DEADLINE 1 - 1X 3,250 word limit RP, in whatever format you choose
FRIDAY 12TH JULY 2019 2359 EST
DEADLINE 2 - 1x 750 word limit SHOOT / SEGMENT rp, to be used in the show. This rp must be sent to the EMERGE PM box before the deadline of SUNDAY 14th JULY 2019 2359 EST
“Okay, before we get started with this, I want you to do something for me. Go to your album collection and… what? You don’t have an album COLLECTION? Okay… then go to your parents’ album collection. If they (or you) aren’t total savages, it should be in alphabetical order. I mean, what kind of person throws caution to the wind for something so simple?
I’m getting off track.
Go to the “M” section of the collection. Pull out 1989’s “Dr. Feelgood” album by Motley Crue. You got it? Good… put it in. You don’t have to play the whole thing… I mean, you definitely SHOULD play the whole thing at some point, but right now, all you need to do is skip ahead to track 5… Kickstart My Heart.
You there?
Good. Now we can begin.”
#NP “Kickstart My Heart” by Motley Crue.
“My story actually begins before the cruise ship, where I made my debut for EMERGE Wrestling and ended up in the top 8 of their invitational battle royale. Yeah, I would have much preferred to win, but considering this was my first go out of the gate, I think I have something to rest my hat on, especially considering how strong the talent in the match was. Plus, if we’re keeping score, I was tossed by the eventual winner, so really? It’s not that bad.
My story also begins before I stepped foot in Amy Chastaine’s Black Out Academy, where I sought to hone my wrestling skills and prepare myself for a wider audience. Yes, I was one of the first to “graduate”, but it wasn’t like I went in empty-handed… or empty-headed, as the case may be.
My story begins back before then, when I first broke into the wrestling scene. Let’s be honest - most 16 year old girls don’t dream of being involved in the pro wrestling business… but when the guy you’re dating does and wants you to go along with him as his “valet”, you bite the bullet and sign up. I lied about my age… it was convincing for me to say I was 19 at the time - I had developed ahead of other girls - and just went for it. At first, I was just there to escort my man to the ring, look pretty on the outside, and play along with what I saw. Then “playing along” became really playing along… I learned a crossbody, a diving clothesline, how to properly crack someone in the back with a chair…
As it happened, I soon became the star of our act… I guess that never ends well…”
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October 28, 2017 Hunter Sportsplex New York City, New York
The site of the NESW (New Empire State Wrestling, formed in the aftermath of the dissolution of the old Shootclub Wrestling Alliance affiliate Empire State Wrestling) supershow, Haunted Empire, had been buzzing earlier in the night. In the main event of the evening, Kenny Dewitt took on the burgeoning star, Freddy Badrock - accompanied by his “girl”, Madeline Masters. In truth, the relationship between Badrock (real name Fred Baxter} and Masters (real name… that) was strained and had been for some time. Wrestling was always Badrock’s dream. He started training young, looking to become the very pinnacle of his field. But when he debuted at 19, he was missing something... an edge. So, in 2015, he asked his 16 year old girlfriend (that’s Madeline) to accompany him to the ring. She was hesitant at first, but as he explained she wouldn’t have to actually DO anything, and there was good money potential involved, she reluctantly went along with it. But, as is the case, crowds saw her and immediately supported her - and why not? Attractive blonde with something of an attitude. She was tailor-made for that environment. Badrock’s career grew, but his spotlight was always being outshone by her’s, a fact that drove him bonkers. Still, as the big Championship match on this fateful night, Badrock was supposed to be the one to go over. It was his night, something he had worked for. The NESW Championship unofficially had a lineage recognized through the old SWA and here he was, set to win it. But Badrock wasn’t entirely satisfied with it. He paced around backstage, drinking from a water bottle as was his ritual, waiting for Madeline to arrive. She was delayed… again. So finally, as she arrived on the scene, he snapped at her.
Badrock: “Where the fuck you been?”
Madeline took a half-step back. In the two years they had been doing this schtick, she had been subject to his scorn and ridicule before - typically in front of cameras where he could reason it away later as “playing a role”. But never had he used that sharpness backstage, where no one would see it and neither one of them could benefit from it.
Masters: “I was just signing a few things… what’s the big deal?”
Badrock: “The big deal!? The big deal is that this is the biggest fucking night of my career, and you’re off bullshitting around dealing with the fame thing. I’m sick of it!”
Madeline rolled her eyes. It was a conversation they had before.
Masters: “Whatever… I wouldn’t even be here without you.”
Badrock: “And now that you’re here, you’re all too happy to steal MY spotlight!”
Masters: “No, I’m not, Freddy… I’m just…”
Badrock: “Don’t even try to explain yourself! You’ve been undermining my credibility from the very beginning!”
Madeline could only shake her head and listen to the barrage. It was something that had building in Badrock for a while now, and she knew that trying to out-argue him would ultimately be fruitless. She shakes her head, going to his duffel bag. He immediately becomes defensive.
Badrock: “Hey! HEY! Don’t go in there…”
She reaches in, pulling out a bottle of water.
Masters: “What? I’m thirsty. What’s wrong with getting some water?”
Badrock: “Because…”
He reaches into the bag, pulling out another bottle of water.
Badrock: “I got you this bottle of water... “
Masters: “What’s the difference?”
Badrock: “This one has your vitamins.”
Madeline looks at him with a suspicious eye, but doesn’t think much of it. Shaking her head, she takes the bottle.
Masters: “Whatever…”
She cracks open the bottle, taking a drink from it. She shakes her head as she swallows a gulp.
Masters: “Wow… what’s…”
The next few hours became a blur. The best she could recollect, she wasn’t herself. She accompanied Freddy to the ring for his crowning match, but wasn’t her usual self. She was abrasive and erratic at ringside, but it was the throwing up and dizzy spells that caught the attention of the crowd. Freddy won the match, but afterwards, the crowd was talking about how Madeline was fucked out of her mind.
Hours later, she awoke in the hospital. Intravenous tubes stuck out of her arm and she dazedly looked at them. Her arm was bruised from the attempt to put the IV in the first time - despite having drank “her” bottle of water, she was dehydrated. But from the blood tests the Doctors took, it came out that she had been taking GHB, a known date-rape drug. And while the dose was apparently low enough to keep her conscious, other negative side effects - nausea and vomiting, dizziness, erratic behaviour and amnesia - were all present and prevalent. She looked around the hospital room, attempting to get a handle on her surroundings, but unable to do so. Looking around, she couldn’t find a familiar face - no Freddy, no promoter. Nobody.
She was entirely alone.
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November 1, 2017
Badrock: “She’s a liability out there! You saw how fucked out of her mind she was. GHB? That’s serious shit… she could have been a lot worse. Thank GOD I was there to get her out of there before things got REALLY bad. That drug… it increases your sex drive too… if it weren’t for me, she could have been raped or worse.
Freddy Badrock had been asked to meet with NESW promoter, Jeremy Rosen, following Madeline’s episode four days earlier. It was a meeting he was looking forward - he had been lobbying to split Madeline from his act in an attempt to procure more attention for himself, away from the spotlight magnet that was being branded as “The Wild One”. Rosen considered it.
Rosen: “What will the press say? If we fire a performer days after an overdose…”
Badrock: “Sir, I don’t want to tell you how to do your job, but she definitely endangered paying customers. If this was a publicly-traded company, there’d be no question she had to go. At least to rehab, but she would never accept rehab. Too hard-headed… believe me, I know. As much as I hate to have to say it… after all, I brought her here... “
Rosen: “No… no, you shouldn’t feel bad, Freddy. You didn’t make Madeline perform under the influence of narcotics.”
Badrock: “No, I didn’t.”
Rosen: “And you’re right… she could have inappropriately handled Kenny or you or a fan... in the state she was in, she was very dangerous. I can’t afford any more lawsuits.”
Freddy nods his head in agreement.
Rosen: “I’m sorry, Freddy… we have to let your girlfriend go.”
Freddy nods again, this time more reservedly.
Badrock: “I understand, Mr. Rosen. You have to do what you have to do to protect the company.”
Rosen: “Yeah… protect the company.”
As Freddy left the meeting that day, knowing that “Madeline’s actions” have resulting in her termination from NESW, he found himself at the bar celebrating with friends. Finally, at long last, his “albatross” was gone, and Madeline wouldn’t be an obstacle to his career again.
From the window of the bar, he looks to the hospital “H” in the sky, knowing that Madeline hadn’t yet been discharged. He wondered what she might do when she leaves… maybe she’d actually end her life… that would be a huge boon for his career. He cared about her, but when it came down to her or his career, the latter would win every time. Smiling, he tips a longneck bottle back…
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March 21, 2019 BlackOut Wrestling Academy New Orleans, Louisiana
Masters: “And that’s what happened.”
Amy Chastaine was blown away. Not that the antics that had been described to her by the young woman sitting across from her had been out of her mind before. Truly, the professional wrestling industry had been a breeding ground for the types of rampant narcissism and toxic masculinity that would see someone drug a young woman and get her fired from a position he got her in the first place. But that it happened to someone so young, someone that had lied about her age previously to even be there, knowing that if she was found out she would be subject to litigation and possible lawsuits.
Chastaine: “That…”
Amy was almost rendered speechless.
Chastaine: “That was a hell of a story, Miss…”
Masters: “Masters… but please, call me Madeline. Or Madi.”
Chastaine: “Well, Madeline… I think you have overcome quite a bit to get here. I’m sure getting fired for drug use you didn’t even know was going on wasn’t easy and stained your reputation in New York.”
Masters: “Yeah…”
She hung her head.
Masters: “No one in New York even believed me, even after the Doctors told them it was a distinct possibility. The Rosens own the New York wrestling scene… once word got out…”
Chastaine: “Don’t worry about that, okay? You get through here, I can put in a good word for you anywhere. From the sound of it, these Rosens aren’t exactly the most reputable employers outside of NYC.”
Masters: “So you’d really be willing to take on a case like mine?”
Chastaine: “"Madeline, do you know why I've made the Be Brave movement a mission? It’s because of women who have been through what you’ve been through. Coming here… that was brave. Getting past your past, knowing it could come back is brave. I like you, Madeline… I think you have a good head on your shoulders and just need an opening. Coming here, that’s a good first step. But as I was told before, every journey starts with a step. This is it… if you’re willing?”
Madeline looks up at Amy, seeing sincerity in her eyes that she hadn’t seen since Fred Baxter asked her to join him in NESW as a 16 year old completely green to the industry. She trusted him implicitly then, and even knowing how that ended up, seeing the look in Amy’s eyes now told her that she was in a good place… more importantly, a safe place. She nods her head.
Masters: “I’m willing.”
Chastaine: “Good… then let’s get you some forms to fill out…”
And with that, Madeline Masters found the door to professional wrestling opening again for her. She didn’t know where it would take her, or how long it would be, but she knew that with the work she was willing to put in, she could be bigger than she imagined before.
Oh, how that would piss Freddy Badrock off…
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“Look, I’m new to EMERGE, so I’m not going to dig into everyone’s in-depth background to see just who they are and what they represent. I know there was some shock at the commentary booth during the Symphony of the Sea when I went right after Donovan Street, seemingly unintimidated by his reputation, but I’m not going to be the girl who lets herself get worked up over who she’s facing. I have to go in with no fear, or else I’m going to let everyone walk over me and that just isn’t who I am… not anymore.
BUT it would be foolish to walk in COMPLETELY blind to who I’m facing. Sabrina Bello. First impressions? She’s a looker. I can’t deny that. She posts these pictures on Twitter, and I can’t even criticize her for that because I do it too. And why shouldn’t we? I’m sure Sabrina, like me, works hard to get in the shape she’s in and is proud of that. I know I am. There’s empowerment in being proud of being in shape, so fuck you if you don’t like it.
What else did I find out? I found out that Sabrina Bello has a pretty wicked submission, and had herself a RUSH Championship match in the last half-season. Sure, she didn’t win it, but isn’t even getting a title shot something of an accomplishment? She’s been around wrestling for a while and has some top-tier mentors behind her. What can I say? Sabrina Bello, on paper, beats Madeline Masters.
Except nothing about this is “on paper”. I’m not a character written out on a piece of paper, printed out by someone sitting in a basement and working on me between Netflix reruns of The Office and subject to the whims of a gamemaster half a world away. I’m a wrestler. And this is where the ignorance of reputations comes in handy… because it doesn’t matter to me if it’s someone like Sabrina Bello, who - on paper - is similar to me, or someone like Donovan Street who, I understand, is a dangerous bastard. I’m going to throw myself into the shark tank just the same.
Look, Sabs… can I call you Sabs? I don’t dislike you. I look forward to facing you. Why wouldn’t I? I have one match - a 31-person battle royale on a cruise ship - under my belt. And I’m sure… I’m certain that you’re chomping at the bit to show me what you’re made of… to show EMERGE that you’re someone to be reckoned with, not overlooked. I get it. I don’t want to be overlooked either. But when it comes down to it, EMERGE #25 is my very first one-on-one wrestling match. So if you so much as think that I’m going to be happy going to the ring, doing my best, and walking away with the “L” next to my name… well, sorry not sorry. I won’t be. I’ve been training under Amy Chastaine in the BlackOut Academy for just this opportunity. This is the night I intend to use as my coming out party. And what a party it's going to be!
Sabs… you may be Unbreakable… but you sure as hell aren’t unbeatable. And what you’re coming to EMERGE for… well… for lack of a better term…
It’s going to be WILD!”
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June 11, 2019 New York City, New York
EMERGE: Invasion - Symphony of the Sea plays on the TV inside an apartment. Fred Baxter - better known in New York wrestling circles as NESW Champion Freddy Badrock, sits back with a beer in hand, the belt around his waist, as he watches the latest EMERGE show. As he does, however… taking a swill of beer… he is left aghast. On the screen, he sees…
Badrock: “Madeline?”
As he watches dumbfounded, Madeline Masters competes on a larger stage than he had ever been on. His face goes from the initial shock to anger, believing that she once again upstaged him.
Badrock: “I don’t believe it. I don’t… FUCKING… BELIEVE IT! That BITCH!”
Finally, his face red with anger, he grabs his phone, dialling.
Badrock: “Yeah… get me Rosen’s office. … Hi… Jeremy? Yeah, it’s me. … Are you seeing this bullshit? … I know. … you had better get Drew Bryant on the phone.
He shakes his head, clearly paying attention to what Rosen is telling him on the other side of the line, but that only services to incense him further.
Badrock: “I don’t know! Get his number from someone… send him an email. Maybe a pointed tweet… anything! He has to know what kind of person he’s dealing with…”
Rosen provides some more input, which seems to subdue Freddy’s intensity. He nods his head.
Badrock: “If nothing else inch the door open for me to go there, give him a real sense of Madeline Masters… she’s going to hurt someone, and that’s going to hurt the industry as a whole. If we stop her before that happens, we’re heroes. … Yeah, okay. Let me know. … Bye.”
And he hangs up the phone. Sitting back with a childish pout on his face, he watches Madeline compete.
Badrock: “Enjoy it while it lasts, you selfish bitch. You should have stayed in obscurity where you belong.
