Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2013 9:47:18 GMT -6
Beaten by a woman. That simple incident can make a man really begin to question his abilities. However, when the woman in question is as accomplished of a boxer and wrestler, especially a former Trans-Atlantic champion, as Scarlet Styles, questioning your place in life and the company is just pointless. If every man who had fallen victim to her and that vicious SKO thought he was lesser for losing to her then NEW would have a much, much smaller roster.
Even still, the moments of having her fists smash into my jaw were etched firmly into my memory. The force had been that of someone with twice the muscle. Her training was certainly evident. The proof was in the way she dropped me nearly unconscious. The first time she tried to put my lights out, I had avoided it and sent a right foot lashing at her face, trying to connect with my Zoned Out version of the superkick. My attempt failed and earned me trip to the mat when she nailed me with an SKO. For a reason unknown at the time due to my pain-ridden state, later revealed to me as Shelby calling for me punishment, the count had been stopped at 2.
She later paid for wanting the match to continue though. After a brief argument between Shelby and Scarlet, I had been able to right myself and launch a desperation Zoned Out attempt that Scarlet avoided. Shelby failed where Scarlet succeeded and was caught square on the chin. My reward for superkicking Shelby was a second SKO from Mrs. Styles. This time the 3 count was completed, and my loss was completed.
That loss had been in a hard-fought match, but it was a loss all the same. The match had not just ended in defeat either but defeat at the hands of an opponent who would also be in Terror Dome with me at Kamikaze was unacceptable. The repercussions, even if the negatives on my end were not allowed to enter my psyche, were not in my favor. Scarlet would only have more confidence going into that destructive structure while more doubts about my skills would make me a target for easy destruction in the match.
All of these factors, of course, take a backseat to the match this week. Jesse had dubbed it a TA Division match which changed the match rules none, but apparently, he would be more closely watching to help in his determination of who would be the next contender for the TA title. Whatever the case or stakes, Orlando Ocean and Roger Wright are formidable opponents individually and rather daunting when the match is a triple threat.
Ocean’s 6’7” and 275 pound body were the most daunting things about him. His accolades in wrestling had been few this early in his career, but the pure mass of human being to fight means he can never been taken lightly. The power his size offers makes him a one-hit knockout possibility, and last week’s match had offered enough of that ability to satisfy for quite some time.
The Golden Boy was less physically intimidating, actually being the same height as I am while giving up a handful or so of pounds in weight, but he possessed accomplishments few can even think about obtaining. As a 4 time NEW World Heavyweight champion, Roger certainly knows how to win against a variety of opponents. The most important fact to me though is that he won the first Terror Dome. A win could earn me respect enough to pick his brain, if only for a few scant moments. That possibility seems a lot less likely with his recent development of a reputation as a dick backstage.
Most would think that all of these on goings and details would keep any man too busy. One bit of minutia that stuck out in my mind was the single Zoned Out that had landed last week. The kick had landed squarely on the jaw of Shelby. She had been interrupting my match with Scarlet, but the woman was still not a wrestler. As such, hitting her with that kick, one I knew most wrestlers tried their best to avoid, as exemplified by Scarlet’s own healthy respect for the power my right foot possessed.
So here I am, waiting outside of United’s locker room. A quick phone to my opponent last week had set the rendezvous point. Originally, Scarlet had been skeptical, but after pointing out that she could slip away while I had Shelby’s attention, she had agreed. The last comment Scarlet had made was that Shelby actually had mentioned how cute she finds me, even if she had called for Scarlet to further punish me this week. Whatever the case, this situation presented Scarlet with a chance at some time without the tail assigned to her by Jesse and me with the opportunity to apologize for accidentally kicking Shelby in the face.
My fist strikes the door three times in a quick succession, alerting the occupants to my presence. A few seconds later, the face of Scarlet Styles is looking back at me through the opened door. She gives me a polite smile before nodding and stepping aside to allow me entrance. “Ooooh, Scarlet, who is it?! Is it that big hunk Kroni…” greets me as I step inside the room. Shelby had quickly cut off her sentence when she saw me.
“Thanks for inviting me here, Scarlet. I wasn’t sure you’d want to meet up with someone that you just laid out in the ring and will face in a few weeks,” I say to the wife of New Edge’s owner. She merely nods which causes me to continue, “That punch is pretty brutal. Remind me to duck next time.” The attempt at lighten the mood draws a terse smile from Scarlet and giggles from Shelby.
Scarlet responds, “No problem, Jones. Just avoid me in Terror Dome and maybe you won’t need to remember.” She laughs a little, knowing the unlikelihood that we will go the whole match without standing face to face again. I smile, but the prospect of being hit with my third SKO causes the aching feeling that had affected my jaw earlier in the week to return.
I turn my attention back to the real reason for the visit. She looks confused. After taking a few glances back and forth between Scarlet and I, Shelby asks suspiciously, “What are you doing here? Are you joining United too?”
While not a completely repulsive idea, I had my own issues at present and saw no reason to affiliate with United, even if I did agree with their stance against Jesse. I had been in a similar situation as a part of a FE years before. I give my answer with a shake of the head which further confuses Shelby. She starts, “Then wh…” before I hold up my hand to stop her, which she does.
“I just wanted to come apologize for what happened in my match with Scarlet,” I inform the rather ditsy and excitable woman. She still looks confused. As if mentally ticking off the events of the match, she tilts her head to one side and raises her hand, raising fingers to presumable indicate moments that I could mean. Deciding that on her own she is unlikely to realize exactly which moment I mean, I interject, “Shelby, I’m sorry for hitting you with the Zoned Out.”
Her face lights up with her eyes widening and her mouth coming open. “YOU want to apologize to ME for kicking me in the face?! Oh my gosh! No way! Nothing this exciting has ever happened to me before! You’re so cute and…” she exclaims before halting herself. She looks at me with a look of horror. I merely glance over my shoulder at Scarlet who rolls her eyes, clearly annoyed with the constant excited state of the woman Jesse has assigned to keep an eye on her. It as if he intentionally wanted to cause her as much discomfort as possible with the person he chose.
“Shelby, calm down. No need to get worked up,” I assure her. She relaxes a little but still looks a little flustered and embarrassed. “I would never try to attack a manager unless they gave me a really good reason. You ok?” I go on to keep her from just staring at me.
She smiles and nods. “Yeah, I’m fine. You don’t kick THAT hard…er...I mean, you do, but...ummm, I can handle it. Yeah, that’s it PJ, uh, Mr. Jones,” she stumbles through her answer. She gives a nervous giggle after finishing. The sheepish look in her eyes is that of a teenager who has just met a movie star she has a crush on. It is a bit flattering. Remembering my end of the bargain with Scarlet, I wrap an arm around Shelby’s shoulders and hug her. Shelby squeals and hugs me tight.
Hoping Scarlet gets the cue, I quickly glance back over my shoulder. The frontwoman of United has slipped away. Breaking the hug but keeping myself between where Scarlet was and Shelby, I inquire, “So what were you doing on the ring apron during the match?” I know the answer from watching replays of the match, but her answer should give Scarlet enough time to sneak away.
The look of concentration on her face is priceless. She clearly understands that admitting she was telling Scarlet to beat me up more would look very bad, but she cannot think of an alternative. After a moment of hard contemplation she finally explains, “I, ummm, thought the match was over. Yeah, that’s it. I thought the first pin had been a 3 count and was getting in the ring to celebrate with Scarlet. She had to tell me to get back down then you came outta nowhere and kinda knocked me out.”
I nod, actually appreciating how good of an explanation that is for such a patently blonde girl. It actually makes sense, but either way, I need to go attend to my workout schedule. I mutter, “Always a slave to the schedule, that’s me.” Shelby gives me a questioning look, so I tell her, “I need to go get my training in for my match with Roger and Orlando.”
She nods, looking very thoughtful for a change, before informing me, “That Orlando Ocean dude could probably bench press me all day. He’s huge. Roger Wright just looks silly trying to call himself The Golden Boy still, and that fuzz on his chin just looks ridiculous. Hmm…yeah, that should be enough for you to beat them.”
I just stare at her, not sure exactly what possessed her to string together that run of thoughts. The look in her eyes is of extreme satisfaction at those apparently profound statements, but their use to me is pretty lacking. Either way, I do need to actually get back to my job instead of just getting on the good side of Scarlet Styles and making the day of her easily amused manager. With that in mind, I say, “Yeah, bye Shelby. See ya around.”
The simple goodbye is seemingly not nearly enough as Shelby again wraps her arms tightly around me and shouts, “Goodbye Mr. Jones! I hope you win!” before giggling and pulling away. Shaking my head, I turn and leave the room. The last words I hear are Shelby confusedly inquiring, “Mrs. Styles?! Scarlet?! Where are you?!” before finally pleading, “Don’t leave me alone!”
This week, I certainly have quite a challenge, but it is one that presents quite the opportunity to assert myself. A win over Roger Wright will solidify my position as someone to notice on the landscape that is NEW. Overcoming Orlando’s power will greatly outweigh any of my Terror Dome opponents, so if I can handle it then I should have no issues in the strength department at Kamikaze. As always, my goal is to leave one, or both, of my opponents Zoned Out in the center of the ring…but I am not sure either will ever be as Zoned Out as Shelby. And I do not think the kick caused it.