Over It...Or Am I?

[Ashley Mastrangelo]

Ashley Mastrangelo: OH MY FREAKING GOD!

Ashley is shown in a hotel room in New York City with the window open allowing all of the raging city sounds to pierce the silence of her room. Horns could be heard blaring from blocks away and even a random police siren makes a cameo.

Ashley Mastrangelo: I don’t know what to feel right now. I mean, there’s part of me that wants to walk into the office of Simon and chop him in the throat, and there another part of me that wants to go out there and chop Ana and Amber in the throat this Sunday in the MAIN FFREAKING EVENT of Survival of the Fittest. I can’t believe that I’m involved in such a huge match. A match that could easily change the perception of the IWF forever. This huge match could alter perception as we know it and guess what?

I’M IN IT!

She stands from the chair next to her bed and walks out to the hallway, followed by the camera at her side.

Ashley Mastrangelo: So much to talk about, so little time. I guess I can try and get this done fast, a New York Minute perhaps?

She laughs as she stops in front of the elevator, illuminating the button red with a simple touch.

Ashley Mastrangelo: Okay, jokes are fun and all, but I’m serious. There’s so much to talk about here and I don’t know exactly how much time I have. I want to sight see. I’ve never been to New York Freakin City before.

She steps into the elevator and turns, watching the doors close in front of her as the elevator heads downward.

Ashley Mastrangelo: First and foremost I want to talk to Amber Richards. This is your opportunity to get back what you had for so long. This is your chance to take back the very thing I took from your waist and hoisted high in the air…the Ruby Title. Honestly, other than debuting in this federation, beating you so far has been the crowning achievement in my career and for that I thank you. The match we put on together was so good and as they say, it does take two to tango.

The doors swing open and Ashley walks out into the lobby area as the camera backs up toward the front doors of the hotel.

Ashley Mastrangelo: I’ve wanted to give you this match all along, but it seemed that you had seemingly better things to do than come back and go after what was yours for so long. You couldn’t warrant your time long enough to get your opportunity to take this back. Now is that chance. The world knows that for both you and Ana, the Diamond’s Title is your main focus, but not for one second do I want you to think that means I’m over-looking what we all have coming in the Extinction Event.

She looks around at the busy bustling world of a New York City hotel and smiles.

Ashley Mastrangelo: Then there’s Ana who has earned this opportunity and that’s what I like about her. She could have packed it up when I beat her a month or so ago and not thought twice about it…but she didn’t. She worked harder and won match after match to get to this point of contendership and I for one can’t wait to step back in the ring with her to see just how much better she’s gotten.

She waits for the convoy of bellhops to usher by before heading again to the front door.

Ashley Mastrangelo: I want both of you to know that I know and I have come to the crystal clear revelation that if I make one single solitary mistake in that ring, I’m not taking this title home, and I want you to know that although neither of you professionally scare me, the fact that I might not hold this after Sunday…scares me.

Ashley stops and readjusts the title over her shoulder before looking back at the camera.

Ashley Mastrangelo: To some of you this may sound stupid but honestly, I don’t care. This belt means every damn thing in this world to me. I don’t want to lose it now, next week, next month, next year. I want this belt to be with me until I give it up in pursuit of something more. It won’t be a decision made for me if I have anything to say about it. It will be a decision that I and I alone make of my own free will.

Ashley walks out onto the street where she is picked up by a car service to do some New York media for the Extinction Event specifically and the Survival of the Fittest event as a whole, doing her part to promote the show.

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=== Over It! ===

Ashley Mastrangelo: I can’t believe that I’ve never been here before!

Danielle Reed: I know right? With all the traveling you do, you’ve never been to New York?

Ashley Mastrangelo: I mean, like I’ve always wanted to, I just never got the chance ‘til now.

Danielle Reed: This is AWESOME!

We were driving into Times Square and the litany of neon signs caught your eye at every turn of the head. The mix of colors was overwhelming as our taxi shot through the one way streets, cutting other cars off as they blared their horns in protest. One of the places that we wanted to stop while here was a certain pizza parlor that everyone who has ever visited here has told me about, “Lombardi’s”. Supposedly, it was the best pizza one could ever eat. Being the Italian that I am I would be remiss not to try it right?

The cab pulled up on the side of the street allowing us to get out after tipping the driver for his speedy efforts. He bid us adieu and went on his way as we looked up at the big sign. As we did so, a big smile came on our faces. I mean, who doesn’t love pizza?

We waited for a standstill in traffic before crossing the street and made our way inside through the Spring Street original entrance. Since the inception of the place way back when, a second entrance had been added. As we walked in through the original dining room, brick to our left and a smooth finished wall to our right, it had a very homey old world feel to it. As we were seated, the waiter took our drink orders and ran off to get them. Meanwhile there was a burly Italian looking man showing people around and greeting guests with a thick Italian Accent walked over to our table.

Mr. Lombardi: Out of townas, no?

Ashley Mastrangelo: Good eye. How’d you know?

Mr. Lombardi: Eaaaaaaasy my dear. Most people around here just walk in and sit. You two walked in and seemed in awe at the specimen that is Lombardi’s.

It was easy to tell that he took pride in his restaurant and rightfully so. I nodded my approval and continued on.

Ashley Mastrangelo: We’re from Cleveland, Ohio.

Mr. Lombardi: Uh-huh. What do you think?

Ashley Mastrangelo: It’s gorgeous. I hear that you guys have the best pizza in the world.

Mr. Lombardi: Das whata day say. You here to try it out?

Ashley Mastrangelo: Yup. Large pepperoni?

Mr. Lombardi: Mama Mia, yous gonna love it. Coming to you pronto.

He took my hand and kissed it before moving to the kitchen to let them know of our order. As the two of us sat there, we peered from one side of the restaurant to the other in awe at the amount of people that were able to fit in the rather small space. I continued to observe when Dani took my attention and put it square on her.

Danielle Reed: So what are you going to do now?

I looked at her and thought about the question. I had an idea where this was going, but I didn’t want to go there if I was wrong. I played dumb.

Ashley Mastrangelo: What do you mean?

Danielle Reed: About Ryan? He cheated on you like that and there’s no recourse?

Ashley Mastrangelo: I’m over it. He’s a piece of crap. He treated me good for the first few weeks and then when the going got tough, he took his ball and went home. I was willing to fight for what we had and apparently he wasn’t.

Danielle Reed: So that’s it?

Ashley Mastrangelo: That’s it. I can’t dwell on it. It’s over and it’s time to move on. If this was a doctor’s office I would be yelling “NEXT!”

The two of us shared a laugh as we each took another sip of our drinks.

Danielle Reed: That’s honestly one of the things I admire about you.

Ashley Mastrangelo: Huh?

Danielle Reed: That you can take things in stride like that and not let them bother you. It frees you up to enjoy things like this awesome trip.

Ashley Mastrangelo: Yeah. I mean, like, don’t get me wrong, I wept. Hell, I even cried as I sped off down the street. I cried myself to sleep that night. Then I woke up the next day, sat up in bed, and I thought, his loss. Why the hell should I beat myself up over it? There’s plenty more guys out there…I just have to find the right one.

Danielle Reed: That’s right.

Ashley Mastrangelo: Wherever he may be.

Danielle Reed: I know right? Tell me about it.

Before we could go any further, Mr. Lombardi brought the pizza over himself and set it on the raised tray at the side of the table.

Mr. Lombardi: Hot delicious pizza pizza for the two lovely ladies.

The two of us smiled at one another as he continued.

Mr. Lombardi: I hope yous two have a wonderful day, and if you need anything, lemme know.

Ashley Mastrangelo: Will do.

We set ourselves up comfortably before reaching over and grabbing a piece. Looking up at Mr. Lombardi, I could tell that he was waiting for us to try a piece and report back. I looked at the large slice and folded it in half before taking a nice sized bite. He looked down with a smile as I nodded my approval before swallowing.

Ashley Mastrangelo: People were right.

Mr. Lombardi: Ah yes. Good, good?

Danielle Reed: Heck yeah. This pizza is awesome.

Ashley Mastrangelo: This is really, really, really good.

Mr. Lombardi: Ahhhh, GOOD! MUNCHA MUNCHA!

He walked on to the next guests as the scene fades on me and Dani enjoying this wonderful tasty pizza.

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The scene opens up with Ashley in her New York City hotel room. She has the Ruby Title sitting on her lap as she reclines peacefully up against the headboard and fluff pillows provided by the hotel.

Ashley Mastrangelo: This Sunday, while the boys do their thing in the Extinction Event Sunday, I want the world to focus on another group in this match…the girls. I want you all to see the passion and desire we portray in that ring, not just on Sunday night but every other night as well. We mean just as much damn it.

Her intensity picked up a bit toward the end of that little diatribe and now she sits up with her legs crossed Indian-style.

Ashley Mastrangelo: Sunday I defend my title against Ana Valentine and Amber Richards and although the opportunity for either of them to seize this belt is great, I want to let both know that it is a lot easier said than done. Think of the Ruby Title as a party. The venue is the Extinction Event at Survival of the Fittest. You’re at the door waiting to get in and all of a sudden, the bouncer says no. He doesn’t remove the velvet rope and you’ve been denied. The bouncer is me girls.

Ashley leans forward, placing the belt in front of her on the bed while not removing her hands from the top of it as she looks forward.

Ashley Mastrangelo: I hope that you two don’t think that this is going to be a walk in the park. I hope you’re not both looking at the Diamond’s title and thinking of this pretty thing in front of me as mere second place because it is anything but. I hope you’re not focusing all of your energies on Jessica Reed, the supposed unstoppable female force, the next big thing, and forgetting about little old me because that would be a big mistake.

She lets go of the belt and leans back against the throw pillows again, eyes still on the camera.

Ashley Mastrangelo: I’ve been the underdog my entire life so I am used to the role. It’s a role that I don’t cherish, yet supposedly am thrust into time and time again. All of the times I took on Amber and it was thought that I wouldn’t win, I finally seized the opportunity and did that. I took on Kat Conway and nobody thought I would win…I did just that. So let me ask both you girls something…what makes Sunday any different? I’ve heard the talk. I’ve heard the people doubt that I will walk out champion. They doubt that I will continue on with my record setting title reign. In the end, they doubt me as they always have and to be blatantly honest with you lovely ladies, I’m sick of it.

Ashley scoots off the bed and walks over to the window where she peers out into the city, the cold November air being felt through the glass. Ashley continues to stare as she speaks, her voice somewhat muffled but still understandable.

Ashley Mastrangelo: I thought winning that belt meant that I would get respect. I thought that it would allow me to stop having to prove myself to the doubters…it hasn’t. It’s done nothing to alleviate those pressures and they are even greater this Sunday. So again I am shoved into the role of underdog and again I must prove myself to the IWF community. Again I shall and maybe then, I’ll be taken seriously.

She turns from the window and heads back to the bed where she picks up the Ruby Title and sits down in its place. Holding the title face up, she takes a deep breath before slowly letting it out.

Ashley Mastrangelo: The challenges that both Amber and Ana bring in a one-on-one circumstance is great enough but to prepare against both of them will be even harder. Thankfully their attention won’t all be on me, though I hope for their sake that they don’t forget about me either. I am Ruby Champion for a reason and that reason gets put on full display Sunday at Survival of the Fittest. I promise you all that I will do everything in my power to keep this belt around my waist.

The scene fades as Ashley stares down at the belt, not a sound to be made.

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=== Or Am I? ===

The scene opens on me sitting in my hotel room right after the production crew for my promo packed up the last box and left. They waved as they exited the room and I watched from the bed as the door slowly came to a close. I was all alone and at times, this is the best way to be. I still had the Ruby Title in my hands and set it to the side as I leaned back and laid down in the mountain of plush pillows below me. As I lie there still as can be, I couldn’t help but think of what Dani had said to me at the pizza shop.

I thought about how she said I was able to brush things off and live on and although I presented my case well and put on the right mask…it was all a lie. I can look like I’ve moved on from something but in times like this, times where I’m alone, that’s when I reflect. Times like this are when I let the emotions flow and the thoughts creep in that make me wonder…am I truly over it, over him?

I wanted to be so bad but there’s was just that one inkling, that one thought of, “What if?”

The answers to the question were insurmountable and as much as I didn’t want to think of them all, they rushed through my head like stock cars. They occupied every nook and cranny of my brain like an infestation that I just couldn’t get rid of.

I laid there and started to allow the tears to trickle down my face. I wept and soon it turned to crying as I eventually ended up falling asleep which is how the scene ends.

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The scene opens up to the Ruby Title front and center. As the scene zooms out we see the hands of Ashley Mastrangelo as she holds the belt just a little below her waist.

Ashley Mastrangelo: I want people to get a good look at this beautiful championship that I hold in my hands. This is the IWF Ruby Title. It’s not a toy, and it damn sure isn’t just some prop. By the time we reach Survival of the Fittest and the Extinction Event of which I’m competing, I will have held this belt for a longer period of time than anyone else who has previously held it.

Ashley takes the belt and raises it, putting her arm through the formed loop and setting it in a resting position on her shoulder. She standing in front of a Survival of the Fittest background, complete with full length shots of each and every participant in the Extinction Event, she included.

Ashley Mastrangelo: So let that speak for itself in regards to some of my partners, Spike Kane in particular, calling me the weak link. You maybe the so-called King, but I tell you now that your rule doesn’t extend to me because I can’t be bothered with frivolous things such as douche-baggery. Your pissing contest with Rob Diamond and the other boys in this match has very little interest to me as I have more important things to think about, like defending this belt successfully…again.

She looks down at her shoulder and rubs her hand in a petting motion over the silver coding and Ruby gems that protrude from it.

Ashley Mastrangelo: It really is pretty isn’t it girls? Think of what we’re doing in this match. Ana, Amber, Jessica, we’re doing what I’ve wanted this entire time and it excites me to no end. This whole time I’ve been clamoring on and on about how I want to make the Women of this company mean just as much as the Men. I wanted equality and I wanted to get it with action. I didn’t want to march around like a civil rights protestor. I didn’t just want to talk about how I was going to get it done. I wanted to do it…and here we are.

With her shoulder weighing down from the weight of the belt, Ashley grabs it and switches to the other side before using her hand to brush her beautifully blonde hair from her face, revealing her best smile to the world.

Ashley Mastrangelo: Together on a team with the men in the main event of one of the big pay per views of the year. Jessica and I defending our titles against Amber and Ana in a match where either challenger can pin either champion. It’s a great opportunity all in all for the two challengers who stand across the ring from us, but even more so a chance for me and Jess to show why we are champions. More importantly, it’s an opportunity to prove myself once more.

The smile fades as Ashley looks at the ground, a wave of sadness comes over her like the plague as she slowly turns to the camera, a look of distain now on her face.

Ashley Mastrangelo: I was left in that ring last week to be beaten within an inch of my life by steel chairs while our oh so great boss Simon De Monfort had security usher his precious Diamond’s Champion up the ramp. He wants to protect her from the misfortunes that I suffered through. In all honesty though…I don’t get it. Have I done something wrong in your eyes Simon? Is it because I openly and physically refuse you and your protective advances toward me? I didn’t need you to win this championship and I sure as hell don’t need you to help me keep it.

The distain turns to anger and it is obviously evident in her eyes as she looks directly into the camera.

Ashley Mastrangelo: Simon, you wanted competition. You wanted the best of the best to be in that ring, representing your Diamond’s Division and this Sunday you get that. I want you to watch closely though. I want you to see what you’ve done. When my team wins and I retain my championship, you’ll know that the old saying is true. Be careful what you wish for…if I have my way…you’ll damn sure get it!