With Friends Like That

[Shea O’Hara]

SheaOHara.com
Undisputed Rock & Roll Queen!

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August 28th, 2024

Burden Of Proof

Miss me?

It’s okay, I know my real fans did, and for what it’s worth, I missed each of you too. A couple of months ago, I had an unexpected medical emergency in my family to deal with, so I was forced to request some personal time off and go home to deal with everything, so I know how quickly life, and specifically a person’s health can turn.

You can be on top of the world one day, and buried under it the next, so I try not to take anything for granted. Tomorrow Is never guaranteed for any of us, so count your blessings, hug your loved ones and make the most of every opportunity this life gives you.

Speaking of which, I’m more than a little disappointed that I apparently won’t get to square things up with former Women’s World Champion, Jennie Fenix anytime soon. She embarrassed me in the Heiress tournament before last, and now I’m hearing her in-ring career may well be over. Jennie may never be anyone I go out of my way to send a congratulatory fruit basket to, but she was still a colleague I respected professionally, and as such I never like to hear about anybody who is genuinely passionate and driven in this business be forced to give it up because their body just can’t go anymore and they have to pull on the emergency brakes.

Honestly, the suddenness of Jennie’s tragic reversal of fortune has shaken me more than a little bit, and I spent most of last week just reflecting on how it really wasn’t that long ago when I thought I’d be forced to conclude that my in-ring days were over too. Everything you know and love can be taken from you in the blink of a cruel eye or the snap of a fickle finger, especially in this business. It usually happens when you least expect it or you get most complacent about your position in the company.

I guess I wasn’t the only one shaken up by the rumours of Jennie’s injury before we all got official confirmation though, because when Dawn, who just so happened to be backstage hours before showtime to support Warren for his big match against Pax, told me Samira had been in contact to offer her a last minute PPV appearance deal to compete for the temporarily vacated Women’s World Championship, and asked for my advice on if it was worth taking, I apparently gave her the same advice her brother Warren did.

I told her to get that bag, especially as it may be the last substantial one of her career. She said she wouldn’t be doing it for the money. Dawn wanted to do it because Warren mentioned how “f’in’ cool” it would be for them both - brother and sister - to be in main event World Championship matches at such a huge marquee event, and really when were they ever realistically going to get a chance to do something like that again in their lives?

And Warren was probably right, so I gracefully put my desire to cash in my briefcase for the once in a lifetime opportunity that was being presented to my dear old friends, on the condition that they understood that no matter who walked out of Legacy as the new Women’s World Champion, I was going to make a statement a hell of a lot sooner than later.

It’s no real surprise to me that Charlie ended up beating yet another former Iron Maiden to really solidify herself as the #IronHeiressOfTheWorld. After all, Dawn has been retired a while now and is practically little more than the most trusted babysitter in our close-knit circle of friends these days. But to be fair to Charlie, she also has been collecting IWF career milestones with all the soul-crushing inevitability of Thanos collecting the infinity stones, let’s be honest.

(Yes, that was a Marvel reference just for you, Warren! Hope you feel better soon. Love You 3000! <3)

There is seemingly no stopping her or her boo. They’re both on top of the world right now, both figuratively and literally, but I’d advise them not to get too comfortable, not because I’m big bad Shea making big bad threats, but because I’ve experienced first hand that the most rare and special moments in our line of work never quite last as long as you want or even need them to.

So, just like Jennie’s injury woke me up to how much of a clock I have left on my golden opportunity as the Queen’s Gambit contract holder, I did the fairest thing I could at Legacy and reminded Charlie face to face that the clock was always ticking, even on a future as bright as hers.

Now she can’t possibly claim I blindsided her, like she probably feels I did at Immortals a few months back, but really, if she thought that I’d give up my longtime best friend forever to feel like a spare part in their little Japanese Indy friendship club, then frankly it’s a damned shame that Charlie apparently can’t think half as well as she can wrestle.

I always knew she’d be the future of the IWF Women’s Division, I knew it from the first time we stepped into a ring together. I said at the time that she gave me one of the best matches of my career, and whether she still believes me or not, I still feel that way.

I will never take anything away from Charlie’s wrestling ability, because I don’t need to. The only thing I need to do is prove that I’m more than ready, willing and able to take away her newly won World Championship, and my burden of proof begins this week when I team up with my best friend to take on her best friends and a couple of siblings just caught in the middle through no fault of their own.

Tough break, Gretchen, Dixie.

Sorry about your damn luck, but if it’s any consolation, Birds of Prey have it even worse.

🎸🎸🎸

August 29th, 2024

Guest Vlog: Vivienne Daniels

    

Eat Your Heart Out

🎶 Background Music: “All My Loving” - The Beatles. 🎶

~Vivienne Daniels in a swimsuit in a small pool teaching their two sons how to swim. The sound of Cyrus’ laughter behind the camera lets us know who is filming the charming little family home video moment. Their Corgi, Peanut ran around the edge of the pool barking in distress while their Pitbull, Daisy simply slept on the edge. Just a happy family scene, as if no one else’s opinions on her life choices mattered.~

~~~

Shea O’Hara and Vivienne Daniels sat side by side on the apron of a wrestling ring in an old gym that Vivienne had recommended. Apparently, she trained here a lot when she was younger whilst being dragged around on the road by her father and grandfather, both of whom were determined to forge her into the crown jewel of their family legacy.

Shea had heard so many stories of Vivienne’s stolen childhood for most of their friendship, and whilst few were entirely new this many years down the line, every time Vivienne recounted one, Shea was reminded not to ever become so consumed by the business or it’s backstage politics so as to lose sight of what really mattered in life.

Even with all her accomplishments to date, Vivienne and Warren were constant reminders to Shea to be grateful she didn’t have the added pressure of a family legacy in the business to uphold. She didn’t want that kind of responsibility, it felt much too heavy for her shoulders.

It was just her, and she intended to keep it that way for as long as she could. Shea had no desire at all to mix family with work, because she had seen and continued to see what this industry did to families in the long term. It was why Shea always made some excuse to her baby sister Moira about why she couldn’t recommend her for at least a tryout at the IWF PC in Chicago. Of course, believable reasons were getting harder and harder to fabricate, especially now that Moira was seeing her wrestling idol, Charlotte Shimizu at the top of her professional game.

Moira would have sold her soul to have a chance to compete against Charlie, especially now. It didn’t even matter if it was on some random Coliseum pre-show live stream where Shimizu squashed her in three minutes - that too would be a badge of honour to Moira in its own way, Shea knew.

But Shea couldn’t and wouldn’t risk it, especially now that she was a part of The Murder and as such in the direct line of fire of a complete psycho like Dean Harper who had already proven he had no problem with taking collateral to prove his point. Shea would sooner die than risk her baby sister being targeted just because Dean had no one left to hold him even slightly accountable since his divorce had been finalised.

Shea sat with the hollow and empty Queen’s Gambit lunchbox replica by her other side. A prop, there to serve as a visual representation and reminder of her upcoming title shot, because she wasn’t stupid enough to carry around the genuine article everywhere unnecessarily and risk losing the guaranteed opportunity or having it stolen from her.

Shea’s simple turquoise sports bra and gym shorts combination was decidedly much more practically drab than Vivienne’s bakugo-themed training gear, but whilst they appeared on the surface to be a remarkable study in contrasts, they were nothing but united in their professional goals, especially this week. At Shea’s insistence, they had focused on speed and grounded neutralisation techniques, hoping to counter the Birds Of Prey’s most effective offensive strategies at the earliest opportunity. They weren’t overlooking the Winstons, but it was clear they weren’t the priority opposition in this triple-threat tag team match.

“BETRAYAL!

BE-TRAY-AL!

Betrayed me!”

Vivienne blinked a few times awkwardly at Shea, clearly not prepared for the seemingly random and dramatic outburst from her best friend to start out their first tag team promo together. Shea simply chuckled, before regaining her normal composure.

“Now that we’ve all gotten our best Spoony impersonation out of the way for what I did a few months ago to the Birds Of Prey at Immortals, maybe we can all be a little more original and creative about your biggest problem with me this week, like.

What’d ya say Nat? Rini? Sound good?

It isn’t my fault that you brought it all on your damned selves. You’d think somebody like Charlie who has first-hand experience of being ostracised would be a little more mindful about not treating me like a spare part in their little friendship group, just because I didn’t come from the same place they all did. Oh, I was fine as the veteran when they needed somebody more familiar with how things worked in IWF to pick the brains about, but when it came time to actually making me feel welcome as a friend or a vital member of the team, they didn’t really give a crap at all, not even a little bit.

So yes, I betrayed you, but not before you all took advantage of me, first.”

“You all used me only as much as you felt you needed me, and not a second beyond that. You still preferred each other’s company more than mine, and that’s not something I’ve ever felt with Vivienne, even at our worst, we’ve always had time for each other. We made the time, because that’s what true friends do.

I know you both understand that, Rini, Nat, because I’ve seen how you hang out around and treat each other way differently than you ever even thought about treating me the whole time I was the odd duck amongst the Birds. I tried to be patient and to grow into our friendship naturally. I tried not to take it personally every time Charlie told me she’d already discussed something with the two of you and I was the last to know, simply out of courtesy. You all made decisions without me, and I was only ever told when Charlie felt it was absolutely necessary to bring me in. I wasn’t a friend, so much as I was another body you could throw out against The Murder when things got desperate.”

“Well, fuck that.

Enough’s enough.

I know my value and I appreciate my worth even if the Birds Of Prey don’t.”

“So this week, two thirds of Shimizu’s Special Friendship Club get to be a part of yet more pivotal IWF history when they get to share the ring for the very first time with a pair of genuine, true blue besties in our first official match as a tag team. And if you’re real lucky Rini, we won’t make you any more of a footnote than you already are to Rosa DeLuca’s historic win as this company’s first-ever transgender Champion.

Being the answer to a trivia question about who Rosa pinned when she laid the landmark foundation to her IWF career at Legacy 2024 is already probably the biggest thing you’ll ever achieve on your own, let’s be honest, so I see no reason to humiliate you further by also increasing your triviality by ensuring you’re also remembered as the girl Viv and I embarrassed in our first official match as a tag team together. “

“Especially when you and Nat do such a tremendous job of embarrassing yourselves, getting caught out as often as you do by opponents who are clearly smarter and more conniving than you. You lack the killer instinct it takes to actually finish the job when it counts, so all your flashy moves and daredevil antics are little more than sizzle without the steak, that much is abundantly clear to me now even if you both want to deny it whilst trying desperately to save face, like.

Nat, Rini, you can carve out a nice little niche for yourselves as Charlotte Shimizu’s back up dancers if you want, but that was never going to be any kind of worthwhile career for me, personally. But the last few months have only reinforced not only where the real talent in your little band is but also where Charlie’s real priorities are.”

“She’s conquered the world, and even found herself a Native Prince Charming and she’s left the two of you behind to do as you will. You don’t have to take my word for it, she said as much when she said she chose to prioritise her singles career over East Wind, like.

Man, that’s gotta suck to hear, especially for you Rini.

You gave up everything, and have dedicated yourself to being at Charlie’s side like no other. You have prioritised your friendship over your individual career at every turn for years and that is how she rewards your love and loyalty?

With friends like that, who needs enemies?”

Vivienne looks down at her nails, “Rini and Natasha? I know you got that victory in the big Murder versus Birds of Prey match. But I’m sure you both recall I was not the weak link in that match. But I’m not underselling either of you. I know you are both talented. I know you both work well together. You might struggle with solo matches but tag teams are where you shine. It's mercy, compassion, and forgiveness I lack. Not rationality. Not seeing things as they are. You are worthy foes. But I will still crush you both under my feet. I may have been robbed of my vengeance on Jennie and am delayed in paying back Harper. But you two? You will make good sacrifices to my rage for the moment.”

“The way I see it, the only saving grace for the Birds in our match is the fact that it probably won't be one of them to eat the pin this week because the Winstons are here too, including a hardly booked Gretchen.

Hi, welcome, glad somebody finally remembered you exist. As of right now, I haven’t got a problem with you or any of your family of pretty, perpetual pin cushions, so please don’t open your mouths and say something stupid to spoil all of that good will.

Either stay out of our way or do what your family usually do, lay back and think of the big fat paycheque you’re being guaranteed just to share the ring with real stars once again. Hell, if it makes it easier for you, just imagine Viv and I are a couple of The Spencer boys, since we all know you’ve got no problem laying down under them, like.”

Vivienne brushes her hair off her shoulder, “Winstons. You are a package deal as always. I get what you are. I get that you want to be taken seriously but at the same time, your talent hasn’t given you the option to be anything but a footnote. You already know that you are the easy target in this match. Dixie and Gretchen are the big sisters who try to protect their family and see themselves as parents. She is the prime example of Eldest Daughter Syndrome. You might hide your people-pleasing better but you have all the tell-tale signs. Miserable. Feeling your family like a weight around your neck because you had to be the adult at all times, having your childhood robbed from you because your parents failed. That sucks, babe.” Vivienne shrugs. “But let’s be real. Your selfish impulse to reclaim a bit of your own life is resented by the rest of your family. Because despite being their sisters you are still their ‘parents’ and you aren’t allowed to be selfish. You know it. You could try a career advancement, you have the skill, but that would be abandoning your family. And you are incapable of doing that. The easiest way to get you off your game is to go for your sister. Easy.”