Beware The Devil Woman
Jan 21, 2016 13:11:43 GMT -5
Post by Savannah Taylor on Jan 21, 2016 13:11:43 GMT -5
“We all change, when you think about it. We’re all different people through our lives. And that’s okay, that’s good, you’ve got to keep moving, so long as you remember all the people that you used to be.” - The Eleventh Doctor in “The Time of the Doctor.”
Saturday, January 9th, 2016
Boston, Massachusetts
OFF CAMERA
The Matthews Arena was just beginning to empty out after the main event had wrapped up. Another Saturday had seen yet another solid episode of Vertigo go down in the record books. For the superstars of the FGA, the time used after the show would more than likely be used to celebrate their victories and plan for the next show. However, celebration was the farthest thing from the mind of one particular person. Walking down the stretch of backstage hallway that leads to the exit was the normally striking figure of one Savannah Taylor. She walked with her normally confident gait, but her blue eyes told a far different tale. She had made her debut earlier this evening and despite her best effort, she came up short. But it wasn’t the loss itself that had Savannah in a less than favorable mood. The fact that her opponent felt the only way he could win was by grabbing a handful of her tights was something that didn’t sit well with her. But she would get to him in due time. Right now, all she wanted to do was go back to the comfort of her hotel room and just shut everything out for the night. As she came about halfway towards the door, a voice calling out to her from behind stops her walking.
“As I live and breathe!”
Behind her stood the former Exodus standout in Aries Reed with stands in the middle of the hallway with his arms outstretched and a large smile on his face.
Aries Reed: If ain't the last Exodus Pro World Champion herself, Savannah -GODDAMN- Taylor. And might I add the sexiest thing to wear that title since...well...anyone for that matter. And now she's brought her talents to the FGA. I'm not going to lie; it's good to see you here. I thought I was going to be the only person here after all that bullshit in San Diego.
Savannah turned around slowly and saw the grin on the often punchable face of Aries Reed. Internally she was sighing, having had not the best of nights. But she mustered up something close to a smile as she faces her former-now-current coworker.
Savannah Taylor: In the flesh. You know you wouldn’t be the only former person from San Diego to be here for long. It would only be a matter of time before others followed suit. Lucky for everyone….it's me.
Aries Reed: Well that depends on who you're talking to. I find it unlucky for everyone else that it’s you and I mean that with all due respect. I know you got a rough draw out there against Diamond, so I'll make this quick. But despite all the bullshit that went down in San Diego and all the bullshit that we both had to wade through...you were always Aces in my book. You're a helluva talent and if I couldn't be World Champ, there ain't anyone else I would rather it be than you. In short, in this place new faces...I got your back.
Savannah can’t help but cock an eyebrow slightly.
Savannah Taylor: Ok who are you and what have you done with Aries Reed?
She says with a smirk.
Savannah Taylor: But seriously…..thank you. I appreciate the compliment. It was a rough two years but it worked out pretty well for me in the end. Now I’m just very much looking forward to a fresh start in a new company where I don’t have to worry about the previously mentioned bullshit.
Aries can't help but laugh at her earlier comment as he placed his hands on his waist and shake his head.
Aries Reed: Oh don't you worry that pretty lil’ head about a thing. I'm the same brash, arrogant, and obnoxious lil’ shit you remember, I just know when give respect when respect is due. But I'm counting down the days where we stand across from one another in that ring. This is a fresh start, like you said, and we both looking to make our way to the top.
With a smile, Aries slowly extends his hand out towards her.
Aries Reed: See you at the top?
Savannah Taylor: I honestly don’t think the FGA is ready for that. But its a long way to the top, one that won’t be easy.
She looks down at his hand and tentatively shakes it.
Savannah Taylor: We’ll see who gets there first.
She replies with a casual grin.
Aries Reed: Indeed we will, indeed we will.
Savannah Taylor: Just if/when we do end up meeting each other in the ring, don’t expect what I did to Justin Brooks…….yet.
She laughs to herself, thinking about the hell they put each other through. Reaching into her jeans pocket, she grabs her iPhone and checks the clock, sliding it back in her pocket.
Savannah Taylor: As much as I would love to stand here and talk, all I really want right now is to just go back to my room and crawl into bed. I’ve got a busy few days coming up and I need all the downtime I can get.
With those parting words, Savannah gives a polite nod of her head to Aries as she continues to make her way to the exit. Even though the two had never so much as spoken a word to each other while employed out in San Diego, outside of social media that is, Savannah always had it in her mind that Aries was the most egocentric and full of himself person on the face of the Earth. Maybe being in a completely different setting would see a different side to the oft-polarizing member of the Reed family. That would be something that only time would be able to tell. Grasping the cool metal door handle underneath her bare hand, she pushes it open and steps out into the alcove leading to the parking lot, where her rental car was in sight. A night away from the events that transpired hours earlier was just what the Las Vegas native needed. Tomorrow morning she could focus on preparing herself physically and mentally for the next match. The next match she had, she would be more than ready. People could count on that.
Well who would have ever imagined that? Who can honestly sit here and tell me with a straight face that Aries Reed would approach another human being and not be his “normal” self? Anyone that has seen him so far in FGA is only catching a glimpse of the man who managed to get under the skin of just about everyone out in San Diego. I’m still trying to wrap my head around what he was after. I’m trying to figure out if he is indeed genuine about what he said to me, about believing in a fresh start in a new place. Or if he is just using this as a ruse to try and get inside my head early should we ever meet up inside of the ring. I’ll have to keep an eye on that one.
That little face to face with Aries was just the cap on what can only be described as an interesting night. My FGA debut didn’t go the way I had hoped it would. I was close; I was THIS CLOSE to securing the win and what happens? Danny Diamond happened. He apparently couldn’t accept the fact that someone was actually outwrestling him, so he resorted to the cheap trick of grabbing a handful of tights to get the win. I guess I can’t fault him for doing what he did. If I were in his shoes, I’d grab my tights too. I actually have to tip my imaginary cap to him. For the second consecutive Vertigo, he managed to become the wrestling equivalent of the dreaded blue shell in Mario Kart. Think about it. You’re on Rainbow Road. You have a pretty good lead heading into the final stretch. The finish line is so close you can almost taste it. Then all of a sudden, disaster strikes. The person behind you throws the blue shell, knocking you out of contention for the win and relegating you to second place. That is exactly what happened with Noelle Smith and me. We were SO CLOSE to beating Danny that he freaked and went right for the dirty tactics. Don’t worry though. Sooner or later, Danny is going to get his.
As tempting as it is to stew over what happened, I need to move forward. I need to look to the future and right now, Salem Cartier is next up. I’ll be the first to admit that she is good. Anyone who can stand toe to toe with the likes of Tony Carmine and, despite a loss, come away looking like a million bucks is not one to be taken lightly. However, and here is the important part, neither should I be taken lightly. Not only is this going to be a matchup between two people looking to gain some solid footing, there is a wildcard thrown into the mix. That wildcard comes in the form of special guest referee Annie Zellor. Wrestling is a business where you have to expect the unexpected. For me, Annie Zellor is the unexpected.
I still don’t know why she is being as nice to me as she is. Surely she has seen what I’ve done in the past. But there she is, Starbucks cup in hand and a smile on her face, ready to be the best friend to everyone she meets. In some ways she somewhat reminds me of my sister. They both are known for their joie de vivre, which is something I wish I had at times. Annie was the second person to welcome me to FGA with open arms. Her upbeat attitude, at times is a little much to take in, is like a little breath of fresh air. But I can’t let that friendship get in the way of the task at hand. I have a witch to hunt in Queens. Annie as the guest referee or not, Vertigo is going to be the place where this Siren causes the witch to melt away.
Panic.
Delirium.
Excitement.
Madness.
All of these words are synonyms for hysteria. The dictionary defines hysteria as exaggerated or uncontrollable emotion or excitement, especially among a group of people. Every so often in our history there comes an event, an event so grand in scale, that causes everyday average Joes and Janes to become stark raving lunatics. Late last year it was the hotly anticipated release of the new Star Wars movie. In the nineteen sixties, Beatlemania swept the country, a movement that would forever change the landscape of popular music. But there is one moment in history that, probably above all others, that gives the best example of mass hysteria. It happened between February in sixteen ninety two and May in sixteen ninety three. It was a time in American history where even the slightest hint that you were different than the rest of the population resulted in imprisonment, judgement and, in most cases, execution. During this period of time, twenty people were executed all because there was enough “evidence” against them that swayed the local magistrates, who felt that these people deserved the fate that was handed down to them. What is this event that I’m talking about? If you had any sort of deductive reasoning, you’d know I’m referring to the Salem Witch Trials. Why am I talking about this and how does this relate to wrestling, you ask?
Enter Salem Cartier.
Let me just state for the record that I don’t have any real issues with you, Salem. I find you to be someone who has a bright future ahead of you. I’m just not going to let it come at my expense. I saw how you handled yourself against Tony Carmine and I have to say, I was impressed. Anyone who can do what you did against the likes of Tony and walk away looking as good as you did deserve a round of applause. But your moment of glory that you are still basking in from that match, rightfully so I might add, is about to come to a screeching halt this week. To think I’m just going to be the icing on the cake that is sure to be your horrible week. I’m just the final act, Salem. The main course happens to be your match in the Young Guns cup.
Oh yes, I’ve been paying attention to that, and not just because of you Salem. I’ve been paying attention because you never know who is going to rise up and find themselves in the same company where you work. You never know who is going to find themselves knocking at your door, looking to take you out without so much as a second glance. It would appear that, despite all of your best efforts thus far in the Young Guns cup, you have found the one person that you would rather tear your own arm off and run screaming into the night than have to face them. I know it isn’t easy to face your wife, Salem. But guess what? Nothing in life, whether it is wrestling or otherwise, is easy. I know having to stand on the opposite side of the ring from your wife isn’t an enviable position to be in. Believe it or not, I’ve been in the position that you find yourself in. I’ve had the daunting task of standing across the ring from the person that I love more than anything. Yeah it was an uncomfortable position to be in and yeah I lost that match. Did I let it bother me? No I didn’t. I lost to someone who is one of the best wrestlers alive today. That match forced me to become a better wrestler. That match taught me that I still have stuff I need to learn not only about this business, but about myself as well. For the record, I still love that person more than anything else to this very day. The point I am trying to make Salem is that you are going to be just fine after this match. Yes it will be awkward, but you’ll walk away from it a better person. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll be advancing past your wife. Never once did I say that about you. Looking at who is left in the Young Guns Cup, I see about, oh let’s say four people, who stand the best chances of winning the entire thing. Not one of them is named Artemis. They ESPECIALLY are not named Salem.
I’m not like most people you’ve faced, and I think that is a damn good thing. I’d like to think that I’m the type of person that no one expects to be able to do much against pretty much anyone. For whatever reason, people take one look at me and automatically assume that any match against me is going to be a summer stroll through Central Park. Now whether that has to do with the fact that I’m not the biggest person in the world or my obvious good looks, the world may never know. Saturday night in Queens, you are going to find out first hand that these stellar good looks are only the outside layer. Underneath lies a quiet storm, waiting for the perfect moment to unleash hell. Oh, what’s the matter Salem? Are you having a hard time believing me? Ask anyone who has seen more than one match I’ve been in just what a headache I can be for people. There is a reason why, in my previous place of employment, no one else came close to being near me when it came to being in the running for Match of the Year. No match could match what my Last Man Standing match had. I put my opponent through the worst fight that he has ever had. I may have lost that match, by the very skin of my teeth I may add, but I won more than I lost. That one match elevated me to a completely different level. It just so happens to be a level that people, yourself included, can only dream of reaching. But go ahead and keep thinking this is going to be easy for you. Don’t come crying to me when I prove you otherwise.
Saturday night in Queens, people are going to see just what happens when a witch comes face to face with a Siren. The Salem Witch Trials may be long gone and written about in history text books. But this Saturday, a whole new version of the Trials is set to take place. While they may not hang witches or burn them at the stake anymore, the more modern way of dealing with them is basically beating them into bloody oblivion. An antiquated method yes, but it is damn sure effective. A wise person said that the cream always rises to the top. Expect my rise to take place when we meet up in the ring, Salem. See you Saturday, witch.
Auf Wiedersehen