Testing the next generation

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January 4th, 2020

Raleigh, North Carolina

Off Camera

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Even before her debut as a professional wrestler in 2008, Glory Braddock knew what she wanted to do; make a positive impact for the sport of wrestling.  Her family, beginning with Glenn Braddock himself, the patriarch of the family, has always worked hard to improve the sport and Glory knew that she would one day be responsible for continuing his legacy and mission.  Now that her father has passed on, the entire mission of the Braddock family has fallen upon her shoulders.  The Braddock family knows what is best for the sport of wrestling and she will do whatever it takes to make a positive difference in the sport.  The only difference now is that The British Bombshell realizes that it will take more than just a successful in ring career to make the positive impact that she believes is necessary.

It is this motivation that drives her to now operate a wrestling promotion of her own, a promotion that not only hosts events but also trains the future generations of professional wrestlers.  All of this is under the umbrella of her company; a company she will use to help shape the wrestling world in a positive way.

Corporate dealings never used to be her strong suit and perhaps this is why her corporate successes used to be little to none.  Braddock looks to change that and she began at the end of the year 2019 when she merged her family wrestling school with her wrestling promotion, this way to allow her to more easily manage her corporate dealings.  Instead of being an active wrestler and running two separate companies, she only has one company to deal with.  Still, it is only a beginning and she knows that there is much yet to do if she is to accomplish her goals.

The British Bombshell finds herself in her corporate offices at Raleigh, North Carolina.  Honestly, Glory Braddock would rather not be here right now.  She would prefer to take care of business at her Miami residence, or even her birthplace of London, England where she still maintains a presence.  Quite frankly, Braddock does not particularly care for the state of North Carolina but her company originated here.  It was founded here.  Eventually she could very well get the headquarters moved to either Miami or London but that is impossible right now.  Glory already is unpopular with the Board of Directors and any attempt to move the headquarters of her company would make her even more unpopular.  Thus she needs to maintain a presence here in North Carolina whether she wants to or not.

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.

She is sitting in her office, behind her desk, that is right by a large window that overlooks the Raleigh skyline.  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.  The look of disdain on her lovely face illustrates just how much she hates having to take time to be here right now.  Still, it must be done for there are several meetings she has scheduled for today.  It is a sacrifice that she is making for the best of wrestling.

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.”

A smile crosses her face for the first time since she arrived in her Raleigh offices.  While she has met with wrestlers and managers, agents and fellow business men and women, none of them are who she really wanted to speak with.  This is the meeting she has been waiting for, a meeting with the head of her army of attorneys, Robert Odom.  He is the one who helped orchestrate the deal that allowed for the merger of the Braddock Wrestling School and Global Championship Wrestling.

“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.

“I’m not entirely sure how ‘good’ this afternoon is, Robert, but if you say it is then so be it.”

“Having a bad day?” Odom asks curiously.  In the past Glory would have gladly complained to Odom but she realizes it would do no good so she just shakes her head.

“Oh it’s nothing, Bob; nothing you can do anything about, that is.”

“Ms. Braddock...or may I call you Gloria?” A warm friendly smile forms upon his face. “We have been associated with one another since February of last year.  I hope you feel comfortable enough to tell about any problems you may be having.  I can be a good friend and a good listener just as good as I am an attorney.”

“It’s nothing, Bob.  It’s just…” The British Bombshell sighs as a sense of frustration overwhelms her “...it’s nothing.  Let’s just get on with the business at hand, shall we?”

“Very well.” Odom remarks with a nod of his head.  “I am happy to report that as of the new year 2020 The Glenn Braddock Wrestling School has become a part of Global Championship Wrestling.  That should make all of your business dealings easier for you to manage.”

“It definitely will and I thank you again for working hard to get this part of the job accomplished.  Our work is not over, though and that is why I wanted to meet with you today.”

“You have something else for me to do?” The attorney asks curiously.  Glory nods her head in confirmation of what he just asked.

“Yes, the first should be fairly simple.  Now that my father’s wrestling school is under the Global Championship Wrestling umbrella, we probably should rename the company.  GCW is not the only entity any longer so it makes no sense for the company to continue under that name.”

“A legal name change shouldn’t be too difficult.”

“I didn’t think so.  I even brainstormed a few ideas; Global Wrestling Incorporated, Global Wrestling Enterprise, or I could be a little egotistical and call it Braddock Enterprise.  Which do you prefer, Robert?”

The attorney shrugs his shoulders. “Any of the three would be fine and as I said a legal name change should not be too difficult but before we proceed with that or any other potential changes to the makeup of the company, there is something you should be made aware of.”

Up until this point Glory Braddock had been rather happy, pleased with the proceedings of this meeting.  Her and attorney Bob Odom had been talking about what she had thought was a successful business move.  The way Odom is speaking now has her concerned and it shows with the worried look upon her face.  What problem could possibly have arisen now?

“What is it Bob?  What is wrong?  You assured me that all of our bases had been covered.  I even got my sister in on this because she was the only one who had a legal basis to challenge the merger.  What has gone wrong?”

“Calm down, Glory, nothing has gone wrong.  And the merger is still legal, there is no changing that without all parties involved agreeing to change it.  You got what you wanted, but you do have a potentially interested third party who is about to return to the playing field.”

“Who?” The British Bombshell demands, angrily.  A lot of her anger is out of frustration; who could she have possibly overlooked?

“Something is about to happen, Gloria, something that could...while highly unlikely...have a ripple effect upon you and your company; federal authorities are going to arrest Matthew Alan.”

Braddock stifles back laughter.  Matthew Alan is the original founder of Global Championship Wrestling, the company that she now owns.  He lost this company due to corruption, bad business dealings, and greed.  To be honest, she is surprised that Alan hasn’t been arrested already.  Everyone in the company knew how corrupt he was, he was just good at hiding it.  While it is true that he has tried on many occasions to stage a hostile takeover of the company, Glory also recognizes that any plans he may have to do so again stand little to no chance of succeeding.  In order for such a hostile takeover to succeed in the corporate world one must have at least some support and, from what Glory understands, Matthew Alan no longer has any support.  He is quite unpopular and perhaps this is why finally the federal government is cracking down on him and arresting him?  Whatever the reason, Glory is certain that he no longer poses a threat to her power.

“Well that sounds like a good thing to me, Bob.”

“You do remember that he founded this company…” Odom’s voice trails off.  Glory sighs and nods her head.

“Yes, I know this, but he no longer poses a threat.  He has to have some sort of popular support if he were to try anything and he wasted all of his popular support prior to my debut in 2008.  Even if he did have anyone crazy enough to back him up, why would they?  Why would they support someone with federal charges pending?  What is he being charged with, by the way?”

“Embezzlement and tax fraud primarily, along with several other white collar crimes.”

Glory can no longer stifle her laughter.  A few chuckles escape her lips. “I cannot say that I am surprised.  This company was the primary source of his wealth and yet despite losing all of his stake in the company he still lived in the lap of luxury.  It made no sense unless he was getting the money illegally.  Like I said, good riddance.”

Her attorney stares at The British Bombshell dumbfounded at how Glory is taking this news.  He sighs as he decides to try another tactic. “Gloria, while you may be correct in assuming that Matthew Alan specifically is no longer a threat to your power, that does not mean that his family does not pose a threat.”

“What do you mean?” Braddock asks now that her curiosity is peaked.

“Matthew still has family.  His daughter is a former GCW World Tag Team Champion; remember her?”

“Geneva Alan, yes.  But…”

“Also there is Matthew’s sister,” Odom speaks up, interrupting Glory’s thought process “Aurora Alan.  Aurora is the one now legally in charge of Matthew’s affairs and she does pose a potential threat.”

“How?” Glory asks incredulously. “She is inexperienced.  She has never been involved in wrestling, the competitive aspect or the corporate aspect, so how would she challenge me even if she wanted to?”

“Perhaps, but she is still an Alan.  Her family started this company, not you, and the Board of Directors know this.  Do you see where I am going?”

It takes a few moments but it does finally sink in.  The Board of Directors do not like Glory Braddock; most of them don’t anyway.  If enough of them see Aurora Alan as the natural heir to this company, then she could have the popular support that her brother does not currently have to stage a hostile takeover.  The nervousness returns to Glory’s features as she nods her head, indicating that she now fully understands the situation that she is facing.

“I understand, Bob.  Is there anything that can be done about this?”

“Honestly I believe that your only hope is to pray that Aurora Alan is not the same kind of person that her brother is, because if she decides to stage any kind of hostile takeover then she could force you to spend a lot of money in legal battle or, in a worst case scenario…”

“Do not say it!” Glory exclaims loudly.  Robert Odom is immediately silent.  Braddock sighs. “Apologies, Bob, just...just go...I need time to think.  I will contact you when I come up with something.”

“Of course.”

Odom stands up and extends his hand. “I apologize for ruining your day, Ms. Braddock.” 

Glory does not accept the handshake.  She just waves him off.  Odom sighs as he turns and makes his exit, shutting the office door behind him.  The British Bombshell has worked long and hard to regain control of this company last year from arch rival Henry Van Stanton and now, to lose it this year to a member of the Alan family would be absolutely terrible and potentially the end of her attempt to shape professional wrestling in a positive manner.  The legal aspect of this she typically leaves up to Robert Odom, but what little legal knowledge she does have tells her that the Alan family does not have a case to be made.  Glory is the owner of the company.  They have no stake in this whatsoever.  Still, she knows that with enough popular support anything is possible.  And right now the Board is divided on Glory Braddock but what about Aurora Alan?  That is something she will need to find out.

Still, there is another option that The British Bombshell could utilize.  If she only knew someone who had the dirt on the Alan family then she could erase any threat that the remaining Alan family members pose to her power.  The question is who would know anything about them and also does the ends truly justify the means?  As she continues to think on this a smirk forms upon her lovely face.  Glory calls her secretary by pressing a button on her desk phone.

“Yes, Ms. Braddock?” The secretary’s voice comes ringing through.

“Please call Meagan Collins.  I want to arrange for a meeting with her in Miami.”

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January 11th, 2020

Palm Beach County, Florida

Off Camera

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The house is one of those ones rich people buy when they get paranoid about having too much money. Then again , this is Meagan Collins we’re talking about; she probably does have too much money.  It's like a fortress, tall gates with more security gadgets than a military compound. Perhaps behind those yellow bricks they feel safe from harm, but Glory can't help think that Meagan has only built herself beautiful prison.

Glory Braddock has had very little personal interaction with Meagan Collins. Meagan is a former wrestler who battled Glory once or twice before in the old Global Division of Wrestling. Meagan would become a manager and help run the careers of several wrestlers in Glory’s company, GCW.  Outside of that, there have really been no interaction between the two. But still, Meagan’s reputation precedes her. The British Bombshell has heard many rumors of some dirty business dealings and backstabbings perpetrated by Meagan.

If anyone is a worse person than Matthew Alan, perhaps it is Meagan Collins. And interesting enough, Meagan has done business with Matthew Alan’s family. Recently Meagan was the business manager and agent for Matthew’s daughter, Geneva Alan. Perhaps Glory can convince Meagan to roll over on the Alan family?

It is worth a try. And this is what brings her to Meagan’s front door on this day in Palm Beach County, Florida. There is a simple intercom system attached to the black iron gate. Braddock reaches down and pushes the call button. “Glory Braddock. I’m here to see Meagan Collins.”

“Yay! You’re finally here! Come on around back! I’m waiting!”

Glory arches her brow. She was surprised to get an answer so quickly, but more surprised that she heard directly from Meagan herself and not one of her servants. The British Bombshell puts her game face on for what will be her first real meeting with a dangerous woman like Meagan Collins.

As she makes her way around this long compound Glory laughs about the irony of this situation and what it says about herself.  Meeting people like Meagan normally isn’t something Glory would do. They have two completely different set of values and principles. Glory believes in doing what is best for wrestling while Meagan only does what is best for herself. 

Glory reaches the patio.  The patio has born so many summers, echoed our laughter and supported the children's running feet. Her appearance is of an old rock, so much lichen has grown, dappling her regardless of any shade. Soil gathers between the stones, bringing slim wands of green each spring.

“Glory, Glory, hallelujah!” A black haired woman in a yellow sundress emerges.  Meagan immediately recognizes her as Meagan Collins. It’s hard to picture this woman as being the dangerous psychopath that many of the rumors claim she is. Glory approaches Meagan and embraces her in a hug as if they are old friends. Is it disingenuous for The British Bombshell to hug someone she doesn’t trust or even like? Perhaps. But it is yet another lesson in business Glory learned from Aphrodite Noel; sometimes you have to just play nice with the enemy.

Meagan motions towards a table and encourages Glory to have a seat. Braddock sits down, followed by Meagan who sits across from her. A man in a black and white suit emerges. “Schultz, go fetch Glory and I some drinks! Thanks bunches!”

The butler, Schultz, bows briefly before walking off to fill the order. Meagan then turns to face Glory. “Lovely seeing you, Glory! Do you like what I’ve done to the place?”

“Hard to say, Meagan. I’ve never been here.”

“Oh of course you haven’t! Silly me! You and I aren’t allowed to be buddies!”

Braddock tilts her head to one side and furrows her brow in confusion. “Forgive me, but what are you talking about?”

“Image, babe!” Meagan exclaims. “Image is everything and you, you’ve always been the hero. That’s who you want to be. But if you’re ever seen rubbing elbows with a monster like little old me people will question your morality.”

“You’re crazy.” Glory shakes her head.

“No I’m not...ok, maybe I am...but just because I’m crazy doesn’t mean I’m wrong and I’m definitely not wrong about this. Just look at what happened with you and the leeches of fans in the lead up to that SCW event...Upper Attack?”

“Under Attack.”

“Whatever. Point is everyone thought Sienna Swann was the devil...which is ridiculous, everyone knows I am the devil... and just because she approached you and you had a friendly chat people no longer trusted you. Just because you were forced to team with Sienna and Lee Brancaster…

“Bree.”

“Her too! Yeah, not like you booked the match. Sasha booked it. But you caught the heat because of your association with them.”

Glory Braddock cannot help but think that Meagan raises some good points. Most importantly among those points is that image is everything. Glory Braddock had to learn that lesson the hard way. So for Glory to come here and risk her image to visit someone like Meagan means that she is desperate.

“I just wanted to discuss one of your former business associates.”

“Oh is that all?” Meagan chuckles. “You must really need my help.”

The butler known as Schultz returns with drinks. He hands one to Glory and the other to Meagan. The black haired Collins chuckles lightly before taking a sip. “Cheers, babe!”

“Do you still have any business dealings with Geneva Alan or her family?”

“Geneva? No, not since Suffrage and I parted ways in GCW. I was told that they wanted to take care of matters themselves so I let them.”

“Have you heard about her father?” Glory asks curiously.

“Matt? Why would I…” just then Collins smirks, as if a light bulb went off in her head “...oh I see where this is going.”

“Don’t play games, Meagan. What do you know?”

“I know as much as anyone else does!” Meagan says with a knowing grin as she sips her drink.

“You’re lying. You have so many corporate contacts and law enforcement connections that surely you know more…” Glory is growing more frustrated by Meagan’s games. Unfortunately they are not going to end anytime soon.

“How the mighty hero has fallen! The goodie two shoe Glory wants me to dig up dirt on Matthew Alan! I love it!”

“Quit playing games and give me what I want!” Glory exclaims angrily. Meagan shakes her head.

“No.”

The British Bombshell has had enough. This was clearly a mistake, a mistake thinking a lunatic like Collins could be of any assistance. Glory stands up. “You’re going to regret this.”

“Oh is that a threat?”

“No, but just understand that I gave you a chance to be on the winning team. You chose wrong.”

Glory Braddock turns around and storms away in anger. Meagan smirks as she waves playfully at Glory. “Bye, sweetie! Come visit again sometime!”

That almost caused Glory to turn around and tear Meagan apart piece by piece. But then again, Glory can afford to wait. Just as Glory learned from the corporate world; it always pays to have a backup plan. And Glory has a rather nice backup plan in mind.

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On Camera

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The camera begins to roll in an almost pitch black area.  Thus it is very difficult to determine exactly where we are but what little light we have shows a wrestling ring.  Could this be an empty gym or an empty arena?  Both are legitimate possibilities, but the location isn’t the point.  A few moments later “The British Bombshell” 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.  The Best in the World hops up on the apron of this squared circle that sits before her and she sits down, facing the camera.

“I suppose this is where I start by telling you where exactly we are shooting this little pointless diatribe from and explain why it makes sense that we shoot from right here.  Is that how this is supposed to go?  Some sort of symbolic imagery followed by tough talk about how I’m gonna whip your bloody ass all over the ring?” The British Bombshell smirks and shakes her head.  “Not this time, Cruze.  We’re going to do things a little different partly because you, my friend, are different.  There is no questioning that you, Owen, are unique in your greatness.  Despite your youth and inexperience you still have not only hung in there but managed to defeat some of the best SCW has had to offer.  You defeated Alistaire Allocco to become SCW World Champion.  You defended the SCW World Championship inside the elimination chamber at Under Attack and while you didn’t win you definitely proved your toughness.  And most recently you came up just short of winning the End of the Year Battle Royal to regain the SCW World Championship.  Did you fail?  Yes, but you gave it your all and your all was pretty damn good.  For that, I do applaud you.”

Braddock claps her hands.  It is hard difficult to tell whether this is sincerity or sarcasm but one can only assume that it is sincerity from The British Bombshell. “We’re also doing things differently because it is time that things were done differently in Supreme Championship Wrestling.  I am sitting on the edge of the apron, a wrestling ring, and a wrestling ring has been practically a second home for yours truly.  As a child I watched in awe as my father ran roughshod through the competition.  As a teenager I idolized my father and wanted to grow up to be just like him.  Now, as an adult, I have surpassed his legacy and made the Braddock wrestling legacy even greater.  But the common denominator remains; competition, wrestling, the best of the best reigning supreme.  Any loudmouth with a quick wit can talk shit but that doesn’t make them a good fighter.  You don’t prove yourself by shouting at the other person with witty catchphrases and gimmicks.” The British Bombshell points with her right thumb to the ring behind her.

“You prove yourself inside that ring by facing your peers one on one to see who the better competitor truly is.  This time last year I thought that the problem with SCW was Syren and Infamous and that if I just got the championship away from them then I would be happy.  Thus I should have been satisfied with the result of Rise To Greatness when Syren lost, the result of Under Attack when she lost again, the result of Clarity when she lost a third straight time, and then the icing on the cake when she got beaten and eliminated from the End of the Year Battle Royal, I should have been satisfied with it all.” Braddock pauses.  A sigh escapes her beautiful lips before she shakes her head. “But I wasn’t satisfied.  Part of it was because I wanted to be the one who became World Champion but there is more to it than that, I realized that SCW has an even bigger problem on its hand than just one egomaniacal bitch.”

“SCW has a cultural problem.  It is a sad day when the same person gets title shot after title shot over and over again without having to earn a damn thing, it is a sad day when a company’s top prize is defended in insane matches such as elimination chamber or a battle freaking royal.  It is a sad day when having the wittiest catchphrases or coolest gimmicks make you a great ‘wrestler’.  It is a sad day when sex and porn jokes is what gets you over with the fans instead of what should actually matter in this sport and that is competitive fighting.”

The British Bombshell takes off her sunglasses and sets them to the side. “Someone like you with your famous family background perhaps can understand where I am coming from; perhaps you, Owen, out of everyone else in SCW will understand that what SCW truly needs is a cultural revolution.  And as I said, you are good, you are very good, and the fact is that barring some sort of catastrophic unforseen event you ARE the future of SCW...for better or for worse…”

“Don’t take it the wrong way, mate, because like I said what little I have seen of you has been quite impressive.  But the key word is little...I have seen very little of you, the world has seen very little of you because you are still young and inexperienced.  Your career is in its youthful stage and while you may be on one path right now there are so many other possible future paths available.  The future is not set, time can be rewritten, and any other Terminator or Doctor Who science fiction quotes you can insert here.  Ever since I have arrived in Supreme Championship Wrestling I have witnessed many cretins in this organization disrespect, dishonor, and tear down the very fabric of what it means to be a wrestler.  They may as well as have taken a piss on the very meaning of what it means to be a wrestler.”

“Now while you claim to respect the sport now, how am I to know you will not eventually become just another one of them?  How can I trust you not to go down that path?  A young boy like you, Owen, needs a test.  Now I know what you’re going to say, you’ve been tested for the past several months.  But am I going to count bloody trainwrecks like elimination chamber, double jeopardy, or that fucking battle royal as a test?”  The British Bombshell shakes her head definitively.

“No, those are not tests.  Those are circus acts.  A wrestler is tested in one on one combat.  You were tested once, against Alistaire Allocco, and you prevailed.  Ever since then you’ve dropped the ball.  Time for you to step up against The Best in the World and prove yourself, prove that you still have what it takes, Owen.”

“As for you, Alistaire, you would probably agree with me that there is no true test unlike that of a straight up one on one battle.  That’s what we’ll have at Day of Infamy, mate.  No outside interference, no cheap garbage wrestling, just a straight up match between two great athletes.  I look forward to it, mate.  And I hope, for your sake, that you will watch my match against Cruze closely.  Watch and take notes, because that is what you can look forward to at Day of Infamy.  Sic Semper Tyrannis…”

The scene fades to black.