Post by Caroline Machado on Dec 11, 2023 5:11:45 GMT
"Hi Virginia!!!
After a year-long absence, the Heiress tournament is back for 2023! Christmastime and competition, they go hand in hand with each other. The training, the hyping..every time people like you or myself step inside that ring, it often feels like a routine. It's a good one, I'll say...but looking at the rest of the field in this tournament, you start to realize that things are about to get tougher and tougher.
Here's the thing...we all have our own little niches to carve out, our own little something that makes us into who we are. For you, you've always wanted to break out from being in the MMA and becoming a dominant wrestler in Imperial. For me, I want to prove that ending Shelly Diamond's record reign wasn't the best thing I did in my life.
Then I look at Shea O'Hara, who wants to return to her form she had many years ago. Or Jennie, who wants to out-do her sister Tara's career. Yet through it all, they've had to start from the very beginning. They've had to hear the armchair critics of the media tell them the one thing that often resonates in our minds as well.
That you're good -- but not good enough.
I understand how you feel, Virginia, about coming up short for the Women's World title. When Shelly beat me back in 2022, I couldn't help but think about what I was gonna say after Legacy that year! Oh, the Work got involved. Oh, this and that and the other!! Thing is, even when I was playing volleyball I wasn't immune to the bad bounces or breaks.
They happen more frequently than you realize.
The truth is, you've proven that you can become a dominant competitor here. You know it in your heart, in your mind, and in your soul. Yet for years, the Women's World title has eluded you. You've always had to settle for second place, being a former Imperial Diamond champion when that title was active. Yet here you are, wanting to push yourself to the next gear, go from warp five to warp nine...hehehe!!!
I know, I know...you hate people that try to inspire others with their work. I understand why -- sometimes the world can be a thoughtless and merciless place. You are you, though...shrugging your shoulders and going onto the next challenge. Yet as much as I admire your passions -- and yeah, I really do -- I will not allow anyone to force me to give into a system that rewards people for tearing down others instead of uplifting them.
I truly believe we can be so much better than that.
So. Much! BETTER!!
I can already hear the haters pointing at me and saying that I've said that before. Yet in a world that often doesn't give you time to take in the moments around me, I often find that repetition and practice can become a very good thing. You might take an "I don't care" type of route against me, but if that's who you are?! That's who you are!!
I welcome the challenge of facing you once more, Virginia.
No matter who wins or loses."
---
Three weeks ago...
One could say that Caroline Machado's life consisted of a simple routine -- train hard, pay bills, and shred junk mail.
A seemingly random Tuesday was about to end in the same manner as any other day of the Brazilian's life. As the weather outside presented a sunny and seasonable vibe, Caroline was busy marking off to-do items from her dry-erase board in her house's kitchen, including planning for the upcoming Christmas holiday season, before strolling out her front door and taking in the sunshine. She outstretched her arms before reaching into her mailbox and pulling out.
She shook her head and sighed, staring at the first several pieces that came from various companies. The electric bill from Reliant Energy, the City of Arlington's water bill, and a junk letter from some Toyota dealership in the region. Yet as she continued looking, one piece of mail stood out in particular. She gazed upon the white envelope and immediately noticed a familiar-looking "eye" logo in the top-left hand corner.
The logo of the CBS Television Network.
"What is this...?!," she muttered to herself before opening up the envelope and walking back into the house. She plunked herself down in her living room sofa and took a gander at a brochure, the contents of which made her raise both brows.
The Colesseum.
It was a Roman gladiator-themed reality game show, pitting various practitioners of mixed martial arts from various styles in a series of contests to determine "The Ultimate Gladiator." It piqued Caroline's interest to a degree, for she was a huge fan of MMA who regularly trained in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu discipline.
A Tournament held once in a generation.
She closed her eyes and began to meditate on the possibilities of being a part of this new competition. Surely, it was a chance for her to be known by a more mainstream audience as apposed to a diehard fanbase.
To the Champion go the spoils of #1,000,000.
Caroline took a deep breath, trying to process the brochure and its accompanying audition invitation letter.When she first entered the Imperial Wrestling business, she often yearned to be more than just some former volleyball player who kept a demure and calm attitude despite hearing nothing but condescension from her contemporaries. As a former Women's World Champion, she often felt like she needed to prove that she was more than just a one-hit wonder. A show like The Colesseum would be beneficial for her career, so she thought as her phone rang.
All she pondered next was to whom she would present the invite to.
To be continued...
After a year-long absence, the Heiress tournament is back for 2023! Christmastime and competition, they go hand in hand with each other. The training, the hyping..every time people like you or myself step inside that ring, it often feels like a routine. It's a good one, I'll say...but looking at the rest of the field in this tournament, you start to realize that things are about to get tougher and tougher.
Here's the thing...we all have our own little niches to carve out, our own little something that makes us into who we are. For you, you've always wanted to break out from being in the MMA and becoming a dominant wrestler in Imperial. For me, I want to prove that ending Shelly Diamond's record reign wasn't the best thing I did in my life.
Then I look at Shea O'Hara, who wants to return to her form she had many years ago. Or Jennie, who wants to out-do her sister Tara's career. Yet through it all, they've had to start from the very beginning. They've had to hear the armchair critics of the media tell them the one thing that often resonates in our minds as well.
That you're good -- but not good enough.
I understand how you feel, Virginia, about coming up short for the Women's World title. When Shelly beat me back in 2022, I couldn't help but think about what I was gonna say after Legacy that year! Oh, the Work got involved. Oh, this and that and the other!! Thing is, even when I was playing volleyball I wasn't immune to the bad bounces or breaks.
They happen more frequently than you realize.
The truth is, you've proven that you can become a dominant competitor here. You know it in your heart, in your mind, and in your soul. Yet for years, the Women's World title has eluded you. You've always had to settle for second place, being a former Imperial Diamond champion when that title was active. Yet here you are, wanting to push yourself to the next gear, go from warp five to warp nine...hehehe!!!
I know, I know...you hate people that try to inspire others with their work. I understand why -- sometimes the world can be a thoughtless and merciless place. You are you, though...shrugging your shoulders and going onto the next challenge. Yet as much as I admire your passions -- and yeah, I really do -- I will not allow anyone to force me to give into a system that rewards people for tearing down others instead of uplifting them.
I truly believe we can be so much better than that.
So. Much! BETTER!!
I can already hear the haters pointing at me and saying that I've said that before. Yet in a world that often doesn't give you time to take in the moments around me, I often find that repetition and practice can become a very good thing. You might take an "I don't care" type of route against me, but if that's who you are?! That's who you are!!
I welcome the challenge of facing you once more, Virginia.
No matter who wins or loses."
---
Three weeks ago...
One could say that Caroline Machado's life consisted of a simple routine -- train hard, pay bills, and shred junk mail.
A seemingly random Tuesday was about to end in the same manner as any other day of the Brazilian's life. As the weather outside presented a sunny and seasonable vibe, Caroline was busy marking off to-do items from her dry-erase board in her house's kitchen, including planning for the upcoming Christmas holiday season, before strolling out her front door and taking in the sunshine. She outstretched her arms before reaching into her mailbox and pulling out.
She shook her head and sighed, staring at the first several pieces that came from various companies. The electric bill from Reliant Energy, the City of Arlington's water bill, and a junk letter from some Toyota dealership in the region. Yet as she continued looking, one piece of mail stood out in particular. She gazed upon the white envelope and immediately noticed a familiar-looking "eye" logo in the top-left hand corner.
The logo of the CBS Television Network.
"What is this...?!," she muttered to herself before opening up the envelope and walking back into the house. She plunked herself down in her living room sofa and took a gander at a brochure, the contents of which made her raise both brows.
The Colesseum.
It was a Roman gladiator-themed reality game show, pitting various practitioners of mixed martial arts from various styles in a series of contests to determine "The Ultimate Gladiator." It piqued Caroline's interest to a degree, for she was a huge fan of MMA who regularly trained in the Brazilian jiu-jitsu discipline.
A Tournament held once in a generation.
She closed her eyes and began to meditate on the possibilities of being a part of this new competition. Surely, it was a chance for her to be known by a more mainstream audience as apposed to a diehard fanbase.
To the Champion go the spoils of #1,000,000.
Caroline took a deep breath, trying to process the brochure and its accompanying audition invitation letter.When she first entered the Imperial Wrestling business, she often yearned to be more than just some former volleyball player who kept a demure and calm attitude despite hearing nothing but condescension from her contemporaries. As a former Women's World Champion, she often felt like she needed to prove that she was more than just a one-hit wonder. A show like The Colesseum would be beneficial for her career, so she thought as her phone rang.
All she pondered next was to whom she would present the invite to.
To be continued...