Marie Jones vs. Cassie Wolfe

[The Matt]

2 of 2
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March 2nd, 2024
Glendale, Arizona
On Camera
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We open in the bright, hot afternoon sun shining over Glendale, Arizona. The clicking of heels across pavement breaks through what is otherwise dead silence. As the camera pans around to get a view of where the noise is coming from, it eventually comes to a stop at the lovely ginger known as “The Phoenix” Marie Annabelle Jones. The Phoenix is dressed in an elegant knee length black skirt that hugs her curves, accentuating her slender waist, coupled with a crimson red blouse. The finishing touches of her outfit include sheer black stockings and a pair of glossy black high heels, adding a hint of sophistication to Marie Jones, something that her identical twin Kimberly often lacks. A look of pure confidence radiates from the face of The Phoenix as she stops, turns, and stares into the camera.

“Oh, hello,” she waves at the camera “funny seeing you here. I suppose this is to be expected, right? The job of a professional wrestler is to talk smack and talk trash just days ahead of their next big match. It’s our job to tell the opposition just how painfully hard they are going to fall when we knock them on their ass. Am I right?” Jones chuckles and then shakes her head. “Sorry. But I’m turning over a new leaf. I’m not the person I once was; I am not the same egomaniac who first walked into Supreme Championship Wrestling those many years ago. I called myself The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling back in those days and I damn sure believed in my own hype. I thought I was the end all be all, just because I came from a famous wrestling family. Life had to come and kick me in the ass before I was brought back down to reality. The reality is that after everything I had done in the past, that maybe just maybe, I needed Retribution.”

“Retribution is defined as a punishment. And yes, I definitely deserved punishment. I received it all in spades and that punishment, that retribution, humbled me. It wiped away any trace of The Crown Jewel and brought back the person who I needed to be…and that’s The Phoenix. Now as The Phoenix I am slowly but steadily rising back out of those flames to reclaim my life, my very career here in SCW. Now right here in Glendale, Arizona where SCW rolls into town with, appropriately enough, Retribution, I continue my upward march out of the flames, I continue my path towards the redemption I so desperately seek.” The Phoenix smirks knowingly.

“Well, at least I hope I will. It could be a rise, it could be one more step closer towards redemption, or maybe it could be yet another form of Retribution. That would be ironic, considering the name of this event, wouldn’t you agree, Cassie?” Marie nods her head. “I suppose that there is no use beating around the bush any further, is there? Tomorrow night right here in Glendale for Retribution, you and I are going to do battle. The Rebel Princess against The Phoenix. You could probably slap that on a t-shirt and sell it.” She winks at the camera. “Note to Kimberly and whoever the hell she talks to about her damn t-shirt ideas, I am NOT actually suggesting that!” She shakes her head and laughs a little before continuing.

“Now then, is that enough hype for you, SCW? I hope it is because the time for hype is over. It’s time for some reality. Cassie, we first met on Breakdown and you mistook me for my sister. No, I’m not mad. It’s completely understandable. Kimberly has made impersonating me an artform. Back in UWA she masqueraded as me for several months when I no longer wanted to be a Tag Team Champion. That was back during my selfish, self-centered days. And before that in IWC she spent an entire month impersonating me in that company. So yeah, I get it, I understand how easy it is to mix the two of us up. But you need to understand that you are not facing Kim Williams, a woman who is arguably one of SCW’s most popular stars today. You are not facing Kim Williams, the reigning SCW Underground Champion. You are facing The Phoenix, you are facing Marie Jones, a woman with everything to gain and absolutely nothing to lose.”

“How many opportunities have you had here, Cassie? I know you challenged for the Television Title, the Underground Title, what else has there been, Cassie? Sure, you came up short, but you keep coming back. You are very resilient which is a good trait to have in SCW. People without that kind of resilience and determination quickly falter and fail and end up getting lost in the shuffle. But you keep going, you keep trying, you have a lot of heart and that means no matter how many times you get knocked down, you will keep getting back up and you will keep getting opportunities. And one of these days you will take advantage of that opportunity and become a title holder in this great company.”

“But what about me?” Marie motions to herself and then pauses for a moment before shaking her head. “I am in a different situation than you, Cassie. I think…no, I KNOW that I am just as resilient as you if not more so. My history here with SCW is well known. I am a former United States Champion, former Television Champion, former World Tag Team Champion. And my sister isn’t the only one capable of the ultra violence; I competed in Tactical Warfare. I shed my blood, I put my body on the line. I got knocked down too but I kept getting back up and every time I did I would kick things up a notch and prove my critics wrong, I would win back championship gold, and once again The Phoenix would rise back to the top. That’s what you are up against, Cassie.” Marie sighs and shakes her head.

“This is different, though, and it is different because I know that this may be last opportunity. In case you haven’t been paying attention to my story, I’ll give you a real quick summary. I burned a ton of bridges on my way out of SCW. I honestly didn’t think I’d get taken back. I didn’t think SCW would sign me to a new contract. But I had two very vocal advocates in the back willing to stick their necks out for me, willing to put their own reputations at stake on my behalf, just to get me this opportunity. And I know how lucky I am to have this opportunity, and I know that I cannot afford to screw it up. Because if this Phoenix fails to rise from the ashes this time, there may be no more opportunities. Not for me, not ever. You may WANT to win, Wolfe, but I NEED to win.” Jones says definitively with an intense look on her face.

“So when I say that I have everything to gain and nothing to lose, I mean every word of it. I have nothing right now, nothing but a handful of good moments overshadowed by a tarnished, horrible reputation that I would desperately love to get rid of. And ever since I returned to SCW I have took to the ring as if my entire career here depended upon the match, because in truth, it very well could. One piss poor performance and SCW may decide to kick my ass to the curb. Take a look at how I approached Aisling in my return. She’s still fairly new to singles competition, mostly known for being a tag team wrestler and, as some might say mockingly, ‘Polly’s sidekick’. Some in my position with my credentials might have just overlooked her. But I didn’t…I looked at that as if it was the biggest match of my career…and I ended up dropping her on her head with an Ave Maria and pinning her for the three count. Then I had to face down the one incident that had haunted me for years; my walk out on SCW. I walked out on a tag match against the Frosts and wouldn’t you know, my second match back was against Deanna Frost. I may not have won but I took the reigning United States Champion to her limit and I nearly beat her on several occasions. The old me, The Crown Jewel of Professional Wrestling, would have thrown a tantrum. But now I know that a lot can be gained even in defeat, namely respect, and I’d like to think that I gained some respect from the guys and girls in the back after the way I took it to Deanna Frost.” The Phoenix points a finger at the camera.

“Now you’re up. My third match back and while this may be special because it is at a major event, it is at Retribution, I can guarantee you one thing and that’s that my confidence is not an issue. There were definitely some nerves when I returned after years away to face Aisling. There were even more nerves when I stepped into the ring against Deanna after walking away in the first place. But I have faced up to my judge, my jury, and my executioner. I have faced my demons. And now I walk into Retribution not just thinking, not just hoping, but KNOWING that when The Rebel Princess faces off against The Phoenix, it will be my arm raised in victory!” She grins with confidence. Marie then winks at the camera.

“But don’t worry, Cassie, you will get back up. You have that resilience, that heart that has helped you out so far in SCW. There will be other opportunities. But this one, tomorrow night, belongs to me. Retribution belongs to The Phoenix because I will rise up from the flames and continue my march towards redemption.”

With that Marie Jones again waves at the camera. Then the lovely Phoenix turns and starts walking off, the clicking of her high heels growing more and more quiet as she gets further and further away. The camera then fades to black.