “curveball” life threw Glory’s way.  Glory Braddock, along with Regan Street and Kellen Jeffries, won The Trios Tournament, thus earning the coveted contracts that guarantee each of them the opportunity to book any match they want.  Glory called those contracts game changers and indeed they are.  Glory, Regan, and Kellen can use these contracts to strike back at Katya and Dark Fantasy’s tyrannical rule.

Sic Semper Tyrannis, as Glory so often says…

Braddock had counted on Katya’s reign only lasting four weeks.  And this was to be her final week in charge.  The final Breakdown of Katya’s reign, however, ended with a shocking return and announcement from Mr. D himself…

...he was stepping down and placing both Sasha and Katya in charge.

It’s been a few days since the announcement.  Glory Braddock is backstage in the women’s dressing room at the Frank Erwin Center in Austin, Texas playing host to a SCW event.  She is scheduled for a match tonight and yet, despite this, she seems distracted.  Between her father’s health scare and the chaos going on in Supreme Championship Wrestling right now, you can hardly blame her.

Glory never truly got to know Mr. D that well; it was Sasha who brought her in, as a matter of fact.  But as a veteran she knows what some of the other SCW stars are going through with this announcement.  Mr. D has always been the guiding hand in this company, but not any longer.  Furthermore, both Sasha and Katya are going to be in charge.  That definitely throws a wrench into anyone’s future plans, especially Glory’s.

“Penny for your thoughts?”

The voice sounds familiar and The British Bombshell looks up.  She smiles as she sees the friendly face of Sophie O’Brian.

Ok, let’s be honest, Sophie isn’t necessarily the most friendly of individuals.  She is an admitted sociopath whose goals and agendas are far different from Glory’s.  In fact, Glory and Sophie are like mirror images of one another.  Both are from the British isles, both are amazingly talented technical and submission experts, both are competitors to the core, but their philosophy, their outlook on life, is where they differ.  Sophie has always believed in the concept of by any means necessary; the ends justify the means.  Glory Braddock doesn’t feel that the ends justify the means.  She believes in right and wrong and fighting for what’s right and just.

Yet somehow these two opposites attracted.  They became fast friends in the Glenn Braddock Wrestling School.  One of the primary reasons behind their friendship is Sophie’s admiration for Glory’s father, Glenn.  Glenn helped Sophie and her brother Mark when they desperately needed it.  He pulled them back from the brink, giving them shelter and a reason for living.  Sophie will always feel indebted to Glory’s father.

“Sophie?  What the bloody hell are you doing here, mate?” Glory stands up and approaches Sophie, the two embrace in a tight, almost sisterly hug.  It’s hard to imagine Sophie showing affection towards anyone, but she does show affection and respect towards Glory Braddock.

“I did compete here once upon a time.” Sophie remarks after the embrace is broken. “Former Television Champion and all that.”

“I remember that.” Glory nods her head. “It sucks, in a way, that you aren’t here any longer.  Had you stuck it out we could’ve been competing in SCW together.  Just like the good old days, eh?”

“They may have been old but they weren’t necessarily all that good, Glory.  Besides, do you really think Supreme Championship Wrestling could handle both of us on the same roster?”

“I think so, yeah.”

“Not hardly.” Sophie shakes her head. “Let’s face facts, Glory; I’m like gasoline and you’re a match.  When we get together shit blows up.”

Braddock sighs and nods her head.  Sophie isn’t entirely wrong.  They used to follow each other everywhere, from their start in GDW moving on to other wrestling organizations such as MWA and MCW.  Everywhere they’ve been they were great allies but equally as powerful enemies.  They fought side by side and against one another.  Their relationship has been tumultuous at times but Glory would always do anything for her best friend Sophie.

“Yeah, you’re right.  Still, I miss us working together.”

“You don’t need me, mate.” Sophie responds with a sly grin. “You’re doing quite well on your own.  I saw what you and your pals did in The Trios Tournament.  Excellent job.”

“Yeah, well, Regan came through for us big time in the end.”

“I agree, but you and Kellen held your own long enough in a three on one disadvantage to give her time to make her way to the ring after that sneak attack to pick up the win for the team.  It was a total team effort and you, my friend, earned that contract.” Sophie chuckles lightly before allowing a sinister grin to form on her face. “So now that you have seemingly unlimited booking power for at least one match, what do you plan to do with it?”

Glory sighs as she sits back down in the chair.  Sophie sits down next to her and watches as Glory ponders the question at hand.  It’s a tough question; she can do almost anything with that Trios Contract but she only gets one shot at doing it right and doing it justice.  What does she do with the trios contract?  Finally Glory shrugs her shoulders.

“Honestly, I’m not sure.  I mean, I knew going in what I thought I wanted to do with it but now that it has become reality, I’m not so sure anymore.”

“Goodie two-shoes Glory is now considering using Trios selfishly on herself instead of her original selfless plan?”

“Be serious, Sophie.” Glory rolls her eyes. “I only get one contract and one opportunity.  I don’t want to blow it.  I want to think this through and make sure that I have made the right decision when I decide to use it.”

“Fair enough.” Sophie nods her head. “I bet your father is proud of you.”

“Yeah, he was so damn excited when we won Trios.”

“Bet he never admitted it, though?” Sophie asks with a knowing smirk.

“You know him all too well!” Glory says with a laugh. “But I could tell by the look on his face.  He was thrilled.”

“Speaking of your father, how is he feeling?  I heard he collapsed.”

“Yeah, he collapsed on the beach in Miami not long before Trios itself.” Braddock shakes her head. “I blame myself.  I shouldn’t have flown him in from London when he could’ve watched the damn show on television.”

“It isn’t your fault, Glory.” Sophie retorts. “Trust me, I know.  I’ve been there at the school, I’ve watched him, he’s been pushing himself way too hard to do too much.”

“Really?”

“Yes.” Sophie nods her head. “Honestly, I think the stress of running the place has finally become too much for him.”

“He suggested as much when I spoke to him.  That’s why he’s stepping down from running the school.”

“What?!” Sophie exclaims, with surprise on her face.

“Yeah, he’s washing his hands of it altogether.  He’s left it up to me to decide the school’s fate.”

“That school has been there for as long as I can remember.  So many wrestlers have come out of it, so many world champions have been through your father’s rigorous training regimen.  And Glenn…” Sophie’s voice trails off as she shakes her head.

“What is it?”

“Sorry, but I just find it difficult to picture him passing the buck on a big decision like this.”

“Well he did and he passed that ‘buck’ onto me.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have no idea.” Glory responds, shrugging her shoulders. “I mean, I can’t run it.  I live in Miami now, I’m on the road with Supreme Championship Wrestling all the time, and that’s not to mention my not-as-busy schedule with GCW.”

There is a pause in the room.  Glory sighs. “I hate to say it, but I may have to close it down.”

“You can’t close it down, Glory.  That school isn’t just a school for wrestlers, it has saved people.  It gave people a second chance that they wouldn’t otherwise have had.  You can’t take that away from them.”

The British Bombshell knows that Sophie is referring to herself when she speaks of the Braddock Wrestling School saving people; giving people a second chance.  That’s exactly what the school did for her and her brother Mark and that’s what The Braddock Wrestling School means to Sophie O’Brian.

“Don’t you think I know that?  I want to keep it open, mate, but I just don’t have the time to run it.”

“Then find someone who can.”

“Who would you suggest?” Glory asks pointedly. “I mean, to train the next generation of wrestlers is a big responsibility and to take the Braddock legacy upon your shoulders is an even bigger responsibility.  If I do get someone to run it, it would have to be someone I really trusted.  Someone…”

Glory’s voice trails off as she stares into Sophie’s eyes.  She can tell by just looking into her eyes that Sophie really does care about this.  It’s one of the few things she does truly care for.  Immediately Glory has an idea.

“Why don’t you run it?”

“Me?  Run a wrestling school?  Me, teach the next generation?  You’re off your rocker, mate.”

“Why?” Glory asks.  “You’re as good a pure wrestler as I am.  You trained under my father and know all about his philosophy towards wrestling.  You know how he ran the school.”

“You’re forgetting one other important factor.”

“What’s that?”

“You can’t trust me.” Sophie responds coldly, stoically.  “You cannot trust me, I have a checkered past.  And besides, do you really want a sociopath preparing the next generation?”

“You may be right about a lot of those things you said, but you’ve always been loyal to my father.  Couldn’t you do it for him?”

“No,” Sophie shakes her head “your father’s legacy deserves better than someone like me running his school.  I can only promise to help you out as a trainer, but I refuse to run the whole thing.”

There is another pause as Glory considers her next move but realizes that Sophie has already made up her mind and refuses to budge.  Braddock sighs and nods her head.

“Ok, that’ll do.  Thanks, Sophie.”

“I’m sorry I can’t do anything more, mate.”

“It’s quite alright.” Glory says as she stands up.  “Hey, I got a match coming up but you should stick around.  We can go out for drinks later.”

“That sounds nice.  I’ll see you after the show then?”

“Yeah, see you.”

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A game changer, that’s what I said the Trios Tournament would be.

Regan, Kellen, and I changed the game in a big way.  Everything Katya threw at us, from backstage attacks to cheap tricks, none of it worked.  My friend, Sophie O’Brian, is the eternal pessimist.  She always thinks that worse will always come to worst.  She always thinks that bad will almost always triumph over evil.

That’s where we differ.  I am an optimist and while some may call it naivete, I believe that the bad, the evil, the corrupt will always get theirs in the end.  I believe good will ultimately triumph over evil.

We may not be the best of humanity but we carried the flag of SCW and shoved it up Katya’s ass at Trios.  Now we’re ready to change the game permanently.  Hopefully for the better.

That’s why I’m going to take my time in considering what I want to do with this Trios contract.  It’s just a dream, a fantasy, before the tournament begins but once you win it becomes all too real.  So much power in the palm of your hand but you only get one opportunity to use it.

So choose, but choose wisely.

I am going to make a wise decision for the betterment of SCW and, maybe, for my own good as well.

Sic Semper Tyrannis…

...thus always to tyrants.

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February 23rd, 2019

Austin, Texas

Off Camera

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The SCW event has come to its conclusion and, as promised, Sophie waited on her so the two could have drinks afterwards.  The two friends hadn’t seen each other in a long time until today and they had quite a bit of catching up to do.  Their choice of eating establishments was also a contrast between O’Brian and Braddock.  While Glory preferred the finer things in life, Sophie preferred something much more low key.  The British Bombshell acquiesced to Sophie’s request and thus they found a small cafe on the outskirts of Austin, Texas.

Still, Braddock wishes she could have chosen someplace a little nicer.  The tiny café huddled despondent among the huge city buildings. Washed out under the overcast sky, it hunched in itself.. Hundreds of people rushed by it, outside on the crowded street. The half a dozen customers glanced up as the door swung open, heralded by a blast of cold wind. Unlike the outside, the interior of the café was warm and cheery, with bright lights and colourful walls. The customers returned to their conversations as the door swung closed behind the new entrant and the cold breeze was forgotten.

“Nice place, Sophie.” Glory remarks as she enters the cafe with her husband Kurt Logan, himself a fellow wrestler, and Sophie following closely behind.  Glory didn’t expect much thus dressed for the occasion, wearing denim jeans, black patent leather pumps, and a floral print silk blouse.  Her long blonde hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.  Her husband has his arm around her shoulder.  Kurt is wearing khaki pants, black boots, and a black t-shirt which reads “House of Hell”, the name of the wrestling school where he works as a trainer.

“Your sarcasm is duly noted, mate.” Sophie says with a wry grin.  The Irish Sociopath is wearing a knee length leather skirt, black pumps, and a teal blouse.  Her long black hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.

“No sarcasm, mate.  Just telling you it’s…” Glory sighs “...it’s fine.”

“Don’t mind Glory.” Kurt chuckles. “We’ll be fine.  But where are we sitting, Sophie?”

“That’s part of why I chose this place, actually.” Sophie motions to a door on the far side of the cafe. “They have a nice patio area to sit outside.  I think it might be nice.”

Kurt approaches first and holds the door open to allow Glory and Sophie to exit.  Once outside they get a better view of the patio seating area.  Viewed in isolation the patio could be anywhere with its grey stone floor and cafe tables, each with a green sun umbrella.  Kurt, like the gentleman he is, holds out a chair for Glory to sit in.  Then Kurt sits next to her.  Sophie sits down across from the two of them.

“See?  This isn’t that bad.” Sophie remarks.

“I still think it’s a little chilly.”

“Your opinion is biased.  You live in Miami.”

“You got me there.” Glory says with a smirk.

A server, a young lady with brown hair, approaches their table.  Her southern, Texas drawl is clear and abundant. “What may I get ya’ll to drink?”

“Water.” Glory answers.

“A soda for me.” Kurt says. “Any kind, I don’t care.”

“I’ll be the naughty one then.” Sophie says with a smirk. “I’d like a Guiness.”

“I’ll be right back with those drinks.” The server turns and walks off.

“I’m so glad you decided to join us, mate.” Glory says to Sophie once the server is gone. “It’s been too long since we could just sit and talk like this.”

“I know.  It’s hard to have friendly conversation when you are killing each other like we usually do.”

“It’s true, we haven’t always been the best of allies inside the wrestling ring,” Glory admits with a nod of her head “but I’d like to put the past behind us and start fresh.”

“I’d like that too.” Sophie nods her head in agreement. “Especially now, considering your father’s health.”

“Yeah, it’d be awesome if not only you and I but the whole of the original Braddock trainees could patch things up before the school closes.”

“I agree with that,” Sophie points a finger at Glory “but I still think you’re wrong for even considering shutting it down.”

“I don’t have time, Sophie.” Glory shrugs her shoulders. “Sorry.”

At that time the server arrives with a glass of water for Glory.  She places a can of soda in front of Kurt.  Finally she places a pint of Guinness in front of Sophie.

“Can I get you anything to snack on?”

“No, this will be fine.” Sophie answers for the group.  The server turns and walks off.  Once she is gone Sophie turns to Kurt.

“What about you?  You could run it.”

“I already run a wrestling school, Sophie.  And I support Glory one hundred percent; if she doesn’t think she has the time then she should do what’s best for her.”

“Honestly, Sophie, don’t you think I want to keep it open?” Glory takes a sip of her water. “I want to make sure the next generation of wrestlers are taken care of and trained properly.  I want to make sure they receive the same quality of wrestling knowledge and training that you and I received from my father.  But that seizure…”

Glory sighs and shakes her head “...that seizure scared him.  He won’t admit it.  He’s too damn tough to admit it and wants to put up that front…”

“I know.” Sophie nods her head. “He wants to make everyone think that nothing ever bothers him.”

“That’s right, that’s what he always does.  But I can tell from looking at him every day that he is scared.  For the first time in his life he is scared of something and doesn’t know what to do.  That’s why he handed full control of the school to me...he did it out of fear.”

“Wait a second…” Sophie pauses to consider Glory’s words, specifically about seeing her father every day “...he’s traveling with you?”

“No,” Glory shakes her head “but he refuses to go back to London.  He’s staying with me in Miami.”

“That definitely is out of character for the old man.” Sophie remarks as she takes a sip of her Guinness.

“That’s what bothers me.  It is very much out of character for him.  I’ve never seen him actually scared before and he won’t admit it but he is; he is scared.”

“So what are you going to do?”

“I think I’m going to wait him out and see what happens.  I think he’ll eventually find a way to overcome his fear and go back to being the same old Glenn Braddock we know, love, and at times fear.” Glory chuckles lightly.  Then a more serious look returns to her face. “But until then I need to find someone to run the school.”

“And what if he never does snap out of this funk?”

“I don’t know.”

“He isn’t getting any older, Glory.” Sophie answers. “I hate to say it, but you will eventually have to do something with that school.”

“What can I do?” Glory asks with a hint of frustration. “I can’t run it, Kurt can’t run it, you won’t run it.  I’m out of options in terms of people I trust.”

There is a long pause at the table as everyone takes in what’s just been said.  Finally…

“Fine, you win.” Sophie answers.

“What’s that?”

“You win.  I’ll run the school…”

“Are you serious?” Glory’s eyes widen and a big grin crosses her face. “That’s great!”

“Hold your celebration, mate.” Sophie says pointedly. “I will run the school temporarily.  For two or three months at most, just to buy you more time to find someone else who can do this full time.  Is that a fair compromise?”

“You got a deal.” Glory holds her hand out across the table for a handshake and Sophie accepts it.

“Just remember that I’m doing this only to buy you more time.  I don’t want to see the school close down but I cannot run it.  I will not run it.  If you can’t find anyone to take my place in a few months, then I guess…” her voice trails off.

“I guess dad’s dream will have to just end.”

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March 1st, 2019

On Camera

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We open in pitch black darkness.  The darkness quickly goes away when a spotlight comes on, shining into what appears to be a wrestling ring.  It is still too dark to tell if anyone else is here or where this ring is, whether it be a gym or an arena.  There is a brown stool set up within the spotlight.  It sits there waiting for someone’s arrival.  That wait is not a long one; The British Bombshell steps directly into the spotlight from stage right.  Glory Braddock is wearing a sheath column scoop neck short mini dress with purple sparkly sequins. Her feet are encased in black open toe high heel pumps.  The camera zooms in on Braddock, who playfully waves at the camera before taking a seat on the stool.

“We all have our faults and flaws.  I think the key is for most normal human beings is admitting to your faults and flaws.  Don’t tell that to those Dork Fantasy brassers.  They think they’re so damn perfect that they can do no wrong.  But as for yours truly, I will not lie to you.  I am by no means perfect.”

Braddock shakes her head. “No, I’m not perfect.  Despite any rumors to the contrary, I do have my faults.  Among them is the fact that I do have a bit of an ego.  At first it truly was a thorn in my side, so to speak, because I couldn’t or wouldn’t accept it.  I refused to recognize it as a problem.  It took my husband Kurt Logan, my good friends Sophie and Mark O’Brian, and others to not only convince me that I have an ego but to also keep me reined in; to keep me grounded.”

“Still, there are times that my ego does get the better of me.  Take for instance my arrival here in Supreme Championship Wrestling.  I felt a sense of pride that Sasha went to such trouble to make sure I made an impact here in SCW.  She went out of her way to make sure my debut happened the right way.  But because I was introduced by Sasha, her bratty little tart of a sister Katya chose to ignore me.”

Glory frowns as she shakes her head. “I don’t like being ignored, brasser.  So why did you ignore me?  Is it because Sasha got the credit for introducing me and this is all part of some petty sibling rivalry?  Or maybe your head is so far up Syren’s ass that you refuse to accept that Sasha found someone better than her.  Someone who can make Syren tap out like the little bitch she is.  And that’s the truth.”

She holds up one finger. “All I need is ONE shot, one opportunity, and I can make your fearless leader pass out and tap out to my patented Shekinah Glory.  And I bet that really does scare you, doesn’t it?  It scares you and every little pathetic stormtrooper you have on your side because now I have the talent to get the job done against any one of you and now, thanks to Trios, I have the power to make the match happen.  You may think your new friends in Dork Fantasy are all that, you may think they are the best wrestlers in the world, but what you’re going to have to realize sooner or later is that I am THE Best in the World!”

Braddock chuckles lightly and shrugs her shoulders. “Sorry about that!  Like I said, I let the ego slip out sometimes!  But I do have the power to turn your ‘fantasy’ into a nightmare thanks to Trios and your little army did their best to stop me, Regan, and Kellen.  You tried to stack the deck.  But despite your best efforts we marched into that ring like the warriors we are and together we were victorious.  Now that I have a Trios contract, you cannot ignore me.  No one can ignore me.”

“Though I have to admit that I’m still feeling a little ignored, or at least underestimated.  Gosh, I don’t know why.  I mean, Regan, Kellen, and I had our asses handed to us in a gang assault backstage right before the Trios Tournament finals and we STILL whipped your girl Syren’s petty little ass from pillar to post.  You’d think you’d take the threat I pose seriously but I guess not, seeing as you’re sending the deputy Barney Fife of your little squad after me.”

The British Bombshell chuckles lightly. “Now don’t get me wrong, I am definitely taking you seriously, Casterillo.  I take all of my opponents seriously.  But let’s not confuse ourselves as to the role you are playing here.  You are but merely an extension of Katya and Dork Fantasy because you chose to back them.  And boy did you choose to back the wrong damn horse!  If you haven’t been paying attention lately, this little regime you chose to support back at Making Things Right is slowly starting to come apart at the seams.”

“What did you expect to get out of this, Casterillo?  Did you expect a fast track to the top?  Marie Jones had that same promise and she got screwed by the very same people she thought were her pals. There is no honor among thieves, Casterillo, and hopefully you are beginning to see the rats jumping from a sinking ship.”

She pats herself on the chest. “It all started with me, Regan, and Kellen.  You remember Trios, right?  We eliminated your pathetic ass from the tournament in round one.  You failed to stop us from making the finals where we would go on to win it all, dealing the first major blow to Dork Fantasy.  Then Regan Street dealt the second major blow, taking the Adrenaline Championship from Ravyn Taylor.”

“Now it’s up to me to keep the momentum going, because regardless of whether you are still drinking the Katya Kool Aid or if you’ve finally seen what a dumbass you are for backing Dork Fantasy in the first place, the fact remains that justice must be served.  Karma must be satisfied.  And that means you are owed an ass kicking, son, courtesy of The British Bombshell.”

Braddock sighs and shakes her head with a sense of disappointment written across her face.  “What bugs me the most is that this isn’t supposed to be a battle of good against evil. This shouldn’t be  about right versus wrong.  And yet it’s always people like you, Casterillo, people who think you can take the cheap and easy way out, people who think they can take the fast track to success while walking all over other people, it’s people like you who piss me off.”

“I came here to be a competitor, to test myself against the single most talented roster in professional wrestling, but if people like you want to piss me off then so be it.  I’ll bring my frustrations down upon you like hell fire and brimstone, you wanker, and then when I wrap you up in the Shekinah Glory, when you start to fade away, you will then know exactly who you are in the ring with…”

Braddock smirks knowingly “...The Best in the World.”

The scene fades.