The Enigma vs. Marie Jones

[The Matt]

2 of 2
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April 29th, 2024
Albany, New York
Off Camera
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Spending a long evening at a biker bar definitely is outside of the comfort zone of “The Phoenix” Marie Jones. Her comfort zone typically includes fine dining and anything upscale and whenever she is at work her comfort zone includes competing in front of her fans, as she will do in Japan this week as she defends her SCW Television Championship against the mysterious monster known as The Enigma. Hanging out at a biker bar is definitely not Marie’s typical idea of a good time. However her childhood best friend, Melinda Jade, insisted that they go; and since Melinda was the one paying the bill for this night out, Marie couldn’t really argue. Besides, while she may not feel very comfortable in that setting, she does feel comfortable with her friend. She trusts Melinda Jade’s judgment and knew that whatever she had in mind for the evening would turn out ok. But even Marie herself could not have guessed that this particular night out would have turned out the way it did. Jones would quickly learn that this night out to celebrate, to have fun, was just an elaborate ruse by Melinda to introduce The Phoenix to a man named Death’s Head.

No, Death’s Head isn’t his actual name. It’s just a nickname; his real name is Percy Matthews. Marie may trust Melinda’s judgment, she still was not pleased with this particular incident. First, she does not like being set up on a date. Second, she initially was intimidated by Percy. He is a large, muscular, biker, fitting the stereotypical look of a dangerous criminal. In fact, he did spend time in prison for various crimes committed in New York. Marie did not want to stick around but Melinda insisted that he had changed, she insisted that Marie trust her and give him a chance. The Phoenix did choose to stay, she chose to give Percy and, much to her surprise, this biker named Death’s Head was far from the intimidating ex-con she thought he would be. He was polite, kind, and had quite the southern charm about him from being raised initially in Charleston, South Carolina. What Marie thought would turn out to be a disastrous night out became a night she thoroughly enjoyed. In fact the night ran long, much longer than Marie had intended. It went so late that Marie chose, instead of making the trip back to her home in Massachusetts at such a late time of night, to stay overnight with her good friend Melinda at her apartment in Albany, New York.

Jones walks into the small, quaint living area of Melinda’s apartment after dropping off her heavy coat and high heeled boots in the guest bedroom. Marie, now barefoot in the jeans she was wearing earlier this evening and her silk blouse, makes her way to the sofa and sits down next to Melinda. The Boston native tucks her legs underneath her and smiles warmly as she looks over at her good friend. The irony of this hasn’t escaped Marie. In the past she knows this type of behavior would have stirred up suspicion amongst her family, but she has earned their trust back. All is well and she is grateful for it.

“Thanks for letting me stay overnight, Mels.”

“Of course, anytime you need me for anything I will be there for you. Hell, if you wanna stay longer you’re welcome to; I mean, aren’t you traveling to Japan this week? Do you really want to travel back to Boston only to turn right around and catch a flight to travel to Japan? That’s an awful lot of traveling. You probably could use more rest.”

“Rest is not a luxury that a professional wrestler can afford.” Marie says shaking her head. “We’re on the road all the time traveling across the country and, in this case, across the world. I wouldn’t want it any other way.” She shakes her head. “And nothing will keep me away from kicking The Enigma’s ass in Japan.”

“Oh stop that!” Melinda Jade says with a smirk. “Now you’re starting to sound like me!”

“Yeah, well, The Enigma provoked me by attacking Kim and I am looking forward to making him regret his actions.”

“And I look forward to WATCHING you make him regret his actions from the comfort of my Albany, New York apartment!” Melinda says with a smirk on her face.

“Thanks for your support, Mels.” Marie says as she smiles warmly. “It really does mean the world to me. And tonight meant the world to me. It feels great knowing that the nightmare of Inner Peace is behind me, knowing that my family trusts me again, it feels great knowing that my wrestling career appears to be looking up again.” Marie nods her head. “You were right, Mels, this was a night worthy of a celebration.”

“Speaking of tonight…” Melinda’s voice trails off as a look of mischief forms on her face “...what did you think of Death’s Head?”

“Percy?” Marie giggles. “Well…” she pauses as she thinks of the right words.

“Be honest!”

“Honestly?” Marie shrugs her shoulders. “He was not who I expected him to be; you told me was this big burly ex-con biker dude, and I thought…I suppose I thought…”

“You were thinking he was gonna be all muscle no brains? Or mean and cruel? Or maybe all of the above?” Melinda suggests. Marie smiles sheepishly and nods her head.

“Yeah, that’s what I expected. But I am happy to admit that I was wrong. He was nice, polite, and really pleasant to be around.”

“Great!” Melinda exclaims. “Looks like my career as a matchmaker is off to a good start!”

“Mels!” Marie exclaims.

“Admit it, Marie, there was a spark between you two kids!” She winks playfully. “There was a romantic connection!”

“There was NO romantic connection!” Marie shakes her head vehemently. “It was like you said, we both need friends, especially me right now, and that’s all this was…the beginning of a good FRIENDSHIP…”

“Did you get his number?” Melinda asks. Again Marie sheepishly smiles. Melinda cackles. “I knew it!”

“Yes, I got his number, because we are FRIENDS!”

“Well that’s good, because in all seriousness you two should keep in contact with one another.” Melinda places a comforting hand on Marie’s shoulder. “I consider both of you to be my best of friends, and I know both of you need close friendships right now. So yeah, please keep in contact with Percy.”

“I will.”

“And who knows?” Melinda shrugs her shoulders. “Maybe something romantic could come of it?”

“You really are pushing that issue hard, y’know that?”

“I like teasing you.” Melinda says jokingly.

“Yeah, well, you need to stop.” Marie sighs and shakes her head out of frustration. “I mean, don’t get me wrong, I appreciate what you’re doing, but this whole love and romance thing, it’s still a sore subject with me, especially after the breakup with Julianne.”

“Oh sweetie.” Melinda pats her on the back. “Julianne used you. She never cared about you.”

“I know that.” Marie nods her head. “But she wasn’t the only failure I have had. There was Damian, who was an abusive drunk. Then there was Arthur who…who…” tears form in Marie’s eyes as she recalls how she tragically lost Arthur. Melinda hugs her tightly.

“I know, Marie. I know.”

“I guess I’m still too afraid to let anyone get close.” Marie says quietly.

“There’s no need to rush into anything, Marie. I was just joking about the matchmaker and romance shit, ok? If you just wanna be friends with Percy, that’s fine. My main thing is that you make a friend, a good friend who you can count on, and trust me when I say that Percy is that kinda guy.”

“He certainly seems nice.” Marie sighs. “For you, Mels, I will definitely stay in contact with Percy.”

“Death’s Head.” Melinda says with a playful grin.

“Right…”

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On Camera
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I told Colleen that I wanted to be the Television Champion because of what it represented to me; it represents the true unyielding commitment a wrestler makes for the fans and for the company they represent. The SCW Television Title is the workhorse title because you have to be committed to showing up each and every week to defend that title against anyone and everyone who gets put in your path. You have to remain committed to showing up to work to compete before the great fans of Supreme Championship Wrestling. That’s why I came back. I wanted to prove to my doubters and my critics that my commitment was no longer an issue. I wanted to prove to the entire world that when the chips were down you could always count on The Phoenix to show up to work to defend the SCW Television Championship.

Then in the lead up to my first title defense, I told Chris Dumont that what I said wasn’t just some silly rallying cry or slogan, that I meant it with every fiber of my being when I said that I would always be committed to this championship that I was committed to being the workhorse and that I would leave everything out there in the center of the ring in order to keep this championship. I told Dumont that if he wanted to be champion, he would have to kill me because I would not accept defeat; not this time. The Ronin brought his very best but he failed to kill me, he failed to put out the fire of The Phoenix, and after spiking him with an Ave Maria, I pinned him to walk away with my hand held high, still the SCW Television Champion.

That’s what this Television Title means to me. That’s what it represents to me. It represents the renewed success of my wrestling career. My career was all but dead and buried because of my own lack of commitment but I came back, I fought back, and this championship that I have won represents my renewed commitment to this sport, to this company, and to each and every one of my fans who have supported me in my return. This championship represents the promise I made to be committed to this sport, to defend this title against anyone and everyone who steps up to the plate. It can be a doofus like Religious Wright or the World Champion herself if ol’ Frosty wants to step up to the plate. It isn’t personal to me. I am here to work and my work involves competing for the great fans who have supported me through thick and thin, it means showing up and competing for the company who took another chance on me after I bailed out on them. That is what this Television Title means to me and that is what each and every title defense means to me.

Except for this one…

Don’t get me wrong, when it comes to me versus The Enigma for the SCW Television Title, the motivation to remain the workhorse champion of SCW, the champion committed to showing up each and every week to defend this title and to never ever let it go without a fight, that kind of fire and passion remains burning deep in my heart and soul just like the fire of The Phoenix that keeps me flying high above the clouds here in Supreme Championship Wrestling. Just like I’m sure Enigma would love to get that Television Title back…because he DID have it once, didn’t he? But he lost the title. He lost it to Colleen. And who is that again? That’s right, Enigma, Colleen is the woman who I beat to become champion. I beat the person who beat your big dumb ass. So keep that in mind while you brainstorm your latest line of cheap parlor tricks.

So if keeping the Television Title so I can maintain my status as the workhorse champion of SCW was the only driving force, the only motivation that I had going into this title defense, believe me that it would be enough to keep me going. That motivation would be enough to send me to a victory over the seemingly unstoppable Enigma on Breakdown. Is that arrogance speaking? It might sound like arrogance but it isn’t meant to be; I just know how damn good I am when I am properly motivated. I know what I am capable of when I am properly motivated and that right there is enough to motivate me to defeat anyone, including The Enigma.

Unfortunately it isn’t that simple or easy this week, is it? It never is with you, is it Enigma? If it were just a mere battle of wits, a combat to see who is worthy of carrying the SCW Television Championship, then we would just step through those ropes…or at least I would, you might magically appear out of thin air like the cheap sideshow magician you are…but we would get into the ring, we would have our fight, and one of us would walk away with the gold…

…spoiler, that person would be me.

Oh but as usual when it comes to you, you just had to go and complicate matters. Instead of a simple Television Title Match, something that is merely professional, you had to go and make it personal. It is personal now because you went and attacked my twin sister Kimberly Williams.

After I got over being angry, I stopped to think; what just happened here? Is The Enigma really that stupid that he meant to target me and he accidentally targeted the wrong damn twin? Are you that dumb, Enigma? Or maybe that was your plan all along? Maybe you intended to provoke me in another one of your idiotic mind games? Everyone knows that there is no closer bond or relationship than an identical twin sibling relationship. Kim is very special to me, and maybe you did know that and that is why you decided to strike. You struck her to get to me. Is that it? Or maybe Kim was your legitimate target and none of this had to do with me? You’re just cold, uncaring, and you didn’t really care who you pissed off in the process.

Those are three good theories right there was to why you went after Kim last week on Breakdown but regardless of which theory is correct, you are still one dumb son of a bitch because all you accomplished in doing that was that you gave me even more motivation. As if retaining the championship wasn’t motivation enough, now I have even more motivation. I am motivated not just to retain the title but I am also motivated to kick the ever living crap out of you. I am motivated to kick your ass all over Japan.

Am I disrespecting the mystique of The Enigma? Tough shit. Your mind games and cheap parlor tricks, all of your smoke and mirrors, it may upset and frighten the average wrestler but it won’t do a damn thing to me. I am a second generation wrestler. This business runs right through my veins. You may be big, strong, and even a little creepy, but you don’t have anything to throw at me that I haven’t seen before. And you damn sure don’t have anything capable of keeping this Phoenix down. So prepare yourself, Enigma. Prepare to be exposed by the reigning and defending SCW Television Champion. Prepare to be exposed by The Phoenix.