Post by Deleted on Sept 26, 2019 5:30:12 GMT -6
August 22, 2019
The Seattle Wrestling Academy is all but empty on its final day of operation before its relocation to Miami, Florida takes effect in a few days. Victoria Salinas is staring at what is an empty gym… the final pieces of the ring that once occupied the main gym having just been taken down and carried out of the scene. It’s a bittersweet moment for the five-time world champion. She’s sad at the fact that this will be the final time that she’s going to be in this building but happy that she’s done the right thing for herself as far as the work-life balance of her career is concerned.
Voice: I didn’t understand why you did what you did…
Victoria turns to her right and is surprised, though happy, to see the sudden presence of a woman that’s younger than her.
Victoria: Casey?
Casey Holliday is the 24-year-old daughter of her trainer who has become a successful wrestler in her own right. Casey looks around the place getting one last feel for things.
Casey: ...but now I do. I get it…
Victoria: What do you mean?
Casey: It was so much work for you having this on your shoulders and trying to maintain your career. From a personal standpoint, I understand that this was weighing you down to a degree. Knowing how much I’ve struggled lately myself, I know that if I ever had the chance to inherit this place, I wouldn’t have been able to handle it. Of course, you and I both know that trying to run this place wasn’t THE main reason for your career struggling for a bit… but that’s a different story.
Victoria: I’m glad that you DO understand now.
Casey: We’ll catch up, Vicky. I’ve got one last tour to take before I say goodbye. I’ll see you around…
Casey turns and begins to leave but takes a brief pause before doing so.
Casey: ...and thanks… for what you’ve done for me and my career.
Casey walks off leaving Victoria feeling quite appreciated. She doesn’t get time to really process this before another familiar figure begins to approach her. Turning back to the opposite direction, she sees Dr. Montgomery, her therapist, coming her way.
Dr. Montgomery: They say that in order to build for the future, you must learn from the past. I take it you’ve done a lot of it lately.
Victoria: I have… mostly the part where… gosh, I really underestimated the young lady that walked into this school more than 12 years ago. And I dismissed her as weak during that “phase” of my career a few years back? Really, in order to become me, that young lady overcame a LOT of anxieties. She’s every bit as part of me as the “vainglorious” person that the wrestling world has come to know me as. Give me an E… give me a P… oh screw it, I can’t reprise that silly little cheerleader thing…
Victoria has a bit of a laugh to herself.
Dr. Montgomery: Epiphany?
Victoria: Yeah. Something like that. Feels weird leaving this place again… knowing that in a couple of days I’ll be starting over in MWE. I won’t lie. I’m nervous. Bethany Driver just challenged for the world title. In comparison… I’m nothing…
Dr. Montgomery: Are you, really?
Victoria: Okay, so I’m NOT nothing… but the gap between us seems so wide.
Dr. Montgomery: So did the gap between you and the mainstream when you first broke in… remember?
Victoria raises her eyebrows in surprise.
Dr. Montgomery: Take a moment to reflect on that day… when you took off from here and began to live the dream…
Victoria doesn’t respond… her mind going into a bit of a reflection…
November 6, 2009
A 21-year-old Victoria Salinas has her last bags packed and her dorm room empty as she’s just about ready to take off. There won’t be a grand ceremony for it, but this day marks her official graduation from the Seattle Wrestling Academy. She remains nervously quiet as she grabs her bags, leaves the room for the final time without giving much of a thought, walks down the hallway and straight to the elevator that takes her down to the lobby of the academy’s dorms. Exiting the building, she walks for about five minutes to the academy itself wasting no time going into the main gym… soaking in the sights for the final time. She places her stuff down with bags she had already brought down wondering what awaits her in the journey ahead. Ever the harsh critic, and someone she had feared during her entire tenure as a student, Shawn Riley approaches her, breaking from a training session he was running to talk to her.
Mr. Riley: So… this is it.
Victoria: Yeah…
Mr. Riley: The fact that this day has come is no surprise to me, really. You were always a very gifted athlete with a clear natural talent and passion for this. You were annoying at first with your lack of self-esteem but… in all honesty, I think you’re one of the best students we’ve ever had… and it takes a LOT for me to say that about anyone. You’ve done what very few students in this school has done and… that’s earn my utmost respect.
Victoria: You mean… that’s possible? Sorry, it’s just… you were hard on me sometimes but… that’s the business.
Mr. Riley: I know I have my ways of expressing things. I was hard on you, yes… but it wasn’t to break you down or to be so “mean”... it’s because it’s what was best for you personally. I do have one last piece of advice before you go…
Victoria: What would that be?
Mr. Riley: Take more chances… put yourself out there… break out of your shell… there’s a vivaciously spirited, extroverted, charismatic person underneath your introverted exterior… and if you ever unleash that person, you’ll be one of the biggest stars in this business, I guarantee you that.
Victoria: If I really do have that person in me… she’s really deep down because I’ve never known myself to be that person. Still… thank you.
Mr. Riley: Good luck Victoria.
Mr. Riley turns and heads back to what he was doing while Victoria walks back to her stuff waiting for her transportation to arrive.
Victoria: There’s a part of me that’s worried. What if I’m not really ready for this? What if I’m making the mainstream jump too soon? From an ability standpoint… I know I can do it. But can I handle it on the big stage? What if I flop? What if I’m not REALLY ready to do this? What if my self-esteem and my ingrained lack of self-confidence sinks me in the end? What am I going to do if everything falls apart?
Voice: Don’t worry, be happy!
Through her moment of weakness, the young woman was unaware that Mr. Holliday, the head trainer and owner of the academy, had just sat down next to her.
Mr. Holliday: You are making the jump that nobody in this school has ever made before. You landed with a strong organization in Pure Revolutionary Wrestling. It’s a supportive, nurturing culture and I think that’s what you need. To make a long story short… you’re not going to flop. If you weren’t ready for this, PRW wouldn’t be knocking on your door trying to sign you to a contract.
Victoria: I know I’ve succeeded locally… and regionally… but going global… that’s a big jump. I’ve always wanted this and I’m happy… just nervous.
Mr. Holliday: Victoria, over the last two years I’ve watched you grow from a scared little girl from Montana to a strong, young lady that doesn’t know how her own internal strength. You overcame the worst of odds to even get to this point. It’s not easy coming here with the upbringing that you have… accomplishing everything that you’ve done in this school. If you weren’t so strong… you wouldn’t be alive right now. Remember that. You’re a courageous woman… knocking down the obstacles in your way. You’re ready to make the jump, trust me. Trust yourself… believe in yourself… and amazing things are going to be right in front of you. I’m going to miss the hell out of you but I know you’re going to do incredible things. I hope I get to see you stop by whenever PRW comes here…
Victoria: You have my promise that every time PRW comes to Seattle, I will come and visit!
August 22, 2019
Victoria: He was right in everything he said to me just before I left…
Victoria thinks about the latest epiphany that she just realized.
Victoria: I AM strong… I AM courageous… and I’ve always been! I know that if I trust and believe in myself, I’m going to achieve what I’ve done before and claim that sixth world championship… and then some! Thank you so much, Dr. Montgomery… for helping me see that.
Victoria doesn’t get a response.
Victoria looks around and sees that her therapist is gone.
Victoria: ...weird. I guess he left during my reflection…
Victoria grabs her remaining things and heads out of the gym for the final time. Locking the door behind her, she finds herself in the lobby which is of course, also empty. She’s just about to leave the building… but one more surprise is waiting for her.
Voice: You’re forgetting something…
Victoria turns around and chuckles as Mr. Holliday approaches her. “Of course”, she thinks to herself. It wouldn’t be a fitting moment without the first person in professional wrestling that ever believed in her.
Victoria: Wow… it’s like it’s de ja vu all over again, huh?
Mr. Holliday hands her a small box. Curious as to what’s inside, Victoria wastes no time opening it and she spots a necklace.
Victoria: You got this for me? How nice of you!
Victoria notices that the pendant of the necklace, which is in the shape of a star, has a latch. She realizes it’s a locket and she presses the latch to open it, revealing a picture of herself 12 years ago with Mr. Holliday in a locker room after an ESW show, cheerleader outfit and all.
Mr. Holliday: It’s my favorite picture of us, Victoria. Over the years, I’ve seen you not just as a student that I took in, or a wrestler that I trained, or a superstar that I developed. In a sense it’s as if… you’ve become a second daughter to me.
Victoria’s eyes suddenly light up, followed not long afterward by tears of joy indicating that she feels essentially the same way.
Mr. Holliday: Thank you for everything you’ve given me.
Victoria: No… thank YOU for what you and this school has done for me.
The two walk out of the school together for the last time with Victoria locking the front door, officially saying the long farewell to the academy that made her the professional wrestler she is today.
Victoria: And I promise you… when MWE comes to Seattle… I’ll be visiting you.
Mr. Holliday: Achieve the greatness that I’ve always known you were destined for. Promise me that!
Victoria: Damn right I will!
The two exchange a hug before they go their separate ways. Mr. Holliday is the first to leave with nothing else needed to be said. Victoria stays behind a while before a cab arrives. She loads her stuff in the trunk and heads inside the cab wiping away a tear knowing she’s about to leave the memories behind for good.
Cab Driver: Where are we headed tonight?
She takes a deep breath to compose herself.
Victoria: SeaTac airport. Plane takes off for New York in about 2 and a half hours…
The cab driver nods and begins driving away.
Victoria (thinking): ...I thought this to myself nearly 10 years ago when I left… but this thought is very fitting now…
Let the journey begin…
Again…
With the nostalgia journey over, Victoria can now focus on the future and the journey ahead. She doesn’t know what she’s in for upon MWE’s return in a couple of days at a Midsummer Night’s Dream, but what she does know in her heart is that she’s capable of overcoming everything that stands in her way… especially now that she’s learned to love and appreciate her younger self… the strongest person she’s ever known. With everything in mind, she’s ready to start her wrestling journey again.
The Seattle Wrestling Academy is all but empty on its final day of operation before its relocation to Miami, Florida takes effect in a few days. Victoria Salinas is staring at what is an empty gym… the final pieces of the ring that once occupied the main gym having just been taken down and carried out of the scene. It’s a bittersweet moment for the five-time world champion. She’s sad at the fact that this will be the final time that she’s going to be in this building but happy that she’s done the right thing for herself as far as the work-life balance of her career is concerned.
Voice: I didn’t understand why you did what you did…
Victoria turns to her right and is surprised, though happy, to see the sudden presence of a woman that’s younger than her.
Victoria: Casey?
Casey Holliday is the 24-year-old daughter of her trainer who has become a successful wrestler in her own right. Casey looks around the place getting one last feel for things.
Casey: ...but now I do. I get it…
Victoria: What do you mean?
Casey: It was so much work for you having this on your shoulders and trying to maintain your career. From a personal standpoint, I understand that this was weighing you down to a degree. Knowing how much I’ve struggled lately myself, I know that if I ever had the chance to inherit this place, I wouldn’t have been able to handle it. Of course, you and I both know that trying to run this place wasn’t THE main reason for your career struggling for a bit… but that’s a different story.
Victoria: I’m glad that you DO understand now.
Casey: We’ll catch up, Vicky. I’ve got one last tour to take before I say goodbye. I’ll see you around…
Casey turns and begins to leave but takes a brief pause before doing so.
Casey: ...and thanks… for what you’ve done for me and my career.
Casey walks off leaving Victoria feeling quite appreciated. She doesn’t get time to really process this before another familiar figure begins to approach her. Turning back to the opposite direction, she sees Dr. Montgomery, her therapist, coming her way.
Dr. Montgomery: They say that in order to build for the future, you must learn from the past. I take it you’ve done a lot of it lately.
Victoria: I have… mostly the part where… gosh, I really underestimated the young lady that walked into this school more than 12 years ago. And I dismissed her as weak during that “phase” of my career a few years back? Really, in order to become me, that young lady overcame a LOT of anxieties. She’s every bit as part of me as the “vainglorious” person that the wrestling world has come to know me as. Give me an E… give me a P… oh screw it, I can’t reprise that silly little cheerleader thing…
Victoria has a bit of a laugh to herself.
Dr. Montgomery: Epiphany?
Victoria: Yeah. Something like that. Feels weird leaving this place again… knowing that in a couple of days I’ll be starting over in MWE. I won’t lie. I’m nervous. Bethany Driver just challenged for the world title. In comparison… I’m nothing…
Dr. Montgomery: Are you, really?
Victoria: Okay, so I’m NOT nothing… but the gap between us seems so wide.
Dr. Montgomery: So did the gap between you and the mainstream when you first broke in… remember?
Victoria raises her eyebrows in surprise.
Dr. Montgomery: Take a moment to reflect on that day… when you took off from here and began to live the dream…
Victoria doesn’t respond… her mind going into a bit of a reflection…
November 6, 2009
A 21-year-old Victoria Salinas has her last bags packed and her dorm room empty as she’s just about ready to take off. There won’t be a grand ceremony for it, but this day marks her official graduation from the Seattle Wrestling Academy. She remains nervously quiet as she grabs her bags, leaves the room for the final time without giving much of a thought, walks down the hallway and straight to the elevator that takes her down to the lobby of the academy’s dorms. Exiting the building, she walks for about five minutes to the academy itself wasting no time going into the main gym… soaking in the sights for the final time. She places her stuff down with bags she had already brought down wondering what awaits her in the journey ahead. Ever the harsh critic, and someone she had feared during her entire tenure as a student, Shawn Riley approaches her, breaking from a training session he was running to talk to her.
Mr. Riley: So… this is it.
Victoria: Yeah…
Mr. Riley: The fact that this day has come is no surprise to me, really. You were always a very gifted athlete with a clear natural talent and passion for this. You were annoying at first with your lack of self-esteem but… in all honesty, I think you’re one of the best students we’ve ever had… and it takes a LOT for me to say that about anyone. You’ve done what very few students in this school has done and… that’s earn my utmost respect.
Victoria: You mean… that’s possible? Sorry, it’s just… you were hard on me sometimes but… that’s the business.
Mr. Riley: I know I have my ways of expressing things. I was hard on you, yes… but it wasn’t to break you down or to be so “mean”... it’s because it’s what was best for you personally. I do have one last piece of advice before you go…
Victoria: What would that be?
Mr. Riley: Take more chances… put yourself out there… break out of your shell… there’s a vivaciously spirited, extroverted, charismatic person underneath your introverted exterior… and if you ever unleash that person, you’ll be one of the biggest stars in this business, I guarantee you that.
Victoria: If I really do have that person in me… she’s really deep down because I’ve never known myself to be that person. Still… thank you.
Mr. Riley: Good luck Victoria.
Mr. Riley turns and heads back to what he was doing while Victoria walks back to her stuff waiting for her transportation to arrive.
Victoria: There’s a part of me that’s worried. What if I’m not really ready for this? What if I’m making the mainstream jump too soon? From an ability standpoint… I know I can do it. But can I handle it on the big stage? What if I flop? What if I’m not REALLY ready to do this? What if my self-esteem and my ingrained lack of self-confidence sinks me in the end? What am I going to do if everything falls apart?
Voice: Don’t worry, be happy!
Through her moment of weakness, the young woman was unaware that Mr. Holliday, the head trainer and owner of the academy, had just sat down next to her.
Mr. Holliday: You are making the jump that nobody in this school has ever made before. You landed with a strong organization in Pure Revolutionary Wrestling. It’s a supportive, nurturing culture and I think that’s what you need. To make a long story short… you’re not going to flop. If you weren’t ready for this, PRW wouldn’t be knocking on your door trying to sign you to a contract.
Victoria: I know I’ve succeeded locally… and regionally… but going global… that’s a big jump. I’ve always wanted this and I’m happy… just nervous.
Mr. Holliday: Victoria, over the last two years I’ve watched you grow from a scared little girl from Montana to a strong, young lady that doesn’t know how her own internal strength. You overcame the worst of odds to even get to this point. It’s not easy coming here with the upbringing that you have… accomplishing everything that you’ve done in this school. If you weren’t so strong… you wouldn’t be alive right now. Remember that. You’re a courageous woman… knocking down the obstacles in your way. You’re ready to make the jump, trust me. Trust yourself… believe in yourself… and amazing things are going to be right in front of you. I’m going to miss the hell out of you but I know you’re going to do incredible things. I hope I get to see you stop by whenever PRW comes here…
Victoria: You have my promise that every time PRW comes to Seattle, I will come and visit!
August 22, 2019
Victoria: He was right in everything he said to me just before I left…
Victoria thinks about the latest epiphany that she just realized.
Victoria: I AM strong… I AM courageous… and I’ve always been! I know that if I trust and believe in myself, I’m going to achieve what I’ve done before and claim that sixth world championship… and then some! Thank you so much, Dr. Montgomery… for helping me see that.
Victoria doesn’t get a response.
Victoria looks around and sees that her therapist is gone.
Victoria: ...weird. I guess he left during my reflection…
Victoria grabs her remaining things and heads out of the gym for the final time. Locking the door behind her, she finds herself in the lobby which is of course, also empty. She’s just about to leave the building… but one more surprise is waiting for her.
Voice: You’re forgetting something…
Victoria turns around and chuckles as Mr. Holliday approaches her. “Of course”, she thinks to herself. It wouldn’t be a fitting moment without the first person in professional wrestling that ever believed in her.
Victoria: Wow… it’s like it’s de ja vu all over again, huh?
Mr. Holliday hands her a small box. Curious as to what’s inside, Victoria wastes no time opening it and she spots a necklace.
Victoria: You got this for me? How nice of you!
Victoria notices that the pendant of the necklace, which is in the shape of a star, has a latch. She realizes it’s a locket and she presses the latch to open it, revealing a picture of herself 12 years ago with Mr. Holliday in a locker room after an ESW show, cheerleader outfit and all.
Mr. Holliday: It’s my favorite picture of us, Victoria. Over the years, I’ve seen you not just as a student that I took in, or a wrestler that I trained, or a superstar that I developed. In a sense it’s as if… you’ve become a second daughter to me.
Victoria’s eyes suddenly light up, followed not long afterward by tears of joy indicating that she feels essentially the same way.
Mr. Holliday: Thank you for everything you’ve given me.
Victoria: No… thank YOU for what you and this school has done for me.
The two walk out of the school together for the last time with Victoria locking the front door, officially saying the long farewell to the academy that made her the professional wrestler she is today.
Victoria: And I promise you… when MWE comes to Seattle… I’ll be visiting you.
Mr. Holliday: Achieve the greatness that I’ve always known you were destined for. Promise me that!
Victoria: Damn right I will!
The two exchange a hug before they go their separate ways. Mr. Holliday is the first to leave with nothing else needed to be said. Victoria stays behind a while before a cab arrives. She loads her stuff in the trunk and heads inside the cab wiping away a tear knowing she’s about to leave the memories behind for good.
Cab Driver: Where are we headed tonight?
She takes a deep breath to compose herself.
Victoria: SeaTac airport. Plane takes off for New York in about 2 and a half hours…
The cab driver nods and begins driving away.
Victoria (thinking): ...I thought this to myself nearly 10 years ago when I left… but this thought is very fitting now…
Let the journey begin…
Again…
With the nostalgia journey over, Victoria can now focus on the future and the journey ahead. She doesn’t know what she’s in for upon MWE’s return in a couple of days at a Midsummer Night’s Dream, but what she does know in her heart is that she’s capable of overcoming everything that stands in her way… especially now that she’s learned to love and appreciate her younger self… the strongest person she’s ever known. With everything in mind, she’s ready to start her wrestling journey again.