Kelsai Adamson vs. Magical Cosmic Princess YUYO vs. Kimberly Williams

[The Matt]

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June 4th, 2023
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Off Camera
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The excitement, the atmosphere in the America Family Field is electric. The annual Taking Hold of the Flame battle royal has just concluded with Kandis winning it all. And even though the shock of all that has still yet to die down, there is still more to come with the crowning of a new SCW World Champion, either Selena Frost or Adam Allocco. Who will be defending the World Championship against Kandis in the main event of Rise to Greatness XX? One thing we know for certain are the thirty-nine wrestlers who won’t be part of the main event. Among those thirty nine runners up is the reigning SCW Underground Champion Kimberly Williams.

Kimberly, along with Syren, had the toughest road to travel in the Taking Hold of the Flame battle royal. The self-proclaimed Queen of the Death Match started the match at number two and she went to the very end. She made it up through the final competitors remaining in the match. She was so very close to winning the battle royal and earning that main event slot and thus earning another opportunity to challenge for the SCW World Championship. She had fought so hard, lasted so long, and endured so much all for the chance to rewind the clock and have a do-over of Body, Heart, & Soul. She walked through hell for all over damn near an hour and a half but it was all seemingly for nothing. She came up short. She came in third place. It was close but close doesn’t count. Kimberly needed to win.

Anyone who started a battle royal such as that, lasting nearly an hour and a half like Kimberly did, only to not finish the job, only to come up just short, anyone else in that situation would be severely disappointed. And perhaps there is a bit of disappointment somewhere in the eccentric head of the demented ginger; but you wouldn’t know it by looking at her right now. The Woman Scorned has just made it up the ramp and back into the backstage area. She still hears Kandis’s music playing in the background, a constant reminder of who won Taking Hold of the Flame. That should bother Kimberly but it doesn’t. Kim probably should be frowning as a sign of disappointment. Kim isn’t sporting a frown. Instead what most people see as she walks through the backstage area of the America Family Field is a great big ear to ear grin. Yes, the SCW Underground Champion is happy.

Eventually the eccentric ginger spots her mother, Angelica Jones, standing nearby. The Matriarch of the Jones family has been serving as Kimberly’s advocate in recent weeks, speaking out on her behalf in front of SCW management as well as guiding Kimberly’s career. Angelica is partially responsible for Kimberly’s two most recent reigns as SCW Underground Champion. Now it is Angelica’s job to guide her daughter into an unknown Rise To Greatness. Angelica had hoped that the journey would be cut and dry, she had hoped that Kim would win Taking Hold of the Flame and just go on to main event Rise to Greatness. That won’t happen, hence why the future is unknown. This makes Angelica nervous as she watches her daughter slowly approaching. Another reason Jones is nervous is because of her daughter’s recent history with losing. She went into a deep depression last year at Rise To Greatness when she lost the Underground Title to Deanna Frost. Then a few months ago at Body, Heart, & Soul when Kim failed to become the SCW World Champion, losing to Owen Cruze, Kim completely lost her cool and went crazy…

…well, crazier than usual for Kim. Angelica had hoped luck would be on her daughter’s side but when she learned Kim had drawn number two and would start Taking Hold of the Flame she had dreaded the outcome, because she knew all too well that going the distance from the opening spot and winning it all is damn near impossible. Angelica watched with anxious anticipation as her daughter fought through it all, the match progressed through all of the entrants, and she was impressed at Kim making the final three. She was finally starting to think Kim could actually pull off the impossible. Unfortunately it didn’t happen. And Kim had put her heart and soul on the line. She desperately wanted to to right the wrongs from Body, Heart, & Soul. But now she won’t get that chance. How will Kim react? Angelica braces herself for the worst as her daughter approaches. She finds it curious that Kim has a big grin on her face. But it is hard to read Kim. Hell, no one really can read Kim.

“Kim…” Angelica says, her voice trailing off for a moment as she tries to think of the right words, the appropriate way to confront her daughter after the loss “...I just want to say…”

“That…was…AWESOME!” Kim exclaims loudly. Angelica is surprised. This certainly was not the reaction that she was expecting. Angelica tilts her head to one side and stares skeptically at her daughter. She certainly seems much happier than expected.

“Excuse me?”

“Yeah? Did you see me out there?” Kim is beaming with pride, at least it appears to be pride. Angelica has her doubts. Kim lost and in the past Kim has not taken losses very well. “I started the whole damn thing and look at how far I went!”

“I know, and I’m…” Angelica is interrupted when her daughter strikes a pose and then begins to shout again…

“I…AM…IRON KIMMY!”

“Kim…”

“You can be Captain Marvel if you want. Wasley says he wants to be Thor. Caligula is gonna be Nick Fury because he likes to swear a lot. Avengers Assemble!”

“KIM!” Angelica raises her voice, to finally quiet her daughter. Kim smiles innocently.

“You don’t have to shout. If you’d rather be Scarlet Witch that’s fine but you DO realize she eventually dies, right? I would rather you not die, mommy!” Kim hugs Angelica tightly. Angelica sighs and pats her on the back.

“I appreciate that but, uh…” she sighs as they break the embrace “...aren’t you upset?”

“And why should I be upset? I mean, I am the SCW Underground Champion. I just put on one of the most impressive performances in the history of this company. I also turned this bad boy into the first ever Death Match style Taking Hold of the Flame, baby! WOOOO! History maker!”

“But…” Angelica sighs deeply again “...but you lost.”

“So?” Kim shrugs her shoulders.

“So you’re completely ok with the result? Even though you started the match, went the full one hour and twenty minutes plus at least, lasting longer than anyone else, arguably having the best performance of everyone in the match, all just to come up short and empty handed. And you’re ok with all of that?”

“Uh-huh…” Kim nods her head enthusiastically.

“Forgive my skepticism, but you do have a history of not taking a loss very well. You have a history of pouring your heart and soul into something that you want so very badly only to have it taken from you, and then you not reacting very well to it.”

“Oh please!” Kim rolls her eyes. “You act as if I walked out on SCW or something…”

“You did.”

“Ok, you got me there. But still, it’s not as if I started gambling everything away in a drunken stupor all the while contemplating leaving SCW.”

“You did that too.” Angelica points out. “I had to talk you out of it.”

“Fine.” Kim nods her head. “But you act as if I threw a temper tantrum when someone beat me, tried to injure him out of spite, and then booked the craziest shenanigans in the history of the sport just to get revenge and my title back.”

“Yeah, you did that too.”

“Why do you have to have such a damn good memory?” Kim whines as she sticks her tongue out at her mother. Angelica chuckles softly.

“But you see why I am skeptical, right?”

“I get it, mom. I don’t exactly have the greatest reputation whenever I come up short. And yes, you’re right, I did pour my heart and soul into this Taking Hold of the Flame battle royal. I wanted to win it and I wanted it badly. I thought I needed to win this match and punch my ticket into the main event of Rise To Greatness in order to rewind time, in order rewrite history, specifically the aftermath of Body, Heart, & Soul.” Kim’s voice grows a little more serious. “That time period, those weeks in the aftermath of that match against Owen Cruiserweight, that was a dark stain on my career. I wanted a chance to do it all over again. I wanted the opportunity to prove that the person the world saw in the aftermath of Body, Heart, & Soul was not the real me, that was not Kimberly Williams.”

“So why aren’t you upset?” Angelica asks again.

“After Kandis eliminated me I was upset. But only for a few seconds. I looked back in the ring, seeing that only two people remained…just two…and I realized how close I had come, how far I had made it in Taking Hold of the Flame. I realized just how impressive of a performance that was and I realized that there was not a damn thing to be ashamed of, nothing to be upset about. Most importantly, I realized that everyone in this arena tonight, and everyone watching at home, all of them got to see me lay it all on the line and leave it all in the center of the ring. They got to see me put on the performance of a lifetime. Anyone who doubted my guts, my determination, or my skill had been silenced because there were thirty seven other competitors who were unable to do what I did tonight. And anyone who questioned my passion? They got to see me walk away with my head held high.” Kim grins from ear to ear. “I accomplished what I set out to do, mom. That’s why I’m so damn happy right now.”

“Well I’m happy to see that you are taking it so well.” Angelica finally grins herself as she slowly starts to believe that perhaps Kim really is sincere.

“And it’s true. And since Taking Hold of the Flame is over, now that we are officially on the road to Rise To Kimmy…”

“Rise To Greatness.” Angelica says, correcting her daughter. Kim shrugs her shoulders.

“Same difference. Anyway, I’m sure the braintrust in SCW has plans for me and my Underground Championship?” Kim’s grin takes on a more sinister tone. “Who do I gotta maim?”

“I don’t have official confirmation yet…I mean, Taking Hold of the Flame still hasn’t even ended yet…but there was talk of an Underground Title Match, you defending against YUYO and Kelsai.”

“I have to defend against Kelsai AND a Magical Cosmic Princess?” Kim feigns shock. “How dare they stack the deck against me? If I must defend my championship against a MAGICAL COSMIC Princess then I demand the right to use the infinity gauntlet in the match.” Kim folds her arms over her chest. “It’s only fair.”

“You realize the infinity gauntlet isn’t real, right?”

“I don’t care.” Kim sticks her tongue out at Angelica who laughs again.

“Use it as brass knucks I suppose. Whatever, you know Underground Rules are anything goes. So feel free to go all out. Before we leave I’ll try to speak with someone and confirm that this match is taking place.”

“Cool!”

“And yes, Kim, I am glad to see that you are taking things so well. Though I do have a surprise that may make you even happier.”

“Oh?”

“AUNT KIM!” This voice is immediately recognizable as that of her nephew, Sean Jones. Kim turns her head in time to see her identical twin sister Marie Jones along with Marie’s son Sean approaching. Sean runs ahead and greets Kimberly with a big hug.

“Hi there, kiddo!” She says with a low chuckle. “Careful with me, though. I just got through a war.”

“I know! I saw! You were great, Aunt Kim!”

“Thanks, kiddo.” Kim looks up at Marie and then at Angelica. “How long have they been here?”

“Not long.” Angelica says. “We wanted to keep it a surprise. I felt some emotional support might be necessary but apparently you are doing just fine without.”

“I’m never gonna turn away a visit from my favorite nephew.” Kim ruffles his hair.

“Only nephew, Aunt Kim.”

“Hush. Don’t throw minor details at me. Besides, don’t you have school tomorrow?”

“School is out for the summer, Aunt Kim.”

“Oh…right…” Kim shrugs her shoulders “...so, uh, wanna go throw things at old people?”

“Sure!”

“Uh, Kim.” Marie chimes in. “Why don’t you let mom take him around to MEET with the wrestlers and get some autographs as opposed to throwing things at them?”

“That’s boring.” Kim scoffs. “Wouldn’t Sean rather have a piece of Kelsai Adamson’s flesh as a souvenir? Gimme a week or two or whenever this Underground Title Match takes place and I can make it happen.”

“You know, Kim” Angelica says as she takes Sean by the hand “I know that is your idea of ‘fun’ but I think your sister’s idea is safer.”

“Fine.” Kim rolls her eyes. She watches as Angelica leads Sean away. Once the pair are out of sight, Kim turns back to face her twin sister. “So what’s up?”

“What do you mean?”

“That wasn’t exactly the smoothest way of getting rid of the prying eyes and ears of my nephew.” Kim points out. “There’s obviously something you want to tell me and you don’t want him to hear.” Marie sighs and nods her head, confirming that Kim is indeed correct.

“Yes, you’re right. But it isn’t as if Sean doesn’t know. It’s more that he just doesn’t want to talk about it.”

“What’s wrong?” Kim’s face grows a little concerned.

“Maybe we should have a seat.” Marie points to two chairs set up nearby. Kim nods her head in agreement. She follows Marie over to the chairs. Marie sits first followed by Kim.

“Alright. Tell me what’s wrong with my nephew? First it was bad grades, then that turned out to be outright skipping school, then he’s getting into fights, then he’s breaking and entering with the three school bullies. Don’t tell me they’ve moved onto bigger and better crimes?”

“Oh God no.” Marie shakes her head. “Quite the opposite, actually. Sean has definitely shown a great deal of improvement in his behavior lately. I owe you one for that, sis.”

“Don’t mention it.” Kim says. “Like I’ve said before, I just don’t want him going down that same path I went down. That’s all. But uh, did you have a talk with him about…uh…you know…”

“How he was conceived?” Marie asks. Kim nods her head. “Yes, we had a long talk about that. He’s getting through it slowly but surely. He’s healing from the emotional and mental pains of it slowly.”

“That’s good. So what’s wrong then? Why do you need to talk to me?”

“Me and Sean met with the authorities. And they are willing to drop all charges against him. Sean will have a perfectly clear record, all of it will be wiped from the record books.”

“That’s even better news!” Kim says happily. “Apparently the family name Jones does carry some weight!”

“Yeah, our family is rather well known in Massachusetts and that may have helped. But that doesn’t mean the authorities were willing to grant us that kind of pardon without a price.” Marie states. Kim sighs as she immediately knows what Marie is talking about.

“They want him to roll over on his friends. Don’t they?”

“Yes. They suspect Kyle, Jackson, and Max have committed other crimes before, they just need Sean to confirm it.”

“I get it.” Kim says, nodding her head. “You know what they say? Snitches get stitches.”

“Kim!” Marie exclaims angrily. Kim feigns innocence.

“Sorry! Just trying to lighten the mood!”

“Well this is serious. Sean is having second thoughts about cooperating. He’s afraid of what his pals will do in retaliation.”

“And I really do get it, sis. I understand. He’s afraid of what might happen. It’s natural.”

“But if he doesn’t take the deal, if he doesn’t cooperate, this will stay on his record.” Marie says, almost pleading with Kim. “You have to talk to him.”

“You are his mother.” Kim points out with a grin.

“Yes, and I have said everything I can think of, but he’s still wavering.”

“Oh alright, you don’t have to beg.” Kim smirks. “I’ll see what I can do.”

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June 5th, 2023
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Off Camera
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Rise To Greatness concluded less than twelve hours ago and now Kimberly Williams wakes up still in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, inside her hotel room. She has already received confirmation from her mother that she will, indeed, be defending the SCW Underground Championship against Kelsai Adamson and The Magical Cosmic Princess YUYO on the next Breakdown. This will be a challenge for The Woman Scorned; a triple threat match means that Kim does not have to be pinned or made to submit to lose her championship. Still, beating the odds is what Kimberly does best. Just last night she overcame overwhelming odds to damn near go the distance in Taking Hold of the Flame. After that impressive performance, The Woman Scorned is feeling enormous momentum as she heads into her second Underground Title defense of this reign and her first match on this journey towards Rise To Greatness. Kimberly would love nothing more than to walk into Rise To Greatness as Underground Champion for a second straight year. To do that she will have to get past Kelsai and YUYO. She will have to defeat two very game, very tough competitors. But this is the Underground, this is Kim’s type of match, and Kim is feeling all of the confidence in the world about her chances of retaining the title.

The one thing she isn’t so certain of is her nephew, Sean Jones. Last night she learned that he will not be charged with any crimes. That is a good thing. However that bit of good news comes at a price; Sean must fully cooperate with authorities and fill them in on anything and everything that Kyle, Jackson, and Max have done, namely the illegal acts they have perpetrated. In street lingo, Sean must become a snitch in order to have his record wiped clean and go free. Needless to say, Sean is having his doubts about this idea. Betraying a friendship is one thing, but betraying three feared kids like Kyle, Jackson, and Max is something else entirely. Sean fears the possibility of retaliation more than he fears losing their friendship.

Sean’s mother, Marie Jones, has done everything she can to convince him to stand up to his fears and cooperate. Still he wavers. Still he has doubts. Now it falls upon Kimberly to try and talk some sense into the young kid. And Kim is lying on her king sized bed in the hotel room, staring up at the ceiling ready for that inevitable confrontation, dressed in her pink unicorn onesie.

Because of course when you are talking to someone about a topic as serious as crime and punishment, of course if you are going to attempt to “scare someone straight”, you want to look intimidating. And what’s more intimidating than a pink unicorn onesie?

A knocking at the door startles Kimberly to attention. She quickly sits up and swings her legs over the side of the bed. More knocking is heard. Kim leaps up to her feet and hurriedly rushes to the door. The Woman Scorned opens the door and smiles upon seeing her nephew Sean standing there.

“Morning, Aunt Kim!”

“Yep, good morning, kiddo.” Kim steps aside and motions for him to come inside. Sean enters and shuts the door behind him. “I still don’t have a clue how the heck you and your mom managed to not only get here without me knowing but stay at the same hotel without me knowing!”

“We had help.”

“Yeah, from your grandmother.” Kim rolls her eyes.

“And you were kinda distracted with Taking Hold of the Flame.”

“Don’t try to give me excuses.” Kim sighs. “Face facts, I’m losing my touch.”

“No you’re not.” Sean says as he hops onto the edge of the bed. Kim follows and sits down next to him. “And you did great last night.”

“Thanks, kiddo. Your support means the world to me.” She pats him on the head. “Now what did your mom send you over here for? If its wine she wants she can get drunk on her own dime.”

“Uh, no…” Sean looks a bit confused “...she said you needed to talk to me about something.”

“I did?” Then it’s like a lightbulb goes off over her head. “Oh yeah! I did need to talk to you about something, kiddo. And it is very important so I’m glad you stopped by.”

“What is it?”

“Your mom told me about that you’re gonna turn stool-pigeon, that you’re gonna become a snitch, that you’re gonna tattle tale, that…” Kim sees her nephew’s eyes grow wide with surprise and realizes she’s going a bit too far, again “...uh, yeah, you get the point.”

“Right.” Sean sighs. “I guess she wants you to convince me to cooperate, huh?”

“That’s the plan. So why don’t you just go ahead and agree to cooperate and make it easier on both of us?”

“I’m afraid, Aunt Kim.” Sean admits. Kim sighs and shakes her head.

“You’re not gonna make it easy on me, are you kiddo? Well that’s fine. I strike fear into the hearts of juvenile delinquents, kiddo. I can make you squeal.”

“Uh…”

“What?” Kim asks. “Don’t I look mean? Intimidating? Do I look like the toughest cop on the block?”

“You look like a unicorn.” Sean says. Kim rolls her eyes.

“Sure…but I look like a mean, intimidating, and tough unicorn that happens to be a cop! Haven’t you seen zootopia?”

“In Zootopia the cop was a bunny.”

“There you go with those meaningless details again, kiddo. Giving people meaningless details get you in trouble.”

“But that’s what the police want. They want all kinds of details on stuff Kyle, Jackson, and Max did in return for wiping my record clean.”

“Oh I see.” Kim shrugs her shoulders. “Well that sounds like a pretty fair deal to me. I mean, you did break into a school and help vandalize the place. If your mom wasn’t a filthy rich snob and if your grandmother wasn’t a FAMOUS filthy rich snob then you would be in just as much trouble as those three clowns. Plus it’s only your first offense. They’re giving you the benefit of a doubt and the chance to change your life but you have to be willing to make the deal.”

“I’m not sure I can, Aunt Kim.” Sean says quietly.

“What are you afraid of?”

“I’m afraid they’ll beat me up.”

“Oh is that all?” Kim scoffs. “Kiddo, sometimes you have to stand up to your fears.”

“That’s what mom said.”

“Oh right. I really should stop stealing her material. Her material sucks.”

“Huh?”

“Let me put it to you this way.” Kim stands up. “You think my outfit right now is pretty damn ridiculous, don’t ya?”

“Uh…kinda…” Sean says uneasily.

“Did you know I wore this on national television? I wore it on Breakdown when Ducky Kinneck cashed in her Trios Contract. Had a onesie wearing birthday thing that broke down into a battle royal.”

“Seriously?” Sean’s eyes grow wide. Kim nods her head.

“Yup. And guess who won that match? The crazy bitch wearing the pink unicorn onesie, that’s who! And if I go out there, people might mock me, that’s true. But if anyone tries to take me down, what do you think will happen?”

“You’ll probably maim them.” Sean says. Kim nods her head.

“Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner, folks! And on Breakdown when I defend my Underground Championship against Kelsai and YUYO, I’m gonna wear this pink unicorn onesie. Does this face look like the face of someone who is worried about anything?”

“No…” Sean’s voice trails off “...but you do admit that you’re a little crazy, Aunt Kim.”

“Quit with the details.” Kim shakes her head. “Your details are ruining my propaganda! But you know what? Maybe there’s a better example of bravery and standing up to fear.”

“What’s that?”

“Your mom for starters.” Kim says. “Remember that deep dark secret you discovered? She had no one to help raise you. She did that practically all by herself…just her, her and her alone responsible for a new human life. Imagine who scary that must have been for her.”

“Yeah…”

“But she faced her fears. And when I lost my Underground Title to Owen Cruiserweight, I admit that I went a little crazy. I damn near burned down every bridge I had built up while in SCW. I nearly ruined my career. I could have walked away from it all but I faced my detractors, my critics, my doubters. I went back and look at me now. I am the iron woman of the 2023 Taking Hold of the Flame, I am the SCW Underground Champion, and hopefully I’ll walk into Rise To Greatness STILL the Underground Champion.”

“That’s true.” Sean says quietly. Kim pats him on the back.

“So what do you say? I know those three may be scary to you, but I think if you face your fears everything will turn out ok.”

“Are you sure?”

“I promise.” Kim says. Sean nods his head.

“Alright, Kim. I’m still scared but…I’ll cooperate with the authorities.”