The Next Generation: Part 4

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4/6/2019

House Show

Off Camera

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Braddock has always made an instant impact wherever she went.  It didn’t take long after joining FWA before she was its world champion.  She did win the MWA World Championship on her first day of wrestling for that company.  Making instant impacts and causing people’s heads to turn is nothing new for her.  She’s also not unfamiliar with playing the role of underdog.  All too often she’s been scoffed at and underestimated when facing seemingly insurmountable odds.

Yet she seemingly always overcomes those odds each and every time.  It’s how, a long time ago, she earned the moniker “Best in the World”.  She never claimed it for herself.  She wasn’t that arrogant.  But people started calling her that.

It stuck.  All because of her love of professional wrestling. Some believe that she loves wrestling above everything else, even more than her own family.  Her ex-husband, Randall Williams, has made that claim about her before and while Glory refuses to believe it herself, she does have to admit that her competitive spirit rivals anyone else’s in this business.

It’s a passion she has, a drive and motivation to be the best that was instilled in her brain from the moment of birth by her father, Glenn Braddock.  The grizzled veteran always pushed his daughter harder than any of his other students.  As an athlete, Glory Braddock picked up her competitive nature from a father whose best was never good enough for him.  He always sought out the next big challenge.  For Glory, she has proven herself as a competitor, she has proven herself as an executive, and now she is being challenged to tackle the rigors of training the next generation.

Yet with this challenge, Glory is meeting it with resistance.  Braddock does not seem to want to train the next generation of professional wrestlers.  She doesn’t even particularly want to run her father’s wrestling school but she realizes that if someone doesn’t keep it running and if someone doesn’t train the next generation, then that school will shut down.  That school, the Braddock Wrestling School, is a part of her family’s legacy and she does not want to see it die.  Thus far she’s managed to convince her old friend Sophie O’Brian to run it for her temporarily; at least until Glory can find a permanent replacement.

How long will this arrangement last?  Glory does not know.  What she does know is that her time is limited.  Her time is running out.

It’s a busy time backstage at the Centurylink Center in Bossier City, Louisiana.  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.

A knocking can be heard from just behind the dressing room door.  Braddock sighs and walks over to the door. “Coming…”

She opens the door and is damn near tackled to the ground by her eighteen year old daughter Melinda Alexis Braddock.  It takes everything The British Bombshell has to stay upright and balanced on her heels with Melinda charging her with this embrace.

“Mom!” She squeals with delight. “You were great out there!”

“I think you’re exaggerating a little bit, mate.” The elder Braddock says with a knowing smirk etched across her face.  “I didn’t even wrestle all that long.”

“Yeah but you were still great.  And you were killing it out there!  Just the fact that you ARE a wrestler is a heck of a lot more than what some peeps can say.”

Glory looks down at her oldest child, a black haired beauty named Melinda.  The teenager is wearing denim jeans, flip flops, and a “Glory Braddock” t-shirt.  Glory Braddock gave birth to Melinda when she was just sixteen years old.  Her education and her wrestling training both had to be put on hold for the duration of the pregnancy.  Glenn Braddock was furious at his daughter for being, in his words, “so careless”.  The father ran off when he heard about Glory’s pregnancy but that wasn’t the worst of it for Glory Braddock.

Disappointing her father was the worst possible punishment she could have imagined for herself.  But even the cold hearted Glenn grew to love Melinda after she was born.

Having Melinda complicated Glory’s life as she had to raise a child.  Her career could no longer be number one in her life.  But she was determined not to make the same mistakes her own father made as a parent.  She would make sure that Melinda was her top priority; wrestling would just have to take a backseat.

It’s something she wishes Glenn would have done more for her.  She wishes Glenn had been more of a father to her and less of a drill sergeant.  So many father and daughter memories that she missed out on.  Glory will not let her own child miss out on those same memories.

“That’s what I love about you, Mel.” Glory kisses her on the cheek. “As long as I have you, I know I always have at least one fan.”

“One fan?!” Melinda asks incredulously. “You DO hear the reaction out there, don’t you?  They love you, mom!”

“Ah yes, the hero worship.” The British Bombshell chuckles lightly and shakes her head. “I could do without it, to be perfectly honest with you, Mel.”

“What?!  You’re joking, right?!”

“Not at all.” Glory shakes her head. “I’m just a wrestler.  That’s my job; I wrestle.  I just want a fair shake when I do go out there.  I think that’s what any athlete wants.  It’s just that in some cases, with our sport in particular, you have to fight for that fairness.  You know what I mean?”

“Yeah, I do.  But still, it’s gotta feel good to have people cheering for you  like that.”

“It does.” Glory admits with a nod of her head.

“That’s what I want…” The teenager’s voice trails off.  Glory can tell by the far away look in her eye what’s on her mind.  Immediately The British Bombshell gets an idea in her head…

“You want to go out to the ring?”

“Huh?” Melinda is startled by this proposition and looks over at her mother incredulously. “You mean like, right now?”

“Yes, right now.”

“Is that allowed?”

“Don’t be daff, mate.” Glory snickers. “Of course it’s allowed.  The show just wrapped up; I doubt the ring crew has even begun taking the bloody thing apart.  It’s the perfect opportunity.”

“Well in that case…” Melinda smirks and nods her head enthusiastically “...yes!  Let’s do it!”

“That’s the spirit!” Glory exclaims as she takes the lead, marching out of the dressing room and leading Melinda down through the backstage area and towards the entrance ramp.

The British Bombshell is thrilled that she and her daughter can do this together.  This is just the kind of memory she wants to share with Melinda while Melinda is still young enough for the two of them to enjoy these memories.  Still, as excited as Melinda appears to be...and she definitely appears to be very excited about this...Glory cannot help but ask herself if this is the right kind of activity for her daughter.

Glory thinks back to her own childhood.  She never got to enjoy a normal childhood because her father was pushing her so hard to be the perfect professional wrestler.  Glory’s fear is that Melinda could fall into that same trap.

Perhaps it is too late to worry about that right now; they push their way past the curtain and begin to make their way down the ramp.  Few fans are still here now but that doesn’t stop Melinda from pretending to be a wrestler herself, running from side to side on the stage and posing for an invisible audience.  Even Glory herself gets a good laugh as she watches her daughter soak up the fun before bolting down the ramp and sliding into the ring from underneath the bottom rope.

“Hey!  Wait on me, Mel!” Glory shouts as she begins to walk down the ramp towards the ring.

The elder Braddock watches her daughter go to each of the four corners, climb up, and pose.  Glory is glad that Melinda seems to enjoy it.  She never really got to enjoy her professional debut.  Her father, the illustrious Glenn Braddock, had made it seem like an obligation to become a wrestler.  It was her duty, in a way, more than a dream of hers to follow in his footsteps.

Braddock ascends the steps and then steps onto the ring apron where she steps into the ring, joining her daughter Melinda.  By this time Melinda has finished her posing and meets her mother in the center of the ring.  The smile on the young Braddock’s face will have to be surgically removed.

“This is awesome!”

“I guess it could be rather neat.” Glory remarks, downplaying the experience. “Especially if you’ve never experienced it before.”

“But the crowd reaction, the rush you feel, it must be absolutely amazing!”

“Oh it is, but there are downsides.” Glory cautions. “Let’s just say that I am glad SCW has banned the pile driver.  That move hurts like hell.”

“So that just means you got to be the one delivering the punishment!  Not the other way around!” Melinda says rather nonchalantly; so nonchalantly that it even concerns Glory to a degree.

“These moves are nothing to sneeze at, love.” Glory warns. “My own submission finish, Shekinah Glory, it can cripple someone or kill them if I’m not careful.”

Glory Braddock takes Melinda by her hand. “A wrestler is, him or herself, the deadliest of weapons.  Remember that.”

“Yeah, grandpa says that.” Melinda says, rolling her eyes.

“Your grandpa is right about that.  This is a dangerous sport and you shouldn’t take it lightly.”

“I know that, mom, but come on, you got to admit, I was BORN for this!” Melinda exclaims. “Grandpa was an amateur legend, you are a fourteen time world champion, and me....”

Melinda’s voice trails off; she doesn’t finish her thought.  Glory Braddock tilts her head to one side and frowns. “What about you, Mel?”

“Well, I…” Melinda grins knowingly “...I think I’d like to do this.”

“Do what?”

“This!” Melinda exclaims. “I want to be a professional wrestler, just like my grandpa...just like my mom…”

“No, you don’t.” Glory insists, shaking her head.

“Of course I do!  This is what I was born to do, mom!”

“You were not born to get your ass kicked for a living.  That’s nonsense.  You can have a much more fulfilled and much safer life outside of this wrestling ring, Mel.  Trust me on that one.”

“I hear you, mom, but I don’t think you’re hearing me.  I am going to be a wrestler and I’d…” she pauses momentarily to consider her next words “...I’d like for you to be my trainer.”

“Seriously?” Glory chuckles.

“Seriously.” Melinda answers.

“You got guts, I’ll give you that much, Mel.” Braddock states. “You heard me say NO and yet you still asked.”

“I understand that you’re worried about me.”

Glory sighs and bows her head. “Until you have a kiddo of your own, love, you won’t truly understand.”

“I get that you’re worried about my well being.  What better way to make sure I’m trained properly than to train me yourself?”

“Sorry, Mel, but I refuse to train you.”

There is a tense pause between mother and daughter.  Finally it’s Melinda who breaks the ice.

“Sorry to hear that, mom.  But I will be a professional wrestler, even if it means going to someone else.  Amy Chastaine has a wrestling school…”

“Nice try, but you’re still living under my roof and as long as you live under my roof you live under my rules.”

“You can’t mean…” Melinda’s jaw drops.  Glory nods her head.

“I mean it.  I forbid you from training.”

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4/8/2019

Miami, Florida

Off Camera

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Melinda Braddock had been quite bold in asking her mother if she could become a professional wrestler.  Actually, it wasn’t quite boldness as much as it was Melinda telling Glory what she wanted to do and expecting Glory to be on board with it.  Surely Glory Braddock, a second generation wrestler in her own right, would be supportive of her daughter carrying on the family tradition of in-ring grappling?

Not as much as you might think.  Glory Braddock, without even thinking, rejected the proposal in its entirety.  There was no way she would allow her daughter to continue on in the family tradition.

Why not?  To understand why you would have to understand Glory.  You would have to know her full back story.  It’s a story that very few outside of herself and her husband know.  It’s a story of a young girl who was not allowed to be a normal young girl because of the pressure put on her by her father.

Melinda doesn’t understand; all she knows is that her mother dashed her hopes and dreams.  The entire trip back to Miami was practically silent between mother and daughter.  Glory hated it but she believes that it is for her daughter’s own good.  Melinda can just get over it and get over herself.

Glory Braddock currently finds herself standing in front of a full length mirror.  The British Bombshell is attired in a long sleeve black dress with a hemline that stops just at the knee.  Her feet are encased in black high heeled pumps.  Her long blonde hair is pulled up in the back.  She smiles proudly as she likes what she sees reflecting back at her.

“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” Glory is startled ever so slightly but lets out a sigh of relief as she turns to see her husband Kurt Logan entering the room. Glory and Kurt embrace in a tight hug and then kiss passionately on the lips.

“You look gorgeous.” Kurt compliments her after breaking the embrace.

“You don’t look too shabby yourself, love.” Kurt, for his part, is wearing black pants, black shoes, and a plain white button up shirt.

“Well when the love of my life told me I needed to dress nice for the occasion, I dressed REAL nice.”

“The love of your life is a lucky woman.” Glory says jokingly with a bit of a laugh in her voice.

“No, I’m the lucky one.” Kurt leans in and kisses her on the lips again. “I get to take a gorgeous woman out dancing.”

“Yeah, about that.” Glory remarks. “This place better be worth it, love.  You know I’d just assume stay in with dad and Dawn.”

Dawn Logan is Glory and Kurt’s daughter, Melinda’s half-sister.

“Your dad would just assume stay in with Dawn.” Kurt points out. “That gives us the opportunity to go out and enjoy ourselves.  You know we don’t get nearly as much time to do that as we used to since you started wrestling for SCW.”

“I know.” Glory nods her head. “The curse of being a pro-wrestler, I guess.”

If there ever was such a thing as true love, this would be it.  Glory and Kurt slowly float towards one another and then their lips meet in yet another passionate kiss.  Upon breaking the kiss they stare lovingly into one another’s eyes.

“I suppose one night out just for the two of us couldn’t hurt.” Glory remarks.

“Of course it couldn’t hurt.  I mean, just because we’re adults doesn’t mean we can’t live life to the fullest.  Just look at Melinda.  She’s out enjoying herself with friends.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Glory nods her head slowly. “I just hope she can still enjoy herself, considering how I dashed her dreams of becoming a wrestler.”

“Melinda is a tough girl, Glory.  I know she can handle it.” Kurt frowns. “Though I still have to ask, why did you forbid her from training with ANYONE ever?”

“It’s complicated.”

Glory slowly walks over to the king size bed and sits down on the edge.  Her husband, Kurt, follows her and sits down next to her.  He wraps a loving arm around her shoulder.

“I’m a good listener, you know?”

The British Bombshell gazes into her husband’s loving eyes.  She sighs and shakes her head. “Kurt, it’s just that…”

“It’s ok.” Kurt rubs her back gently, comfortingly. “You don’t have to say if you don’t want to.”

“I just…”

“What is it?”

“...I just don’t want to become my father.”

“Your father?  Glenn?”

Glory nods her head. “I love him.  He’s the best father a girl could ask for….”

Kurt takes note of the silence in his wife’s voice. “I sense a ‘but’ coming on.”

“You’re right.” Braddock nods her head. “He is a great dad, but not in your typical way.  He was a good man, he protected me, but he didn’t seem to care about being a father.  He wanted to raise an heir, he didn’t want to raise a daughter.  He didn’t want daddy’s princess or daddy’s little girl, he wanted the heir to his wrestling throne.”

“I see.  Knowing your dad, he was probably rather pushy about it.”

“That’s an understatement if I ever heard one.” Glory remarks.  “I don’t want to become that person.  And I look at Melinda and I see her following down the same path I went down.  And if she follows my lead, if she follows my path, I could see me becoming the same kind of parent my own father was.”

“Well, Glory…” Kurt starts to chime in but he is cut off with the chorus line of Margaritaville.  Glory smirks as she immediately recognizes the ring tone.

“Melinda?”

“Speak of the devil.” Kurt reaches into his pocket and produces a small phone.  Sure enough the caller ID on the screen reads “Melinda Braddock”.  Kurt presses a button and puts the phone to his ear.

“Hey, Mel…” Kurt listens for a moment but almost immediately his brow furrows into a look of confusion “...Mandy?!”

“Who the bloody hell is Mandy?” Glory asks quizzically.

“It’s her friend.” Kurt whispers to Glory.  “Yes, I’m still here, Mandy...now slow down and tell me what’s wrong, why are you calling on my daughter’s phone?”

Kurt continues to listen and nod his head every so often.  Glory Braddock begins to grow more and more nervous, wondering just what is going on.  Finally Kurt speaks up again…

“Thank you for calling...no, no, you did the RIGHT thing...just stay there with her until one of us comes by to get her...thank you again…”

Kurt hangs up his phone and turns to look at Glory, sighing exacerbated. “It’s Melinda.  Something went wrong.”

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4/8/2019

A Few Hours Later

Off Camera

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It was dark outside and yet the night was still young in Miami, Florida.  Melinda Braddock was used to her mother allowing her a lot more leniency than most teenagers receive but that was due in large part to her being a very responsible young lady.  Glory could count on her child to act and behave properly.  Glory didn’t have to keep tabs on Melinda.  She expected her to behave and thus Melinda got more privileges than most.

Glory Braddock rushed out of the house as soon as she heard her husband Kurt tell her that Melinda had gotten drunk on tequila shots.  Kurt insisted that he come to but Glory wouldn’t let him.  She wanted to do this on her own.  She wanted a face to face, one on one, with her oldest child.  She had to know what drove her to making such a dumb mistake.

The entire way to the club, Glory kept telling herself that this must be a big misunderstanding.  She kept telling herself that she would find Melinda safe and sound and, most importantly, sober.  But when Braddock walked into the club she found her daughter, Melinda, was propping up the bar, breathing in smoky air.  Her head had a way of lolling when she was close to complete inebriation.  The bartender was smart enough to spot the signs.  Melinda raised her hand with less coordination than a concussed troll and slurred more than spoke, “Moooooorrreee….”

The British Bombshell sighs as she walks over to her daughter, just in time to catch her as she tries to walk but stumbles in utter failure.  “Oh, Mel, what the hell…”

“Thank God you’re here, Ms. Braddock.” Comes another voice. Glory turns her head to see a young teen about Melinda’s age approaching.  It’s Mandy.  Mandy gets on the other side of Melinda and helps Glory to hold her up.

“So tell me, whose idea was it to go out for tequila shots instead of something safe like a movie or dancing?”

“Uh…” Mandy looks at Melinda and then back up at Glory “....mine.”

“Don’t covvvv….”

“What’s that, Mel?” Glory asks.

“Don’t listen to her, Ms. Braddock.” Mandy insists. “She’s clearly wasted.  It was all me.”

“Don’t cover…” Melinda shakes her head “...don’t cover for me...my idea…”

“Is this true?” Glory turns and glares at Mandy.  Mandy sighs and nods her head.

“Yes…”

“Ok.” Glory shakes her head. “Look, just help me get her back to my car.  I’ll deal with Melinda there.”

“Go easy on her, Ms. Braddock!” Mandy pleads.

“I make no promises.”

Glory and Mandy each have an arm as they lead Melinda slowly across the floor and eventually to the door.  Carefully they help her over the threshold and back outside into the air.  The British Bombshell parked as close to the front as she could, so it doesn’t take long for them to reach her vehicle.  The front passenger side is opened and they gently set her down inside before shutting the door.  Braddock props her hands up on her hips and shakes her head.

“This is bloody ridiculous.  How could I let that happen to my daughter?”

“Uh, Ms. Braddock…”

“What is it, Mandy?”

“It isn’t your fault.”

Glory forces a smile on her face. “Thanks, Mandy.  But this may be a bit out of your wheelhouse, mate.”

“I know.”

“Do you have a ride home?”

“I do.”

“Ok.  Thanks again for the call.  Kurt and I appreciate it.”

Glory Braddock turns and, without looking back, walks to the driver’s side and gets into the car.  Immediately she starts the car and drives off.  The look on the gorgeous beauty’s face tells the story of a mother who is furious with her daughter.

“I’m disappointed in you, Mel.”

“Not my fault.” She slurs in response.

“You really are batting a thousand, mate.” Glory responds with sarcasm. “First you get wasted and now you refuse to take responsibility for your actions.”

“Not my fault.” Melinda repeats.

“Well, if it isn’t your fault then whose fault is it?”

“Yours.”

“What?!” Glory exclaims, briefly turning her attention away from the road. “How the bloody hell do you figure that?!”

“You’re holding me back!” Melinda shouts. “You won’t let me grow up and pursue my dreams!”

“Is that what this is about?  You’re acting out because I won’t let you wrestle?  If that’s the case then you really are reaching for an excuse and it isn’t going to work.”

“You need to...you need to…”

“What?!  Tell me, Melinda Alexis, what is it that I need to do?”

“....LOOK OUT!”

Suddenly her car slams into the side of a pickup truck.  The truck ran the red light so he’s at fault but it doesn’t help matters that Glory wasn’t paying any attention.

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On Camera

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I’m just here for one reason and one reason only; and that is to wrestle.  Actually, scratch that, I’m here to compete against the absolute best competition in this business today and you can find that kind of high level of competition in one place…

...Supreme Championship Wrestling.

Competing against the best, testing myself against top of the line athletes, it’s what I do.  It’s what I was born to do.  Over time I earned the nickname Best in the World.  I wasn’t like some arrogant, condescending pissant who decided to just one day call  herself that.  I don’t prance around like Syren and call myself the best wrestler in the world and then refuse to show up to work and defend that crown.

Again and again I would fight the best and I would beat the best.  It came to a point where my peers named me the best wrestler in the world.  And I showed up to work, again and again, and I continued to fight the highest level of competition that anyone could place in front of me.  I didn’t want to rest on my laurels.  I wanted to prove that I was still the best.

That’s why I’m here in Supreme Championship Wrestling.  I am here looking for a new challenge. I am here to wrestle against the best athletes Sasha can find to put up against me, because I do not want there to be any arguments or any disputes about The British Bombshell still being among the absolute best wrestlers in the world.

Yeah, that’s all I’m here to do.  I’m here to wrestle.  I try to mind my own business.  Now maybe I should’ve stayed out of Konrad’s business.  I am the first to admit that sometimes I get a little too ahead of myself when I want to help people.  It is clear to me and everyone else watching that you’re having some difficulty controlling this Black Ice persona of yours.

For starters, I’ve dealt with people who have dark sides before.  If you or anyone else thinks I should be afraid of Black Ice then I’m sorry to disappoint you but I’m not.  My cousin is Angelica Jones and her dark side is known as The Dragon.  I’ve battled The Dragon to a standstill on more than one occasion, mate.  And Black Ice is a child compared to The Dragon.

Fighting darkness and fighting monsters is something I am oh so familiar with.  Three matches in a row against Andreas Lasiewicz and his darkside persona known as The Morning Star.  A brutal throw down with Steve Pinex’s darkside persona known as The Ebony Destroyer.

I’m sorry, don’t know those random name drops, mate?  Try these.

Brittany Lohan.

Sophie O’Brian.

Dante the Dark Assassin.

All of these individuals I fought.  I danced with their devils and I won.  Now don’t get me wrong, Konrad.  I respect what you are capable of, both when you’re normal and when you revert to Black Ice.  But am I afraid of Black Ice?

Not on your life, mate.

I got involved only because I thought you needed help.  You lost control.  Just like my cousin Angelica can lose control at times.  But she has someone to look after her; James Evans.  And when he loses control, he has Angelica to look after him.  But you?  Who do you have to look after you if you lose control and unleash Black Ice?

Now I’m not saying I’m gonna follow you around like a bloody nurse.  All I wanted to know was if you were doing ok.  That’s all.  But if it’s a fight you want then it’s a fight you’ll get.  And if Black Ice wants to really get up close and personal with The British Bombshell then I will gladly show Black Ice just why so many have called me The Best in the World.

Some of those devils I fought, some of those demons I took on, I made some of them tap out like little children.

Maybe that’s it?  Maybe that’s all Black Ice really needs, isn’t it Konrad?  Your Black Ice persona just needs a little bit of humbling.

So let me tell you how this is going to work out, Konrad.  You and I, we’re going to have our match at Tabula Rasa.  And if I’m just facing The Iceman that me and the SCW fans know and love, then you and I are going to have one hell of a match. I know it.  You have a lot of talent, Konrad.  Your SCW Television Title reign is evidence of it.  The fact that you’re even on this roster is evidence of it because Supreme Championship Wrestling is the elite of the elite.  They don’t sign slackers.

You’re good, Konrad.  You’re real good.  So I know you and I could have a hell of a match at Tabula Rasa.

But if you bring Black Ice to this dance, then I know exactly what I must do.  It’s what I have to do for your own good and for the good of everyone else in SCW.  I’m going to humble Black Ice.  I’m going to lock him in my triangle choke and make him tap out.

Then again, maybe you’ll get choked out?  Tap out or get choked out, mate.  It’s your choice.  Either way I win.  But this tyranny of Black Ice has gone on long enough.  And you know what they say about tyrants?

Sic Semper Tyrannis…

...thus always to tyrants.