Annie's Story 055 - The World Title

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“This is it,” Annie says as she eases herself down onto the locker room bench; she exhales deeply as the sweat continues to drip down from her forehead, her elbows resting on her knees as she stares down at the floor for a moment. “One more night. Two more matches…” she adds before inhaling a heavy breath, “...and, like, the biggest opportunity of my FGA career.”

“That’s what this is for,” she states, “the chance to become the FGA World Champion. And not a pretender like some people are gonna call it. Not a fake like a former champion might say. You walk outta a company, you forfeit the title…” Annie pauses, “...amirite, Izzy? I stayed silent when NKP booked Zero to ‘defend’ the FGA World Championship. I didn’t say anything when HKW Underground did the same. Or any of the other companies that he’s gonna go to and wrestle ‘cause he’s upset with the way FGA treated him…” Annie shrugs her shoulders, before slowly stretching out the kinks in her neck. Her breathing is beginning to normalize, the sweat formation slowing as she looks into the camera. Dressed in her new red BRUTAL Apparel sports bra and a pair of black linear tights, it’s a far cry from how we usually see her.

“But that’s none of my business. What bothers me is, like, the void he left. That gap at the top and wondering what I need to do to fill it!” She says, fiercely, whilst pointing upwards. “‘Cause two weeks ago I set out to do exactly that. I wanted to stop Ruby Tyler from getting a World title shot - and I did that! I cost one of my best friends the same opportunity, ‘cause that’s what needed to be done. But Molly has her Pride title, she has her match against Johnny Cannon this week to focus on. Her match against Evan Envi at Final Frontier to worry about. And I got to go on and face Chris Madison; I got the chance to make up for the way things ended between the Black Hand and the #sparklebuddies, and I did that…” by hook or by crook, Annie thinks to herself before jabbing a finger at her chest, “...I ended the fourteen month unbeaten streak of my former rival.”

“Two weeks ago I did exactly what I set out to do,” Annie states, looking straight at the camera as she speaks, “and I know three other people did the same. ‘Cause I know Cordy didn’t have it easy - maybe in the first round ‘cause she was used to her partner. But even if the tag champs got the lucky draw, even if they were teamed together…” Annie shrugs again, “...it doesn’t change the fact that Cordy had to beat Dan Herrera in the second round. Yeah, yeah, Tony, I know what you’re gonna say. Dan’s a choke artist, he’s never held a World title, he doesn’t know what it means to be a champion.”

“And screw that!” Annie yells.

“He’s having the best year of his career,” she states, matter of factly, “winning titles here, there, and everywhere. And he gave Cordy one helluva match two weeks ago. He pushed her harder than most people woulda thought he was gonna, and I’m gonna applaud Cordy for getting past him. I’m gonna applaud Cordy for making it this far, ‘cause I know she’s driven by the same sorta feelings I am. ‘Cause I know Cordy is looking ahead to the final and wondering which of us - me or Tony - she’s gonna be facing.”

“Is she gonna have to face Sunshine Scandalous? Are two winners of the Frontier Lions Cup gonna get the chance to battle it out to see who’s better? Are two winners of the Gold Rush Rumble gonna get to settle their differences in the ring?” Annie pauses again, taking a deep breath. “Are two of the best FGA wrestlers to never be World champion finally gonna get that chance to win the belt? That’s what you wanna know, huh? ‘Cause that’s the match everybody wants to see happen. That’s the match that the fans probably wanna see, that the wrestlers gathered round the monitors backstage are gonna wanna see. That’s probably the match that Tony and Cordy wanna see happen.”

“And I’m rooting for you, Cordy,” Annie holds a hand to her chest, “I am. I really am. ‘Cause when I become the FGA World Champion there’s, like, very few other people I’d wanna face for it than you. ‘Cause me and you aren’t strangers in or out of the ring. We’re the tag team wrestlers who are tryna make it in singles competition. We’re the women that people look at and tell us we’ve got no place in the ring. We’re the wrestlers that people struggle to take seriously ‘cause of how we look. And it doesn’t matter how much butt we kick! It doesn’t seem to matter how many titles we win! ‘Cause we smile, and we have fun. ‘Cause we’ve got friends. ‘Cause we don’t talk about murdering or maiming people, we ‘don’t belong’...” Annie uses the air quotes and sighs, shaking her head before she speaks again ”...and I hate that. And I’m gonna change that opinion about me, just like you’ve done about yourself.”

“I wanna be like you, Cordy. It’s why I’ve asked for your advice how many times now? Before big matches, big decisions; you’re my friend and I love you, and I respect you more than I can say.”

“Maybe that’s why I wanna face you in the ring again,” Annie says with a nod of the head. She pushes some hair back behind her ears as she speaks, “‘cause when I face my friends I push myself harder than usual. ‘Cause when I face my friends I don’t wanna let them down, I don’t wanna let myself down. And they might not be cheering for me right now - they might all be in your corner, on your side - but I don’t wanna let the fans down either. Against Molly or Fel, Dom or Tony, I give everything I have in that ring. And that’s one of the reasons why I wanna face Cordy in the finals…”

“And maybe ‘cause the only other time we faced each other was that semi final in the Dynamic Duos a coupla years ago…” Annie bites her bottom lip, “...when the #sparklebuddies beat Sex Sells. That night in Asbury Park is gonna help drive me, Cordy. Probably just like it’s gonna drive you. May 31st 2014…” Annie pauses briefly, before shaking her head as she giggles, “...wow, two years. That’s, like, a lifetime ago. And I know Cordy remembers how she felt watching on as Cindy got pinned. And I know that Cordy remembers how it felt having that opportunity taken from her. So she’s gonna be hungry. She’s gonna be driven by revenge when we step into that ring together.” Annie pauses, a smile forming on her face as she looks at the camera.

“Bring it on…” she demands.

“Bring that hunger, that lust for revenge, that drive for gold,” Annie exclaims, “and make me earn this World title, Cordy. And use all of that,” she jabs a finger at the camera again, “to beat Izzy in the semi finals … ‘cause I can’t be bothered to deal with her again. ‘Cause I don’t wanna have to listen to drone on about how nobody cares about her, or how nobody helped her. I don’t wanna to endure another lecture about how, like, we should evolve or die. And most importantly, I don’t want her near the FGA World Championship.”

“Someone who feigns ignorance to appear witty,” Annie shakes her head, “confusing your opponent for someone who hasn’t wrestled here in, like, five months…” Annie mock applauds before scowling at the camera, “...funny. Real funny, Izzy. But even then it’s in line with your claims that nobody cared when you got kidnapped, or that FGA did nothing for you while you were gone. Amirite? I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Izzy, nobody here moonlights as a bounty hunter. Nobody here can track you cross country to find out where you were hidden. That’s the police’s job,” Annie pauses, “how’s that investigation coming, by the way? Any leads? Are you helping the detectives with their investigation? Have there been any arrests made for your ‘kidnapping’, and your ‘imprisonment’?” Annie uses the air quotes again.

“Maybe when you escaped to go wrestle in ECWF, you coulda told somebody you were ok then! Maybe you coulda gone to the police and told them you were safe! Maybe you coulda told Cordy, or Sofia King, or Zero that you were ok. Since they were the only people who cared about you…” Annie leans forward, “...God knows Zoey didn’t, huh? That’s why she was off being paraded round on some other company’s TV show as a possible new signing. It’s probably why you dumped her as soon as you were ‘freed’ or whatever word you use for it. Probably why you didn’t bat an eyelash when she got married to someone else recently. That’s probably why you took your ball and went home, huh?” Annie stares right at the camera again.

“Or is that why you’re not judging Zero harshly for what he did, Vestige? The only difference between you and him is that you ‘forfeited’--” there’s those air quotes again! “--the Extreme title before you quit ECWF. Don’t worry though, I hear they got a new champion now, a better champion than you too. ‘Cause walking away when things don’t go your way is just what you do isn’t it? Is that part of your evolution?”

“Evolve or die, amirite?!” Annie exclaims, as she rolls her eyes.

She sighs before speaking again, “The extra twenty pounds of muscle mass you’ve put on since All Star Showdown is probably part of that too, huh? You can tell me, Izzy,” Annie leans forward, speaking in a whisper, “if your ‘kidnappers’ were force feeding you, like, steroids, or something … just blink twice. Or did they just have amazing gym equipment there? And is this evolution just gonna make you more, like, hellbent on death and destruction?”

“Come on, Izzy, talk more about maiming someone in the ring. Tell us how you’re gonna leave a trail of blood in your wake. Piles of bodies left behind as you go on to become the best champion ever!” she says, sarcastically. “Become emotionless bitch number 2742 whose only goal in wrestling is to injure everybody else. ‘Cause beating them isn’t enough, ‘cause your personal glory comes before all else. ‘Cause you wanna be known as an ass kicking machine! ‘Cause you think putting people on the shelf is funny, huh? Ending careers is a joke to you? What you did to Dom at Final Frontier, or what you did to Lacey in ECWF, or … where else have you been while you were gone from FGA? Nah, that’s not important. And don’t tell me what you wanna do to me. ‘Cause I don’t give a damn, Izzy. Not about you, not about your pining over the Mid-Atlantic Legacy title. Not about your dumbass friends, not about your dumbass evolution--” Annie shakes her head vigorously, “--’cause you shoulda just pressed the B button and cancelled that evolution, Izzy! ‘Cause the wrestling world doesn’t need Artemis Kaiser 2.0!”

“But you’re just like your mentor though now, aren’t you?”

“Death! Destruction! War! Blood! Gore! Ooh, Cordy butt!” her voice is ripe with sarcasm as Annie looks off to one side, wide eyed and mouth agape. But only for a moment before looking back at the camera. “Death! Destruction! War! Blood! Gore! Ooh, Molly butt!” she repeats the process. “But, I mean, it’s nice to know your, like, primal urges haven’t disappeared. You can still get distracted by tits and ass like most wrestlers.”

“And I hope you don’t get near that title, Izzy. I hope you don’t get past the semi-final so you don’t get to disgrace that title belt like you’ve done to professional wrestling. So you can’t prop yourself on the boast of having an FGA World title opportunity,” Annie glares at the camera, “‘cause we’d never hear the end of it, and that’d just be one more thing of yours we’d have to ignore.”

Annie sits up straight, pushing her hair back behind her ears again as she looks towards the camera again. A deep breath is exhaled, her chest heaving up and down as she gets ready to speak again. “But before I can get to that final, before I face either of them, I’ve got my own semi final match. And another match against Tony Carmine. And the worst thing is, I know what you’re gonna say already.”

“You’re gonna tell me that I don’t deserve to be champion. That I don’t have what it takes to become the FGA World Champion. That I’m not even gonna get a shot,” Annie closes her eyes for a few seconds, “it’s ok, I’ve heard it all before. Here and in Germany. But I earned my chance there, and Levi agreed to give me a shot at his belt. Just like I’m gonna earn my chance here in FGA. ‘Cause I know that beating Molly and Ruby, that beating Chris Madison - that might not be on the same level as beating Tony and Cordy. And I know that Tony Carmine knows me better in that ring than most people. ‘Cause we’ve fought, what, seven times now? We wrestled a few months ago and he won again, probably taking him to a 4-3 lead over me or something like that.”

“Tony’s gonna tell me that he won the Frontier Lions Cup, and the Gold Rush Rumble, and that he’s a better wrestler than me. He’s gonna tell me that he’s had more title opportunities than I’ll ever have - and he might be right…”

“But I’ll only need one.”

“He’ll think losing to Chandler last year makes him hungry. Getting ‘injured’ at All Star Showdown means he was robbed of an opportunity. That the loss at Above & Beyond just makes him more determined. That this Saturday--” Annie pounds her fist against her palm, “--will be the night we finally see Sunshine Scandalous become the FGA World Champion. That the best wrestler FGA has ever seen, or ever will see, the best wrestler to never be FGA World Champion is finally gonna get his title…”

“Now that Zero isn’t in his way; now that Johnny Cannon got eliminated ‘cause he couldn’t carry Hardaway’s sorry butt through a tag match; now that Chandler isn’t gonna hold him back; now that the main obstacle in his path is me…”

“Annie Zellor is what’s standing between Tony Carmine and the FGA World Championship.” she states, bluntly.

“And people are gonna look at that match like I’m the underdog. They’re gonna look at these semi-finals and pick anyone but me. They’re gonna say Tony’s facing Cordy or Izzy in the finals--” Annie throws up her hands, “--that’s just how it’s gonna be. And it might be ‘cause they don’t think I have what it takes to be a champion. It might go back to what I said earlier about them thinking I don’t belong in the ring with people like this. That I don’t have what it takes. They want someone ruthless like Tony or Izzy to become FGA World Champion. Someone who’ll make them proud and hold that title like it means everything to them.”

“And that’s just not me…”

“‘Cause I don’t focus on my wrestling,” Annie says, sarcastically, “not when I’m modelling, or acting, or singing.”

“I don’t focus on my wrestling, not when I travel to the UK, or Japan, or Mexico, or Germany, so I can make a name for myself. To pick up titles, or make and break records. To face the toughest competition from around the world. So when I won the SSWA Titan of Trios, or their trios title; when I became the GFP Jr Tag Team Champion; when I become the WCS International Champion on Friday; when I was the NKP Tag Team Champion; or when I become the NKP Grand Champion on November 22nd…”

“That’s just me not having what it takes.”

“And I don’t deserve an opportunity like this. Obviously I don’t, ‘cause I don’t focus on my wrestling. Especially not when I hold wins over people like Tony Carmine, Cordy Stevenson, or Izzy Anders.”

“So look at me like I’m the underdog. ‘Cause I’m the only one of the four of us who’s beaten the other three. And I’m not the one who’s blown chance after chance at becoming the FGA World Champion.”

“Think what you want, but I’m not the one who’s lied and deceived to get to where they are. But this Saturday night, I’ll prove you all wrong. I’ll show you that Annie Zellor has what it takes to become the FGA World Champion.”

“I’ll prove that I deserve this opportunity.”

“I’ll beat anyone who stands in my way, ‘cause this Saturday night I’m finally gonna become a World champion. I’m gonna become the FGA World Champion, and you aren’t gonna stand in my way anymore. This underdog is giving everything she has in that ring; I didn’t cost one of my best friends the opportunity of a lifetime to blow it now. I didn’t end a fourteen month undefeated streak to fall short now. I haven’t spent the last three years busting my ass, beating men twice my size, just to end up with nothing!”

“This is my time!”

“This is my one chance!”

“And this will be the night that I become FGA World Champion!” Annie pulls a brief #grrface for the camera, holding up the devil horns, before she stands up and walks out of shot, bringing the scene to an end.

---

Off Camera
The cold water flies out of the glass, hitting the sleeping woman in the face and breasts. “What the…” she mumbles as she sits upright, wiping the liquid from her face as she struggles to open her eyes. “...what’s that for?”

But there’s no answer. Not right away, anyway. Instead Kimmi Keister gets to open her eyes to see Annie Dupree standing next to her bed with a scowl on her face. “Get up.” Annie barks.

“Nuh uh,” Kimmi groans, grasping at her pounding forehead. The hangover is just setting in after a wild night at the strip club with Annie, Zero, and her sisters. “You come back to bed…”

Kimmi slumps back down into a supine position. Annie, meanwhile, walks back into the hotel room bathroom and refills her now empty cup. As she returns to the room, she throws the water into Kimmi’s face again. “Get up.”

“Annie!?” is all Kimmi can say as she splutters from the water dripping down her face. “What’s wrong?”

There’s a moment of silence; Annie stares at her friend, mouth agape, before she claps both hands either side of her own head. “What do you mean what’s wrong?!” she demands in a hushed tone. She doesn’t want anybody to overhear this argument. “You’re what’s wrong, Kimmi. You telling Zero about us!”

“I…” starts Kimmi, as she looks up at her irate friend; the memories are starting to come back to her as she forces herself out of the bed. Stumbling slightly as she goes, Kimmi finally stands in front of Annie, remorse etched on her face, “...did I? Oh my God…”

“You did,” Annie states, “he knows about you and me and Chase. You kissed me in front of him. In front of your sisters, and the strippers. So yeah, Zero knows about us!”

“I’m sorry…” Kimmi whimpers.

“I don’t care!” Annie snaps back. “One of my enemies knows one of my secrets; he knows something that can hurt me, and those around me. And my fans don’t need to know about my open marriage. My friends don’t need to know me and Chase sleep with other people!”

“I’m sorry, Annie…” she repeats.

“I don’t care! Kimmi, I don’t care if you’re sorry…” Annie stands with her hands on her hips, “...’cause it’s not your fault…” she sighs, “...it’s mine. I shouldn’t have gone to the strip club. I shouldn’t have partied with you and Zero. I shouldn’t have put myself at risk like that…”

“So…” Kimmi whimpers, drunkenly caressing Annie’s cheek. “...we’re ok?”

Annie stands there for a moment, looking her friend in the eyes. Finally, Annie steps forward, tilting her head upwards to give Kimmi a quick kiss on the lips. It might be wrong, but she can't bear to end things between them just yet. “Nah, not yet. You’ve got some making up to do.” She says before pushing Kimmi onto the bed as the scene comes to an end.