Evans vs. Williams vs. Adams vs. Maloney

[The Matt]

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July 15th, 2024
Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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Rise To Greatness is little over two weeks away and the path forwards for the Queen of the Death Match is clear; Kimberly Williams must face the challenge of not only Eavan Maloney but also Leroy Adams and, of course, the continued thorn in her side James Evans in order to regain the SCW Underground Championship. Underground Rules, one fall to a finish, only one winner. Chaos will be the deciding factor and the rule of the day at Rise To Greatness and Kimberly knows that it just plays into her advantage. The Woman Scorned thrives in a chaotic environment. She revels in chaos and violence. The more chaotic, the more violent, the better off she is. The more chaotic the environment, the more likely Kimberly is to win back her coveted SCW Underground Championship. Ideally she would have preferred to have had it one on one against the reigning champion, Maloney. If not that, then perhaps one on one to settle the score with James Evans first. But this will do just fine for Williams as the chaos of this match will give her the edge. Yet these thoughts, this idea that she would have preferred something one on one as opposed to the uncontrolled chaos of this four way Underground Title Match, it stirs up some troubling thoughts and feelings within the heart and soul of The Queen of Chaos.

It is no longer a secret that Kimberly Williams is thinking about the future of the Underground. She is thinking about and planning for a post Kim Williams Underground because she recognizes the reality of the situation that she cannot keep it up forever. She cannot continue to hold the Underground up on her back. She has done a great deal for the Underground division. She resurrected it, she elevated its prestige to new, unheard of heights. She is a five time Underground Champion, tying the record for most reigns. If she were to regain the title at Rise To Greatness, the record would solely belong to her. But she knows that one day she will have to step aside and leave the Underground to the next generation of talent. It isn’t a matter of the Underground being too violent, despite the nonsensical rantings and ramblings of James Evans. No, the reason Kimberly is even considering a future away from the Underground division lies deep within her psyche. It is a reason that haunts her, has haunted her for years. It is a reality that downright frightens The Woman Scorned. Kimberly doesn’t fear the violence. She doesn’t fear what continued involvement in the Underground could do to her long term health and well being. She doesn’t really care what happens to her body. What she really fears is herself, specifically the darkness that she has kept bottled away, hidden for so very long now.

Many competitors have said that chasing and winning the championship is the easy part, its defending the title and keeping it that is most difficult. Kimberly has found that, for herself, it is the opposite. Keeping the Underground Championship was easier on her psyche than the chase. The chase to win back the Underground Title has always chipped away at her soul, more and more. The Woman Scorned is honestly not sure how much of a soul she has left to give. What if she has to give up everything that she is, sacrifice her very soul and psyche, in order to regain the title at Rise To Greatness? And if she succeeds, what becomes of her then? What if all that is left is the darkness, the soulless Kimberly Williams that she has feared for so long? Kimberly has thus far hidden this fear from those closest to her. Even her family is unaware of what is currently bothering her. But recently her good friend, her closest confidant, Larry Dempsey, has called her out on what is bothering her. Larry Dempsey, a man who spent time in a mental ward with Kimberly, knows her struggles possibly better than anyone else. Now that he has picked up on it, Williams now fears that is a sign that trouble is brewing beneath the surface. She fears she may not be able to contain things much longer. What should she do?

Now most normal individuals would take time like this to think, clear their mind, come up with a plan of how to tackle a problem such as this. Kim isn’t like most normal individuals. She is indeed taking time to think about this but she is doing it in a very unusual place; namely the roof of her dilapidated home in the lower class neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. She sits perched atop the roof, her fiery red hair spills messily around her shoulders marking a face that is marred with fatigue and weariness, but also strong resilience and a refusal to give up. Not yet. She is wearing a faded oversized Queens of Chaos logo sweater, torn denim jeans, and scuffed sneakers. The roof she sits on is as run down as the house itself, with shingles missing and patches of tar paper exposed. The house's paint is peeling, and the wooden structure shows signs of decay and neglect. The neighborhood around her reflects a similar state of disrepair, with cracked sidewalks, overgrown yards, and a general air of abandonment. Kimberly sits there, lost in thought, her gaze distant as she surveys the cityscape. The deranged ginger is lost in thought, so much so that she doesn’t even notice when she hears her front door opening and then slamming shut. She also doesn’t hear the voice calling out her name…

“Kimmy?” A voice ordinarily familiar to her, a voice with a thick English accent, rings out. But Kim takes no notice of it at first. “Hey, Kimmy, where are ya, love?” Finally The Woman Scorned snaps to attention. She looks around with a slight bit of confusion on her face.

“Huh? Wha?” She looks around from side to side. “Who said that?”

“Me!” Comes the voice yet again.

“Is that you, God?” Kim asks curiously.

“Not hardly, love!” There’s laughter this time. “It’s me. Your boyfriend. Tommy.”

Yes, that Tommy. Former EMERGE wrestling star Tommy Wasley, who has been dating Kimberly steadily for quite some time now. A warm smile forms on Kim’s face as she carefully makes her way over to the edge and peers over. She finds Tommy standing there looking up at her with a bewildered grin of his own on his face.

“Oh, hi Tommy!”

“Kimmy, what ya doin’ up there?”

“Trying to reach God!” Kimberly exclaims joyfully. This causes Tommy to furrow his brow in confusion.

“Uh, are ya sure you’re ok?”

“Of course!” Kim points up in the sky. “See that bright star up there? It’s the brightest in the sky! Pretty sure that’s God!”

“Not sure about that, love.” Tommy says with a low chuckle. “Are ya sure you’re ok?”

“I’m great!” Kim insists. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I dunno.” He shrugs his shoulders. “Ya just aren’t acting like yourself. That’s all.”

“You DO know I’m crazy, right?” Kim says with a wry grin. Tommy chuckles again.

“Yeah, I know, but this is strange even for you. For one, you’re sitting on the roof.”

“I already told you. I’m trying to reach God.”

“AND you left Wasley inside.”

“No I didn’t. You’re out here, silly.” Kim smirks.

“I meant the penguin, love.”

“Oh.” Kim shrugs her shoulders. “He’s keeping Caligula company.”

“Maybe you need someone to keep you company, am I right?” Tommy asks as he points upward. “May I join you?”

“It’s a free roof!” Kim says. And with that, Tommy find the nearby ladder that Kim had used to climb up. He slowly makes the climb, being ever cautious not to slip. Eventually he reaches the top and joins his girlfriend on the roof. He wraps an arm around her shoulders. He looks over at Kim, looks deep into her eyes, studying her carefully.

“What’s bugging ya?”

“Nothing’s bugging me, Wasley.” Kim insists with a shake of her head. “I mean, Jim Jones Evans keeps pissing me off. The fact that I don’t get a one on one shot at the Underground Title kinda irks me. But other than that, shit, I’m peaches and cream baby!”

“No, no, something is definitely bothering you.” Tommy insists. “I can tell that something has you upset. I just don’t know what it is or why you won’t talk to me about it.”

“What makes you think I’m upset about anything other than the fact that I don’t have my Underground Title right now?”

“Honestly, love, it’s just how you’ve been behaving lately. You’ve been quiet and more distant lately. That’s a big change for you considering how upbeat and wacky you typically are, love.”

“Oh ok, you’re right.” Kim sighs out of frustration. “I might be a little bothered…”

“By what?”

“Something Lawrence of Arabia said.”

“Yer pal Larry?” Tommy asks. Kim just nods her head quietly. “Hey, I thought everything was all fine after ya finally convinced him to get professional help. Did he go off the deep end again?” Tommy smirks. “Do I need to pretend to be a priest again? I mean, I will if I have to but…”

“Not necessary!” Kim bursts into laughter. “I wouldn’t put you into that position again!”

“Good!” Tommy chuckles. “But uh, what is wrong with ol’ Larry? What did he say that got you all upset?”

He stares at Kim, waiting on an answer, but all he gets is silence; an awkward silence. After a few tense moments Kimberly finally sighs and begins to speak. “Let me ask you something. Let me ask you about you and me. Have you ever been curious about why we never moved in together? Why we never got married, for that matter? I mean, we’ve been dating for a very long time now, Tommy, but we never took it much farther beyond that. Haven’t you ever wondered why?”

“Uh, I suppose I have.” He shrugs his shoulders. “But, honestly, I just respected your privacy and your space. I figured when you were ready, you would let me know. I didn’t want to push you.” Upon hearing this response Kim smiles and then, uncharacteristically, leans in and kisses him on his cheek.

“You are too nice to me, Tommy.”

“Thanks?”

“Well let me ask you another question. Have you ever wondered why I always act like a clown or behave childishly?”

“I admit, I never thought of it.” He starts laughing. “I just thought you were fun.”

“Thanks, Wasley. But, uh, see, that’s the thing, I’m not that childish, clown, fun loving crazy Kim all the time. That’s definitely a big part of who I am but it isn’t who I am 24/7. I don’t want you around during those times when I lose control and I am not that clown, that childish fun loving crazy Kim. I don’t want you…or anyone else for that matter…to see what I become.”

“I take it Larry has seen you that way.” Tommy says. Kim nods her head in confirmation.

“Being locked away can do something to a person. It changes a person. I was a dangerous person before being locked away in the psych ward. I tried to kill my mother multiple times. I threatened the lives of my sisters. I DID kidnap Marie. That is what I am capable of, Tommy. That is the twisted evil I am truly capable of when I give up and give in to my darkest desires. Larry was truly a savior for me. He was locked up due to his own problems but he was further along in his treatment than me and he had some brilliant advice on how I could repress those dark evil desires.”

“The guy who wanted to have fake exorcisms done offered YOU advice?” Tommy asks. Kim nods her head.

“Don’t knock it until you tried it!” Kim smirks. “Anyway, I had a lot of hate in my heart and soul at that time, Tommy. Even when Marie, the saint that she is, decided to make peace and try to help me, try to befriend me, even after we did bury the hatchet, I still had a lot of hate. That darkness still controlled me.” Williams shakes her head. “I didn’t trust myself. Knowing precisely what I am capable of, I did not trust myself. Hell, I still don’t trust myself. But Larry, he knew what to do. He told me to envision myself as the opposite of what I wanted to be.”

“So Crazy Kim was born?” Tommy asks.

“Yup. I mean, where’s the harm in a wacky girl who talks to a stuffed penguin or pretends her pet hamster cusses like a sailor? There’s nothing evil about that; it’s comedic. Cosplaying as Selena Frost at Rise To Greatness, singing a parody of Ice Ice Baby about my opponents? That’s entertainment. That’s how I decided to suppress that darkness in my soul. With entertainment. With fun. And it has worked for awhile…” her voice trails off for a moment. Tommy pats her gently on the back to comfort her “...but anytime I start to take something too seriously, anytime I become too intense or too passionate about something, and I let go of that thin veil of entertainment and fun, the monster comes through, the darkness, the REAL Kim comes through.”

“You’re not a monster, love.” Tommy insists. “And you’re not evil.”

“When Owen Cruze beat me for the Underground Title, I wanted to get it back and I wanted it back with a passion, so I let my guard down, I let that darkness creep in, and I used my Trios Contract to create the most chaos in the history of SCW. But I created that chaos without a care for who I might hurt in the process. I realized the night of the cash in that I had gone too far.” She laughs uneasily. “But hell, it was too late to walk it back at that point. Then James Evans came along.” She shakes her head. “It wasn’t just him beating me for the title that brought out the darkness inside me. It was his goddamn cult. The House of James. Cults, or anything resembling a cult, they hit home with me in a big way.”

“Yeah, I know.” Tommy nods his head. “Yer sister was impacted by that one…”

“The enlightenment clowns. Yeah. They hurt my sister. They hurt Marie. They took advantage of her mentally, emotionally, and sexually. So when I saw James and his crew I didn’t see James or the House of James, I saw the embodiment of what hurt my sister, so I didn’t just want to beat James, I wanted to fucking murder him. Do you remember how I didn’t speak to you for several days after I beat him to regain the title?” Kim asks. Tommy nods his head.

“Yeah…”

“I was on radio silent because I intentionally let my guard down and let that darkness back in so that I could do maximum damage to hurt James and reclaim the title. I strapped that explosive to my knee not wanting to beat him. I hoped it would literally take his fucking head off.” Kim shakes her head. “I know it was wrong for me to think that but I didn’t give a damn at the time. I had fully embraced the darkness and I knew I needed time to walk it back. I needed time to repress it again. That’s why I didn’t contact you or anyone else for that matter. That’s why I stayed in isolation.” She sighs deeply. “Now Rise To Greatness is here, once again James Evans is right there…but so is Leroy Adams…so is Eavan Maloney who has my Underground Championship. I know that the only way I can win is if I once again fully embrace my darkness.”

In an extremely rare and uncharacteristic move, Kimberly breaks down in tears. Tommy hugs her tightly, hugs her close to his chest. “It’s ok, love. It’s ok.”

“I’m afraid. Because each time I go to that place, I find it more and more difficult to find my way back. I will go to that dark place again, Tommy. And I might win back the Underground Title. But what if I lose myself in the process? Because I’m afraid that I will not be able to hold back the monster I have become any longer if I do.”

Tommy hugs her tightly. “Everything will be fine. I’m here for ya.”

“But what should I do?” Kim asks. “I’m legit scared of myself!”

“Maybe you should see a therapist? Y’know?”

“Now you’re sounding like Lawrence of Arabia.” Kim says while rolling her eyes.

“Hey, it worked for him, why wouldn’t it work for you?”

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July 16th, 2024
Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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Kimberly Williams is afraid of herself and what she is capable of if she ever truly lost control. This isn’t her only fear. Much like her friend Larry Dempsey, she fears going back to see a psychiatrist. Unlike Dempsey, who feared that the psychiatrist would put him back in a mental hospital, Kimberly is fearful that the psychiatrist would just confirm her greatest fear; that there is nothing she can do to prevent herself from one day losing control and descending fully into her darkest of desires. But Kim is many things but hypocrite isn’t among them. She convinced her friend Larry to seek the help of a psychiatrist, so when her boyfriend Tommy Wasley suggested that she do the same thing, it only made sense for her to take the same advice.

Thus The Woman Scorned has mustered the courage to pay a visit to a woman very near and dear to her family, namely the Jones family; Dr. Jennifer Warren. The Jones family have had close ties with Warren dating back to when the Jones family matriarch, Angelica Jones, first broke into the business. The two women were close and after Dr. Warren came into enough money to fund her own practice, she has been the personal doctor for Angelica, her sister Kayla, and all of their children. Kimberly has never taken advantage of this herself, however, except for the one instance she called in a favor to have the good doctor look at Larry Dempsey. This will be the first time Kim has actually gone to see her for her own troubles and difficulties. The Queen of the Death Match sits slouched in a cushioned chair in Dr. Warren’s office. Kim is wearing torn faded denim jeans, a plain black t-shirt, and flip flops. She is cuddled up with her beloved penguin plushy Wasley.

The office itself is a stark contrast to Kimberly's appearance. Warmly lit and tastefully decorated, it exudes a sense of calm and order. Bookshelves filled with neatly arranged volumes line one wall, while framed certificates and calming landscape paintings adorn another. A large window lets in soft, natural light. Seated perpendicular to Kim is Dr. Jennifer Warren, a blonde woman, just a little older than Kim’s mother Angelica Jones, with a poised and empathetic demeanor. Warren is dressed in a professional yet approachable manner including a tailored blazer over a simple blouse, her hands resting lightly on a notepad in her lap.

“It is quite the pleasure to see you, Kimberly.” Warren says pleasantly. “I do not hear from you nearly as much as I do your sisters or your mother.”

“Maybe that’s because I’m actually the normal one of the family.” Kim winks playfully.

“Normal is such a subjective term, Kimberly. Their normal is different from yours but…”

“Different? Ha!” Kim laughs. “Everyone’s normal is different from mine, doc!”

“This is true. Everyone is unique. Everyone is different. That’s what makes the world so beautiful. Don’t you agree?”

“Eh, I don’t know about that one doc.” Kim shrugs her shoulders. “Me and Wasley here know some real unique assholes who do not exactly add to the beauty of this world.”

“Are we going to talk about any of those…unique assholes…today, Kimberly?”

“Oh no!” She shakes her head. “No need to talk about him. I already know what I’m going to do about him.”

“What’s that?”

“I’m gonna kill him!” Kim says, grinning from ear to ear. Dr. Warren frowns. She isn’t sure what to make of Kim’s remark. She has dealt with wrestlers on plenty of occasions, especially the Jones family, and understands that this is most likely just hyperbole. Still…

“You’re going to…kill him?”

“Figuratively speaking!” Kim laughs. “Well…I mean, the match is Underground Rules, I suppose something real bad could happen by accident to ol’ Jimbo Evans or any of the rest of us in that match, for that matter! But that’s not the plan! I just wanna win back the title. No death is necessary. Maiming, however, is encouraged!”

“Right…” Jennifer sighs as she scribbles some notes on her note pad “....Kimberly, why ARE you here? You were not scheduled. You just stopped in unexpectedly. Of course I made time for you, lucky for you I had no patients scheduled for this slot. And lucky for you I am good friends with your mother.”

“Yeah! My mom’s great, isn’t she?”

“Indeed she is.” Jennifer Warren is showing signs of frustration. “So, Kimberly, what do you want? Is there something wrong that you need to talk about? You know anything and everything you say is strictly confidential.”

“That’s what I needed to hear, because yeah, this is kinda important.” Kim chuckles softly. “Shit, it took my boyfriend convincing me to come here in the first place because…I mean…” she sighs and shakes her head as her jovial mask drops “...I am afraid.”

“Afraid of what, Kimberly?”

“Honestly? I’m not sure even you would understand.” Kim says. Dr. Warren smirks.

“I have been in this practice for a very long time, Kimberly. I have heard it all. There is absolutely nothing you can tell me that would shock me in the slightest.”

“Really?” Kim looks skeptical. “Would you believe that I am afraid of myself? That I am afraid of what I am truly capable of?” There is a brief pause while Dr. Warren considers the question. Then she nods her head.

“Yes, I can believe it. In fact, it makes perfectly logical sense. You have spent so many years almost entirely engrossed in the hardcore match environment. To survive, let alone win a match where there are no rules, you do have to let go of your basic humanity and become as violent as possible. Some might argue that its animalistic. So I can see how you could be fearful of what you are capable of doing to another human being in a match like that. You have a hardcore match coming up soon, correct?”

“Rise To Greatness, yeah.” Kim nods her head. “Underground Championship against Eavan Maloney, Leroy Adams, and James Evans.”

“And you are fearful of what you might do to them?”

“It isn’t that simple, doc.” Kim shakes her head. “When that bell rings it’s simply about competition. I’m going to try and win, everyone else be damned…well, except for Jimbo…I definitely want him to LOSE…but yeah, when that bell rings I don’t care about the others. I just want to win and win back my championship. But…” Kim pauses to regain her composure “...but each time I return to that environment, each time I try to reclaim that Underground Title, I have to dig down deep into my more sadistic side. I have to embrace this…this darkness in my soul. Without that darkness, that evil, I cannot recapture what I once held. So each time I try to reclaim it, I have to go back to that dark place. And each time, it becomes more difficult for me to put that darkness, to put that evil, back in its box.”

“Yes, well…” Jennifer sighs “...I have followed your career, both professional and personal…for a very long time. I know your history. You have a record. So I know perfectly well what you are ‘capable of’, my dear. But what do you want me to do about it?”

“Anything!” Kim exclaims. “Medication! Hypnosis! Electroshock therapy! Anything!”

“Settle down.” Jennifer says calmly, sensing that Kim is losing control right now. “I can prescribe some medication, maybe even suggest some meditation practices if you wish. But, if you want my honest opinion, there may only be one way to permanently settle your problem.”

“What is it?” Kim asks, seeming desperate for a permanent solution.

“Maybe you need to back away from the nonstop death match wrestling.” Jennifer states. “Once in awhile? Fine. But you are actively competing in three different hardcore divisions. And if just the one SCW Underground division takes as much a toll on your mind as you claim it does, imagine what three at a time does to you?”

“Back away?” Kim repeats. Jennifer nods her head.

“Yes.”

“No…” Kim shakes her head “...absolutely not!”

“Why not?”

“Because I am Kimberly Williams, I am a member of the Jones Wrestling Family, and we do not lay down for anyone! Rise To Greatness is coming up, do you think I will be satisfied with just anyone winning?” She shakes her head. “No! I mean, even if Evans loses, if I do not do everything and anything within my power to win that match, I could not live with myself, I could not sleep at night if I did not do everything I could to win. And that means going back to that dark place…that means going to that place that scares the hell outta me…” Kim shakes her head “...sorry, doc, but backing away now is out of the question. I’m all in…for better or for worse.”