Gavin Taylor vs. Marie Jones

[The Matt]

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May 19th, 2024
Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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The Phoenix may have lost the SCW Television Championship and therefore she was not in action on Breakdown in Los Angeles but she certainly made her presence felt nonetheless. She saw Gavin Taylor about to assault the Adrenaline Champion, Bree Lancaster, with a Gavin! Taylor! Lariat! But Jones did not let that happen. The Phoenix would not stand idly by and let something like that happen, not on her watch. Yes, there was motivated by noble reasons, but she also had a slightly selfish reason to get involved. Marie may no longer be the Television Champion, but her reign still impressed SCW and, specifically CHBK, because now she finds herself in contention for the SCW Adrenaline Championship; one of two titles that she needs in order to become a Supreme Champion. But this isn’t about grabbing brass rings, this is about climbing the ladder of success back to the top. She started at the bottom and she is working her way back up. She finds herself nearly where she once was before she walked out on SCW. She finds herself back into serious title contention. Winning the Adrenaline Championship would mean a lot to Marie, not just for her future title aspirations but also for her career. But to get to Bree she first must go through Gavin Taylor, someone who no doubt will be looking for a bit of revenge against Marie for involving herself in his business. Let him come. Marie is not going to back away from any challenge. She has said that she will fight anyone and she means it. If Gavin Taylor wants a piece then he can come and get it. Marie will be ready to not only right the ship, not only get back to her winning ways, but hopefully earn a shot at the Adrenaline Championship. It would be quite the momentum builder heading into Taking Hold of the Flame, another event she is looking forward to, another event she is looking at participating in.

Adrenaline Champion.

Taking Hold of the Flame Winner.

Rise To Greatness Main Event.

All of it could come together like a perfect storm for The Phoenix, but is this a storm that even The Phoenix can rise from? Marie will certainly give it her best shot. It all begins on Breakdown. First, The Phoenix has other issues she must deal with; issues of a far more personal matter.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Boston, Massachusetts looms high in the air with its impressive, gorgeous, grandiose architecture that exudes a serene, almost timeless atmosphere, with a profound sense of reverence and history. To most it might seem imposing, almost intimidating. To the redheaded Boston native, ‘The Phoenix’ Marie Jones, this is just simply her second home. She grew up attending this parish of The Archdiocese of Boston. Her whole family attended this church and many of her relatives are buried here in its cemetery located out behind the massive structure. Jones herself stands just outside, looking through a wrought-iron gate that leads into the parish church cemetery. The Phoenix is dressed solemnly for this moment, wearing an ankle length black skirt, plain white silk blouse, and a black blazer. She is perched atop black high heeled pumps. By Marie’s side is her son, Sean Connor Jones, who is also dressed nice for this occasion, wearing a simple pair of brown khaki pants and a blue polo shirt. Marie used to mock her own mother, the matriarch of the Jones family Angelica Jones, for always paying a visit to the parish cemetery. But now Marie finds herself in a similar routine. In fact, every day after the daily mass concludes, Marie takes her son to the cemetery to visit some ‘old friends.’

Jones steps through the iron gate, a gate adorned with intricate scrollwork and prominent cross at the apex. She leads her son through the gate and immediately they are enveloped by the quiet solemnity of these holy grounds. A cobblestone path kept surprisingly well by the church maintenance and groundskeepers, meanders through the graves. There are many who have been laid to rest here. The tombstones vary in size and style, reflecting different eras and the socioeconomic status of the deceased. Some are simple, with small, unadorned markers covered in moss and lichen, their inscriptions partially eroded by time. Others are grander, with elaborate carvings of angels, saints, and biblical scenes. The oldest graves, dating back several centuries, are made of gray slate or sandstone, their inscriptions in Latin, bearing the names of early parishioners and local notables. One could get lost in this maze. But luckily Marie knows how to navigate it. She has been here countless times and knows precisely where she is going.

Marie leads Sean near the far end of the cemetery; there stands a tall, white marble statue of the Virgin Mary, her arms outstretched in a gesture of peace and welcome. Nearby, an ancient stone bench invites visitors to sit and reflect, offering a view of the entire cemetery and the church’s imposing silhouette beyond. Jones leads her son Sean to the bench.

“Sit here.” She instructs. This is not an unusual request. This is all part of the routine and Sean is fairly used to it by now. Still, he cannot help but be a little curious.

“Uh, mom?”

“Yes?”

“Why do we do this?”

“Do what?”

“After Mass. Why do we always come out here to the cemetery?”

“I have my reasons.” Marie remarks simply, stoically. “Just wait here. I won’t be long.”

“Are you going to see Arthur?” Sean asks. There is a long tense pause from Marie. She fights the emotions that are welling up inside of her right now. Finally, after taking several moments to compose herself, The Phoenix nods her head.

“Yes.”

“Are you ok, mom?”

“I’m fine.” Marie is lying but doesn’t want to worry her son. “Just wait here. Ok? I will be right back.”

“Ok.”

Marie walks away from the bench, away from her son, and past the statue of the Virgin Mary. She knows this routine all too well and knows her next destination. She walks a few rows past the statue towards a lot that contains most of the Jones family relatives. One large headstone reads ‘Mr. and Mrs. Kurinsky’. Next to them are two, slightly smaller headstones, one reads ‘Kelly Kurinsky Jones’ and the other reads ‘Maria Kurinsky Braddock’. Next to Kelly is a headstone that reads ‘Bartholamew Jones’. Bartholomew, or Bart for short, happens to be Marie’s grandfather. His body was never recovered but he is presumed dead and he has a marker here for him. Lastly there is another marker, one that reads ‘Arthur Pond’. Arthur was engaged to marry Marie at one point. Something went wrong. For reasons Marie still does not understand, Arthur chose to end his own life. Marie stops at this final marker. She takes some flowers she had stored in her blazer and kneels down. She places the flowers on the marker.

“Hi Arthur.” Marie says as she wipes tears from her eyes. “It has been a long time between visits and I apologize. That’s my fault. Most everything is my fault, lately. I thought I was doing myself some good, I thought I was getting legitimate help by going to this group…they call themselves Inner Peace…” Marie shakes her head “...it turns out it was a con, it was a cult, and I fell for it. The truth is that I fell for it because I did not want to confront the real source of my trauma, of my problems, of my mental and emotional turmoil. So I turned to the very first thing that promised immediate relief for all of my problems. Inner Peace promised to help me forget everything that hurt, namely losing you.” Marie nods her head. “Yes, losing you hurt a great deal and I wanted to forget. I thought forgetting was for the best so I threw myself right into Inner Peace. I got caught up in that lifestyle, I lost myself to that lifestyle and as a result I nearly lost my family and my career as a professional wrestler.” Marie chuckles softly.

“Lucky for me I have a great sister willing to pull my head out of my ass.” She grins. “I’ll tell Kim you said hi, by the way. Kim never doubted me, she never gave up on me, and thanks to her I escaped that cult and I managed to set my life straight. I have my son back, I have my family back, and my career is beginning to straighten itself out. I just came off of a nice reign as Television Champion and now I might find myself as number one contender for the Adrenaline Championship. The Adrenaline Title is just one of the two I do not have. I could become Supreme Champion.” She sighs and shakes herself. “Of course I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. I have to beat Gavin Taylor first and that won’t be an easy feat to say the least.”

“I shouldn’t keep talking about that nonsense. There’s a reason I came here today to specifically talk to you. I know you won’t talk back.” She laughs again. “Sometimes I feel crazy, like I’m talking to myself. Still, if you can hear me, and I’d like to think you can, I wanted you to know something.” Jones sighs, fighting back the emotions welling up inside of her this very moment. “I have been hesitant to date anyone at all since you left me. You and I were perfect, Arthur. We were perfect together. And I have been hesitant if not outright unwilling to return to dating since then. But maybe…just maybe…that was a problem. Maybe this refusal to date anymore, maybe all of that has created some problems for me? And maybe it is time that I started dating again?” Marie nods her head. “Yes, I met a guy. His name is Death’s Head.” She smirks. “Ok, his real name is Percy, but he is a real nice guy, a real southern gentleman. I feel safe with him. I feel loved.” She smiles warmly. “I would like to think you’d like him. I would like to think that you would approve.”

“Marie?” The voice startles Jones. Then again, hearing any voice in a graveyard would scare anyone. She jumps to her feet quickly and turns to see her nun friend Sister Maria dressed in her long flowing black and white habit. A sweet smile is upon her face. A gentle laugh escapes her lips. “I didn’t disturb you, did I?”

“Oh, of course not.” Marie shakes her head. “I was just, uh, visiting with an old friend.”

“I see.” Sister Maria nods her head. “Well, I do not wish to disturb your visit. God bless you, Marie.” The nun turns to walk away but Marie calls out after her.

“Wait…”

“Yes?” She turns to face Marie. The Phoenix just shakes her head.

“I don’t…I don’t know.” She shrugs her shoulders. “I don’t know why I want to say this, I just feel the need to say that I envy you.”

“You envy me?” Maria chuckles. “Why on earth would you envy me, my dear?”

“I mean…” she chuckles “...you don’t have to deal with the ups and downs of love. You’re married to the church.”

“This is true.” Sister Maria remarks. “But I sense there is something deeper troubling you.”

“You’re right.” Marie sighs. “I mean, I just don’t know what to do. Every single relationship I have had has failed miserably. Damian was abusive and beat me. Arthur here killed himself. Julianne manipulated and used me for her own selfish gain. Every time I get involved with someone, I end up getting hurt. Now I’m on the brink of being involved with another guy….”

“Is his name Percy?”

“You heard?”

“I heard enough.”

“I’m just afraid.” Marie shrugs her shoulders. “It all boils down to that. I am afraid of being hurt again in yet another failed relationship. It doesn’t help matters that this guy has a criminal record.”

“Does he strike you as being dangerous?”

“Not at all.” Marie shakes her head. “He is a real gentleman. He is a real sweetheart and seems to really care about me.”

“Well far be it for a nun to give dating advice, but I would suggest follow your heart. Oh and, praying probably wouldn’t hurt.” She winks.

“Thanks, Sister Maria. Marie gives her a hug before turns and walking away, back past the statue of the Virgin Mary and back along that same path to the bench where she finds her son, Sean, waiting on her. Sean seems pleased to see his mother back. He smiles warmly back up at her.

“So how as Arthur?” Sean asks. “Is he doing ok?”

“Yeah…” Marie smiles back “...Arthur is doing just fine.”