Post by Paige Garcia on Nov 28, 2016 5:13:45 GMT
As you’re eyes are privileged with the mere sight of me, you notice something is a little different. The confident, bravado oozing woman you see on a weekly basis, isn’t the one you see before you. I’m noticeably disappointed. I look up slowly, my eyes gazing over toward the camera in front of me and as I see it, a bit more despair sinks in and I can’t help but shake my head. I spread out my hands to my sides as I go to speak.
The entire world we live in is nothing but a bunch of lies.
People try and be things they’re not, just to avoid the truths of their lives, and it really is quite sad. Take my opponents, and “partner” this weekend in the Extinction Event.
I point off to the side, representing the male champions.
You have Cable Arcane who proclaims himself the “Best in the World”. Clearly a lie as he hasn’t beaten everyone there is to beat. He just uses the phrase to sell some T-shirts, and raise the blood pressure of anyone willing to listen to him. Then there’s Spike Kane pretending that he is a “member” of the group when in reality, we all know he’s biding his time to strike, because that’s what Spike Kane does. You give him a knife and he’ll shove it in your back down the road. Then, over here, in the distance, is the guy that talks himself up, yet not a single person really cares about him, Noah Field.
I hold my hand off to the other side to represent the two women on the champion team.
Then there’s these two over here...the two that are my main concern here...the woman whose life IS make believe, and another who pretends she’s resurrecting her career, but is really just a paper champion holding MY title until I want it back.
She then points down front and center on the table in front of her.
And then there’s Eternity...creepy...creepy...Eternity.
I shutter at the mere thought of the Diamonds Division Weirdo.
She is perhaps the biggest lie of them all.
Jess admits her faults. She’ll tell you she was in the right place at the right time when she won that championship. Crystal will tell you she was a loser not to long ago, and now she plans on being a winner. Not Eternity.
Each and every single week, that creepy, twisted freak puts on the facepaint, and hides behind her mask. She hides behind the facepaint and the riddles, and she pretends to be the freak we all see; twisted, evil, corrupt, and creepy, but in the end, that’s the exact opposite of what she truly is.
Weak.
I point into the camera, as if pointing at Eternity herself.
You know it’s true Eternity. Your weakness is not admitting your faults, because if you don’t admit them, you can’t correct them. Your weakness is pretending to be something you’re not, providing yourself a distraction from everyday life because it’s just too hard for you to comprehend.
You’ve had your time in the limelight. You did what you needed to do to stay on top as Diamonds Champion. You used the riddles, you painted your face, and you got inside the head of each and every one of your opponents until there were just too many to do it to. You couldn’t get in there heads because your focus was too scattered. You couldn’t do it then...and you won’t do it now.
I point to myself.
I am the stronger challenger of the two of us. I am the one who is hungrier than you to make my name for myself on this newer level, upper echelon of the IWF. So I’ll tell you what Eternity...you stick to your games, and I’ll do all the fighting...and winning.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
“My Time To Shine (Not a Morning Person)”
The entire world we live in is nothing but a bunch of lies.
People try and be things they’re not, just to avoid the truths of their lives, and it really is quite sad. Take my opponents, and “partner” this weekend in the Extinction Event.
I point off to the side, representing the male champions.
You have Cable Arcane who proclaims himself the “Best in the World”. Clearly a lie as he hasn’t beaten everyone there is to beat. He just uses the phrase to sell some T-shirts, and raise the blood pressure of anyone willing to listen to him. Then there’s Spike Kane pretending that he is a “member” of the group when in reality, we all know he’s biding his time to strike, because that’s what Spike Kane does. You give him a knife and he’ll shove it in your back down the road. Then, over here, in the distance, is the guy that talks himself up, yet not a single person really cares about him, Noah Field.
I hold my hand off to the other side to represent the two women on the champion team.
Then there’s these two over here...the two that are my main concern here...the woman whose life IS make believe, and another who pretends she’s resurrecting her career, but is really just a paper champion holding MY title until I want it back.
She then points down front and center on the table in front of her.
And then there’s Eternity...creepy...creepy...Eternity.
I shutter at the mere thought of the Diamonds Division Weirdo.
She is perhaps the biggest lie of them all.
Jess admits her faults. She’ll tell you she was in the right place at the right time when she won that championship. Crystal will tell you she was a loser not to long ago, and now she plans on being a winner. Not Eternity.
Each and every single week, that creepy, twisted freak puts on the facepaint, and hides behind her mask. She hides behind the facepaint and the riddles, and she pretends to be the freak we all see; twisted, evil, corrupt, and creepy, but in the end, that’s the exact opposite of what she truly is.
Weak.
I point into the camera, as if pointing at Eternity herself.
You know it’s true Eternity. Your weakness is not admitting your faults, because if you don’t admit them, you can’t correct them. Your weakness is pretending to be something you’re not, providing yourself a distraction from everyday life because it’s just too hard for you to comprehend.
You’ve had your time in the limelight. You did what you needed to do to stay on top as Diamonds Champion. You used the riddles, you painted your face, and you got inside the head of each and every one of your opponents until there were just too many to do it to. You couldn’t get in there heads because your focus was too scattered. You couldn’t do it then...and you won’t do it now.
I point to myself.
I am the stronger challenger of the two of us. I am the one who is hungrier than you to make my name for myself on this newer level, upper echelon of the IWF. So I’ll tell you what Eternity...you stick to your games, and I’ll do all the fighting...and winning.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
“My Time To Shine (Not a Morning Person)”
I will fully admit to all of you right here and now that I am the farthest thing from a morning person as there ever is. Being a professional wrestler however, I’m kind of having to force myself into this role as the career moves on, so what the hell right?
I roll to the side of the bed in the guest room of Mike and Alexis as my alarm goes off on my phone on the nightstand next to me.
Paige Garcia: Arrrrrrrgh SHUT UP!
I swing my arm over and touch the “dismiss” button. I stretch all of my limbs out as far as I can before sitting up in bed. I looked to my left, out the window of my room and see nothing but darkness at six o’clock in the morning. I slowly swing my legs over the bed and reach into my suitcase for a pair of socks to throw on. Though the house was kept at seventy degrees fahrenheit, there was a chill in the air...after all, this is the end of November in Cleveland, Ohio. I reached forward again and through on a pair of yoga pants and a long sleeve workout top and headed out of the room.
As I walked out into the hall, I bumped into my sister who was all set and ready to go...she was the morning person of the two of us.
We headed down the hall and into the kitchen area where we heard Mike and Alexis talking.
Alexis Caffrey: Good morning!
Sara Garcia: Mornin.
Paige Garcia: Eh.
Mike Laszlo: What’s with you?
Knowing I don’t like to speak, Sara answered for me.
Sara Garcia: She’s not a morning person.
Mike nodded.
Mike Laszlo: Got ya...get used to it...we’re going for a run.
My eyes widened as my head quickly turned to the coffee. I pointed and with a smile Alexis nodded. I knew we’d be working out...I didn’t think we’d be running...outside.
Mike Laszlo: There’s a little path carved out throughout the grounds, or we can go into the city.
I sipped the first of what would be many lovely, warming cups of coffee but raised my hand when the options were given.
Paige Garcia: City! Give me a chance to wake up on the drive.
We were all in agreement, and grabbed our drinks, heading for the front door. We got into Mike’s SUV and drove off for the city as the scene fades.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
The scene returns to the original setting of me, standing behind a table, leaning forward.
So let’s have a little talk, shall we Crystal?
I nod a reassuring nod.
Okay, here’s the truth about this weekend. I want the Diamonds Championship around my waist. To do that, I have to be in a match where there’s a very real possibility, I beat you...as I’ve done countless times before. That however would not accomplish my primary goal of winning the Diamonds Championship, as stated. It would however put me in a class of my own...the first ever two time Shieldmaiden of the IWF.
I sigh.
For weeks on end, we’ve listened to you talk about how you’re a new person. The old Crystal, the loser who trudged along the bottom of the IWF Diamonds Division, while others, like myself, passed you by is gone, never to return, and we now have the “real” Crystal Millar to deal with.
I shake my head and I can’t help but laugh a little.
Please.
Do you know what I see when I look at you Crystal? A placeholder. You’re nothing more than a paper champion carrying a title that I carried into the stratosphere. You’re keeping a seat warm for me to take back what is rightfully mine, if not now, because my aspirations are higher, than some other time down the road.
I look at you and I see a fraud. You couldn’t beat me one on one...ever...and you couldn’t even beat ME to win that championship, and instead took the easy way out, beating one of the other women in the match because you knew I was too much for you to handle.
I point into my chest.
I built that title to what it is today Crystal. I scratched, clawed, and fought through EVERY Diamond on the roster who thought she was woman enough to take that belt from me and as you suffered through many times, I beat them all.
If it comes down to it...I’ll do it again.
I point into the camera.
You can make your claims of grandeur Crystal. You can tell us all you’re back, and you can warn us that the true Crystal is just now beginning to surface. You can tell the world you’re the most dominant Latina on the roster, but in the end, the people watching at home, the rest of the girls in the back, and more importantly, I know the truth.
You’re nothing but a wannabe Garcia.
I’ve beaten you before Crystal, and I’ll do it again...and unlike your win at Extreme Endurance, and your subsequent title reign...there won’t be any doubt on how legitimate it truly is.
I walk off as the scene fades.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
“My Time To Shine” (You Need to Know)
The scene returns to the original setting of me, standing behind a table, leaning forward.
So let’s have a little talk, shall we Crystal?
I nod a reassuring nod.
Okay, here’s the truth about this weekend. I want the Diamonds Championship around my waist. To do that, I have to be in a match where there’s a very real possibility, I beat you...as I’ve done countless times before. That however would not accomplish my primary goal of winning the Diamonds Championship, as stated. It would however put me in a class of my own...the first ever two time Shieldmaiden of the IWF.
I sigh.
For weeks on end, we’ve listened to you talk about how you’re a new person. The old Crystal, the loser who trudged along the bottom of the IWF Diamonds Division, while others, like myself, passed you by is gone, never to return, and we now have the “real” Crystal Millar to deal with.
I shake my head and I can’t help but laugh a little.
Please.
Do you know what I see when I look at you Crystal? A placeholder. You’re nothing more than a paper champion carrying a title that I carried into the stratosphere. You’re keeping a seat warm for me to take back what is rightfully mine, if not now, because my aspirations are higher, than some other time down the road.
I look at you and I see a fraud. You couldn’t beat me one on one...ever...and you couldn’t even beat ME to win that championship, and instead took the easy way out, beating one of the other women in the match because you knew I was too much for you to handle.
I point into my chest.
I built that title to what it is today Crystal. I scratched, clawed, and fought through EVERY Diamond on the roster who thought she was woman enough to take that belt from me and as you suffered through many times, I beat them all.
If it comes down to it...I’ll do it again.
I point into the camera.
You can make your claims of grandeur Crystal. You can tell us all you’re back, and you can warn us that the true Crystal is just now beginning to surface. You can tell the world you’re the most dominant Latina on the roster, but in the end, the people watching at home, the rest of the girls in the back, and more importantly, I know the truth.
You’re nothing but a wannabe Garcia.
I’ve beaten you before Crystal, and I’ll do it again...and unlike your win at Extreme Endurance, and your subsequent title reign...there won’t be any doubt on how legitimate it truly is.
I walk off as the scene fades.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
“My Time To Shine” (You Need to Know)
We pulled into a parking garage in downtown Cleveland, Ohio. As you get out of the car, the wind off the lake was enough to send chills down your spine. We stood near the car and stretched a bit before walking over and taking the stairs down to the ground level. As we hit one of the landings, turning to another set of stairs, the arena next door became visible, and on it, the video screen promoting Survival of the Fittest. My eyes widened as I couldn’t help but stare in awe.
Paige Garcia: GUYS! LOOK!
I pointed at the display with a glimmering smile on my face. I was proud of that moment. This is what I’ve dreamed about since I was a little girl, watching wrestling on television…
To have my name on the marquee.
To see my face as one of the main attractions.
To know that I made it when others told me I would never do so.
My heart was pounding, damn near out of my chest. The cold breeze was nullified by the warmth of success I was feeling throughout my body. My sister, standing next to me, wrapped her arms around me with the biggest hug as Alexis, and then Mike joined in.
My sister was glad for my moment, truly happy for me. Mike and Alexis had been there before. They knew what this feeling was like, and they too were glad for my success, and proud of me. The embrace broke up as I stood in the corner of the rail and took a selfie with the promotional screen in the background. We then took a funny selfie with the four of us before heading out onto the street. As we walked down the last set of stairs, Alexis wanted to know…
Alexis Caffrey: Are you nervous?
We exited the garage and I looked up at the huge billboard promoting the event on the side of the bridge that led from the arena to the West side of the city, me on it again, as were the other participants of the Extinction Event. I nodded as the breeze blew over my face.
Paige Garcia: I’d be crazy to say no. This is the biggest match, the brightest spotlight of my career to date. This is my chance to win the Diamonds Championship in front of friends, family, and millions of people.
Mike leaned up against the wall of the parking garage, stretching a bit in preparation for the run.
Mike Laszlo: Yeeeeeah, I remember that feeling.
For those of you who don’t know, or those who had forgotten, it was the Extinction Event in 2014 where Mike became the Imperial Champion.
Mike Laszlo: It wasn’t here, that would have just been cool. It was Madison Square Garden, and everyone was anticipating Angel to win and continue on with his reign of terror. To win though…
He took in a deep breath.
Mike Laszlo: To hold that championship high overhead with the confetti falling, and the people cheering at the time...it was a moment I’ll never forget.
Alexis Caffrey: Yeah, your moment was better than mine.
Again, it was last year in the Extinction Event where Alexis Caffrey retained the Diamonds Title during her lengthy reign.
Alexis Caffrey: I hit my finisher, and pin the girl, and just like that, I was pretty much ushered from ringside...but I kept my baby.
She turned to me.
Alexis Caffrey: And now you have a chance to get her back.
I nodded.
Paige Garcia: And I plan on doing just that.
Mike walks over and puts his hand on my shoulder.
Mike Laszlo: Plans are well and good, but they’re only working until you get punched in the mouth. Then you need to be able to deviate from the plan, react, and counter with precision, and do whatever is necessary to walk out of there with the win. I know you’ve been preparing...hell the IWF Network has been on my television all week...but preparing and doing are two totally different things.
Paige Garcia: I know.
Alexis steps in front of Mike.
Alexis Caffrey: The important part is about believing in yourself. Thinking you can do this won’t be enough...you need to know you can. You need to know you can beat Crystal, you need to KNOW you can beat Jessica Reed. You go out there, and you execute, and that Diamonds Title will be yours in no time.
I turn and look at the building again, my sister walking up and putting her arm over my shoulders.
Sara Garcia: Most importantly, know that we believe in you. I’ll be there for you win or lose sis...but it’ll be more fun when you win.
We all share a quick laugh as I continue to stare at the advertising, and more importantly, the Diamonds Title hanging over Jessica Reed’s shoulder. I nod with a smile on my face.
Paige Garcia: I KNOW...that’s going to be mine.
I turn to the group.
Paige Garcia: I also know that I can beat you to the front entrance!
Before anyone can react, I turn and haul ass to the front doors of the arena, the three of them following close behind as the scene fades.
()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()
And then there was THE one…
As the scene comes to, I’m now sitting in a chair in front of the table, nothing fancy, just a steel folding chair. My legs are crossed in front of me, my black dress draped over them and my index finger aimed at the ceiling.
Jessica Reed…
The woman who embodies the term “Diamond” in regards to the IWF and the wrestling world as a whole.
I swing my arms around, plucking make believe girls out of the air.
Every single girl to ever lace up a pair of boots and walk out to that ring in the Imperial Wrestling Federation…
I point to the camera.
Is compared to you.
I hold my hand out to the side, palm up and stare at it.
Some girls couldn’t handle that. They looked at the situation as you were better than them no matter what, and they needed to take you out to become something. They’d berate you and call you trash, simply being where you are not because of your talent, but because of your connections to the front office.
I raise my other hand up to the other side, and turn my head, now staring into the palm of that hand.
Other’s reveled in your bright sparkly light of glee. They talked you up as if you were God’s gift to Women’s Wrestling. You were the queen of the castle and they were just happy to live in it, wanting, pleading with God in their prayers to make them the next you.
I turn my gaze to the camera, both palms still aimed high.
Do you know where I fit in Jess?
I make like there’s actual objects in my hand, and throw both over my shoulder before leaning forward in the chair, uncrossing my legs, balancing myself with my forearms.
NEITHER!
I don’t hate you Jessica...I never have, and until you give me a legitimate reason, I won’t. I don’t know you personally, and quite honestly, I have no plans of getting to know you. On the other hand, I’m not going to sit here and inflate your head with praise, because I’m not a suck up either.
I sit back in my chair.
You see Jessica, a wise woman, a former Diamonds Champion, and a Hall of Famer, just like you...once told me an inspiring phrase. It’s a phrase that all the girls who kiss your butt should hear loud and clear. She said “Don’t try and be the next anyone...be the first you.”
Do you get it?
Probably not, and why should you? On a weekendly basis, you try over and over again to be anything but you, because it gives you some sort of release from the real world. You can pretend to be a Power Ranger, or a Pokemon, but in the end, you have to come back to the world the rest of us live in...reality.
And reality is going to hit you hard, right across the face, this Sunday at Survival of the Fittest. You’re going to be looking into the eyes of Eternity, and you’re not even going to see me coming, and that Jess, that will be the biggest mistake of your life.
I shrug my shoulders.
It’s a natural reaction sweetie, you know what Eternity is capable of...we all do, we’ve seen it over and over again. You THINK you know what I’m capable of, and that thought has clouded your judgement into thinking that she’s the bigger threat...and that’s fine.
I point into my chest.
I’ll fly under the radar. I’ll lurk in the murkiest of waters, like an alligator, ready to strike when the time is right. Then, when I do...and you’re laying on your back, staring up at the lights, and I’M the one holding up that Diamonds Championship, you’ll close your eyes, and you’ll want to escape into that little fantasy world you love living in, but you won’t be able to.
The sounds of defeat, the bell ringing, the announcer, telling the world that there’s a NEW Diamonds Champion, it will all creep in through your ears. Your avenues of escape will close, and a tear will trickle down your eye.
You’ll realize that the fairy tale has come to an end, and though you were in the right spot at the right time at Extreme Endurance…
Survival of the Fittest...the Extinction Event...against me...will prove to be the wrong place...at MY time.
My red lips contort on my face, a sadistic smile slowly spreading across as the scene fades.
And then there was THE one…
As the scene comes to, I’m now sitting in a chair in front of the table, nothing fancy, just a steel folding chair. My legs are crossed in front of me, my black dress draped over them and my index finger aimed at the ceiling.
Jessica Reed…
The woman who embodies the term “Diamond” in regards to the IWF and the wrestling world as a whole.
I swing my arms around, plucking make believe girls out of the air.
Every single girl to ever lace up a pair of boots and walk out to that ring in the Imperial Wrestling Federation…
I point to the camera.
Is compared to you.
I hold my hand out to the side, palm up and stare at it.
Some girls couldn’t handle that. They looked at the situation as you were better than them no matter what, and they needed to take you out to become something. They’d berate you and call you trash, simply being where you are not because of your talent, but because of your connections to the front office.
I raise my other hand up to the other side, and turn my head, now staring into the palm of that hand.
Other’s reveled in your bright sparkly light of glee. They talked you up as if you were God’s gift to Women’s Wrestling. You were the queen of the castle and they were just happy to live in it, wanting, pleading with God in their prayers to make them the next you.
I turn my gaze to the camera, both palms still aimed high.
Do you know where I fit in Jess?
I make like there’s actual objects in my hand, and throw both over my shoulder before leaning forward in the chair, uncrossing my legs, balancing myself with my forearms.
NEITHER!
I don’t hate you Jessica...I never have, and until you give me a legitimate reason, I won’t. I don’t know you personally, and quite honestly, I have no plans of getting to know you. On the other hand, I’m not going to sit here and inflate your head with praise, because I’m not a suck up either.
I sit back in my chair.
You see Jessica, a wise woman, a former Diamonds Champion, and a Hall of Famer, just like you...once told me an inspiring phrase. It’s a phrase that all the girls who kiss your butt should hear loud and clear. She said “Don’t try and be the next anyone...be the first you.”
Do you get it?
Probably not, and why should you? On a weekendly basis, you try over and over again to be anything but you, because it gives you some sort of release from the real world. You can pretend to be a Power Ranger, or a Pokemon, but in the end, you have to come back to the world the rest of us live in...reality.
And reality is going to hit you hard, right across the face, this Sunday at Survival of the Fittest. You’re going to be looking into the eyes of Eternity, and you’re not even going to see me coming, and that Jess, that will be the biggest mistake of your life.
I shrug my shoulders.
It’s a natural reaction sweetie, you know what Eternity is capable of...we all do, we’ve seen it over and over again. You THINK you know what I’m capable of, and that thought has clouded your judgement into thinking that she’s the bigger threat...and that’s fine.
I point into my chest.
I’ll fly under the radar. I’ll lurk in the murkiest of waters, like an alligator, ready to strike when the time is right. Then, when I do...and you’re laying on your back, staring up at the lights, and I’M the one holding up that Diamonds Championship, you’ll close your eyes, and you’ll want to escape into that little fantasy world you love living in, but you won’t be able to.
The sounds of defeat, the bell ringing, the announcer, telling the world that there’s a NEW Diamonds Champion, it will all creep in through your ears. Your avenues of escape will close, and a tear will trickle down your eye.
You’ll realize that the fairy tale has come to an end, and though you were in the right spot at the right time at Extreme Endurance…
Survival of the Fittest...the Extinction Event...against me...will prove to be the wrong place...at MY time.
My red lips contort on my face, a sadistic smile slowly spreading across as the scene fades.
Well howdy there pardner.