Bounce Back

[Cordy]

Bounce Back

I.

“You're a fighter, Cordy. You're one of the fiercest competitors I've ever seen and have had the pleasure of fighting. This isn't the end of your story, not by a long shot.”

Of all the things she could have pegged him as, a prophet certainly was not one of them. Yet as she recalled the words that Chandler Scott had spoken to her the day he’d visited her in the hospital after she’d refractured her ankle, Cordelia couldn’t help but to notice just how prophetic his words had proven to be.

He had known all along that she’d be back. The certainty in which he’d said it; the adamance in his tone -- it was full of all the confidence that Cordelia herself was lacking at the time. But then again, maybe that was just typical Chandler, thinking he knew it all. When the doctor’s ill fated prognosis had planted the seeds of doubt in her head and had left her wondering whether or not a return to the ring would even be possible or worth it -- her biggest adversary had known without a doubt that she’d be back to write another chapter to her story.

And Dynamic Duos had been the perfect preface for it.

She was still coming down from the high; the spike in adrenaline that such a closely contested match like the one she’d been in, often brought; as well as the rush and excitement from winning it all. It was still registering in her head that they’d actually gone out and done it. Not that she’d ever doubted they could — but it had indeed been a strenuous process nonetheless.

With her and Dan both returning from an extended time away from the ring, it was almost as if they’d had to play catch up with the rest of the field. The hours of preparation on her part had been endless, and she knew that it had been the same for Dan as well. They’d both gone above and beyond to make sure that they were putting their best foot forward for the tournament.

Considering who they were and the clout of their names, Cordy knew from jump that there would be no acceptable excuse for failure on their part. People didn’t care that they were returning from long layoffs or that they were still figuring out how to be a team. They were who they were and that had been far more than enough to send expectations skyrocketing.

Fortunately, all of their hard work had paid off and they had delivered in the end.

“Yoooo, we really did it!” She exclaimed, recklessly tossing herself onto the hotel bed, and squealing into the pillows with childlike glee as she clutched them to her chest. Success had been plentiful throughout her career and although it should have been considered the norm to her by now, every new accomplishment was viewed and embraced as a pleasant surprise.

In a weird way, it staved off complacency and always gave her something to push towards and look forward to. And right then, she was basking in the glow of her newly achieved Triple Crown.

It sounded almost too good to believe even in her head. But the lofty goal she’d set her mind to had actually been realized. She’d become the first person to win all of FGA’s major events: The Lion’s Cup, The Rumble, and now Dynamic Duos.

It was definitely the perfect way to cap off what had been an interesting week to say the least, and the pick me up that she’d needed after the talk she’d had with Morgan Cartier just a few nights prior that had pretty much ended whatever it was they’d developed over the course of the past few months.

They were never an official item, although feelings had come into play on both of their parts. Unfortunately, it was something they’d sorted out and divulged to one another a bit too late. Rationalization to lessen the sting told Cordy that maybe it was for the best.

With her wrestling career getting back into full swing and her officially signing on to be co-owner of the LIngerie Football League’s Philadelphia Bellas franchise with Cindy; her temporary downtime in scheduling was about to come to a halt, and she didn’t need any other distractions.

That was what she’d tried telling herself at least, but the resounding feeling of loneliness that was starting to become more and more frequent told her otherwise.

But she wasn’t going to let her mind go there. Not tonight. Not when there was a celebration to be had… and best believe a celebration was going to be had.

She’d told Peaches and Dan that she’d hit them up once she got changed and ready. Hopefully they’d still be up for a night out, but if not, Cordelia was more than ready to hit the streets of Florence, South Carolina on her own. But she really hoped that she wouldn’t have to.

This was their night and she wanted her partner out there celebrating with her. She was ecstatic for Dan. If anyone had deserved a proverbial ‘moment in the sun’ so to speak, it was definitely him. There were so many people just waiting to see him fail; probably even more so than they wanted her to and she was glad that they’d never have the satisfaction of being able to hold it over his head. Dan was a good guy and she was happy that they’d been able to achieve that goal together.

But as he’d pointed out, they now had one more thing on the agenda.

When she’d originally thought to sign up for Dynamic Duos, the FGA tag team championships had honestly been the furthest thing from her mind. Not that she didn’t realize what was at stake, but her primary focus had been on the tournament itself and the triple crown — but now she and Dan were in line for a chance at something more and she could tell just by talking to him how much he had his mind set on it.

That ambition must have been extremely contagious because Cordelia could sense her mind drifting, and she could just imagine it: her and Dan hoisting those titles into the air.

#SquadGoals.

And she couldn’t lie, the mere thought of it made her smile. Yes, the triple crown was all hers, but who ever said that she couldn’t aspire for more?

She had been an overachiever her entire life, and there was absolutely no sense in trying to change that now.

As she rolled over onto her back and stared up at the ceiling, taking a moment to chill, she only had one thought on her mind.

Well two actually.

Those titles…. and strippers.

She definitely needed some strippers for their Dynamic Duos victory celebration.

* * * * * 

II.

“I honestly don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone as resilient as you are, kid.” he continued with a hint of admiration and pride that caused Cordelia to blush. In all the years that Aaron had been in the business —as a competitor and even now as a trainer — he couldn’t remember ever encountering someone with the ability to bounce back the way that Cordelia often did, and her latest return to the ring only supported that notion.

To suffer the injuries that she had… that would take its toll on just about anyone, not only physically, but mentally as well. He remembered just how hard it had been for her the first time she’d broken her ankle -- the mental blocks she’d had to overcome when she was finally able to workout and train again and how hesitant she’d been once she finally got back into the ring.

Some people were never the same when that sort of thing happened to them. You saw it with athletes all the time. Ability wise, nothing ever really changed but mentally? They could just never go back to the person they used to be.

But not only had Cordelia done it, she’d done it twice. She’d overcome the mental anguish and not only managed to return to form, but seemed to come back even better than ever; and in less than a week’s time, she would be competing for FGA’s prized Tag Team Championships. It was clear to him that she didn’t understand just how remarkable that was. But then again, there was always a sense of modesty to her when she wasn’t in front of a camera. From the moment he first met her, Aaron knew that the girl was special but never in his wildest dreams did he think she’d become the phenomenon that she had.

“I don’t think they have either.” He joked, tapping on the glass window and motioning towards her meet and greet line that extended as far as the eye could see. He’d been popular during his day, but Cordelia was clearly on an entirely different level with her celebrity. It was the opening day of #FrontierCon, and Aaron had decided to make the three or so hour drive up to Lakeland with a few students from the Body Slam Academy to show love and support for his and Kerry’s star pupil.

Cordelia had been pleasantly surprised when she’d seen Aaron’s name pop up on her screen as an incoming call, even more so when he’d asked where she was because he was in the area and had wanted to see her. They’d spent about a good hour or so catching up before she had to make her way to the Lakeland Center for FrontierCon festivities.

Cordelia followed his gaze and saw the sea of people that seemed to grow exponentially by the second. Her fans had definitely come out in droves, which made her happy. She loved spending time with them. It was one of her favorite things to do although she knew many people that couldn’t stand it — they hated crowds or just hated people in general — but it was always one of the things that she looked forward to the most, before and after shows.

#FrontierCon was something new, but whoever had thought of it was an absolute genius. There was just a buzz in the air and the excitement of the fans was infectious. As if she weren’t already excited enough about the upcoming weekend.

“Jesus, this is crazy.” She giggled, somewhat touched by the amount of people that had shown up to see her. It was her first public meet and greet with the company since she'd returned.

“And to think, you were going to give all of this up.” He added with a tsk, recalling a conversation they’d had not too long after she’d fractured her ankle the second time. She’d asked him if he thought it was in her best interest to retire from the ring for good. He’d known then that it wasn’t what she wanted, but he figured it was best if he left her to figure that out on her own.

And obviously she had.

She cut her eyes at him, giving him a knowing side eye to accompany her sheepish smile.

“Maannnn, wasn’t nobody trying to give anything up.” She said, lowering her gaze to the floor. “That was just the pain medication talking! You know it had me all loopy!” She protested.

Before he could respond, a door on the far side of the room swung open and a FrontierCon attendant stuck his head into the room, motioning for her.

“Ms. Stevenson, they’re ready for you to head to your table now.”

She gave him a nod before turning towards A2.

“You sticking around for a bit, right?”

He nodded. “Of course. Just hit me up when you’re done. I’ll be around here somewhere trying to get that sexy ass Fujiko Mine’s number... since you refuse to put in a good word.” he frowned.

Cordy rolled her eyes and playfully slapped him on the arm as she started towards the door.

“You’re a mess.”

He smiled. “I know.” He replied, watching on like a proud father as she exited the room to greet her adoring fans.

They were glad that she was back, and he was too.

* * * * *

“Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” - Denis Waitley


You know, Sophie El said something that really caught my attention a few weeks ago. She said that Dan and I are two people that are defined by our failures. I mean, given careful consideration — it isn’t necessarily an outlandish claim, but it is one that I wholeheartedly disagree with. Dan Herrera and Cordelia Stevenson are two of the most prominent names in FGA history. We’ve repped this company without end from day one and we’ve always been proud flag bearers for it — yet strangely enough, neither Dan nor myself have ever had the distinction of being a champion in this fine company — and although it does attach a certain stigma to our names, it damn sure does not define who we are.

But of course, it doesn’t surprise me that someone as misguided as Sophie El would get it all wrong. As an artist, I would think she more than anyone would be more inclined to look at the bigger picture, but clearly that wasn’t the case. You see, Dan and I aren’t defined by our failures; we’re defined by our ability to overcome them. We’re defined by our ability to face adversity and not bat an eye. We’re defined by the resilience we show and the heart we display every time we're knocked down and we get back up.

That is what people think of when you mention our names. That is what they find to be so damn inspirational, because it’s something they can relate to: flaws, imperfection, and the willingness to go on and do what you have to despite them all.

Everyone fails at something.

There isn’t a person alive that won’t meet failure at one point or another in their life, but what defines you and what defines the person you are, is the way that you handle it. Believe me, not everybody can. You people point out the amount of shots we’ve blown, but fail to acknowledge how hard it was to get those opportunities in the first place.

We put work in.

It’s like Lebron James being criticized for only winning 3 championships out of his 7 times in the finals. Meanwhile you have people in the league that’s been playing for 15 years and never played in one.

Greatness is just measured on an entirely different scale, I see that now. So it doesn’t offend me at all when you point out those shortcomings of mine. All it does is let me know that I’m on the right path and that most of my peers expect a certain level of greatness from me.


It’s flattering to be honest.

Robert Kennedy once said that ‘Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.’ Sometimes you just have to put it out on a limb and that’s what I do every single time that I’m in the ring. That’s why I am where I am in this business, because I’m not afraid to shoot my shot, and I bust my ass continuously to get it. I could be 0-16 from the field but I will JR Smith that shit until something finally falls. All that failure means, is just a bigger moment when success finally comes.

And how big would the moment be for Dan and I, if that success were to finally come for us at All Star Showdown V?

Right there on the biggest stage that this company has to offer? The same stage that has given birth to probably our biggest professional demons and failures?

I want you to think about that for a second.

I think it goes without saying just how big of an event this is, or how much All Star Showdown means to me in general. The event will always hold a special place in my heart, and I always see it as sort of a benchmark. I fought my very first match under contract with this company at ASS III against Xavier Daniels, and last year? Last year at All Star Showdown IV, I headlined in what many considered to be the most anticipated match that this business has seen in years.

Chandler Scott vs Cordelia Stevenson III.

The tiebreaker, and you know something? We went on to put on one of the greatest matches in FGA history, no debating — and that is something I’ll always be proud of.

It’s going to take three men in this year’s World title match to try and replicate and recapture the magic that Chandler and I brought to the table in last year’s main event, and they’re going to fail horribly. #FactsOnly. Not to say that their match isn’t going to be good, but it just won’t be that.

Yes, All Star Showdown holds a very special place in my heart, but as I’ve said before, it is also the home of some of our biggest demons and the stage where some of our greatest personal failures have taken place.

For me? The aforementioned All Star Showdown IV, and for Dan? I would go out on a limb and say that the main event of All Star Showdown III ranks right up there for him. How big of an occasion do you think it’d be if on June 25th — after having suffered through so much disappointment — Dan and I finally have our moment of comeuppance and become champions here in FGA, all the while resuscitating an otherwise lifeless division in the process?

Because let’s be honest here, the death of FGA’s tag division was punctuated the moment The Next Level struggled to beat Dexter Jacobs in a glorified handicapped match for the titles back at Canadian Stampede. How ironic is it that you guys are named The Next Level yet you couldn’t quite get the division there? Without a doubt those titles have elevated your status in this company, hell Luke, they might have even saved your job -- but you guys have done absolutely nothing for them in return.

Not that anyone really expected you to.

No that isn't a slight. It's a fact. You were the beneficiaries of circumstance. I cannot fault you for that at all and I applaud you for making the best of the opportunity you were given. But that does not change the fact that you guys have failed as champions. You’ve failed to initiate the spark that this company needed; to create the wave that could carry the division and generate new life within it to sustain a competitive nature surrounding it.

People don’t look at the tag division, they look past it; simply because you haven’t done what is necessary to attract attention to it.

You were given the ball and the world waited to see what you'd do with it. We waited to see if you’d go ahead and take the initiative to put the division on your back but the only thing we’ve come to realize in time is that you’re simply unfit to.

I respect the position you’re in. I respect the work you’ve put in to be where you are, and Ricky? I can respect anyone with a tenure as long as yours in this business. Longevity is something that not many can achieve and you have. I can always acknowledge and commend someone that can do so in this business, because this business is a revolving door. I’m not discrediting your or Luke’s abilities as wrestlers. I am however saying that I don’t believe in your abilities to lead, to inspire, to challenge.

And that is what being a champion is all about. It’s much more than holding up a belt to the cameras and smiling. It’s much more than the bonuses and perks that come along with having a belt slung over your shoulder.

You see, I’m noticing that there seems to be this preconceived notion going around that just having a title belt is enough — it’s not; and that having a title belt automatically makes you great — it doesn’t. It’s the same reason why people such as your World Champion cry and whine and are so damn dumbfounded when they don’t get the same respect right off the bat that the great champions before them did.

The title doesn’t define you; yes it is a great honor to have, and it grants you a bit of prestige but in the end you are the one that establishes its meaning. You define what it stands for and quite frankly, in my honest opinion, the FGA World Tag Team titles need better representation.

And now we’re here to relieve you of that burden, fellas.

I admit, I came into this thing a bit narrow minded. The tag team titles were not my initial goal. But as Dan and I progressed through the tournament, and the end of the tunnel began to present itself a bit more clearer, I started to ask myself, why not us?

Why shouldn’t we be the ones to give this division the jolt that it so desperately needs? Why shouldn’t we be the ones to uphold the legacy of those titles once held by such remarkable teams as the Super Mario Wrestling Bros and the Sparklebuddies? Why shouldn’t Status Quo re-establish the standard of greatness that has always been associated with FGA’s tag division but is obviously lacking now?

I mean, it’s already looking a bit livelier if you ask me. Those of us that competed in Dynamic Duos have once again shifted focus to the tag division and you should thank us all.

Because this is a good look for you.

Many people will say that Dan and I need this for many reasons. Whether it be to cement our own legacies or to shake the stigma of us not being able to ‘win the big one’ — which is utterly ridiculous considering I’ve legit won every major event this company has had — they’ll look at All Star Showdown and they’ll say that this is a match that we must win. But truthfully, this is a match that will do way more for you than it will for us, because this is your shot at legitimacy. This establishes if you are who you think you are, or if you’re merely a transitional phase to something greater.

Are you ready to find out that truth?

Because you haven’t been tested, but against us you can bet your asses that you will be. You need this just as much as we do, and although I can be a very charitable woman, I just can’t let you have it. We can’t let you have it. This opportunity is not one I will be giving away. So ask yourselves, what lengths are you willing to go to take it? Because you’re going to have to give the performance of a lifetime if you intend of walking out of Lakeland with those titles in your possession and there’s not even a guarantee that that will be enough.

Because you’re preparing for a game that’s pretty much already been lost.

And on Saturday night, the buzzer sounds on your reign for the final time.

The game’s over, boys.

But you’re more than welcome to insert a coin and try again.

Get familiar.