==========
May 21st, 2020
Raleigh, NC
Off Camera
==========
The two weeks of SCW Fatal Fortunes have come and
gone and Glory Braddock could not have been more pleased with herself. Sienna
Swann, Chris Cannon, and The British Bombshell defeated Ace Marshall, Asher
Hayes, and Braddock’s nemesis Selena Frost on the Breakdown immediately prior
to the two week Fatal Fortunes extravaganza. Now, on Fatal Fortunes,
Braddock left Selena beaten up at the hands of the ever so destructive war
machine known as Void. These most recent events more than makes up for
what happened at Cold Blooded in the triple threat loss. Selena can crow
all day long about her victory over The British Bombshell, a victory she earned
not by pinning Braddock herself but by pinning Asher, but the facts remain the
same. Selena Frost has yet to pin or make Glory Braddock tap out. She
cannot defeat Glory one on one. She never will defeat Glory one on one.
And if Selena wants to keep up this nonsensical crusade of hers that’s
fine. Glory will continue to beat her down until she gets the message.
May 20th on Breakdown Glory Braddock was on the
edge of her seat, anxious with anticipation as she watched the SCW Television
Championship Match between Regan Street and Jake Starr. Braddock had
already been informed that she was next in line for a Television Championship
opportunity and would face the winner at the May 27th edition of Breakdown,
just days before Taking Hold of the Flame. Braddock is confident in her
abilities, so confident that she is willing to call herself The Best in the
World. She knew she was ready to face off against whoever had won the
title that night but she was very pleased that her former teammate Regan had
come out victorious over Starr. Primarily, Glory does have some sense of
respect for Regan, unlike Starr. The night she wins her first piece of
championship gold in SCW, she would be honored to do so by defeating Regan, a
decorated SCW superstar who has already had a lengthy reign as Television
Champion. The British Bombshell would love to be the one who ends her
reign.
Now she can put the icing on the cake and walk out
with her first taste of championship gold in SCW. Glory is set to challenge
Regan Helms...or Street...whatever...for the SCW Television Championship on
Breakdown. The irony of this match is not lost upon The British
Bombshell. They were partners in the 2019 Trios Tournament and were
victorious. Now they are enemies, opponents for the Television
Championship. And anytime championship gold is at stake Glory Braddock
will bring her best; she will bring her A-Game. The fact that Regan is
friends with Selena Frost is also not lost upon Glory Braddock. The Best
in the World can win championship gold and send a clear message to Selena Frost
all in the same night in one match.
Her good fortune from SCW Breakdown and the two
weeks of SCW Fatal Fortunes isn’t the only reason for the wide ear to ear grin
that The British Bombshell sports today as she sits at her desk in her
corporate office in Raleigh, NC. This past weekend her wrestling
promotion put on its annual Resurrection event. Not only did the event
draw great profits, lining Braddock’s pockets and her company’s pockets with
tons of cash, but there was more to the event than just cash that made Glory
Braddock happy.
Glory Braddock has power. All the power she
could ever want.
The British Bombshell finds herself in her
corporate offices at Raleigh, North Carolina. She is sitting in her
office, behind her desk, that is right by a large window that overlooks the
Raleigh skyline. The office was painted grey, and it had only one
floor-to-ceiling window, which faced the main road. On the grey desk sat a
desktop computer, a notebook lying open, and a stack of papers sitting under a
turtle-shaped paperweight. In a corner, the air conditioner was blasting at
medium, and there was a swivel chair in the middle of the office. A bookshelf,
bursting with books was in a corner, with yet another stack of papers under a
paperweight that was shaped to look like a tuft of grass. A few pens were lying
on the papers, but some had fallen onto the top of the bookshelf. The
beautiful blonde is wearing a black pencil skirt that flatters her curves, a
matching black suit coat over a white silky blouse. Her feet are encased
in black peep-toe high heeled pumps. Her long gorgeous golden blonde
locks of hair hang to just below the shoulders. Her lovely face is
beaming, glowing even, with a radiant smile that tells the story of a woman who
is overjoyed with how current events have gone lately.
Normally she would not be caught dead in Raleigh
unless absolutely necessary. She detests North Carolina with every fiber
of her being. Glory Braddock has been seeking an excuse to move her
corporate offices from North Carolina almost since the outset of when she
bought the company in 2012. It became a more intensive goal in the past
several months after she merged her wrestling promotion with the wrestling
school headquartered in London, England. In Glory’s ideal world, she
would rather move her corporate headquarters to Miami, Florida or London,
England. Either destination would be better than Raleigh, North Carolina.
The only thing stopping her was the Global
Wrestling Enterprise Board of Directors. In a nine member board, four of
them fiercely loyal to the former owner, a con man known as Matthew Alan, and
were also fiercely opposed to moving the headquarters. Glory only had
four board members whose support she could count on. The ninth was a
swing vote who typically went with the Matthew Alan loyalists. Glory
Braddock’s war with the Board of Directors, and the Matthew Alan loyalists in
particular, had been a battle she had been fighting since she purchased the
company in 2012. Just a couple years into her tenure as owner they voted
to take her power away from her because they questioned her mental stability.
Braddock balls up her fists as a tinge of anger
rises up in her. Even now she is offended by the mere thought of her
mental stability being questioned. Why? What had she done that
would bring about such ludicrous accusations? One name: Aphrodite
Noel. It is the name of a woman who will forever be etched into Glory
Braddock’s history, for both positive and negative reasons. Aphrodite
blackmailed Glory and her sister, Julia Braddock. The blackmail turned
into heavy mental and psychological manipulation. The evidence of the
psychological toll taken upon Glory Braddock is the fact that she suffers from
PTSD. Any mention of her time with Aphrodite brings her to anger.
The PTSD wasn’t the only toll taken upon The British Bombshell. Whether
it was the psychological manipulation or the blackmail that caused this to
occur is unknown, but Glory and Julia both began to acknowledge Aphrodite as
their one true mother. When Glory acknowledge Aphrodite as her mother,
the Board of Directors seized upon the opportunity to take power away from
Glory, claiming mental instability.
Not all of her time with Aphrodite was bad.
Glory learned a great deal from under Aphrodite’s wing. Glory Braddock
credits Aphrodite with her knowledge of the corporate world. Those
closest to Glory also credit Aphrodite with Glory becoming more ruthless than
she has ever been in her entire life. That ruthlessness gave The British
Bombshell the ability to challenge the Board of Directors and not only retake
her company but to go a step further; using shady and underhanded tactics that
the mafia would approve of, Glory manipulated one member of the Matthew Alan
loyalists on the board of directors to start voting with her. The coup de
gras was the most ruthless action yet.
Glory Braddock worked with her hated rival Mason
Van Stanton to lock her sister up in a mental institution. This action,
combined with Glory completely rejecting all former association with Aphrodite
Noel, has now taken all power away from her rivals on the Board of
Directors. Glory Braddock has now become, for all intents and purposes, a
dictator within her own company.
And she is damn proud of it.
BUZZ! The
buzzing from her desk phone indicates that her secretary is calling her.
Glory presses a button on the phone to turn it on speaker…
“Yes?”
“Attorney Robert Odom is here to see you, Ms.
Braddock.”
The smile upon her lovely face grows even large, if
that is possible. She was already happy because of the recent string of
success, both in her wrestling career and her corporate world, but now that her
attorney is here she can get this meeting over with, what will probably be the
final meeting she ever has in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The less time spent in North Carolina, the better.
“Wonderful! Send him in!”
Braddock presses a button on the phone, hanging up
on her secretary and turning off the speaker. Glory stares at the door
and awaits for the inevitable arrival of her attorney. A few moments
later the door does open and Robert Odom steps across the threshold and into
the office. He is wearing a white silk button up shirt, navy blue tie,
and navy blue dress pants. His white hair is slightly shaggy but not
overly so, for he has it combed nicely today.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Braddock.”
Odom approaches Glory’s desk. The British Bombshell stands up and extends
a hand. Odom accepts the handshake and afterwards they both sit down in
unison.
“Isn’t this a beautiful day, Bob?”
Glory quips, motioning to the bright blue setting outside. “How can anyone
stand being inside all day long when the day is just so lovely?”
“You seem rather pleasant, Ms. Braddock.”
“Am I not always pleasant, Bob?”
“Honestly?” Odom
asks with a smile which is unusual for him. Braddock nods her head in
response.
“Yes, honest. I want honesty between us,
Bob.”
“Honestly, Ms. Braddock, you have been rather
difficult to deal with lately. I cannot blame you, you have had a great
deal of pressure on your shoulders.”
“I know and if I have been short with you or anyone
else under my employ then I apologize. Like you said, I have had a great
deal of pressure dealing with an active wrestling career, running this company,
and running a wrestling school. I thought by delegating some of my
corporate duties would help but unfortunately it did not help get to the root
of my problem.”
“The Board of Directors.” Odom
states. Braddock nods her head in confirmation.
“They have been a bloody pain in the ass.” Glory
says with a hint of frustration in her voice. She pauses to regain her
composure, reminding herself that she has dealt with this problem already. “All
is well now; I doubt we will have any further problems from them.”
“May I be so bold as to ask what you mean by that?”
Odom asks. Instead of an answer he gets another question.
“How did the Board take my two most recent
requests?” There is a sly smirk upon her lovely
face, indicating that she knows something. Odom notices this but doesn’t
point it out. He just sighs and begins his answer…
“The Board discussed moving corporate
headquarters. Your preference was noted to be London, England but the
Board was deadlocked. Carl Conroy was not thrilled with the idea of
traveling to Europe and back for board meetings, nor was he happy about moving
a company that had its historical roots in America to England.”
“Bloody hell…” Glory
rolls her eyes.
“But when they discussed the option of moving to
Miami they were much favorable. The Board of Directors voted eight to one
in favor of moving Global Wrestling Enterprise Corporate Headquarters to Miami,
Florida.”
“Who was the one? Carl?” Braddock
asks. Odom shakes his head.
“No, it was David.”
“That makes sense; David always was the biggest
Matthew Alan loyalist. There isn’t much he can do about my plans now,
though.” Glory leans back in her chair and smirks, looking
as smug like a conquering hero. “What about my other request?”
“The Board voted five to four in favor of adding
your associate Meagan Collins to the Board of Directors, making it now a ten
member board.”
“Yes!” Glory
exclaims rather loudly, slamming her fists onto the table excitedly,
happily. It is enough to cause Robert Odom to almost jump out of his
chair. He chuckles lightly.
“I take it you like the news.”
“Are you kidding, Bob? This is bloody
great! I have all the power now! I can do whatever the bloody hell
I want and there is nothing any of them can do about it!”
The British Bombshell extends her hand out to her
attorney. Robert Odom is reluctant at first but eventually accepts the
handshake. Glory Braddock is smiling proudly at Odom as she nods
approvingly at him. “You did well, Bob. Together you and I finally
reeled in that troublesome Board of Directors.”
“It was you more so than I, Ms. Braddock. All
I did was arrange for the move to Miami and for Ms. Collins to be put on the
Board. I simply drew up the legal documentation for them to vote
on. I never expected a favorable vote in either case.”
There is a pause from Odom as he stares inquisitively at Braddock. He arches
his brow. “How did you pull this off?”
“Oh Bob, you are an attorney. So ask
yourself, do you really want to know?” Glory
asks with a knowing smirk. Odom pauses to think it over before nodding
his head.
“Yes but…” he
sighs “...give me some plausible deniability.”
“Plausible deniability is what you will get.
I spoke with Joshua Hernandez and convinced him to jump from the Matthew Alan
loyalist faction to my side. That gave me five votes I knew I could count
on. There were still three solid Matthew Alan loyalists and the swing
vote known as Carl Conroy. All four of those individuals had just one
issue with me. You know what that issue is, do you not?”
“I do.” Odom
knows better than to mention Aphrodite Noel. He knows it will set off her
PTSD.
“Well I eliminated that issue once and for all.”
Odom’s eyes grow wide with surprise after hearing
this. “You did?! How?!”
“You asked for plausible deniability, Mr. Odom, and
I am trying to give it to you. All you need to know is that the Board of
Directors are fully satisfied that I am in my right mind. As a side note,
I want to say that I am truly pleased that Chastity Noel...my sister formerly
known as Julia Braddock...is in a psychiatric ward where she can get the proper
care she needs.”
Attorney Robert Odom is in a stunned silence as he
stares into the lovely face of Glory Braddock. He never could have
imagined that behind such a beautiful face lurked someone ruthless enough to
get her own sister, her own flesh and blood, locked up in order to maintain
power within her wrestling company. That, combined with how she
blackmailed both Joshua Hernandez and Meagan Collins into helping her, shows
just how ruthless and cutthroat Glory Braddock has become. His trancelike
state, brought about by the intimidation or outright fear brought about by
Glory Braddock’s ruthlessness, ends when the buzzing intercom startles him back
to reality.
BUZZ! Glory
rolls her eyes. “Excuse me, Robert…” she presses a button on the phone
to turn it on speaker…
“Yes?”
“Ms. Braddock, Aurora Alan is here to see you.” Braddock’s
eyes narrow in an angry glare. Odom is thankful that the heat of this
glare is not directed at him. She looks like she could kill someone right
now and, based upon her recent actions, he won’t rule out that possibility.
“What?!”
“Yes, I know,” the
secretary continues “I told her that she was not welcome here but she
insists on seeing you. Shall I have security called in?”
Braddock stares off into the distance for several
seconds. She sighs and nods her head. “Fine...send her in…”
Braddock turns and looks over at Robert. “You
may leave, Bob. I will call you when I need you.”
Robert Odom is eternally grateful to hear his
client say this; immediately he gets up out of his desk, bows out of respect in
Glory’s general direction, and then proceeds to walk towards the door in a
hasty retreat. As soon as he is gone, Braddock sighs deeply and braces
herself for the next visitor, one that will no doubt be quite unfriendly.
This meeting will not be as pleasant as the one she just had with her
attorney. Braddock isn’t kept long as a few moments after Odom exits, the
door opens back up and a youngish woman in her thirties enters the room wearing
a navy blue skirt suit with a white blouse.
Braddock has only met two members of the Alan
family; Matthew Alan during her first year after buying his company in 2012 and
his daughter Geneva Alan last year when Geneva tried to make a go at it as a
professional wrestler in Glory’s company. She has done her best to
maintain her distance from the Alan family as she has always viewed them as a
threat to her power. Now that she has the full and unbridled support of
the Board of Directors, Glory Braddock no longer fears the Alan
Influence. She may not want to see Aurora Alan but she will face her down
today.
“Aurora Alan, I presume?” Glory
asks with an arched brow. “I have to admit that this is a surprise.”
“Cut the crap, Braddock.”
Aurora snaps angrily as she sits down at the desk across from Glory Braddock,
in the same chair Robert Odom had just been sitting in. “No need to pretend
that this is a typical business deal because I know you hate me and my family.”
“You’re lucky I didn’t let the secretary call
security on you, Aurora.”
“You knew damn well it would have backfired on
you.” Aurora says with venom dripping from her voice. “I
have every right to be here and you know it.”
“Your corrupt brother may have founded this company
but he also damn near ran it into the ground, love. I saved it, I
resurrected it, and just because some people in this office have some bloody
nostalgic feeling when the likes of your family walks in doesn’t mean you have
a right to be here. This is MY company now. This company belongs to
the Braddock family now. You and your family no longer have any
connection to it except for the connection of bad memories and they, too, will
be forgotten.”
“You honestly believe I’m here living off of my
family name?” Aurora’s angry sneer turns into a
chuckle. She shakes her head. “You’re right about a few things,
Braddock. My brother was corrupt, so was my sister. My brother is
going to pay for his crimes and I suspect my sister will too. I’m not
dumb enough to try and live off of the memories of two crooks. I am
trying to redeem my family. That’s what my business is with your company
and promotion. I am now the official agent and business manager of
Aubrianna Powers.”
Braddock is taken by surprise by this news.
She had heard rumors about this but she didn’t believe it. She knew of
Aubrianna’s family as well as Aurora’s family. The two families have a
bad history with one another. Glory did not honestly expect a deal to be
worked out but apparently she was proven wrong. The British Bombshell
goes to speak but Aurora immediately cuts her off…
“Now before you say anything, before you say
anything else, I want you to know that I am not my brother. I am trying
not to be like him. One thing my brother and I both
are...intelligent. I am smart, Braddock, and I can see right through
you. You’re not as slick as you think, because your underhanded tactics
with Meagan Collins, Joshua Hernandez, and others have not gone
unnoticed. You wanted to take advantage of the federal government
prosecuting my brother so that you could try and run me and my family into the
ground. You were afraid of me possibly taking up my brother’s mantle and
challenging your power. Not only did you fail to destroy my family but
you encouraged me to get even further involved in wrestling than I had
planned. You created your own threat, Braddock.”
A sly grin forms upon Aurora’s face. Glory cannot help but realize that
what Aurora speaks is the truth and she becomes nervous. Braddock steels
herself. She does not want to show any weakness.
“Your family has no further influence over my
company, Aurora.” Braddock points out in a matter-of-fact
tone. Aurora nods her head in agreement.
“You are correct, you have full power within this
company, a company my brother started. A company he was ousted from
because of corporate corruption and greed on his part. Yet now here you
are, you have become just as corrupt and greedy as him.”
“What the bloody hell are you talking about?!” Braddock
demands angrily. Aurora smirks knowingly.
“Since you couldn’t find any dirt on me or my
family, since you were unable to destroy my family, you decided to do the next
best thing...or worst thing, depending on your perspective...you destroyed your
own family. You had your sister committed to a mental institution.
It’s no secret that the Board of Directors did not approve of your
sister. Did you get her locked up to appease them and get them on your
side?” Aurora snickers nastily. “It’s a move so devious
that even my brother would be proud.”
Braddock has now lost her temper and she shows it
by shooting up out of her chair and shoving it away. She points angrily
at Aurora Alan. “You think you know what this is all about? You have
no bloody idea. None!” The British Bombshell points towards the door.
“Now get out!”
Aurora nods her head and stands up. “Fine, I
will leave, but before I do let me warn you about this path you are
taking. It is a path that has led the downfall of many, my brother
included. It is the path taken by tyrants, the same tyrants you claim to
oppose. Don’t you see it, Glory? You are becoming the very thing
you claim to despise about this sport, all in the name of saving it? If
you want to save wrestling by stopping a tyrant then look in the damn mirror.
Stop that tyrant before she destroys you.”
“GET OUT!” Glory
shouts even angrier and louder this time. Aurora doesn’t blink or balk at
Glory’s rage. She does, however, nod her head and finally turns around
and makes her exit. Aurora slams the door shut behind her. Once
Aurora Alan is gone Glory Braddock pulls her chair back up to her desk and sits
down. Glory spins around in the chair so that she is looking out the
window. Tears form in her eyes and begin to roll down her cheek.
Braddock sighs and shakes her head.
“What have I done...what have I become…?”
==========
Respect
==========
“I firmly believe that respect is a lot more
important, and a lot greater, than popularity.” - Julius Erving
Breakdown from San Jose was exciting, wasn’t
it? No, I’m not talking about you, Selena. Little Miss Snow Queen,
the world does not revolve around you. But I do hope you pay very close
attention to what will happen next week because you and I will dance again, we
will have our one on one encounter, it’s inevitable, that’s why I want you
paying very close attention to my matches. I want you to do your
homework. I want you ready and at your best so that when I take you down,
there will be no excuses. None.
Now yes, Breakdown was exciting, it was exciting
for me because of the SCW Television Championship Match between Jake Starr and
Regan Street. I was on the edge of my seat, watching with anxious
anticipation, because I knew I would face the winner. I knew that my
opportunity at championship gold here in SCW was coming. And Regan, I am
so very thankful that you won.
There was never any doubt, mind you. I know
how good you are because we were partners once upon a time. Trios
Tournament 2019 we, along with Kellen Jeffries, went the distance and won the
whole thing. So I knew from experience that you had the ability to defeat
Starr. And based on that experience I knew that you would defeat
Starr. Still, seeing it happen made me happy. Because you were the
opponent I wanted.
No disrespect meant to Starr...not that any
deserves respect to start with, and I would have beaten him easily had he been
the champion. But you, you are a true challenge. You are a
challenge worthy of The Best in the World. I have respect for you, Regan.
I cannot say the same about Starr. I would like to think you have respect
for me, because you know damn well how good I am...also from experience…
All respect aside, you know that I will use every
weapon in my arsenal in order to walk away with the SCW Television
Championship. You will get THE BEST out of The Best in the World, and it
is because I respect you.
See you Wednesday...and keep that championship nice
and warm for me…
==========
May 23rd, 2020
Ontario, Canada
Off Camera
==========
It is a somber mood for “The British Bombshell”
Glory Braddock. Why is it somber? After all, she is scheduled to
challenge for a championship in Supreme Championship Wrestling. Next week
she will face Regan Helms or Jake Starr for the SCW Television Championship.
This is her chance to add to her already sparkling record as a professional
wrestler and win her first piece of gold in SCW. Yet for some reason, the
self-proclaimed “Best in the World” is still reeling emotionally and mentally,
all because of a meeting she had with none other than Aurora Alan just two days
ago in Raleigh, North Carolina.
For the past several months Glory Braddock has been
engaging in some dirty, underhanded tactics, which included bribery and
blackmail, all to gain an upper hand over the Board of Directors within her
company. To cement her power and to ensure that the board would have no
further reason to challenge her claim to power, she got her sister, the woman
born Julia Braddock, committed to a mental institution. It happened
Sunday evening and by Monday morning the business was dealt with. Glory
had accomplished her goal.
It wasn’t until her meeting with Aurora Alan that
Glory would fully appreciate...or realize...the gravity of what she had truly
done. She had sacrificed her own family member for the sake of
power. Why had she done this? Is this truly what is best for
professional wrestling? At the time she put her warped and twisted plans
into motion, the answer was yes; because there were forces within the company
trying to bully her out of power. And Glory knew that they would ruin her
creation and her sport if they got their hands on the reins of power.
Glory had to keep them away and she had to do so by any means necessary.
By any means necessary meant sacrificing a family
member for the greater good. Still, for a brief moment Aurora Alan had
The British Bombshell second guessing herself. A sliver of doubt had
crept into her mind. And for the past two days Glory has been unable to
sleep as she has tried to deal with this doubt. Thus she will now
confront the doubt head on…
Soft music can be heard playing in the background
in a small cafe just within the city limits of Ontario, Canada. The
upbeat tunes come from a radio that sits upon the counter. It is a tiny,
low key cafe near a small, local church. The tiny café itself 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. 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.
Glory Braddock does not let her gaze leave, as she
spots the newcomer and immediately recognizes her to be Aphrodite Noel.
This woman whom Glory was once very close to has requested to meet with The
British Bombshell. It was Glory’s choice of location and she chose this small,
out of the way cafe in Ontario, where an SCW House Show is to be held later
today.
“Aphrodite…” Glory
waves a hand to get her attention “...over here, love.”
Aphrodite walks over to where Glory is sitting. She
pulls out a chair. Once she takes her seat, the woman who Glory once upon a
time referred to as “Mother” crosses her arms.
“I would have preferred a little more privacy but
this cafe looks nice. Hope the service is up to standard.”
Aphrodite said.
“Trust me, none of these people care about our
business. Besides, I prefer a public setting. Especially here recently.”
Aphrodite raises an eyebrow. “I am not going to
try to hurt you if that’s what you're thinking.”
“I would hope not. Though I know Julia was special
to you.”
“Is special...”
Aphrodite corrected Glory. “She always will be! Enlighten me Glory, how long
did you have this masterplan in the works? Your actions in Supreme Championship
Wrestling and MWE I don’t question. I thought I taught you better than to stab
your own family in the back.” Aphrodite scoffs.
“And trust me when I say that it was my last
resort.” Glory insists. “You know damn well how
difficult it is dealing with the board of directors. They took power from me
once and recently had been doing everything they could to stop me from running
my company. I needed full support from them and full power to act. That was the
only way to ensure their loyalty. That among other things.”
“You mean by telling Julia with a camera present
that embracing my last name is a sign of how mentally unfit she became?”
Aphrodite says with obvious pain/mixed with annoyance in her voice. She
mockingly claps. “How fitting, using the same excuse the same board used to
get you outta power; to lock my daughter away in a psych ward. The suits I
expect to be sleazy cowards. But you? I expected more, a lot more. Know what, I
shouldn’t be surprised. The minute you signed a SCW contract you discarded my
last name all together. I choose you and Julia to become a member of my family.
I always admired you. I was happier than you could ever know when you embraced
the Noel name. For you to discard it, and use my name as a weapon to send Julia
away--” Aphrodite pounds the table. “That. Hurts. Power means more than
you than family. Message sent.”
“No, it does not…”
Glory’s voice trails off. The message does sting but she maintains her
composure as best as she can. “...look, family is very important to me, much
more than power, but I need the power in order to do my work; my work for the
good of wrestling. As the owner of a wrestling promotion I have the power
to influence so much change in positive ways for this sport but what good would
being the owner do if I had no power to act? I had to do something to
ensure that the board would not get in my way. I had to do something to
ensure that they would not try to reverse course on anything I did.” Glory
shakes her head. “You act like I’m some kind of monster now but it pained me to
do what I did to Julia...she is special to me too, you know? She is my
sister. My blood. An...associate of mine…”
Glory does not mention Meagan by name. She does not
wish to get her newest pawn in this game in any more trouble. “...suggested
this course of action long ago but I did everything I could to avoid using this
strategy. And to a degree my strategy worked. The board of
directors slowly came to my side. But even after exhausting all of my
strategies it wasn’t enough. I had more support on the Board but it was
still deadlocked. The only thing left was to remove the one thing that
they questioned about me. Hell, they still questioned my sanity even
after I abandoned your name. They questioned me because of my
sister. I had no choice.” Glory shakes her head.
Aphrodite doesn’t immediately react, tempted as she
was. Taking a deep breath, she spent a moment to process everything Glory had
to tell her. Her hardened demeanor softens just a little. Not too much. Just
enough. “Fine... I believe you. But you should have come to me. We could
have found another way.”
“Perhaps…” Glory
sighs deeply as she considers her next words carefully “...and maybe I
should have at least given you a warning; unfortunately I do not believe that
there was another way. I deal with these people every day. A small
but powerful faction of the board has been in opposition to me since I became
owner and it only heightened since my family became closely associated with
you. I now have...plants within that faction...and my plants informed
that they would continue to oppose me so long as the close, outward, public
association between you and my family existed.” Glory is finding it
difficult to fight back her emotions at this point.
“I did not want to hurt you...but it was the only
way...you taught me so much. Your lessons allowed me to get as far as I
have in the corporate world. And I am forever grateful for everything you
have done.”
Aphrodite looks away from Glory. Anyone who knows
Aphrodite will tell you there are two emotions she is known for. Anger, or
passion depending on perspective. And she is normally calm despite the chaos
hovering around her. Neither anger or calm is what she is experiencing, she
doesn’t bother to fight back the sadness. As much as Glory’s words sting, the
rational side of her knows Glory’s right. Befriending Julia, initially forcing
Glory to become part of the family she wanted was the chain that began all
this. Her failed attempt to take over GCW gave the board Glory has to contend with
cause for pause. She didn’t know back then everything would come to ahead.
Today is that day. Aphrodite knows part of the reason Julia is away is because
of her.
Aphrodite sighs. She finds it in her to look at
Glory again. She resignedly says’ “I know...”
Aphrodite stands up. “Please... stand.”
The British Bombshell isn’t quite certain what will
happen next. But she does as Aphrodite asks.. “Yes?”
Aphrodite walks over to Glory. Without hesitation
she gives The British Bombshell a loving hug. She whispers in her ear. “I’m
proud of you, Gloria.”
Braddock wasn’t expecting this at all. It
kicks her emotions into another gear and it kicks her PTSD into gear as
well. “Th...thank you...mother…”
Aphrodite releases her embrace. Placing her hands
on Glory’s shoulders, she says. “I do wish we could have found another way,
Gloria... you made a tough decision, that’s what a leader does no matter the
cost, just like me. Know what I find ironic? For years, you fought for what you
thought was right. You took a stand against the tyrants of professional
wrestling. Last year you used your Trios contract to ensure Syren had a
diminished chance of walking out World Champion. Fast forward a year later.
Your alliance with Sienna and Bree in SCW. Your formation of Glorious Golden
Era in MWE. Doing what you can to solidify your power in GCW. Absolute power
corrupts... least that’s what I’ve been told. How is this any better than our
Camelot?” Aphrodite pauses to gauge Glory’s reaction. Camelot meaning the
stable Aphrodite formed to takeover GCW “Whose the tyrant now? How does it
feel to be just like your Mother.”
“I...I’m not...I’m…”
Braddock shakes her head, her words are very unconvincing, Glory doesn’t
believe them herself.
“I’ll do what has to be done. If it helps we are
rarely seen in public, I’ll honor that.” Aphrodite
kisses Glory on the cheek. “You make me proud. Never forget that. I should
probably go. Never know if there is a spy lurking in the shadows. Love you,
Gloria. Until we meet again.”
Aphrodite smirks. Without giving Glory a chance to
respond she calmly walks out the cafe.
==========
May 23rd, 2020
Ontario, Canada
Off Camera
==========
It’s a busy time backstage at the Citizens BB Arena
in Ontario, Canada. The SCW House Show has just concluded. Braddock
was in action tonight and has already changed out of her wrestling gear and
into some more normal clothes, consisting of a knee length pink skirt, matching
pink patent leather pumps, and a silky white blouse. Her long blonde hair
flows loosely and unrestrained to below her shoulders. Out in public in
front of the thousands of fans packing the Citizens BB Arena tonight she puts on
a brave face. She puts on a strong front for her friends and allies, Bree
Lancaster and Sienna Swann. In truth, the doubt that had crept into her
mind has managed to make a permanent home for itself within the psyche of The
British Bombshell. Earlier this morning Glory Braddock had met with her
longtime confidant Aphrodite Noel, the woman responsible for Julia Braddock
changing her name to Chastity Noel, the woman who is also responsible for
Glory’s current mental state and post traumatic stress syndrome. Aphrodite,
who legitimately viewed Julia as a daughter...so much so that Julia changed her
name to Noel...wanted to express her feelings about what Glory did.
Braddock expected Aphrodite would be upset.
She was completely unprepared for what she actually got. In Aphrodite’s
own words she had “raised” Glory well. The British Bombshell even
detected a sense of pride from Noel after what she had done; the kind of pride
a mother would have in her daughter. It was like a punch to the gut of
The British Bombshell. It was a true reality check unlike any
other. Her mind was no riddle with fresh doubts about herself and her
motives, and this is not a time for doubts. The self-proclaimed Best in
the World is set to challenge Regan Street for the SCW Television Championship
in one week’s time. She cannot afford any mistakes or miscalculations
against such tough opposition.
Yet her mind, the one weapon she always prided
herself as the best in her artillery, is now beginning to show cracks.
The post traumatic stress syndrome at one point was just minor but even then
she would snap on occasion when the bad memories of her and Aphrodite were
brought up. Now, after what Aurora Alan said to her in Raleigh and what
Aphrodite said to her earlier today, Braddock can feel the cracks in her mental
foundation becoming greater. She can feel her mental protections
weakening. It is but a matter of time before something bad happens,
before something or someone sets her off.
And what then? What happens when she
snaps? Will she pull herself back together again like she has always
managed to do? Even if she does, the doubts will still linger. It
isn’t just Selena Frost and other enemies casting doubts about her
morality. Now there are many more doubting and questioning her motives…
...including Glory Braddock herself. The
British Bombshell knows that she has changed but she is now beginning to ask
herself if she has truly changed for the better.
“Penny for your thoughts?”
The voice doesn’t just sound eerily familiar, Glory
Braddock knows this voice. It is her voice! And yet, something is
somewhat different. Something is off, just like everything about this
entire situation is wrong. The British Bombshell turns around and what
she sees is herself...only it isn’t. This version of herself is
younger. Ten years younger, as a matter of fact. It is Glory
Braddock but one from long ago; she is wearing torn denim jeans, plain tennis
shoes, and a purple t-shirt. A smirk is written across her face.
The British Bombshell, for her part, feels as if she is going out of her
mind. She feels her sanity slowly slipping away. She starts to pull
at her hair.
“What the bloody hell is wrong with me…” she
shakes her head “...you’re not here! You’re not here!”
“Look at me…” the
voice repeats, the imposter repeats this over and over again. The British
Bombshell shakes her head vehemently but, eventually, curiosity gets the best
of her. The blonde looks up and spots her lookalike. They lock
eyes. It’s like looking into a mirror and it makes Braddock lose her cool
even more. It’s just yet another of many signs that her psyche is slowly
starting to crumble…
“You’re not real…”
“Maybe not, mate, but you wanna know what the
bloody hell is real? You. You ARE The Best in the World. At
least you were.”
“I still am!”
Braddock exclaims angrily.
“No, you’re not. I’m the best...I’m The Best
in the World. Do you remember me now, Glory? I represent who you
were when you were at your best. And at your best you never let doubt
creep into your head. Doubt hasn’t just been creeping into your head,
it’s made a damn home in your head for a long time now, and it has been going
on a lot longer than Selena Frost...it’s gone on longer than Rise To Greatness
when you failed to capture the SCW World Championship...it’s made a home inside
your subconscious ever since Aphrodite beat you.”
“She didn’t beat me!”
Braddock shakes her head. “I beat her! I admit, at one point she had
me over a barrel, but I overcame her. Now look at where she is and where
I am today. I own my own company, I am a powerful businesswoman, and I am
The Best in the World.”
“I guess I have to provide the evidence then?
Suit yourself, love. You asked for it, though. She changed you and
not just your fashion sense. Look at what you’ve become. You are
ruthless and cutthroat. Look at what you did to your own sister and for
what purpose? To retain power in your company?”
“It is for her own well being.”
“Like you know what’s best for your sister.”
“I do, damn it! I mean, look at the bloody
tart! She runs around calling herself Chastity Noel when her birth name,
her God given name, is JULIA BRADDOCK! How can you not agree that she is
mental unstable and in need of professional help?!”
“If that was your only reason for wanting to lock
her up it would be a flimsy argument at best. But you and I both know
your real reason was because you were afraid of your company’s board of
directors. They removed you from power once because you took the name Noel...just
like your sister...and that is the ONLY reason you went back to your Braddock
roots, and that is also the reason you had your sister locked up, to prove to
the board of directors beyond the shadow of any doubts where your loyalty
lies.”
“It is my company and they had no right to take it
from me, god damn it!” Glory shouts angrily at the top of her
lungs, her face is red with rage. The imposter chuckles, which only
serves to rub salt in the fresh wound.
“And what about this whole ‘by any means necessary’
philosophy? Do you really believe that your father would have agreed with
this approach you’ve taken?”
“That was his approach! That was his
philosophy!” The British Bombshell insists. “He
said that a wrestler…”
“...is him or herself the greatest of
weapons. Use what you know wisely. Yeah, I know the phrase. I
was there because I was you. But that phrase doesn’t mean by any means
necessary. By any means necessary is Sophie O’Brian’s philosophy.
It is the philosophy of total war. Glenn Braddock’s phrase means that you
should use the wrestling skills and abilities that you learned while under his
wing against any and all opponents that you face. It means that you never
give up; it means that even if you are knocked down you pull yourself up and
try again. That philosophy made you The Best in the World. And THAT
Glory Braddock can beat anyone. THAT Glory Braddock would have won the
championship at Rise To Greatness. THAT Glory Braddock would damn sure
defeat Regan Street for the SCW Television Championship on Breakdown.”
“I can beat Regan...I will beat Regan…” there
is a sense of intense determination in Glory’s voice. Her doppleganger
nods her head.
“Maybe you will. You’re formidable even as
you are. But the best? Not hardly. You have doubts living in
your head and all of these losses you’ve eaten over the past few years...no,
not just months but years...has been because your opposition has taken
advantage of the doubts that live within your head.”
“I have no doubts! I know damn well who and
what I am! I am Glory Braddock, The Best in the World!”
“For your sake I hope you’re right. You have
quite a list of stars who want a piece of you. Next week you face Regan
for the Television Championship. And then you have Selena Frost.
And yes, you will face Selena. Sooner or later you will have to face her
one on one and you cannot afford to be anything less than the best if you want
to take her down.”
“Go away!”
braddock shakes her head vehemently. “Just go away! I refuse to argue
with a figment of my bloody imagination!”
“I’m not a figment of your imagination. I am
who you were. I am who you could still be if you just try and remember.”
“I know who the hell I am!”
Braddock screams loudly. “I am Glory Braddock! Who the bloody hell are
you to question me?!”
“Me? I am…” the
doppleganger changes into an image of Aphrodite Noel “...your mother.”
And that sets her off...it pushes her over the
edge...Glory Braddock leaps forward, clasps her around the neck, and starts
squeezing. But figments of the imagination shouldn’t have a physical form
and thus shouldn’t be able to be choked, right? Glory could care less
about logic at this point. She keeps squeezing and choking while
screaming at the top of her lungs. But then the image of Aphrodite fades
away. It is then replaced by...her daughter...Melinda Braddock.
Glory Braddock is now choking her own daughter,
Melinda Braddock. It is enough to shock The British Bombshell back to
reality. She quickly releases her grip and rolls off of Melinda.
She sits up and stares at her daughter who is trying to recompose herself after
being choked by her own mother.
“Melinda...Mel, is that...is it really you?” Braddock
has to ask. She still questions her own sanity and questions what is real
after this most recent psychotic episode that may have been triggered by her
post traumatic stress. After a few moments of staring at Melinda, hoping
she’s ok, Glory watches her daughter sit up and nod her head.
“Yeah...of course I am...but seriously, what the
hell?!”
“Why did you come in here?!” Glory
demands. Melinda is still unsure as to what happened or how to respond.
She sighs and shrugs her shoulders.
“Kurt has the car pulled around. We’re ready
to go but you were nowhere to be found. I was sent to check on you.
I heard you talking to yourself, so I opened the door only for you to tackle me
like some damn linebacker!”
The British Bombshell stares in a stunned silence
at her daughter. She could have killed her, all because her mind is
cracking up from within. Her PTSD is getting worse and worse with each
passing day and despite all of her efforts to hide it from the world, her PTSD
now has begun to affect her family. Glory sighs and shakes her head.
“I’m sorry, Mel...I just...I just need help…”
“Yeah, that’s obvious.”
The words sting but are painfully true. Braddock
stands up and then extends a hand to Melinda in order to help her up. To
her surprise, Melinda does not accept the hand. Melinda stands up on her
own. She stares suspiciously at her mother.
“I’ll be with Kurt at the car…we’ll wait on you,
mom…”
Glory watches as Melinda makes her exit. Once
she is gone Braddock drops back down to her knees, buries her face in her
hands, and starts to bawl.
==========
May 27th, 2020
Baltimore, Maryland
On Camera
==========
It is bright and sunny outside in front of the
Royal Farms Arena in Baltimore, Maryland. Fans, bystanders, and officials
are walking around in the background, some of them going in and out of the
arena, but that is unimportant to us. The only figure important to us
right now is the one about to make her entrance in a few moments. A few
moments later “The British Bombshell” Glory Braddock emerges from stage left
wearing a black knee length skirt, black sheer stockings, black patent leather
high heel pumps, and a long sleeve black sweater. Her long blonde hair
hangs unrestrained to shoulder length. Sunglasses sit on her face,
covering her eyes. A confident grin is etched across her lovely face as
she stares into the camera.
“When someone speaks of The Rumble in the Jungle
you know that they are speaking of Muhammed Ali versus George Foreman.
When someone speaks of The Fight of the Century you know that they are
referencing Joe Frazier versus Muhammed Ali. And of course, we cannot
forget the two fight series between Joe Louis and Max Schmeling that had its
own political tensions. In each fight you had two fighters, two warriors,
battling it out for the right to be known as the best. In each fight the
world waited in anxious anticipation wondering who would stand tall when the
fight was over? Unfortunately in modern day combat sports run by
corporate scum bags and crooked attorneys looking for the best dollar value, we
do not always get to see these matches any longer.”
“Today, in this building behind me, one dream match
will come true. You see, it was in February of 2019 when The British
Bombshell and The Hellcat ran roughshod through the Trios Tournament and won
the whole bloody thing.” She snickers ever so slightly. “Ok,
yes, Kellen Jeffries was there too, but let’s be honest with ourselves.
We know who won this Trios Tournament, am I right Regan?” She points a long
slender finger at the camera, as if pointing directly at Regan herself.
“You and me. We won that Trios
Tournament. We were the ones who overcame seemingly insurmountable odds,
winning three times in one night to earn the coveted Trios Contracts.
Kellen was just along for the ride. You know it, I know it, everyone
knows it. The Best in the World and The Hellcat pulled the entire weight
for that team. And ever since that Trios Tournament victory I have been
asked by fans all over the world just who would win in a fight between you and
I? I’m sure you hear the same thing. What do you think,
Regan? Who would win a fight between you and I? It is a dream match
that many thought would never happen. But now that dream is about to
become a reality.”
“Today is the day, and this is the place,”
the beautiful blonde bombshell motions to the large arena standing proudly
behind her “The Royal Farms Arena here in Baltimore, Maryland. This is
the place where The British Bombshell and The Hellcat will finally settle
things, this is where the question will be answered. This is where the
dream match will take place. And your SCW Television Championship will be
on the line.”
“I’ve said it once before and I will say it again,
I do respect you and I suspect that you feel the same way towards me. We
went to war in 2019 Trios, so how can there not be respect? But you know
exactly the kind of person I am, Regan. And I know the kind of person you
are. You willingly gave up your Trios Contract for the sake of Jennifer
Helms. Many questioned your judgment but you didn’t care. You did
it because it was the right thing to do, consequences be damned. And
that’s the kind of person I am. I know what should happen, I know what
end result should be for the sake of wrestling, and I will do whatever it takes
to get to that end game, consequences be damned. Even if it means for a
brief period of my career I’m unpopular. Even if it means the people boo
me. Do you think I really care what they think about me?” The
British Bombshell shakes her head.
“No, I don’t care. I don’t care because I
know what is best for this sport; they don’t. Fans are fickle creatures
who cheer whatever the current trendy trendy thing is at the current time and
place. I call a spade a spade and I get their boos and their jeers.
We’re a lot alike in that way, Regan. We both are unafraid of calling it
like it is. We both are unafraid of calling a spade a spade. We
will tell the truth even when the truth is unpopular. That’s why you know
that everything I have just said is right. You know that everything I
have said and done up until now in Supreme Championship Wrestling has been the
truth.”
“That’s why there’s doubt in your mind. You
woke up today knowing that this is your last day as SCW Television
Champion. You know it because I am saying it right now...I will defeat
you tonight in the Royal Farms Arena to become the new SCW Television
Champion. I only tell the truth, you know it and you know I’m telling the
truth right now when I say that tonight is my night to taste championship gold
in SCW. The truth hurts, doesn’t it? But the truth needs to be told
and the truth is that you doubt yourself.”
“It is ok to doubt yourself…”
a confident if not smug expression forms upon her lovely face “...I mean,
who wouldn’t be in doubt when they are up against The Best in the World?
I came into SCW telling everyone that I would main event Rise To Greatness for
the SCW World Championship. And I did that in my first Rise To
Greatness. I could do it a second year in a row if I so choose.
Why? Because I am Glory Braddock and I call my own shots. I call my
own shots because I am that damn good, and because I tell the truth. I
said I would main event Rise To Greatness and I did.” She smirks knowingly.
“How many times have you main evented Rise To
Greatness?” The British Bombshell shrugs her
shoulders. “None. You have never been in the main event. Now the
only way you can get in is to win Taking Hold of the Flame. I don’t need
to win Taking Hold of the Flame. I could if I had to, I could easily
overcome thirty nine other competitors and stamp my place in the main
event. But I’m not going to do that. Why? Because I don’t
have to. I’ve already been there, done that and if I want to do it again
all I have to do is whip out the golden ticket...the Trios Contract I won for a
second straight year. And that, Regan, is the truth.”
“This is why I can stand here today and tell you
that this is your final day as the SCW Television Champion. You are
facing something far greater than The British Bombshell. You are facing
something greater even than The Best in the World. Today, inside the
squared circle, you will be facing up to the truth. You cannot fight the
truth. You can run from it, you can ignore it, but all that does is delay
the inevitable. You have had one hell of a run, Regan, but the truth has
caught up with you. Now your reign as SCW Television Champion is on life
support and only has hours left to live. Tonight, it is my duty to put it
out of its misery. It is my duty to pull the plug.”
“So tonight on Breakdown, I am the Ali to your
Foreman, the Frazier to your Ali, the Joe Louis to your Schmeling...in this
dream match the truth of who I am and how great I am will cause you to doubt,
and that doubt will cause you to make mistakes. Yes, you’ll put up a hell
of a fight. I have no illusions of this being some walk in the park for
me. Tonight we’re going to war for the SCW Television Championship but I
know that I will become the new champion. I know I will defeat you,
because I am The Best in the World.”
