The Braddock Chronicles: Act 1

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Off Camera

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In jolly old England there is one name that everyone cannot help but think of when the topic of wrestling comes up; Glenn Braddock.  He was a man once known as “Britain’s Best” due to his amazing talents and skill when it came to Greco-Roman amateur wrestling.  He only lost twice during a career that spanned several years.  Unfortunately that second lost ended with a career ending back injury and cost him what most certainly would have been an appearance in the Olympic Games.

Fame never lasts forever.  People remember Glenn Braddock for what he did, sure, but no one would recognize him today.  And fewer and fewer of the new generation of British are remembering the grizzled veteran of ring wars.  Still, whether he is famous or not, Glenn Braddock continues to leave his mark upon the wrestling industry.  It may not be a direct impact through him competing in a ring, but he does make indirect impacts on the sport through the training of the next generation of professional athletes.

This is what the Glenn Braddock School of Wrestling is for; this is Glenn Braddock’s way to continue to influence the direction of wrestling.  Many athletes have come out through his school and entered into the world professional wrestling.  If you ask him who his prize pupil is he will automatically lie and tell you that he has no prize pupil.  But he is lying.  Glenn Braddock does have a favorite student…

…or maybe I should say, students?  For his favorite students are his daughters, Gloria and Julia Braddock.

Glory Braddock was the first.  Julia would later follow in her sister’s footsteps but Glory was the first and was also the one that many thought would be the heir to the Braddock Wrestling Legacy.  If her first night out after graduating her father’s school was any indication, then success would definitely be in her future.  Her debut was part of a one night single elimination tournament, a tournament which she won to become a title holder.  Corruption and politics caused her to lose the belt just a few minutes later but no one could argue with what she did that very night.

And she didn’t let that one minor disappointment at the end stop her.  In a way, Glory saw that moment as her defining moment.  She knew that she couldn’t let corruption stop her.  She continued to fight against corruption anywhere and everywhere she saw it.  Along the way she would win fourteen world championships.  And throughout that entire time,  Glory Braddock continued to have one constant in her life and career…

…her father, Glenn Braddock.

The grizzled veteran would serve as her trainer, preparing her for any and every challenge that came her way.  Glory credits her father for all of her championship accolades.  When she returned to a full time wrestling schedule early last year, she of course brought her father along as her trainer.  And now that she has signed a deal with FFW, Femme Fatale Wrestling, she is bringing her father along for the ride.

We are met by the grunts and groans of a female who is hard at work, sticking and moving as she pounds away at a heavy bag dangling from the ceiling at a workout facility. This particular facility just so happens to be the Glenn Braddock Wrestling School and it closed a little early today so that Glenn Braddock could work privately with his daughter.

The concrete floor is gray and the walls are painted an off-white color, at least the walls that still have paint on them, as most of the paint on the walls has begun to peel.There is a standard wrestling set up in the center, weights scattered all over the floor.  At one of the far ends of the room is a red heavy bag.  Glory Braddock, wearing a pair of purple sweatpants, white tennis shoes, and a white t-shirt with her long dark auburn hair pulled into a ponytail in the back, is lacing furiously into the bag with rights and lefts, and even a few kicks for good measure.

Glenn Braddock stands not too far away, carefully studying his daughter’s stance and style as she strikes at the bag.  He occasionally stops to check his watch.  He is on a strict timetable, after all.

“Alright, stop!” Glenn shouts somewhat nastily in a voice that would make most anyone run for cover.  For her part, Glory knows that deep down inside her drill sergeant of a father is a teddy bear, but even she knows better than to disobey an order from him.  Glenn knows best, especially when it comes to wrestling. The British Bombshell obeys the command and stops working over the bag.  She stands at attention as her father approaches her with a rigid frown on his face.

“You looked better that time.  Keep it up and you’ll be ready for Raven Knight.”

“I would hope so!” Glory says, grinning from ear to ear. “I would like to think I’m ready for anyone.  Not to sound like I’m bragging or anything but…”

“I get the feeling you’re about to brag.” Her father states pointedly as he interrupts his first born child.  Glory reacts with an arched brow.

“Uh, yeah, it would be bragging somewhat, but you got to admit, dad, I should be ready for anyone; and that goes for whether I’ve prepared or not.”

“Do you want my help, Gloria?”

“Of course.”

“Then quiet and listen.” Glenn snarls. “You would do well to remember my lessons, specifically about how anyone can be beaten on any given day.  Don’t start buying into the hype those bloody media types in FFW tried to shill on social media.”

“They weren’t wrong.” Glory says giggling slightly.

“Right or wrong is irrelevant, the fact is that their social media team hyping you to the bloody moon could give you a big head, it could cause you to overlook and underestimate Raven Knight, and what happens when you do that?”

“You lose.”

“Precisely, and that’s the last thing I want from you.” Glenn may be a bit of a monster when it comes to training but he is a father at heart and he shows that as he reaches out and strokes his daughter’s cheek. “You’ve put a lot of thought into this.  I know how badly you want to succeed here.  I don’t want to see you fail.”

“And I won’t fail.” Glory remarks, shaking her head. “I know damn well that underestimating an opponent is the cardinal sin of professional wrestling.  When have you ever known me to commit said sin?”

“Point taken.” Glenn answers with a nod of his head.

“See?  Everything will be fine.  If Raven wants to beat me she’ll have to outwork me.  It won’t be because I let her win.” Glory folds her arms over her chest and smirks.“But speaking of my distinguished competition, what do you know about her, dad?”

“I’ve got some film for you to watch back at my house, assuming you’ll bother to come visit.” He snarls.

“Hey now!” Glory says laughing, though still with a somewhat shocked look on her face. “I do visit you all the time!”

“Yeah, right now and only when you’re training for a match.” Glenn Braddock turns from Glory and approaches the wrestling ring set up a few feet away.  He sits on the edge of the ring apron.  Glory tilts her head to one side and frowns as she studies her father, who looks different than he used to.  Underneath that layer of tough grit is a sense of sadness.

“Dad, you ok?”

“You should visit more often, you know?” Glenn states grimly, stoically. “And not just when you’re here on business.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’re always globetrotting, Glory.  Whether you’re competing for GCW, performing your functions as General Manager of Defiance, and now competing here for FFW?  I wonder where I fit in.” Glenn looks up at his daughter. “You know I won’t be here forever.”

“Don’t talk like that.” Glory remarks as she walks over to the ring apron and hops up there, sitting down next to her father.  She wraps an arm around his shoulder and plants a kiss on his cheek. “You’re so tough that Death has refused to take you three times out of sheer respect.”

“Right,” Glenn rolls his eyes “I’m not some bloody American buffoon like Chuck Norris.”

“Chuck Norris is no buffoon!  He was once bitten by a venomous snake and after three agonizing days the snake died!”

“Harumph!  The snake wouldn’t have lasted ten minutes with me!”

“See?  Now that’s the Glenn Braddock I know!” Glory remarks with a playful shove.

“Yeah?  My point remains, Gloria.  I won’t be here with you forever.”

“I said quit that talk.” Glory’s voice is much more serious now.  She really doesn’t want to think about her father being gone. “I have a match to prepare for, so why don’t you tell me what information you have on Raven Knight?”

“Fine, let’s get to it then.”

Glenn Braddock slowly pushes himself off of the ring apron.  Glory then hops up off of the ring apron as well and stands at attention before Glenn Braddock, her famous father.  Ready to take in any advice he is ready to give.

“She’s more of a brawler than anything else.  So she’ll bring the pressure early on.”

“Yeah and I’ve been through enough brawls that I should be able to handle myself.”

“Don’t get arrogant.” Glenn remarks scolding. “Didn’t I already tell you about that?  You might be able to ‘hang’ with her but she could outdo you if you’re not careful.  Stay with what your best at, Gloria, especially because what your BEST at is one of her greatest weaknesses.”

“Oh?” Glory arches her brow out of curiosity.

“She is nowhere near the technical wrestler that you are.  You should be able to wrestle circles around her.  Stick to that, stick to what you know, don’t try and prove anything by wrestling her type of match.” Glenn taps her on her forehead. “Be smart and you should be fine.”

“No worries then, right?” Glory Braddock grins from ear to ear. “All because of you!”

“Eh, I wouldn’t say that.” Glenn answers with a chuckle. “You’re doing the legwork.  I’m just the old piece of crap shouting at you in this gym.”

“Don’t sell yourself short.  You’re the smartest man in wrestling.  I wouldn’t want to have anyone else but you in my corner.  Because you and I,” she winks at her father “we make a great team!”

“Yeah, and I suppose it is good to be back in the saddle again.”

“That’s the spirit!”

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Glenn Braddock

On Camera

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You’ve heard all the hype by now; the hype surrounding the arrival of my daughter Glory Braddock to FFW.  I don’t need to hype her any further because her record speaks for itself.  But what you don’t know is that my daughter is a bit humble, maybe even too humble for her own good.  But then again, that’s why she has me.  I’m willing to tell all of you victims…because that’s what you are, victims…the truth about what you can expect about the arrival of Glory Braddock.

Glory Braddock’s arrival means the imminent shake up for FFW as you know it.  Everything you knew and loved about FFW is over.  Your precious spot on the roster is soon to be taken.  Those at the top will soon be at the bottom, those at the bottom will be at the top.  The whole first shall be last bullshit, you know?  In other words, Glory Braddock is going to turn this entire roster upside down.

You can try to stop her but I’m here to tell you right now that you can’t.  It’s like fighting mother nature herself.  You just can’t bloody well win.  And if you don’t believe me, just see for yourself when you watch her take Raven Knight apart on Velocity.  And then after the match is over, you can all go to Raven and ask her if what that old piece of shit Glenn Braddock said was accurate.

She’ll tell you I was selling The British Bombshell a little short.  She’s all of that and then some.

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Glory Braddock

On Camera

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Forgive my overbearing father.  When he gets on his high horse you can’t shut him up and believe me, it is thoroughly embarrassing!  But you can’t blame him. What parent wouldn’t want to brag on their child and what trainer wouldn’t brag on their student?  I happen to be both when it comes to Glenn Braddock.

Rest assured,I’m not here to take anyone’s spot or to turn FFW on its head.  No, I’m just here to compete.  That’s what I was born and bred to do.  I am a wrestler’s wrestler; a woman who climbs into that ring each and every night because I absolutely love the thrill of competition.  I love testing myself against the best professional wrestling has to offer.

My drive, my very motivation, is finding new obstacles to overcome, to challenges to meet head on, and everywhere I have been I met those new challenges head on.  Everywhere I have been I found a way to overcome each and every obstacle that was placed before me until I ascended to the top of the mountain.

That is why I call myself Best in the World.

But I get it, I’m new to FFW and that means I’m not the best.  Not yet, anyway.  That’s why I’m here.  I’m here to once again climb a mountain and once again prove that I can hang with the best this business has to offer.  And my road to the top of the mountain begins on Velocity against Raven Knight.

I’m not here to try and impress you with my resume, mate.  Let the social media butterflies do that with their bloody twitter hype.  I don’t need twitter or any other form of social media to prove how good I am.  I let my actions in the ring do the talking and Raven, let me warn you right here and now, you are going to hear me speaking to you loud and clear on Velocity.

It may be my debut but what you and everyone else will quickly come to realize is that I wrestle every match as if it’s my last.  No match is taken for granted.  Every match is the biggest match of my career.  And that means each and every night I step into the ring the fans of FFW will get to see The British Bombshell performing at her very best, giving them a spectacular show that they will never ever forget.

And you, Raven, you won’t soon forget it, either; because you will be front row center for the greatest show on a wrestling canvas.  You will be front row to watch me at my very best.

They say that you only get one chance, one opportunity, to make a first impression.  You may have heard of me, you may not have heard of me, but the fact is that this is my first match in FFW.  This is my FFW debut match.  I only get one debut match, one first match, and this opportunity won’t come back again.  I only get one chance to show the FFW universe just what I’m made of.

And I intend to make the most of this opportunity, Raven; unfortunately for you.