SCW Underground Championship Chamber Match

[The Matt]

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October 24th, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Off Camera
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The final Breakdown before Under Attack has just concluded. The Woman Scorned, the five time former SCW Underground Champion Kimberly Williams, has been campaigning in the weeks since Apocalypse for a shot at the Underground Championship. Now the Queen of Chaos member has her opportunity to regain her coveted title and make in history in the process. She just has to survive a Chamber Match against the likes of David Striker, Colleen McDonald, Billy Heaven Jr, Veronica Strader, and the champion Brilliant Sun Princess YUSA. Kimberly has been involved in some brutally violent, insane matches during her career, but what might surprise many is the fact that this is Kimberly’s first chamber match. Thus Kimberly will be making her own personal history in competing in what will be her first ever chamber match, she just hopes she can make more history by winning the whole thing and becoming the first ever six time SCW Underground Champion. Making history isn’t enough for Kim. The roar of the crowds, the thrill of competition, it isn’t enough for The Woman Scorned. She needs the Underground Division. She needs the Underground Championship. Kimberly realizes now just how badly she needs that title. The Woman Scorned does not believe she is anything without that championship. Thus Under Attack has become much more for Williams. It has become a must win scenario. She needs to win this chamber match because she truly does not know where she will go from there if she fails.

Kimberly is trying to mask these intense thoughts and the gravity of the situation underneath the veil of her Crazy Kim persona. It’s the best she can do. Never show weakness or vulnerability. The muffled roars of the crowd seep through the walls backstage at the Canadian Tire Centre, resonating like distant thunder. The self-proclaimed Queen of the Death Match stands in the shadows of the sprawling arena corridors, her head tilted in awe. Dressed in a relaxed outfit; a pair of faded jeans and a loose graphic tee that reads “Queens of Chaos”, she contrasts sharply with the vibrant, fashionable presence of her mother, Angelica Jones, who walks next to her. Angelica, her hair an intense shade of red matching her daughter’s but styled with sleek sophistication, is clad in a tailored blazer and stylish high-waisted trousers. Her jewelry glints under the backstage lights, and her polished look exudes an effortless elegance that makes her stand out among the bustling crew. With her keen gaze scanning the organized chaos around them, Angelica seems as if she belongs, her confidence radiating with each knowing glance she shares with the passing staff.

“Well, you got what you want…” Angelica sighs “...congratulations are in order, I suppose?”

“Damn right they are!” Kim exclaims. “I mean, sure, I would’ve preferred to carve YUSA up like a fish on my own, but I’ll take what I can get. I promised not to cause any problems and I won’t.” Kim makes the sign of the cross over her chest, feigning a sense of innocence. “Cross my heart, no problems here! I am just happy to have my opportunity at the title and I intend to make the most of it.”

“Yes, you say that now, but I’m not entirely sure you know what you are getting into here.” Angelica says in a scolding tone that, appropriately enough, resembles the way a mother might lecture a daughter.

“Uh, I’m getting myself into an Underground Title Match.”

“Yes, but this isn’t just for the Underground Title.” Angelica points out. “This is a chamber match. You have never been in a chamber match. So you have no idea what you are getting yourself into but me? I know what you are getting into. I have been in many chamber matches in my career. They…” she pauses for a moment as she thinks about her next words for a moment “...they change a person.”

“Oh, really?” Kim sounds excited. “Can I change into a unicorn?”

“Kim!” Angelica exclaims. “I’m being serious!”

“And so am I!” Kim says. “I am going to be fine, mom. I am the Queen of the Death Match and I take that moniker very seriously. Do you think I won’t be ready for whatever the hell a chamber match might throw at me?”

“I get it, I really do.” Angelica nods her head. “Death Matches, hardcore matches, the Underground, that is your forte. That is your strength. But the chamber is just…” she sighs and shakes her head “...it’s just different. You wouldn’t know what I mean unless you’ve been in one.”

“Well lucky me I get to be in my first one very soon!” Kim jumps up and down and claps happily. “I’ll make history for myself, entering and competing in my first chamber match, and I will make history by becoming the first ever six time Underground Champion!”

While Kim is happily and joyfully jumping up and down gleefully, something falls out of her pockets; Angelica happens to take note and a lightbulb seems to go off over her head as she recognizes the item. It happens to be a set of rosary beads. Angelica knows her children better than anyone else does and she knows that carrying a set of rosary beads is definitely out of the ordinary for Kimberly Williams. Angelica bends down and picks up the beads. She studies them carefully.

“Kim…” her voice trails “...where did you get these?”

“Oh. Nowhere special.”

“You’re lying.” Angelica states definitively. “These were my mother’s rosary beads. I recognized them almost as soon as they fell from your pocket. Where’d you get them?”

“Fine, if you must know…” Kim sighs as she snatches the rosary away from Angelica and puts them back in her pocket “...Marie gave them to me. Some kinda weird gift to make me feel closer or like I belong to the Jones family or some cheesy, mushy shit like that.”

“Mushy shit? Cheesy?” Angelica’s sweet, motherly tone takes on a harsher, angrier tone. Even Kimberly is somewhat surprised by this and takes a few steps back. “These belonged to my mother, YOUR grandmother. I gave them to Marie because I knew she would value them and I have no idea why she would give them to you since you obviously don’t care about their value…”

Angelica Jones turns and starts to storm away in anger. Kimberly realizes that she screwed up in a big way. The Woman Scorned wants to make things right and quickly rushes off to catch up with her mother. “Mom, wait!” She eventually catches up with Angelica who has stopped next to a few packing crates. Kim places a hand on Angelica’s shoulder. “Mom, what is it?”

“You wouldn’t understand.”

“You’re right, I don’t understand.” Kim says. “But I might if you gave me a chance.” Angelica slowly turns around to face Kim. She notices the redness in her eyes, clearly showing that Angelica has been crying. Kim feels even more guilty and sighs deeply. “Look, I know a lot about my dad’s family. I know next to nothing about YOUR family. Except for you and my sisters, your family are all strangers to me.” She takes the rosary from her pocket and holds it up to Angelica’s face. “Tell me about her.”

“Your grandmother?”

“Yeah.” Kim nods her head. “Tell me about my grandmother.”

Angelica looks at the rosary beads for a few tense moments and finally a smile forms on her face. “Funny thing is, your grandmother was born and raised Russian Orthodox. Her whole family was Russian Orthodox until they fled the Soviet Union and settled in the United States. That’s when their entire identity changed. They converted to Catholicism and changed their surname from Kurinsky to Ford.”

“So she was Russian?”

“Yes, and that might have been what got her killed. The Soviet Union weren’t keen on the KGB defecting to the United States, especially if they had dangerous secrets. But it isn’t like your grandfather was much safer. He worked with the CIA and made several foreign enemies himself. But whether she was the target or just someone who got caught in the crossfire, my mother…your grandmother…was murdered and I never really got over it.” She sighs and shrugs her shoulders. “I’m sorry I went off on you like that, Kim. But it’s still tough…it’s still…”

“No need to apologize.” Kim wraps an arm around her shoulders. “Look, I say stupid shit sometimes, its one of my more endearing qualities.”

“Sure.” Angelica chuckles. “Sure it is.”

“But uh, is there anything else you can tell me?”

“About what?”

“About my grandmother, about my grandfather, about any of them?” Kim asks curiously. “Look, I’ve done the research into my dad’s family. What I found I do not like. Despite all of the love and warmth you and my sisters have shown me, I still don’t really feel like a Jones, like I truly belong. I would like to know more about your family. If you don’t mind sharing.”

“I don’t mind.” Angelica shakes her head. “It would probably be good for us both. But I think it would be best if we take a field trip.”

“I love field trips!” Kim says giddily.

“Then get packed.” Angelica winks. “We’re going to the cemetery.”

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October 26th, 2024
Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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It has been two days since Breakdown and two days since Kimberly Williams had that difficult discussion with her mother about the rosary beads that once belonged to Kelly Jones, Kimberly’s deceased grandmother. Kim knew that Kelly meant a great deal to Angelica. Kim even knew that Kelly’s death had shaped who Angelica would one day become. But she had no idea of the true impact Kelly and her death had upon Angelica Jones until two days ago when she broke down and went off on Kimberly for casually dismissing the importance and value of the rosary beads. Hearing Angelica get that emotional reminded The Woman Scorned of the advice given to her a few weeks ago by Larry Dempsey; he had suggested that it might be a good idea for Kimberly to find out more about her mother’s family in an attempt to indirectly learn more about herself. It was a few years ago when Kim did digging into her father’s past and learned some disturbing information that rocked her foundations to the core. She had been reluctant up until now to do that same level of intense research and digging into her mother’s past but maybe, just maybe, it is time to find out just where she came from?

And so Angelica Jones and her daughter, Kimberly Williams, stand together in the quiet, solemn expanse of their home church, the Catholic cemetery on a cloud covered day. The sky is a muted gray, and the air carries a chill, heavy with the scent of damp earth and fallen leaves. The cemetery, part of a large Catholic Church, is sprawling, with rows of intricate stone crosses, angelic statues, and wrought iron fencing marking the plots. Towering pine and oak trees provide a canopy over much of the grounds, their branches shifting in the gentle, whispering wind. Gravel paths meander through the headstones, and freshly fallen leaves create a soft carpet beneath Angelica’s and Kimberly’s feet. They stand before a family grave plot, marked by an elegant, weathered granite monument with the family name “Jones” engraved in fine, fancy lettering. The monument is a tiered stone structure, topped with a figure of the Virgin Mary, her hands folded in eternal prayer and her face a picture of serene sorrow. Each family member’s name, etched into the stone beneath the monument, is accompanied by the years of their birth and passing, some dates stretching back a century. The top is Nicole and Alexander Kurinsky. Beneath them, Kelly and Maria Kurinsky. Angelica and Kimberly look down at the graves, their hands lightly brushing each other’s, as if drawing strength in the silence.

Angelica wears a long, tailored black coat that falls just past her knees. The coat is buttoned up, its high collar giving her an elegant yet reserved appearance. Beneath, she wears a dark burgundy dress with a simple, tasteful cut, just visible at the hem. A fine black scarf is tied neatly around her neck, and she has on dark leather gloves. Beside her, Kimberly mirrors her mother’s refined attire. She wears a knee-length charcoal-gray coat with a belted waist, cinching her figure, and a simple, somber black dress underneath. Her red hair, slightly darker than Angelica’s, cascades loosely over her shoulders, catching the occasional beam of light that slips through the clouds, adding warmth to her otherwise muted appearance. Kimberly’s eyes, softer and filled with a blend of sorrow and reverence, remain fixed on the graves, her gloveless hands clasped in front of her, fingers interwoven tightly. A small silver cross hangs from a delicate chain around her neck, catching the faintest glint of light as she bows her head in a brief moment of prayer. Around them, the cemetery remains still, the only sounds coming from the distant toll of the church’s bells marking the hour, mingling with the rustling leaves and the faint calls of birds. The setting feels timeless, as if they are enveloped in a space suspended between past and present, where generations of memories converge.

“So here it is.” Angelica says. “Here’s where you find your answers.”

“Yeah but…” Kim looks on at the gravesite, hoping that something will spark some sort of idea but nothing comes, she just looks on with disappointment and shrugs her shoulders “...I’ve been here before, mom. I’ve been here with you, with Marie, with Jess. I don’t really know what I’m looking for that I haven’t already seen.”

“That’s probably because no one has told you the whole story and, as much as I love your sisters, I’m not even sure they know the whole story and if they do, I don’t know if they could do it justice.”

“Well I do love a good story!” Kim turns and smiles with a childlike grin. “Is it storytime, mommy?”

“Sure, why not?” Angelica sighs. She points at the two names at the very top. “Nicole and Alexander Kurinsky. Those were MY grandparents. He was a Soviet agent, KGB.”

“Great.” Kim rolls her eyes. “My dad is a serial killer and my great grandfather was KGB.”

“I’m not done.” Angelica winks knowingly with a warm smile. “See, my grandfather was one of the very few KGB who suffered from a nagging crisis of conscience and that’s what led to him to eventually defecting from the Soviet Union to the United States. He took his wife, their two daughters…my mother Kelly and my aunt Maria….and they settled here in Boston. They changed their surname to Ford.”

“Nice story, mom, but there’s a couple of problems. Like, for instance, did the US government just let them stay without issue?”

“Of course not.” Angelica shakes her head. “The Cold War was under way and the US government wanted any advantage it could get. So my grandfather was in contact with the CIA frequently. In fact, that’s how my mother ended up meeting the man who would become my father, Bart Jones.”

“Wait…” Kim furrows her brow “...my grandfather worked for the CIA?”

“Yes he did.”

“No conflict of interest there.” Kim snickers. “Seriously, our family is fucked up. But uh, there is one other problem.” She motions to the family gravesite. “Where’s Bart’s name? I thought he was dead.”

“Well that’s another story…” Angelica sighs “...your grandfather twice went missing. Russian agents, we’re not sure if they were ex-KGB looking to settle a score or someone looking to target my father for his CIA involvement, we just know they were Russian, and we know they killed my mother. After her death, my father went overseas to do his own unofficial unsolicited search for the killer. I didn’t see him again for five years when he returned to the United States in time to reconcile with me and my sister and even watch our blossoming wrestling careers. But then he went missing again.”

“What happened?” Kim asks. Angelica shrugs her shoulders.

“Your guess is as good as mine. The authorities have no idea and really gave up looking for him. The case has gone cold but if what I suspect is true…that he either went back on his search for my mother’s killer or if he made an enemy who tracked him down here…then he’s likely dead.” Angelica sighs and reaches up to wipe some tears from her eyes. “I do get sad because, the thing is, me and my dad…we didn’t end on a positive note. I still resented him for leaving my sister and I to go on some quest for revenge.”

“How sure are you?”

“How sure am I?”

“Yeah…” Kim asks quietly “...how sure are you that he’s really dead?”

“I haven’t seen a body if that’s what you’re asking.” Angelica says. “Officially he’s missing. But I just know that he had made many enemies…his wife was the daughter of an ex-KGB agent so that opens up a can of worms, then there was his work with the CIA which created a lot of enemies of its own. So there are a ton of people who might want him dead.”

“But no one knows what happened?” Kim asks, seemingly pressing the issue even further, beyond what is comfortable for Angelica herself as she places both her hands on Kim’s shoulders.

“Look, I have no idea what you have planned in that head of yours, but whatever it is, you need to accept the fact, as I have, that your grandfather is gone. Just like your grandmother is gone. Just like your father is gone. The authorities have not officially closed the case but they have told me that, for all intents and purposes, he is dead.”

“Don’t worry, mom, I may be crazy but I’m not that crazy.” Kim winks. “I just want to know as much as I can about him, that’s all. I’m not going off on some weird crusade. I just want to know about my past.”

“That’s all?” Angelica asks. Kim nods her head.

“Yeah, that’s all I want.”

“Well there may be one way I can help you.” Angelica produces a small photograph and hands it to Kimberly. Kim takes a look at it and it is a picture of a man, who appears to be in his late thirties or early forties. Kim looks up at Angelica and smiles knowingly.

“Is this…?” Her voice trails off. Angelica nods her head.

“Yes, that’s Bart. That’s my father. You have his eyes.”

“Maybe…”

“That was a younger photo of him. I don’t have any pictures of him from when he was older. But for whatever you have planned, hopefully that will help.”

“Yeah…” Kim says with a knowing smirk on her face “...I think it will.”

“Just promise you won’t get yourself into trouble.” Angelica says. “You have too much going for you right now. You have a great career as a wrestler, you have an Underground Title Match at Under Attack. Do not threaten it all by getting yourself into any needless trouble.”

“Now why would you think I would get into trouble?”

“Because you are my daughter and I know you.”

“That’s fair.” Kim nods her head. “But I promise that I will be good!”

“That’s all I needed to hear.”