Hatfields & McCoys: Part 1

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September 3rd, 2019

Toronto, ON

Off Camera

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The hotel lobby is classy in the most unclassy way possible. It has all the corporate taste for opulent items without the slightest touch of personality - those little out of sync items that makes decor "human."  The deep brown floor shines as well any polished glass. There are flowers, beautiful, the perfect shade of orange to compliment the woody hues and creams. On closer inspection their stamens have been pulled to prevent even the pollen disturbing the perfect sheen on the mahogany pedestal tables. The floor was tiled in fine marble, which made every step echo. A chandelier made rainbow colors dance across the luxurious lobby. Embroidered silk sofas surrounded a large, flat-screen television. The twin doors that led into the lobby were a pristine white with golden handles. The desk was made of amber-colored wood and a green granite top. Exquisite paintings hung from the rich, red walls. Even the door hinges were engraved with swirls and elegant designs. The domed ceiling rose at least 100 feet high.

Sitting comfortably on the luxurious, expensive sofas, wearing a royal purple dress with a hemline that stops just at the knee, is none other than Glory Braddock.  The British Bombshell is still disappointed from what happened at Rise To Greatness but she realizes at the same time that there wasn’t much else she could have done.  She knows that she was well on her way to victory, well on her way to what would have been her career all time fifteenth world championship, until Abigail Lindsey got involved.

Revenge isn’t necessarily the first thing on the mind of The British Bombshell.  Revenge would most certainly be justified in this case, as Abigail cost her the championship.  But at the end of the day, Glory realizes that the primary objective was achieved: Syren is no longer the SCW World Champion.  Now Braddock can focus on herself, her own career goals, and if Abigail decides to get involved again, then she will make her pay for her involvement.

“Glory!”

The voice is a familiar one and doesn’t startle her one iota.  In fact, Glory was waiting on his arrival.  She smiles pleasantly as she turns and stands up out of the sofa and approaches her oncoming father, the British wrestling legend Glenn Braddock.  In the past they were inseparable.  Glenn used to serve as Glory’s primary trainer.  Their relationship hasn’t been the best of relationships lately but she still loves her father dearly and he loves her in return.  This is illustrated quite clearly as they embrace in a tight hug.

“Glad you made it, dad!” Glory exclaims. “You had me worried for a moment.”

“Hell, I don’t know why!” The grizzled veterans nearly spits out each word. “You’ve been doing pretty damn good on your own without me around…”

His voice is like a punch to the gut of The British Bombshell.  She feels as if this was intended as a direct shot at her choosing Sophie O’Brian to run her training camp instead of him.  Rise To Greatness was the first major training camp run by someone other than Glenn Braddock and, of course, she lost.  She can’t help but think that this was no coincidence.  Braddock sighs and nods her head.

“Yeah, I know dad.  No need to rub salt in the wound.”

“What the bloody hell are you on about, Glory?” The elder Braddock asks with a confused look on his veteran features.  The British Bombshell studies her father intensely and can tell that he is genuinely confused.

“You mean, you weren’t criticizing my choice of Sophie over you to run my Rise To Greatness training camp?”

Glenn chuckles lightly and then shakes his head. “Hell no!  Sophie is a damn good wrestler and may even know a few more things about the strategy aspect of it than I do.  She may be a little more aggressive than I am but that’s it.  If anything, she probably did a better job preparing you than I would have.”

“You’re joking, dad.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, I....” Glory sighs “...lost.”

Glenn Braddock takes his daughter by the hand and gently leads her back over to the sofa.  There he motions for her to sit down.  Glory sits first followed by Glenn. Father and daughter exchange a touching moment as they stare into one another’s eyes silently for several moments before Glenn speaks.

“You know damn well that you can’t prepare for everything.  I taught you that much, didn’t I?  You went in there ready, willing, and able to take down anyone and everyone.  You could have taken down Syren and Allocco that night…”

“...but Abigail got in the way.” Glory growls.  Glenn nods his head.

“Yeah, her.  You can’t control that.  Not your fault she stuck her nose into that situation.”

“I still lost.” The British Bombshell remarks sounding somewhat despondent.

“I’m still proud of you, Glory.  Your husband is still proud of you.  Your daughter is still proud of you.”

“Melinda…” Glory muses out loud upon hearing Glenn bring up her daughter Melinda.  It wasn’t that long ago that Melinda had been showing interest in becoming a wrestler herself.  Watching one’s parent compete on a grand stage such as Rise To Greatness would no doubt prove to be inspirational and uplifting, despite the loss that she suffered that night.  And yet something about that night still bothers her…

“Have you seen Melinda today?” Glory asks curiously.

“She’s taking in the sites and sounds of Toronto is what she said.”

“Alone?” Glory asks, her eyes growing wide.  Glenn sighs and nods his head.

“Yes, alone.  She’s eighteen, Glory. You should start treating her like an adult.”

“You’re right.” Glory relents. “It’s just that, with the whole Clyde Sutter incident awhile back I’m still nervous.  You know?”

“I can understand, but still, the harder you try to hang onto her, the farther apart you two will grow.” Glenn pauses as a pained sigh escapes his mouth. “Believe me, I know.”

The eyes of The British Bombshell narrow as she glares at her father. “Yeah, you’re right.”

She points a finger at him. “You and I have grown apart.  We’ve been growing apart for quite some time and I hardly ever noticed.  It took Aphrodite Noel and her damn mind games before I noticed just how far apart you and I had grown, dad; all because you wanted to mold me into who you wanted me to be, not even bothering to find out who and what I wanted to be.”

“Glory…”

“You didn’t even care to ask if this life is what I wanted.  You just shoved this life down my throat!”

“Glory…”

“But here I am!  I am a wrestler!  I am continuing your legacy because that’s what YOU wanted!”

“GLORY!”

Glenn Braddock can really command a room when he’s angry.  In this case his commanding and intimidating voice immediately silences his enraged daughter Glory Braddock.  There is a tense silence as both wait for the other to speak. Glenn finally speaks up.

“I admit to my fair share of faults.  I admit to forcing this life down your throat when you were a teenager.  You’re an adult now.  You, like Melinda, can make your own decisions.  So tell me, is this really what you want to do for the rest of your life?”

Another tense pause and Glory finally nods her head.  Glenn continues. “Ok, but tell me this; do you enjoy it?”

“Huh?”

“No point in doing this if you don’t like it.  So tell me, do you enjoy going out there every week, getting your ass kicked, and kicking some ass?”

Glory Braddock tries to fight it but she cannot help herself. It starts as a small smile but that smile turns into a full on laugh as she nods her head.  “Yes!  Yes, I love it, dad!”

“Excellent.” He wraps an arm around his daughter’s shoulders. “Now the key is, just let Melinda decide for herself what she wants to do in life.  She is an adult now, it is time to treat her like one.  Don’t make the same parenting mistakes I made.”

“Oh come now, dad.” Glory shakes her head and then pulls her father in for a tight hug. “For all the hell I give you, you’ve done a great job.”

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September 6th, 2019

Kitchener, ON

Off Camera

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The sounds of a female grunting as well the echoes of feet against a heavy bag are heard throughout an empty gymnasium on the outskirts of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada.  The days of a wrestling parent are quite busy indeed; not only does Glory Braddock herself have to train and prepare for her own match, a tag team match pitting herself and Jordan Majors against Ravyn Taylor and Christy Matthews of Infamous, which is tough enough as it is.  Braddock also has the duty any parent would have and that is to take care of her daughter Melinda Braddock.

Winning another world championship is definitely part of Glory Braddock’s long term goals, but her top priority is being a parent.  She may not like to admit it but she still harbors resentment towards her father and what she perceives as his poor parenting choices.  Braddock is determined that she will not make the same mistakes he made as a parent.  She is determined to make this relationship with her and Melinda work out.  Yet recent months have had Melinda and Glory at odds, specifically regarding the choices Melinda has made.  She is an eighteen year old woman now, more than old enough to make decisions for herself. And yet Glory doubts the decisions she has made.  She questions her decisions and whether they are the right ones or not.  Thus Glory is finding it very difficult to let go and allow Melinda more freedom.

Yet she knows that soon she will have no choice but to have faith in her daughter.  Soon she will be unable to push her around and make the decisions for her.  Until then, all Glory can do is be there for her and offer whatever advice she can offer and hope Melinda will listen.

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 have 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.  The lovely Melinda Braddock is standing there at the heavy bag dressed in a pair of workout shorts, black tanktop, and her long hair pulled into a ponytail in the back, as she viciously attacks the heavy bag with rights, lefts, and even a kick or two thrown in for good measure.

Her mother, The British Bombshell Glory Braddock, stands a few feet away, watching intensely and judging everything from accuracy to placement and everything in between.  There was a time that Glory refused to train Melinda, out of fear that as a trainer she would morph into the kind of monster that her father, Glenn Braddock, is.  Things do change and now here Glory Braddock stands, ready to help her daughter prepare for the day when she will carry on the family tradition.

“Good, keep up the intensity…” Glory’s voice trails off as she watches her daughter “...focus.  Keep your eyes on the target at all times.”

Glory smirks knowingly as she slowly approaches Melinda.  The younger Braddock doesn’t seem to notice her mother closing in; but then again, who would?  Glory is taking measures to be very quiet and very slow about her approach.  She doesn’t want Melinda to see what is about to happen.  She doesn’t want her to see it coming.  Glory waits a few seconds and then moves; waits a few seconds, and then moves.  Eventually The British Bombshell is within striking distance.  Braddock goes for a spinning backfist, seeming to target Melinda herself!  But Melinda ducks it, snatches Glory’s arm, and flips her onto the blue wrestling mat with a hip toss.

“And never EVER forget about your surroundings!” Melinda declares triumphantly as she extends a hand to her mother.  Glory nods her head as she takes her daughter by the hand and helps herself back to her feet.

“Close.  I believe what I told you was always be aware of your blind side.  And if I am correct, that’s the first time in how many times that you actually took ME down?  Eight attempts?  Nine?”

“So what?” Melinda sticks her tongue out at her mother. “I’m getting better.”

“That’s true, I’ll grant you that, but the only way you will continue to get better is by constant training.” Glory remarks stoically. “This business is a constant marathon.  You stop running towards that prize and everyone else will immediately pass you by. That’s not even to mention the constant obstacles that will step into your path from other wrestlers who want the same thing as you to mercenaries like....”

“Like Abigail Lindsey.” Melinda offers with a hint of anger in her voice.  Her mother sighs and shakes her head.

“No, Abigail is something else entirely.”

“But if it hadn’t been for her, you would have been SCW World Champion!” Melinda protests.  Glory nods her head yet again.

“Maybe.”

“No, not a maybe...you WOULD have won!  Abi cost you the match!  Why?!”

“For Syren.  For Infamous.”

“Right, so like you said earlier...a mercenary!”

“Abi is…” Glory pauses as she tries to come up with the proper language.  Finally she just shrugs her shoulders. “...Abi is complicated.  But she is yet another example of how challenging and cutthroat this business can be.  Are you sure this is what you want to do with the rest of your life, love?”

“Absolutely!” Melinda nods her head excitedly, with great enthusiasm. “You may have lost at Rise To Greatness but I know you’re gonna keep going!  I know you’re gonna keep chasing that championship and when you finally reach the finish line, when you reach that prize, all of the grief you endured to get there will be ALL worth it!”

Glory Braddock looks into her daughter’s eyes and notices something, something she hasn’t seen in quite a long time: a love of the game.  She has seen it before in the eyes of other wrestlers; the sheer joy of wrestling in front of large crowds, the thrill of the competition.  Glory would like to think that she once had that feeling herself but the way her father drilled the importance of championships and glory (pun intended) into her head, The British Bombshell questions whether or not she had this feeling herself at all to start with.  The mere fact that Melinda does seem so enthused about her training and her future as a wrestler convinces Glory that maybe this is the right course of action after all and that maybe, just maybe, it is time to cut some of those apron strings.

“Well, Mel, that’s really the best attitude to have about all of it.  The more you can hang onto that attitude throughout the course of your wrestling career, the better off you will be.”

“Thanks, mom!” Melinda embraces her mom in a tight hug.

“You’re welcome.  And hey, since you have been doing so well in training lately and since you’ve been acting so mature lately, would you like to come to the House Show in London, Ontario with me tomorrow?”

Melinda’s face immediately brightens, seemingly answering the question right away in a loud and clear YES; but then, just as quickly as her face lit up, she seems to frown.  It’s almost as if she just remembered something...something important.  Melinda shakes her head.

“Uh, I think I’d rather not go.”

The British Bombshell tilts her head to one side and stares in a puzzled glare at her daughter.  This was the last response she was expecting from her daughter who seems hell bent on one day following in her famous mother’s footsteps.

“Are you sure, Mel?”

“Oh yeah, definitely.” Melinda nods her head quickly. “I’m sure.”

The British Bombshell stares at her daughter for several moments, not quite sure what to think at this time of what she just heard.  Her daughter has always jumped at the chance to watch her compete.  Melinda has always been obsessed with wrestling.  What has changed?  Is Melinda suddenly rethinking her career choice?

Doubtful.  Melinda was just singing its praises earlier.  More than likely, Melinda is simply growing further and further apart from her mother.  She just doesn’t want to be around her mother anymore.  And that is what frightens Glory the most.

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September 7th, 2019

London, Ontario

Off Camera

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Supreme Championship Wrestling held its house show in London, Ontario, Canada today and while Glory Braddock had every intention of being there for the duration just like she always does for every show, this evening she just couldn’t find it in her heart or in her spirit to stay.  It was all she could to put on a brave face and make her public appearance before leaving early.  Not just leaving early, but leaving as soon as her public appearance was over.  You can’t really blame her.  Glory Braddock is concerned about her daughter and it is very difficult, if not impossible, for her to focus on the task at hand when her mind is elsewhere.

The British Bombshell wishes she could cut the apron strings as her father suggested.  She wishes she could just let Melinda live her own life.  But she can’t help be a mother and worry about her oldest child.

She walks alongside her husband Kurt through the parking lot area to the entrance to their hotel, a Hilton, in London, Ontario, Canada.  Braddock seems worse for the wear and Kurt is doing his level best to help her feel better.

“Everything is going to be fine, babe.”

“I wish I could believe that.” Glory says with a half-hearted sigh.  The beautiful blonde then shakes her head. “But there’s no way you can convince me.”

“Melinda is fine.” Kurt assures her.

“You don’t know that.”

“You say that and all you have to go on is a gut feeling!” Kurt exclaims as they walk through the doors and into the lobby of the hotel.  Glory glares hateful daggers through her husband’s eyes.

“I’m a mother, Kurt!  That’s good enough for me!”

“Point taken.” Kurt says, trying to lighten up a little himself as he notices his wife growing angrier. “And I apologize if it sounds like I’m not taking your concerns seriously, but trust me.  Melinda is fine.  I even called her as soon as we got to the arena this evening.  Remember?”

“Yes…” Glory’s voice trails off.  Kurt nods his head.

“See?  She’s fine.”

“It doesn’t mean anything.”

“Glory, we could go up to our room right now and you could see her.  We could do that right now.  But tell me this; would it really make you feel any better at the end of the day?”

The British Bombshell’s angry glare slowly softens as she realizes what her husband is getting at.  Braddock shakes her head. “No, no it wouldn’t.”

“I didn’t think so.” Kurt remarks. “Now do you mind telling me exactly what is bothering you right now?”

“I’m…” Glory pauses as she tries to find the right words.  Also she is trying to find the courage to admit it to herself, not just to her husband.  Finally Braddock comes clean. “...I’m afraid of losing her.”

“I’m not sure I follow.” Kurt admits.

“Did I lose my daughter?  People warned me months ago; dad warned me again just a few days ago, they all warned me about refusing to cut the apron strings.  They warned me about the consequences of trying to hold onto Melinda too tightly, of not letting her live her life.  Lately the only time I get to socialize with my own daughter is when we’re traveling or if we’re in the gym and I’m training with her.”

Tears form in Glory’s eyes. “Kurt, she didn’t even want to go to tonight’s show. And you know how much she loves wrestling!”

“Glory,” Kurt embraces his wife in a tight hug “it’s ok.  It’ll be ok.”

“The hell it will!”

“Maybe not right now but later, if you calm down, relax, and later we can talk about this; all of us, when we’re all in a better mood.  But I can tell you that you are right about one thing, children do eventually grow up to separate from their parents.  It’s something that you cannot stop.  But do you really want to stop it?  Melinda is going to make you proud, Glory.  I just know it.  You should be proud of the woman she is growing into.”

“You think so?” Glory wipes some of the tears from her eyes.  Kurt nods his head.

“I know so.  Clyde Sutter has so much dirt on your family that he could have blackmailed you and Melinda for years to come.  But Melinda had the courage to face up to the dirt, to the scandal, and embrace the truth, all to stop that asshole from getting what he wanted.  That is your daughter, Glory.   You raised her well.”

The British Bombshell finally lets a smile creep across her face. “Yes, I guess you’re right.”

“Look, you’ve been pretty stressed out ever since Rise To Greatness.  You just need to relax and maybe the best thing for you, at least for tonight, is to relax by the pool before you go to bed.  Hmmm?”

Glory smirks. “I do like the sound of that, but how do you know that the pool is even still open this late at night?”

“I don’t.  But we can go check it out.”

With that, Glory Braddock follows her husband Kurt out of the lobby and down the hall towards the back exit that leads to the outside pool.  There is a black metallic gate that serves as the entrance to the poolside area.  Kurt pulls on it to see if it is locked but it opens right up. Kurt looks at Glory.

“It appears open to me.”

“Sure but…” Braddock pauses momentarily “...do you hear that?”

“Hear what?”

Glory pauses momentarily and waits as voices seem to come from just around the corner.  Splashing is heard.  Glory Braddock walks past Kurt and through the gate.  Braddock walks over to the pool and stares first in shock but then in anger as she finds her daughter, Melinda Braddock, by the pool.  But she isn’t alone.  A young man just a little older than her is with her.

“Mom?!” Melinda exclaims, clearly surprised to see her mother here. “I thought you were at the SCW show?”

“I was but then I left early.” Glory’s voice seems distant as she stares at the boy.

“Oh, ok.” Melinda is clearly nervous.  The younger Braddock recalls not too fondly the Clyde Sutter incident.  She wishes to avoid a repeat of that.  “Look, mom, I can explain…”

Glory Braddock’s first instinct is to verbally tear into these two.  But then she recalls the words of her father Glenn Braddock, and the words of her husband Kurt Logan, both of whom seem to be in agreement that they need to start allowing Melinda to live her life and that they cannot continue to make decisions for her.

“It’s ok, Mel…” Saying this was challenging for Glory, as she had to fight off her maternal instinct.

“Really?”

“Yes.” Braddock nods her head. “The only thing I’m upset about is you keeping secrets.  You saw what secrets did to us the last time.”

“I remember.” Melinda says quietly.

“But it’s ok, just tell me about your...friend…”

“Ok, well mom, this is Archie.” Melinda motions to the boy who cautiously approaches The British Bombshell. “I met him at one of your public appearances.  He said his family used to be real big in professional wrestling until just recently when they stopped and relocated to Toronto.”

This piece of information intrigues The British Bombshell.  Slowly she starts to feel more and more comfortable around this young man her daughter only recently met.  “You are part of a wrestling family then?”

“Yes, Mrs. Braddock.” Archie responds.  He extends his hand.  Glory accepts it.

“Nice to meet you Archie…” her voice trails off as she awaits his last name.

“...Van Stanton, Archie Van Stanton.”

“Van Stanton?” Glory’s eyes grow wide. “As in Mason Van Stanton?”

“Yes,” Archie nods his head “that’s my uncle.  My father is Henry Van Stanton.”

Glory exchanges looks, first with her daughter Melinda who rolls her eyes. Then with Kurt who seems to look on with frustration.  Finally Glory just sighs and says the only thing that she can think of…

“Bloody hell…”

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On Camera

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It is a bright and sunny day out in front of the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse in Cleveland, Ohio.  This is the host of SCW Breakdown on September 11th, 2019.  It isn’t long until the lovely sight of Glory Braddock steps into view from stage right.  She is wearing a little black dress that hugs her every curve and black high heeled patent leather pumps.  A confident grin is etched across her lovely face as she stares into the camera.

“Sic Semper Tyrannis is a phrase that has long held true throughout history.  Tyrants from all across the globe and all throughout time have all fallen at the hands of justice.  I warned Syren and her Infamous buddies that justice was coming, I warned them that Sic Semper Tyrannis would not be denied, but they were convinced that they could outsmart fate.  They thought that they could outsmart destiny.”  Braddock chuckles. “That was a nice play, ladies.  You threw your latest cannon fodder named Abigail Lindsey at me.  It tripped me up just long enough to keep me from winning the SCW World Championship.  But guess what?”

“Syren STILL lost!  Syren is no longer the SCW World Champion!  Sic Semper Tyrannis was not denied!” Braddock nods her head.

“No one can outthink or outstrategize fate, ladies.  You were going to lose the world title one way or the other at Rise To Greatness, it was just a matter of how.  And now the only thing left for you is to kick and scream like the spoiled little children you are.” Glory snaps her fingers. “Oh, and I guess there’s that little thing called revenge.”

“Is that what this is all about, ladies?  You want revenge against me for the part I played in Syren losing the SCW World Championship?  Don’t blame me.  Your girl Abigail took me out of the picture.  Or are you somehow kind of twisting this into where it’s Jordan Major’s fault?  Because you tried to lay a half-assed kind of trap for her but that didn’t work out so well, now did it?” The British Bombshell shakes her head. “No, no it didn’t.”

“Now here we are, the stage is set for a pair of you; the brains of the operation and cannon fodder number one, that being Ravyn and Christy respectfully, trying to get their own pound of flesh.  You are going to try and kill two birds with one stone and hope and pray that Jordan and I will self-destruct.  After all, me and Jordan are not like the best of friends now are we?”

A smirk forms across Jordan’s face. “But one thing that we can be, even if for one night, is united against a common foe; you two clowns.  And let’s face it, this one night only alliance between Jordan and myself, we even are united for the same reasons; first of which is survival, because we both know that Infamous wants our heads on a platter.  Second, selfish reasons; we both want to propel our own names up into the spotlight.”

“I’ve already said it once, the mission was to get the championship off of Syren.  Mission accomplished.  Now that I’ve made certain that mission was accomplished I can start focusing on my own selfish mission and that is to win my fifteenth career world championship.  And if I have to go through each and every member of Infamous to do that then I will.  If I have to choke both of you out myself then I will.”

Braddock smirks. “But I don’t think I’ll have to do it by myself.  I am confident that Jordan will have my back.  But just in case she’s having thoughts of doing something naughty, something that her ex-friend Abigail tried to do, then let me just warn her right now; you do not want me as an enemy.”

The British Bombshell shuts her eyes. “Sic Semper Tyrannis.”