"Evolution"

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"Evolution" Jan 14, 2020 17:07:07 GMT -6

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Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2020 17:07:07 GMT -6

January 8, 2020

To say that Victoria Salinas is pissed off after the events of Millennium on this particular night would be a massive understatement. Gavin Grimes’ actions have essentially given her an anger that she hasn’t felt in such a long time. As such, she finds herself alone in a restaurant that is mostly quiet at this time of night.

Victoria (thinking): A winning streak ends because of THAT?

The anger is certainly boiling within her a little bit more at this point.

Victoria (thinking): I’m SO tired of this. It seems like every “big name” I come across in this company… every time I go up against any of them… I can NEVER win and I’m just REALLY tired of it. If it’s not Duke Andrews cheating to beat me, it’s the referee “maybe or maybe not” missing me kick out at the end of that Bethany Driver match. And now THIS? I haven’t felt the desire to absolutely wreck someone since that one time I drove Adrian Waters to the hospital back in GCW when he pushed me way too far… and even that wasn’t worth it for reasons that had nothing to do with him when you take the entire big picture into account…

Victoria pauses her internal monologue to let out a sigh.

Victoria (thinking): And I think the worst part about it is that I’m a Pacific Ocean away from everyone I care about and I have to deal with all this crap alone. This company has really felt like home for me, don’t get me wrong. But my god, this has been the steepest mountain I’ve ever had to climb in my career and it’s not even close. I long for the days when it used to be so easy… when I hit the ground running in places like PRW and GCW… when I’d win championships within ten matches and go on these insane 15 match win streaks and do great things like winning title for title matches on the grandest stage of all.

Voice: Excuse me…

Victoria suddenly snaps out of her thoughts when she notices that one of the waiters is standing above her.

Victoria: Yeah?

Waiter: I’m sorry to interrupt what appears to be a thoughtful internal conversation but your guest has arrived.

Victoria: Guest?

Victoria understandably becomes confused.

Waiter: Yes, they know you and you know them.

Victoria: I don’t remember asking for a table for two. I’m on this tour right now in Japan all alone last I checked…

Victoria’s eyes suddenly widen with surprise the moment Julia Rivera appears behind the waiter. Victoria’s best friend and for years the biggest staple of support that she’s had, especially when things seem bleak, expresses a confident smirk in Victoria’s direction.

Julia: I’ll take it from here…

Victoria is confused and surprised to see her but in a situation like this, Julia’s presence is exactly what she needs at the moment.

Victoria: Yeah… I’m sorry, I forgot that I had a guest. It’s all good. Thank you.

The waiter leaves and Julia sits across the table from Victoria.

Victoria: What are you doing here?

Julia: I had this planned the moment it was revealed that you were facing Gavin Grimes. I figured I’d prepare for a situation when something like tonight happened.

Victoria: I really don’t want to talk about that right now.

Julia: I get it. You’re upset, you’re angry. You have every right to be and in fact, to be honest with you… it’s refreshing that you ARE angry about this. In Hybrid, you were uncharacteristically passive about the way things went for you there. You weren’t yourself and you didn’t even get a bit angry when things weren’t going your way there. In fact, this even goes back to GCW after that whole Adrian Waters nonsense was over. So what are you going to do about it? Are you just going to sit there and take it like you did with Duke Andrews or are you going to hunt the bastard down until you get your revenge?

Victoria: I think the answer is pretty obvious. I’m NOT taking that crap anymore, Julia. I’m TIRED of the ceiling that’s hanging above me. I’m SO tired of NEVER beating the bigger names. Sure, I can beat Joey Leclair and Carmine Reaper and names like that… but NEVER against people like Grimes and I’m just…

Victoria sighs.

Victoria: It’s really frustrating. Just when I thought the dominance of old was coming back…

Julia: Vicky, I’m the only person in the world that’s qualified to tell you what I’m about to tell you. It’s not coming back.

Victoria: Excuse me?

Julia: The times in your career where you’d break off 8, 12, 15, 18 match winning streaks like you were doing in places like PRW and GCW while breaking title reign length records? Those days are over.

Victoria: Okay, all that time building my confidence back up and now you’re telling me I’m in decline?

Julia: No, that’s not what I’m saying at all. You’re not in decline, not even close. What I’m saying is… you need to let those times go. Sure, you can rack up a 5 match win streak here and a streak of 7 there but let’s be honest here… there weren’t many in MWE paying attention to that streak. Leclair? Not bad. Reaper? Well… Grimes drove him out, but still not terrible. What I’m saying is that you can have the longest win streak in the world… but if you’re compiling those wins against the likes of Cheesecake and Swayze Dial and people like that? Nobody’s going to notice. Ever wonder why you were on the lower halves of cards in spite of that streak? Makes sense now, doesn’t it?

Victoria: It does, but I need you to further elaborate on this because I’m at a loss for ideas right now.

Julia: The whole point I am trying to make is… you don’t need to be dominant. You don’t need to break records. You don’t need to be the Victoria of PRW or the Victoria of GCW to feel like you’re worth anything. Do you honestly want to go down the Glory Braddock path where you’re still hanging onto the past? How has that worked out for her?

Victoria: Great point…

Julia: Look at Myra Lynwood over in Carnage Wrestling… look at the success she’s had over there. She’s not focused on dominance like she did back in PRW herself. She’s focused on now and being better than before and she’s won three titles over there because her focus is right. You want to go down the Myra path… not the Glory path. It’s time to evolve and change with the times, Vicky. Physically and with your wrestling style? You’ve done that. Psychologically, it’s time to do the same. Trust me… beating someone like Gavin Grimes… especially now… is going to be FAR more noticeable than those five wins put together. Who cares if your winning percentage is 55-60% and not 70-75? In wrestling, people remember someone with a 55% win percentage with 10 big name, quality wins so much better than someone who wins at an 80% clip with no more than 1 quality win and the rest being a bunch of lowcarders and nobodies.

Victoria: I get that. I remember back in GCW when Rex Sanders was on this forever winning streak and very few people cared. It’s not easy, Julia. I’m USED to being that PRW and GCW wrestler…

Julia: But you’re not in either company anymore. You’ve had it so much better than 90% of this business for most of your career. Nobody is going to take away those accomplishments of the past. Being JUST a bit more “mortal” isn’t the end of the world. I’m not telling you to take this business any less seriously than you do. I’m not telling you to half-ass anything. What I’m telling you is to let go of the idea of being “Wonder Woman”. It’s a miracle that ANYONE would maintain such an extremely high standard of excellence for so long.

Victoria: You’re right. Then you get used to it after so long and that ends up being your own standard expectation. But how’s this going to help me against Grimes though? You know for a fact that I’m NOT letting this go until I have my proper revenge against the son of a bitch.

Julia: I’m SO with you on that, you shouldn’t. For starters… don’t be “Wonder Woman”... just be you. It’s what’s gotten you this far all along. Secondly, figure out who the MWE version of Victoria Salinas is. Stay focused, stay angry. Don’t take his bullshit. But the most important thing of all is to evolve and grow with the times.

Victoria: I have done a lot of growing up lately…

Julia: And this is another chapter in that. I know you have everything it takes to be great… I still think you’re great. It’s just that… in these times… the definition of “greatness” as it pertains to you… it’s changed and you need to figure out what that new definition is. The coming weeks are going to be a journey for you, Vicky. But you don’t have to go through it alone. I’ll be here for you every step of the way during this tour and I’ll do whatever it takes to help you redefine what the word “greatness” means for you. The old definition of “winning 9 times out of 10, dominating the world title scene and being the center of attention 24/7” ain’t it anymore. You’ll get that son of a bitch in that ring again, Vicky. By the time you do? I’m confident you’ll have that redefinition figured out.

Victoria: Thanks for that. It leaves me with something to think about… something different to shoot for. I based my worth on results and glory for so long… and you’re right… I’ve been hanging on to the past. Maybe I’ll never have that old PRW and GCW dominance again… but you’re right… those standards I achieved there were impossible to ACHIEVE AT ALL let alone maintain. I don’t need to be that to be successful… and that’s something I am going to have to prove to myself in the coming weeks…

Julia: Good! See you next week?

Victoria nods.

Julia: It’s getting better and despite tonight’s bullshit… it’s going to keep getting better, I promise. Especially since after all these years we’re FINALLY facing what your greatest weakness has been for so long…

Victoria: Which would be… what exactly?

Julia: Your inferiority complex. Trust me… we’re going to beat this thing… and we’re going to beat Grimes along with it. Starting next week, I put my plan into motion.

Victoria nods as Julia stands up and begins to leave.

Victoria: Julia?

Julia: Yes?

Victoria: Thanks for being there. You’re right… I need to face this thing… and I will.

Julia: Damn right you will…

Julia walks out of the restaurant at this point leaving an enlightened Victoria with so much to think about considering the weeks ahead that she faces and the challenges, both in and out of the ring, that she’s about to face.

Victoria (thinking): I’m going to get through this. I won’t forget tonight. I won’t let this slide. I’m going to avenge this… and along the way? I’m going to be so much better for it. I’ve already kicked myself for not living up to a bar that very few people reach and even fewer people maintain to begin with. Julia’s right in every way. I don’t need to be “Wonder Woman” anymore…

I just need to be me.

Because deep down in my heart?

I know that being me has always been and will always be good enough and in the coming weeks that’s exactly what I am going to prove to myself.

Victoria continues to process the conversation that just happened before ultimately continuing on with her night.

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"Evolution" Jan 25, 2020 16:46:25 GMT -6

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Post by Deleted on Jan 25, 2020 16:46:25 GMT -6

Millennium post show: 1/15/2020

Victoria Salinas has long dressed out of her wrestling gear after her match was cancelled. Even though it’s been some time, she’s incredibly furious. An opportunity for her to get some semblance of restored pride was all taken away from her because Joey Leclair decided to go into business for himself and take out Helena Noir… her opponent that night before the match ever got started. Quietly grabbing her things and ignoring everything and everyone around her, she finds herself in the parking lot before too long. Julia Rivera happens to be in the parking lot already but not even her presence is enough to calm Victoria down.

Victoria: I want to go home…

Julia raises her eyebrows.

Victoria: I’m tired of this… ALL of this…

Julia: Vicky, what did I just get through telling you not that long ago? I thought we had an understanding that you need to let go of an era that you’ll never be able to duplicate.

Victoria: We did.

Julia: So what’s the problem now?

Victoria: You want to know what the problem is? It’s not “hanging onto the past”... it’s the fact that I’ve been here HOW long and I STILL can’t catch my fucking big break here? Do you have any idea how much it’s pissing me off that no matter how hard I try, no matter how much heart and soul I put into this… NOTHING ever gets better? It’s the same old narrative… I’m ALWAYS the one getting FUCKED! Remember that stretch in GCW when I spent an ETERNITY even SNIFFING the world title picture again and I was shoehorned against my will by the dumbest general manager Shotgun ever had into the fucking tag team division?

Julia: Right…

Victoria: It’s pretty much at THAT level of ridiculousness and frustration!

Julia: And do you forget what happened AFTER you got past that stretch? Hmm? Something along the lines of… oh I don’t know… your 4th and 5th world championships, a Hall of Fame induction, a flagship main event win at Resurrection and having one hell of a 2017? Look, I’m not saying that when this stretch of frustration and stupid luck is over that you’re going to attain anything at THAT level… but you’re strong enough to get through this and bounce back… I know you are!

Victoria: Yet… a night like tonight and it feels like nothing will ever get better. I can beat the Cheesecakes and the Swayze Dials and the who’s whos of this company but against a Gavin Grimes or a Bethany Driver… NOOOOOOO… some BULLSHIT ALWAYS has to happen to me… and I KNOW I kicked out in time with that Driver match too… fucking idiot referee…

Julia: You can’t let this trigger you so much. I know you’re stronger than this. Why is this angering you so much?

Victoria: It’s like I’m reliving high school all over again… and those that remember the worst time of my life remember SO well how almost NOTHING went my way during those four years.

Julia: So being constantly bullied, being a social outcast, being socially rejected day after day, being tormented for being “too fat” when you never have been at any point in your life and dealing with a bunch of sexual harassment eventually leading you to wanting to kill yourself at 16 by swallowing a bunch of anti-depressants is the same thing as dealing with what? A couple of annoying idiots and the breaks not going your way? Is that what you’re telling me?

Victoria: When you paint the picture THAT vividly…

Victoria sighs as Julia’s vivid picture painting has her realizing that making the comparison to the worst era of her life was exaggerating things immensely.

Victoria: I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have gone that far. I shouldn’t be saying that.

Julia: Your entire childhood is the root of your inferiority complex and feeling like nothing is ever good enough… I can’t exactly blame you for going that far.

Victoria: I need to get the hell out of here now. I’m just going to go to the airport and get the next possible flight to Seattle…

Julia: Vicky… you CAN get through this. Why don’t you believe in yourself?

Victoria: Sure… I can get through this. I don’t doubt that. I can get through this round of bullshit… but then there will be another round of bullshit after that… and another one after that… and yet another after that. It NEVER STOPS, Julia. It’s not a matter of “can or can’t”... it’s a matter of “want to or don’t want to” and right now? I honestly think I don’t want to deal with this crap anymore…

Victoria begins to walk away from Julia.

Julia: Wait until Saturday…

Victoria: Why? I can’t stand this anymore. I’m frustrated, I’m tired and this whole trip is SO not worth being away from my husband for a whole month.

Julia: Trust me… wait until Saturday. Give me a chance to help you. I have an idea. If you feel the same way once I do everything that I can for you, then by all means go home.

Victoria: Fine! I’ll hold off…

Julia: Good… that’s all I need from you.

Victoria says nothing in response to that as she walks away from Julia and heads off into the night.

FLASHBACK: January 2004

A scared and nervous 15-year-old Victoria Salinas finds herself in the principal’s office with a bit of a bruise on her cheek and some dry blood running out of her nose. The principal seems to be angry but at the same time, he seems to be expressing concern. There’s another empty seat which hasn’t been occupied yet… until now… when Victoria’s mother enters the room.

Principal: Ah… yes… you’re her mother, I’m guessing?

Victoria’s mother: Yes…

Principal: Really? You look quite young, more as if you’re more of an older sister and not her mother… I hope you don’t mind me saying so…

Victoria’s mother: She was born when I was 17… yeah, I was… a bit of a troublemaker back then…

Victoria can only be nervous as her mother sits next to her.

Principal: I really hope your daughter isn’t going down the same path…

It’s at this moment where her mother sees Victoria’s face.

Victoria’s mother: Oh my god!!! What happened to you?

Principal: It appears that Victoria has gotten herself into a fight…

Victoria’s mother: What? Vicky… that’s not you at all. Why would you do something so irresponsible?

Victoria sighs.

Victoria: WOW! Blame me already…

Victoria’s mother: I’m not blaming you… I’m trying to understand…

Victoria: Then don’t jump to conclusions before I get a chance to tell my side of the story. Okay? Yes, I did beat up this blonde… but she was beating up on Veronica and I was trying to defend her. It’s not like I was trying to get into a fight just because.

Victoria’s mother: Is this true?

Victoria: You don’t believe me?

Principal: We’ve reviewed the footage and it played out just as described. Normally, fighting would result in a suspension of some sort but considering the circumstances… I think an hour’s detention after school for the next week would be a better consequence.

Victoria: But it wasn’t my fault…

Principal: There are better ways of defending a friend than fighting.

Victoria: Can I be honest here? I hate this school. I hate my life. I hate that every single day, I get bullied and pushed around. I hate that nothing seems to get better. I’m tired of being picked on for my weight when I’m not even fat. I’m SO SICK of NOTHING ever going my way. I didn’t ask to go through this… this HELL that I’m going through…

Victoria’s mother: ...Vicky, I know being 15 is hard but you don’t know how hard life really is…

Victoria: WHAT? How can you say that? How can you just sit there and act like you know what my life is like. I am DEPRESSED every single day because of what I go through here! You don’t know a damn thing about ANY of what I am going through because when you were my age, you weren’t bullied. You were the class SLUT that everyone got a turn with and you strung me along for YEARS believing that some douchebag that constantly abused me emotionally was my father when that was all a LIE! You were such a SLUT that you probably don’t even KNOW who my real dad is!

Principal: Ooooookaaaaaay….

Victoria’s mother: You’ll have to excuse her… she’s… well… you know how teens are when they act out…

Her mother gives a nervous laughter while tears form in Victoria’s eyes at the realization that her own mother is trying to sweep her own pain under the rug.

Principal: Right… in any case… after school detention for an entire week, starting today. We’re clear on that, yes?

Victoria reluctantly nods.

Principal: Good. That’s all I have.

Victoria and her mother leave the principal’s office and Victoria herself is enraged at what just happened.

Victoria: I can’t believe you…

Victoria’s mother: What?

Victoria: How can you be in denial of what I am going through?

Victoria’s mother: Everyone goes through it, Vicky. That doesn’t give you an excuse to exaggerate your feelings and beat up other girls. You’re grounded for two weeks: no phone, you can’t go anywhere but school without me and if your friends are going to come over, I have to be home…

Victoria: Mom…

Victoria’s mother: I’m sorry, but you made the choice to beat up another girl and you have to pay the price for it. I’ll see you when you get home.

Once her mother leaves, Victoria walks up to a locker and punches it in frustration.

Victoria: I hate EVERYTHING about my life… EVERYTHING!!!

January 18, 2020

Victoria is at the airport looking up at the flight board. She sees that there’s a flight to Seattle leaving in 8 hours with plenty of room to spare. She hasn’t bought the ticket but she did promise Julia that she was going to give whatever her idea was a chance before she did so. She hears an intercom announcement revealing that a flight from San Francisco had arrived, which piqued her interest.

Victoria: Julia mentioned something about a flight from there… right around this time. I doubt it’s Gavin. It’s not only too obvious, but he’s far too busy with his first semester teaching at Montana. I wish it were though…

Victoria sighs as she looks off in the distance. A few minutes later… a familiar face does emerge…

Victoria: VERONICA?

Finally… some happiness in the form of an old friend. Veronica is delighted to see her as they both approach each other and exchange a huge hug.

Veronica: Hey! I haven’t seen you since… well… the wedding.

Victoria: Yeah… it has been a while.

Veronica: So… you were thinking of going home?

Victoria: Oh…

Victoria lets out a sigh as she sits down. Veronica sits next to her with her things in front of her.

Veronica: It’s a serendipitous coincidence that Justin and I were coming here for a business trip on his end. I may understand little about wrestling… and really what I do know is because Justin was a wrestler. What’s scary is that he quit because… he got fed up with not getting to where he wanted to be… just like you are. I don’t want you to do that. Why would you think of such a thing?

Victoria: All I am is the walkover to the big names in MWE, apparently. That’s not what I signed up for. I’m always the victim of circumstance, it seems. I’m so tired of BS being piled on top of more BS. I’ve had a hard time cracking that ceiling here worse than any other company I’ve been in… even UWA. I don’t sign somewhere to be a mid-tier wrestler, Veronica. It’s not me. I know I’m worth more than that.

Veronica: You are but you seem to lose faith quickly sometimes. It’s not a trait you left behind in high school though I don’t blame you.

Victoria: I’m just unsure if I’m strong enough to endure all this. I had a brief reprieve with that winning streak and then things just went topsy turvy again. If I’m strong in any way… why does all the crap that happens to me in MWE CONSTANTLY happen? Why do referees miss my kickouts? Why do people cheat to beat me? Why am I stuck being this walkover to the big names? I do everything right and when it comes to getting back to that level… it’s never enough.

Veronica: I can’t answer the wrestling questions but I can tell you this Vicky… you may not feel this way right now… but without question… you are the strongest person that I know.

Victoria: I am?

Veronica: We went through hell together in high school, we both know this. You saved me from being disfigured by that cheerleader 16 years ago, remember? You endured so much pain during those years… you even endured an episode where you were going to OD and kill yourself before your mother caught you at the last minute…

Victoria: How could I ever forget that? I thought my life was worthless. And my mom didn’t understand or didn’t want to understand… then that happened and she finally “got it”. People walk all over me here just like they did in high school and I’m just so tired of it.

Veronica: It’s a trigger, isn’t it? Back to those days?

Victoria nods.

Veronica: Where nothing seemed to go your way… at least until the wrestling dream came along.

Victoria: I was inspired to be a wrestler so I could be somebody… to pull myself out of the hole I was in. Then I got all caught up in the bright lights and the glory and that was all I could think about because I’ve always felt that without any of it… I was nothing.

Veronica: You don’t need main events and world championships to be anything….

Veronica grabs her by the wrist and the two lock eyes.

Veronica: I live a topsy turvy life myself. I work a very stressful career. There are some days where I really don’t know if I can get through it. Back in high school… after you saved me… when I kept dealing with the bullies… when I felt cornered, I would always ask myself “What would Vicky do?” because I knew you were strong enough to get through that darkness… and you still are and even stronger at that. I still draw that inspiration from you through your career. Even now… I still ask myself the same when my back’s against the wall and watching you do what you do? It gives me those answers every time. I’ve always been inspired by your strength… and it doesn’t come from the world championships or the bright lights or any of that… it comes from the strength in your heart that pushes you to get through any obstacle you ever face. All of that extra stuff will come with time. They’re rewards for your battles at the end of the day… not the end all be all of your existence.

Victoria: Yeah… I get what you mean.

Victoria doesn’t have much to say considering she’s touched by what she just heard.

Veronica: You’re going to get back to where you want to be because you’re too strong to stay stuck where you are for too long. Don’t give up now, Vicky. Don’t base your worth off of things that don’t define who you are. Chase your dreams all you want to your heart’s content… but the struggle makes you stronger… it doesn’t make you worthless.

Victoria: Thanks Veronica…

Victoria lets out a sigh of relief.

Victoria: I needed that.

Veronica: Let’s get out of here and do something fun, okay?

Victoria smiles and nods as she and Veronica leave the airport to do just that. Still, there’s no denying that everything Victoria just heard from one of her longest tenured friends is going to do so much good for her in the future… even if the effect isn’t immediate…

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"Evolution" Jan 31, 2020 1:18:46 GMT -6

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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2020 1:18:46 GMT -6

Flashback: November 5, 2004

A sixteen year old Victoria is sitting inside of her bedroom going through a bit of an aftershock just a short time after going through what was essentially the rock bottom of her life. She’s sitting with Veronica and Gavin and the atmosphere is strange considering all that’s going on in her life at the moment. Victoria is wearing a bandana covering the top part of her head which is as awkward and straying from the norm like the awkward silence that fills the air before her future husband finally breaks it.

Gavin: Is everything okay?

Victoria: I don’t know. All I know is that it can’t get any worse.

Veronica: What happened? Where were you all week?

Victoria: My mom sent me to a psychiatric care clinic. Thank god it was during fall break otherwise the idiots at school would have another reason to bully me. Of course, I know that there’s nothing I can do to stop it. I just have to… find a way to deal with it. It’s so stupid… the things they bully us over…

Veronica: Yeah… somehow it’s a crime to be into detective fiction, take advanced placement biology, wear glasses and use proper vocabulary…

Gavin: ...and to be an American history buff, be a fan of professional wrestling, prefer DC over Marvel, and be a top ranked Yu-Gi-Oh player instead of a football or basketball player and have my best friends be girls instead of being “one of the guys”

Veronica: Really… I’ve lost count of how many times people have accused Gavin of being gay… it’s… we go to a HORRIBLE high school where people butcher the English language with things like “yo dawg, whats the haps on the hood” and all this bigotry and all this… well…

Victoria: Yeah… we couldn’t have ended up in a worse place to go to school. Remember freshman year when I was starting to become dangerously skinny? That was because the “A squad” kept calling me “fat”...

Gavin: You’re not fat… not even close…

Victoria: All this name calling I was going through… other kids calling me “worthless” just like my stepfather would… I’ve lost count of how many times I was the victim of a practical joke… I’ve had my lunch stolen from me… I’ve had my clothes cut up and trashed after gym class… I’ve had someone sneak a used dildo into one of my textbooks…

Veronica: EW…

Victoria: I’ve had hairspray splashed in my eyes… I’ve been locked inside the broom closet… I was initially made fun of for being a virgin before some “A squad” jerk tried to shove me into the boys bathroom and… long story short, he tried ripping my clothes off. I kicked him right where it hurt, got away… and yet… I was the one that ended up with detention for being in the boys bathroom AND for that self-defense because the jerk that tried to violate me was the star quarterback of the football team and the state playoffs were happening and we couldn’t have him be suspended because of me…

Gavin: Holy crap… no wonder you had random detentions… and tardies…

Veronica: ...and absences… and gosh… no wonder you were driven into darkness… with the depression and with wanting to… you know… what got you into that facility for a week…

Victoria: Want to see the final straw? What had me wanting to swallow a bunch of meds at once?

Victoria removes the bandana on her head and moves around some strands of hair revealing a noticeable bald spot that causes her friends’ jaws to drop.

Victoria: That girlfriend of said star football quarterback decided that because I was “trying to steal her man” that I deserved to have a wad of gum plastered in my hair… and through it all, my mother just thought I was stirring up trouble because she wasn’t seeing past the detentions, tardies and absences… until of course… I reached my rock bottom. The worst part? It’s never going to stop but at least there’s no way it can get any worse. I just hope I find some sort of inspiration to turn my life around…

Gavin: You will Vicky. When? I don’t know. What? I don’t know. But you’re right… it can never get worse than this…

Veronica: Yeah… you’ve dealt with a lot… as we have… but we’re all going to get stronger from this somehow…

Victoria: As long as I have you two… I’ll be fine… somehow… I hope…

Victoria (voicever): I survived this era of my life… absolutely the worst era I’ll ever have in my life. It really puts some of my more recent wrestling problems into perspective when I realize that they’re a cakewalk compared to the worst four years I’ll ever live. High school was hell for me and while I was a constant victim of horrible things… I did survive. I’ve always said that wrestling saved my life because a year after this… when I went to my first wrestling show and caught that inspiration… I never looked back. I had a dream to chase… one that I wasn’t going to allow to die. I came from nothing to be what I was in this business… to be what I am now… to be what I am going to be in the future… whomever that may be…

January 23, 2020

Victoria is in quite the sour mood considering the events of Millennium the night before, falling victim to a chair and Gavin Grimes among other things.

Veronica: Keep it all in perspective…

Veronica is doing the best that she can to keep Victoria calm and grounded.

Veronica: You are going to get through this, don’t forget that. Don’t forget about high school and what you went through. Compared to that? This is nothing. You survived that… you’ll get through this too.

Victoria: Oh I will… and I’ll make his life miserable while doing so… oh that revenge is going to be so sweet I tell you. He thinks he can just use me as a fucking walkover, huh? He thought he was going to be one and done and that he’d just move on like it was another day in the office. Well… he can go to hell for all I care for even thinking about something so completely mundane…

Veronica: Vicky?

Victoria: I’d love to take that chair and bash his fucking skull in…

Veronica: Vicky… I don’t want to lose you.

Victoria: You won’t. He’s not going to kill me.

Veronica: That’s not what I meant. If you take this too far… I just worry…

Victoria: Worry about what?

Veronica: That it’ll all go to your head and that you’re going to turn into 2015 Vicky all over again… you know… the egotistical queen bee type that always cheated to win and that took up three segments a show and tried to hog all the spotlight… you know… THAT Vicky…

Victoria: I’m not going to turn back into that. I’m far older and far smarter these days. But still… he and the rest of MWE need to realize that they’re not going to use me to get ahead anymore. I’m done with that.

Veronica: I’m just scared for you in the sense that this may become an obsession for you…

Victoria: Veronica, how would you know this considering you’ve never wrestled before or had anything to do with this?

Right on cue, Veronica’s husband Justin shows up.

Veronica: I’m married to someone that was… remember?

Justin: Yeah… and I know everything about… being in your spot right now…

Victoria: No offense but… what? You were the resident punching bag in PRW…

Justin sits next to Veronica immediately lamenting the way his own wrestling career went.

Justin: Not what I meant. You’re far from a punching bag in MWE. I’m talking about being overwhelmed. I’m talking about doing everything it takes to feel like you’re better than what you really are only for something to always be in the way. I wanted to be where you’ve been SO bad. I was a hot prospect 11 years ago when I finally made my big break in PRW. This was about six months before you got there. Yep, I had the whole world in front of me: youth, a career on the rise, a fucking hot and sexy wife….

Veronica: I did not just hear you call your ex-wife hot and sexy…

Justin: Well… she was… AT THE TIME… BESIDES THE POINT… anyway… I challenged for the IC title twice… lost both times… then I said fuck it. I gave up. By the time I gave a damn again, I was the company joke… then I began to overreach and try too damn hard because I wanted to shake a reputation that I didn’t want… just like you’re trying to do… and it destroyed me. Once PRW let me go the third time… for good… my life collapsed. Nobody wanted to hire me again. I was damaged goods. I developed a drinking problem. I got busted for the good kush a couple of times. I had to do rehab. While you? You hit the ground running like nothing… you had it better than me from day one… SO YOU DON’T HAVE THE RIGHT TO FUCKING BITCH ABOUT ANYTHING, DAMN IT!!!

Victoria is taken aback by this sudden outburst.

Veronica: Justin…

Justin: Just because it’s not the charmed life that you’re used to… just because you’re not dominating everyone anymore… just because what? You’ve gone from GOD MODE to being the highest class among us MERE MORTALS and life is so FUCKING miserable for you? You’ll never reach “GOD MODE” again. You may have been the Wayne Gretzky of PRW… hell of this generation with how you dominated PRW and GCW… but even Gretzky hit the 30’s and when he did… he wasn’t that legendary, all-universe force of dominance he was in his 20’s… he was just a regular All-Star… and a damn good one that was still better than most. When he got to be your age… he wasn’t GOD anymore… but he was still great. Think about that before you start whining about how everything is SO BAD for you…

Veronica: I’m sorry Vicky… I don’t know what got into him…

Justin: Oh and I forgot to mention that during my entire downward spiral there? My wife left me.

Veronica rolls her eyes.

Victoria: You know Justin… you’re a dick. But you’re a truthful dick. I’m never going to reach those incredible standards again… but I’m one of the very few… 2 percent of wrestlers… if that… that would ever reach such impossible heights in the first place. Hell, it’s a miracle I even reached those standards let alone maintained them for as long as I did. That being said… the demise of your career? That’s your fault and I’m not going to allow myself to go down the same road you did. Everything’s going to come together for me… and I’m going to make sure of it. All I need is the son of a bitch in the Tokyo Dome… and I’ll figure out what my new bar is. Yes, my “god status” is gone… but I’m still going to be great in MWE. I’m still going to aim for a world championship because I know I’ll win it. And it all starts with Grimes and making him pay for running up the score… Veronica, it was a nice chat as always. Justin… get over yourself…

Victoria stands up and leaves the scene having accomplished what was needed in the moment.

Victoria (voiceover): There isn’t a person on this roster that’s going to drag me down anymore. I’m through with letting other people define me. It’s time to take my dignity and my power back and show this company why they don’t get to write the definition for what Victoria Salinas is all about...

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"Evolution" Feb 7, 2020 0:21:14 GMT -6

Quote

Post by Deleted on Feb 7, 2020 0:21:14 GMT -6

Victoria: I used to have such a carefree attitude about this…

February 3, 2020

Victoria takes a sigh as she sits in her Tokyo hotel room with Julia Rivera.

Victoria: We met when? About 10 years ago? I had my roller coaster ride like any other person but the first half of 2010, I was just glad to be there, living a dream. Sure, I wanted to accomplish goals and win certain titles but primarily, it was the dream I was focused on.

Julia: Don’t be so hard on yourself.

Victoria: A lot of what Justin said really got to me…

Julia: And HE of all people has a say in anything? It’s nobody’s fault but his that he couldn’t hack it in this business.

Victoria: He’s not wrong.

Julia: Vicky… don’t say that he’s right.

Victoria: But is he wrong? All I can think about is how stupid I was acting before… in my early twenties once I started to focus on being the best at everything. I was popular with the fans but backstage? You remember…

Julia: You weren’t popular in PRW, I’ll give you that. But how much of it was because of jealousy? You were THE it girl of the company. You were THE top star on the entire roster. Hell, you were the FACE of PRW. You had something everyone else wanted.

Victoria: There was jealousy, Julia. But I’m no angel. I wasn’t treating people right. Hell, you remember on my 23rd birthday when I parodied my old self by having a fat person dress like my rookie self and I made fun of her… well… myself… and pretty much did the same thing those in high school did to me? I have to be honest with myself. I sold out at that time and it’s taken me 10 years to realize that. What I did when I made fun of my rookie self… I made fun of that smalltown girl that would become me… that endured everything she had to go through to even break into this business. Essentially… I told the world that the young Montana girl wasn’t good enough, that I couldn’t be successful by just being me and selling out and becoming what I hated was the only way.

Victoria’s eyes widen with surprise once a big realization hits her.

Victoria: ...that’s it! THAT’S why I have the inferiority complex that I do!

Julia: Huh?

Victoria: Because I told the world when I first became a main event star that the girl I grew up to be wasn’t good enough. God, why did I ever wear such a terrible mask to begin with? I remember so much how back then… I had my head in the clouds… and honestly… my head up my ass…

Victoria begins to reflect back to those 2011 memories.

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July 31, 2011 (FLASHBACK)

A 23-year-old Victoria is beaming with pride after scoring her biggest title defense yet in San Antonio, Texas. She’s extended what would become the longest PRW World Championship reign past the six month mark and she’s really proud that her first of five world title reigns over her career would go so well.

Victoria: And the winner… to NO surprise… is me! With this win, I officially prove that I am the biggest star in this company. NOBODY is better than me! GOD, it feels great to beat that fucking asshole Jason Schneider. Fucker!

Julia Rivera chuckles with her in this moment of the early stages of their friendship.

Julia: You really don’t like him, do you?

Victoria: He’s been the biggest pain in my ass this side of Larry Doane. I don’t trust the fucker. I don’t care if he’s turned over a new leaf, he’s still the same asshole that bullied others… but most importantly, he’s the same asshole that bullied ME last year and the fact that I couldn’t beat him one on one until now made me sick. Screw him! It makes me sick that his daughter has such a horrible father.

Julia: Damn, did you really need to run up the score? He’s changed, Vicky.

Almost on cue, Jason Schneider does in fact, show up.

Victoria: What do you want?

Jason: You fought great out there. You earned that win.

Jason extends his hand to her.

Jason: We should do it again sometime.

Victoria: Sure Jay, I’ll gladly beat your ass again to further solidify my dominance as the star of this company. Mind dropping the nice guy act, now?

Victoria scoffs before turning and walking away.

News Article - Published by Wrestling News Online.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Date: December 29, 2011

Victoria Salinas: Loved by fans, hated by peers.

There’s no question that Victoria Salinas was without question, THE star of PRW throughout 2011. With her relatively young age (23), how fast she’s rocketed up the company and with mainstream promotional opportunities that have earned her brand contracts with the likes of Vogue, Maxim and Neutrogena, PRW has the star to sustain themselves financially for the coming decade… and for an extremely cheap rookie contract price of $100,000 a year for two years (though this is expected to change), PRW is getting an incredible bang for their buck.

Fans love her, brands love her and in 2011, she has solidified herself as wrestling’s newest star.

But it’s not paradise for her backstage, not even close.

“Vicky’s grown an ego the more she’s been successful”, an anonymous wrestler stated. “She was such a kind, sweet girl when she first came here but she’s become completely unbearable.”

“I get that she’s young” another longtime PRW veteran added. “But she really needs to reign in the ego. She’s seemingly forgotten that just three years ago, she was just another Indy wrestler with no charisma, no stage presence… nothing. Yet, she walks around acting like she’s the s*** and that she’s untouchable.”

“Honestly? When she parodied her sweet and humble self and made fun of it 10 months ago, it made me sick” PRW star Myra Lynwood stated. “What kind of example does this teach young girls? That you have to be perfect to be someone? That it’s okay to bully people that may not be as fortunate as you are? It’s disgusting.”

It’s clear as day that the young upstart from Montana has changed not only personally, but physically. Having dyed her hair blonde last year and even shedding some weight (Victoria is said to have dropped “a dress size or two” by a physician that has deemed said change “unnecessary and possibly unhealthy”), Victoria is nothing like the sweet, humble, “aw shucks” forest girl that inspired the imaginations of many… especially those like her that grew up with such a harsh childhood like she did.

“It’s sad,” a fellow PRW wrestler said. “So many young girls looked up to her because of her inspirational story, and now she’s become exactly what she was bullied by. I thought that when her confidence grew, it was a great thing for her because of how skittish and shy she was. But this is too much.”

When offered a chance to comment, Victoria herself stated “These are just empty words by mindless, pathetic haters. Most of these haters are probably people that will never reach my heights… or even halfway to those heights. Those idiots that hide behind their anonymity like the cowards that they are need to grow up, take several f****** seats, and shut the f*** up. They didn’t pave the way for me, I did it for myself and I’m showing those less fortunate that you can grow from nothing to being THE biggest star in wrestling. If my peers can’t accept that, then they’re just drowning in their hatred of me. What am I supposed to say? Sorry that they’re not as hot as I am?”

We’re sure that won’t endear her to her peers at all…

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Present Day…

Victoria: Wow…

Victoria almost feels embarrassed for herself when she reads the news clipping above that Julia had shown her.

Victoria: I used to not know why I was like that but… I do now. I was hiding in pain and insecurity. Once I got “famous”, I hated my childhood. I blamed my mother for it and I treated her like garbage. I hated her so much that I… can you keep a secret?

Julia: Sure…

Victoria: You remember Kevin, right? The boyfriend that I had before my ex-husband?

Julia: I thought it was that British guy you were seeing before you went to GCW…

Victoria: ...oh… you’re right.

Julia: But yes, I remember him.

Victoria: When I lost my virginity to him, we had sex on my mother’s bedroom, just to stick it to her.

Julia: God, it was like your teenage rebellion hit about 6-8 years late.

Victoria: I was rebelling against a childhood that I hated so much. I felt like my wrestling glory… or vainglory rather… was all I had. Only a few people… you being one of them… were allowed to be in my inner circle and know everything about what I was going through. Honestly? It hurt that I was so unpopular… but I was able to hide it because of how successful I was. Having the likes of Larry Doane and Jason Schneider… ESPECIALLY the former… on my ass constantly… god it was maddening. I was way looser when I wasn’t competing with the fucker trying to get to the world title before…

Julia: ...that’s it, isn’t it? When Larry got there? When he came after you? When he won a Money in the Bank contract at the expense of you and four others? When in the fall of 2010, he was ahead of you and seemingly was going to win a world title before you did?

Victoria: That’s when I changed, wasn’t it? Because I felt like if I didn’t… he’d beat me to the world title… that he’d be a bigger star than me and I tried so hard for it not to happen. Oh god…

Victoria lets out a regretful sigh.

Julia: Vicky…

Victoria: In the end, he really did win…

Julia: What?

Victoria: I changed to be better than him and it stuck with me for years. He had the power the whole time.

Julia: It’s not true…

Victoria: How do you know that?

Julia: You were going to be a world champion in PRW, and subsequently in GCW regardless of whether you changed or not. That’s how damn good you are and always have been. You have one of the biggest hearts I’ve ever known. He never had power because he was never good enough to be the world champion you’d become and that’s why he gave you such a hard time and was taking constant potshots at you… because you were stronger than him the entire time and deep down, he knew that. After you caught fire… he got more desperate. He reacted and changed his methods in response to your success. YOU were the one with the power, Vicky. You just didn’t see it at the time…

Victoria: And because I didn’t see it, I stooped to his level. I didn’t have to do that…

Victoria further reflects on the past and how things were back then.

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January 2012 (FLASHBACK)

Larry: At long last… I have waited for this for such a long time…

Larry Doane is staring at a poster of Victoria with anger and evil intentions in his eyes.

Larry: The night where I win this tournament and go on to win the world title in the same night. The night where FINALLY… I not only achieve my entitled destiny but also prove once and for all that I AM SUPERIOR TO VICTORIA SALINAS! It’s the night where I finally reign supreme and prove that I should be the biggest star in PRW… that I am THE sex symbol, THE creme de la creme, THE Texas Sized Strudel that every girl… including VICTORIA deep down inside… wants a bite out of… while she? She’s nothing but a hormonal hussy…

Victoria: Hormonal hussy? Really?

Victoria is angry at everything she just heard and Larry turns around to greet her.

Larry: There’s my bitch… the one I am going to beat tonight to get a world title shot…

Victoria grabs him by the collar and pins him against the wall, causing him to laugh.

Victoria: You’ll never be a world champion. You want to know why? Because I’ll always be here to make sure you don’t.

Larry: So what is it? Do you want to become champion for the second time or prevent me from being champion?

Victoria: Fuck yourself, you piece of trash.

Larry: Actually, why don’t you drop to your knees and suck my dick? That’d be nice. Oh wait… once I beat you tonight, that’s exactly what you’ll be doing. Trust me, it’s a much better tasting one than Kevin’s…

Victoria knees Larry right between the legs before walking away…

LATER…

She didn’t break his arm this time, but once again, in the ring, Victoria Salinas is making Larry Doane tap out to the vainglorious victory. Once she’s announced as the winner, she stands up and spits down at him.

Victoria: This is the closest you’ll ever get to me, you worthless piece of shit. You’re NEVER going to be a world champion. EVER!

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August 2012

Victoria is laughing extremely hard at the fact that Larry Doane is being wheeled backstage on a stretcher after he lost what would be his final match in PRW… and although nobody knew it at the time… his last match in professional wrestling. Kevin, her boyfriend at the time, looks understandably concerned.

Kevin: I don’t understand why that’s so funny…

Victoria: Hahahahaha… oh god!

Kevin: It’s a man’s livelihood, Vicky.

Victoria: But he deserves it though...hahahahaha! And you know what the best part is?

Kevin: What?

Victoria: His contract expires in a few days and he’s too injured to be re-signed by PRW…. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!

Kevin: Vicky… really? That’s not funny at all.

Victoria: I’m sorry… I’m having trouble breathing… oh GOD… what a failure!

Victoria is laughing so hard that she playfully collapses side-first on Kevin’s lap. Kevin though, is far from amused.

Kevin: You’re laughing at a man’s pain…

Victoria: I know, but it’s Larry and he fucking deserves it… HAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh this is SO great! Best part of this entire show… that is… until I retain my world title because you know… there’s nobody in this company better than me when the stage is bigger and the lights are brighter.

Kevin: I know he gave you a hard time but… isn’t this running up the score?

Victoria: Not when it’s him…

Victoria stands up, taking her world championship with her as she leaves the room.

LATER

Victoria spots a bloodied, bleeding, Larry Doane on a stretcher inside of the medical room. She’s amused by what he looks like now as she stands by him. She has her PRW World Championship slung over her shoulder.

Victoria: Oh Larry… karma’s a bitch, isn’t it? Your contract expires in a few days. PRW probably won’t bring you back. And you get to leave not just with NO world championships… but you get to leave knowing that you always were beneath me! You wasted all of your potential with your obsession with being better than me.

Victoria spits on his bloodied face.

Victoria: And for all you put me through, for being a pain in my ass… you deserve this!

Larry’s eyes flutter awake, which brings more amusement to Victoria who kneels down and makes sure to get the world title as close to his face as possible.

Victoria: Take a long, hard look at this… one last time… because I want you to see what you missed out on… I want to burn in your brain the torture you’re suffering right now knowing that you’ll never have this… in this company or in any other… because you’re not good enough… you never were… and your last memory of this place will be me reminding you of how beneath me you are… and always will be.

Victoria stands up.

Victoria: Meanwhile… I continue my legacy as PRW’s biggest star… a TWO TIME World Champion! You? Congratulations! You have a legacy as the biggest bust in PRW history!

She spits on him again and gives Larry an obnoxious, sarcastic wave before pulling out her phone as she leaves. She stands by the room, turns up the phone’s volume, finds a Sarah McLachlan song and plays it loud enough for Larry to hear… and to top it off, she sings along to it in a boisterous, obnoxious manner.

Victoria: I WILL REMEMBER YOU….,

WILL YOU REMEMBER ME…

Victoria pauses the song…

Victoria: OF COURSE YOU WILL, YOU’RE MY BITCH! NOW… AND FOREVER!

Victoria presses play.

Victoria: DON’T LET YOUR LIIIIIIFE, PASS YOU BY...

WEEP NOT FOR THE MEMORIES….

Victoria has a massive laugh to herself as she finally walks away.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Back to the present day…

Victoria: I’m so sorry that I was ever like that…

Julia: You don’t have to apologize to me.

Victoria: I wasn’t apologizing to you. I was apologizing to myself. Grimes has ran up the score on me for weeks with the crap that he’s done to me. It doesn’t feel good… it doesn’t feel good at all. But now I understand. Grimes has been triggering me in the same sense that Larry had and I didn’t handle it well then. I can be angry all I want… but that won’t do me any good. If I go into our rematch this weekend with all this anger and wanting to end his career, he’s going to beat me. In fact? I have no reason… or even a right… to be angry, especially when years ago? I did the same thing… I ran up the score on Larry. I had no right to treat him that way when he left PRW. God, I was so shallow. I guess now I know how Larry felt when I did that to him.

Julia: So what are you going to do?

Victoria: I’m going to beat Grimes, that’s what I’m going to do. That much hasn’t changed. Yes, I want to be a champion in MWE. Yes, I want world title number 6 and my hunger for it grows with time. But I don’t want to realize these aspirations for just another line on my resume. I want to realize them because… I want to prove to myself that I can do this without being a sellout… I want to atone for what I’ve done…

Julia raises her eyebrows with surprise.

Victoria: I pissed off so many people… hurt so many people. In PRW and in the early part of my GCW run, I was a bully. I became what I hated because no matter what I accomplished, I always felt weak. All I want to do is help… all I want… is to make this business which has given me so much… I want to make it better. I want to give back for all it’s given me. I want to be a champion of the small town young ladies that… like me? Didn’t seem to have any hope in their lives. I want to give them that hope. I want to be a champion again… for them. If I fight Grimes with anger, I’m failing myself… but worse yet, I’m failing them too.

This weekend? I want to show them the right way to stand up to your bullies and I’m going to fight this match and win… and create my big break in this company… and I’m going to show the world that I’ve grown up and that I can evolve for the better.

Julia responds to this with a smile, liking everything she’s hearing.

Julia: That’s the Vicky I know. You just figured out how you’re going to bust down the ceiling in MWE.

Victoria: I’m archiving the past… and I’m going to quit worrying about the future. I’m going to think about NOW… today… this moment… what’s in front of me. And regardless of what happens on Sunday? I know I’m going to be alright. Thanks for everything, Julia. I’m glad you came on this tour with me.

Julia: Hey, what are friends for, right?

Victoria can only have a confident smile on her face, showcasing a moment of happiness at last during what has been a rough tour of Japan for her. Time will tell exactly how her new perspective will help her grow, but deep down, she knows that her patience and perseverance will pay off in the long run.

Shoutbox

Hypothetical: Kill them all! Jun 13, 2020 17:49:48 GMT -6

Raymond Reznik: With kindness? Jun 18, 2020 22:23:07 GMT -6

gvb: with fire Jun 19, 2020 13:09:42 GMT -6

Seth Iser: STAB EVERYTHING Oct 12, 2020 11:18:17 GMT -6

Hypothetical: EAT THE CHIP!!! Mar 18, 2021 13:20:28 GMT -6

Seth Iser: IT BURNS Mar 18, 2021 17:09:06 GMT -6

torture: Always been lurking! Huge fan of this fed! Keep up the great work, everybody. Jun 8, 2021 15:44:27 GMT -6

Seth Iser: THE CHIP STILL BURNS Nov 29, 2021 13:52:08 GMT -6

Julian Savell: THE CHIP IS BURNING ME STILL!!! Jul 7, 2022 1:45:40 GMT -6

Seth Iser: BAN THE LAVA CHIP! BAN IT! Feb 14, 2023 12:46:36 GMT -6

Seth Iser: IT'S BEEN OVER TWO YEARS AND IT'S STILL BURNING! WHAT THE HELL!? Mar 26, 2023 10:16:26 GMT -6

cloudy: ☁️ Jun 6, 2023 10:50:10 GMT -6

Lowri Moss: 🌧️ Jun 17, 2023 13:10:16 GMT -6

Seth Iser: HELP! THE LAVA CHIP IS STILL BURNING EVERYTHING! Sept 1, 2023 16:42:27 GMT -6

gvb: THE DALEK IS COMING TO RESCUE YOU! Sept 4, 2023 8:13:05 GMT -6

Lowri Moss: If the Dalek is our hope we are all doomed! Oct 30, 2023 16:29:24 GMT -6

Seth Iser: The burning finally ended. The lava chip nightmares have begun though. Dec 6, 2023 2:10:43 GMT -6

diakos: Is this place still alive? Jan 25, 2024 11:24:52 GMT -6

gvb: I would say so. I'm having a hard time getting back on track but I'm almost there lol Jan 25, 2024 12:10:12 GMT -6

wolfy: how do you apply to be part of the efed? Jan 27, 2024 21:03:37 GMT -6