07-27-2024, 11:26 PM
DISCLAIMER: The following is a work of fiction and not to be confused as complete or accurate representation of any beliefs, religions, etc. Please refer to research/articles by experts for that.
OOC: The following follows Selena’s first RTG roleplay and is to be counted for both of Deanna’s RTG matches.
Frost ‘Forever Home’
Manhattan, New York
July 22nd, 2024
12:49pm
Deanna sat quietly in the large lazy boy, quietly sipping her orange-pekoe tea, the dark green cup – the one she had bought while taking her Elsianna to see Wicked the Musical on Broadway a few weeks ago - feeling nice and warm in her small hands. The house was usually quiet, with barely the sounds of the various machines like the AC working. Casting her eyes over to the side of the family-room, she spied the large, white fluffball, Oberon, sleeping soundly in one of his many little sleep-pens, the dog not the least bit concerned what time of the day it was to do so.
The redhead almost envied that of him. He just does what he wants to do when he needs to do it. Hungry? Eat. Sleepy? Sleep. Need cuddles? Tackle the red-haired one! she smiled to herself at that one, recalling too many times the rather large Samoyed had made such a decision on her person. Had she not been a trained wrestler, made to powerlift women and even some men much heavier than her, she would have surely spent such moments knocked to the floor!
Once more stealing a quiet glance at the sleeping hound, Deanna allowed a quiet smile to grace her lips. She did, indeed, wish for such simplicity in her life. She had, honestly, thought her life could not get more complicated than it already was.
She had accepted her situation as best as she could. She had Enigma on the Saturday and Matthew Knox on the Sunday, a pair of matches that could, very well, see the end of her reign as the United States Champion this coming Rise to Greatness weekend.
With Knox, it was far simpler – boarder-line Oberon-level of simple. The veteran of wrestling had come to SCW last month and simply demanded to be given a title shot fresh out of the gate. The man didn’t care about Enigma or Jessica or all the drama that surrounded it. Hell, the redhead was pretty sure he was one of the few people in SCW that didn’t give a care about knowing about Deanna’s marital statis like Enigma seemed to be. On paper… it was… he was…
Another sigh came from Deanna. It was a standard, United States championship title defense with him. No different than the ones she had taken with the likes of Scott Reed, Adam Brock, and Polly Pignotti to name a few. And yet, the real challenge came from Knox, himself. He was an unknown. Sure, there had been some videos of his time in past federations, but not many that Deanna had stumbled across – perhaps due to her lack of ‘research skills’. Wikipedia and the ‘big-video sites’ like Youtube and Dailymotion could only get one so far, it seemed. Regardless, it was clear Knox had ‘moved up’ to the bigger company that was SCW, and while he boasted years of experience – sort of reminding Deanna of Josh Hudson’s tirade against Selena… the redhead quietly hopeful that it would lead to some humility finally coming to the Snow Queen – Knox had only had a handful of matches in SCW itself. Four if the royale was to be included. And yes, he had won the last three of those matches, but none had been at the level of a pay-per-view. How could they be after making his debut at Taking Hold of the Flame in the royale?
Maybe that’s why I’ve been getting some heat backstage… Deanna sighed, allowing the next ‘complicated’ part of the situation get her attention. There were a number of people backstage and an insurmountable amount within the fanbase that was the SCW Universe that were not happy with the redhead accepting Knox’s challenge at the main-show so briskly. A growing frustration that the man had ‘cut the line’ as it were, with only four matches landing him an opportunity to become not only the United States Champion, but the one that ‘ended the longest reign in recent SCW history’?
And on that… Deanna could kind of understand their frustration. There were a lot of people in SCW that, maybe, felt they deserved that chance on such a big stage. Scott Reed came to mind, as did Polly Pignotti and maybe some legends like Syren and Ravyn, or Bree or maybe a few more Hall of Famers! Without thinking, Deanna’s finger circled around the top of the cup as her thoughts continued. She had never meant to offend anyone with accepting Knox’s challenge, but… she sighed.
The truth was Knox had made some decent points, in line with past remarks from Hiro Tanaka and some of the commentary team. The United States Championship needed to be defended and, in truth, Deanna had taken on so much of the roster already. Was that why it had been so easy for Knox to barge in and take the front? Was it her fault because she had beaten so many of the potential contenders for her title over the past year? I mean… there was the triple threat match… the two chamber matches… Last woman standing match… all the single matches…
How had she never thought about it before? How had the number of defenses and number of victories never shored up in her mind? They just… hadn’t. It had always been ‘move on to the next one. Never stale and never settle’. That had been her way, the redhead refusing to rest on her laurels. Had… had SCW quietly run out of options and not realized it? Especially with Selena depleting the world title divisions and ranks so openly and stating so far more aggressively?
Had…. Had Deanna unknowingly been doing the same thing? Was that partially why she had jumped at the challenge and accepted it? Because, despite everything else, deep down she still wanted to be a good champion and have new challenges to face for the title she had loved championing for the past year?
Or was she just trying to get back to how things were? When there wasn’t any personal drama or stakes for a loved one’s very control of their own life? When it was just her… just… she felt a sniffle escape her and only then did she catch the droplet of water fall into the remains of her tea, causing a ripple within the colored hot-water. A second droplet came just a few millimeters from the other, dropping into the drink and Deanna blinked her eyes, realizing that she had cried a little from her thoughts, yet she did not stop or even slow them.
Were her tears not proof-positive? That she longed to go back to the days when she was just defending the title? Fighting through the ranks? When her friends and family weren’t put in danger? When she wasn’t so distracted by something so…so… so unreal?
Knox could laugh at it, but he had that luxury! He had the luxury of such a simple mentality that rivaled Oberon. Just show up, win, and get what you want! Simple! Enigma wasn’t targeting him or his loved ones! True, he had JC but to a level of this demented and terrifying? No! It was wrestling-related! That’s all it was.
Enigma was… Another sigh and, this time, Deanna used her free hand to swipe the tear off her cheek before it could fall into her tea. Enigma was much of an ‘unknown’ to Deanna as Knox was, but where Knox got it from simply ‘just arriving in SCW last month’, Enigma had it through his ‘powers’ and ‘mind-games’. For months, he had been in SCW and for months, no one had managed to unmask him or keep him down. Months of going through challengers and winning a Television title and no one had a clue as to how he did what he did, why he did what he did, or what he truly wanted!
Again, another unknown. Another opponent Deanna could only study to a certain degree. She was fighting a wall of unknown, when the past year had brought her out of the shadow of Selena and made her the focus of so many to scrutinize and study. Had that not been why Knox had gone after her and not Selena in the first place – citing the reason as ‘the most dominant champion in SCW’? Deanna would be flattered if she didn’t feel so… so… powerless against it all.
All she knew how to do was fight. She couldn’t conjure up dark clouds or followers like Enigma and she didn’t have the experience in the ring and on the microphone as Knox clearly had, the man playing mind games with her since the road to Rise to Greatness had begun – seeing his victory over her as a forgone conclusion.
She felt so… angrily, she swiped at her tears again… she felt at such a disadvantage. Because, truthfully, she didn’t know how she was going to get through this! She didn’t know how best to strategize against Knox and his striking and grapples. She didn’t even know what to expect from Enigma and his powers! She didn’t know a damn thing about either of her opponents that wanted to end her reign… or worse…
How can you… when you don’t even know yourself?
The thought came of its own and it easily knocked the breath out of her lungs for a second. Enigma was attacking her on a personal level – being the one to drag her impending divorce from the woman she still loved into the light, endangering Jessica, attacking her with such emotional mind games… as a person, a mother, and as a woman. Knox was attacking her professionally, targeting her as a wrestler with his jabs to her grit, will and ‘being a champion’.
Except she didn’t know which one to be. The woman and friend and protector of her loved ones or the woman that fought for something worthwhile in SCW – to be something inspirational or good for SCW, whatever it was?
How can I be both? she almost laughed to herself. The world had told her she couldn’t. Either mockingly or concerned, they had all made the same point. That she was being pushed in so many different directions that, if she didn’t let go and pick one direction, she would rip apart into pieces. Shreds of what was once a promising wrestler… How can I be both… when I can’t even have a name or a title for my promos?
She didn’t stop the sting of her own thoughts. It had been back in November when she had cast aside her ‘Queen’s Guard’ moniker and the title of her promos ‘The Guard Tower’ – embracing the very real fact that Selena Frost had, potentially, left SCW for good. And while that hadn’t been the case, Deanna had, at the time, simply wanted to further her own growth and evolve outside of her wife’s shadow and mere association with the Frost name. She had promised her fans – her ‘little gritters’ – that she would think of something when it naturally came. When an identity that was hers and hers alone – with NOTHING to do with Selena Frost – came to her.
Now… eight or nine months later… and she still didn’t know. She had simply let herself be ‘The SCW United States Champion’ Deanna Frost, letting her identity simply be tied to something else – a title she loved and truly believed in (just like she had Selena).
“But without it…” she whispered to herself. “Who am I?”
And that was the painful part. She didn’t know. She still didn’t know who she was. She didn’t know who Enigma was, she didn’t truly know who Knox was, and she didn’t know who she was.
They knew who they were! Enigma spouted it so often and Knox had built a career on being ‘The Raven’! Who was she in comparison to all of that? She had no superpowers like Enigma, nor did she have the experience that Knox had.
She was just… Deanna.
One last swipe of the eyes and Deanna gave up on finishing her tea, placing the hot beverage on a coaster on the long, wooden, coffee table in front of her, leaning back into her chair and rubbing her temple with her still warm fingertips. She stayed still and silent for a few minutes, letting her mind wander over such thoughts with her emotions, hoping they would solve themselves, or at least give some kind of solution to the problem.
She couldn’t give up on Jessica and freeing SCW from Enigma. The man had to be stopped. Nobody deserved to have their will taken from them like that! Nobody! Blood Grove had tried that with brainwashing and whatever and Selena had fought for all she was worth to free SCW from them, defeating Red Rayne and being instrumental in that group being removed from SCW for good. The Snow Queen had been able to help save SCW, risking her life and career… because it was the right thing to do. And Deanna felt the same way…
But she couldn’t give up on being a good champion either! In trying to further her evolution through this sport. She had made a promise to the SCW Universe and to Bree Lancaster when she had won the title off the now-current-Adrenaline champion. That she would do all she could to be worthy of the championship. It was the nerve Knox had worked when he had demanded the redhead just hand him the title and be done with it. She felt her jaw clench at that. The bastard thought that beating her, becoming SCW U.S. champion was going to be a piece of cake. That Deanna’s entire year as the champion was nothing more than some kind of joke. And what did that say about the title? About the division… about people like Polly that had raised their game to a new level and fought in chambers and last women standing matches with Deanna? About ‘The One’ Kristen Scott, who had used her coveted ‘Trios Shot’ just to try and get the title off of Deanna? About the newcomers/returnees like Cassie Wolfe and Scott Reed? Who desired to be a champion and worked so hard to have a chance at her title? And what about the fans? The people that had come around to simply ‘hating all Frosts’ to giving Deanna a chance to now… now… fully believing in her despite their hatred for Selena?
She… Deanna sighed… she couldn’t let any of them down or dishonor them either, which meant she couldn’t stop being the wrestler she wanted to be either. She couldn’t let go of either direction she was being pulled. All she could do was hold on tighter and try, with all she was, not to break…
The sudden barking of Oberon startled the redhead, causing her to jump a little out of her seat as the dog was suddenly up and bounding towards the large exit of the room, stopping at the door frame and jumping, the dog’s paws were immediately on the legs of the woman standing there, the good boy panting and clearly in need of some pets or some form of affection. Saying nothing, Deanna stood to her feet and watched the woman before her give a grateful smile before reaching down to scratch the fluff-ball’s ears. Obi hummed contently, even licking the hand when it moved towards his muzzle before, after several seconds, jumping back to all-fours and scampering around the room to find something else to do.
Seeing him go, Jessica Winters gave a slow sigh before turning her gaze back to Deanna. “Please tell me your clock upstairs is broken and I did not just sleep twelve hours.”
The redhead could not help the laugh that escaped her, small as it was. Moving over towards her, Deanna gently took her dear friend’s hands and pulled her into the family/sitting room, gently guiding her to sit on the chair opposite of her own.
“In all fairness.” She answered Jesscia’s query. “After the night you had, I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“Yeah…” Jessica sighed sadly, with a bit of guilt as she looked back up to Deanna. “Sorry about that. Did…” she looked around the room. “Did the kids get upset?”
“Amiliah was scared.” Deanna shrugged. “She thought a banshee was hiding in the house. I…” Deanna sighed. “I asked Gerda to look after them for a few days. Least till we get through the weekend.”
“Yeah…” the SCW interviewer shook her head. “God knows what I’ll do if I see them… especially if they’re wearing shoelaces…”
“Jessica, stop!” ordered Deanna. “I didn’t send them away because of that.”
“Really?” Jessica tilted her head, unjudgmental but knowingly. “There wasn’t the slightest bit of worry in your mind that bringing me here to stay with you would cause that? After all I did?”
For a moment, Deanna didn’t answer right away, choosing instead to meet her friend’s gaze with her own. “None of that was you.” She stated firmly. “Now stay seated.” She ordered. “I’ll make you some tea. I hope Orange Pekoe is alright. I already had a pot made.”
“It’s fine…” Jessica settled on saying before becoming silent as Deanna moved into the kitchen that was part of the large room and taking the already hot kettle and pouring a cup into another teacup, this one black with snowflakes decorating it…
Carefully, she brought the cup over to Jessica and handed it to her before moving back to her chair and sitting down.
“Thanks…” Jessica whispered. “And thanks for last night and…” she gestured to herself, more specifically to the clothes she wore. Black track pants and a, Deanna almost laughed out-loud, a large black shirt with the words ‘Believe it!’ written on it, one of Selena’s older t-shirts.
“I figured you’d prefer comfy clothes right now… you’re more Selena’s size than me.” Deanna shrugged, admiring the taller figure sitting in the chair. “And as for last night… Do you want to talk about it?”
“No.” Jessica shook her head. “They’re just something I’ll have to get used to.”
“Dreams pass in time.” Deanna simply replied. It was the woman sitting before her that had added the newest layer of complication into her life that had been mentioned previously. It had been last Breakdown, during an interview with Destiny Page, when Jessica had ‘broke into’ Breakdown, searching for her. Not Selena – her. It was all so… still so unbelievable to the redhead. According to Jessica, she had finally awakened from the stupor Enigma had placed on her, and, despite being turned over to her parents, had travelled all the way to Detroit just to find Deanna.
She had looked so disheveled, scared, and confused… what else could Deanna do? She had been the ‘protector’ of Jessica ever since Enigma’s tricks and Selena’s… she shook her head… there was only one option she could do, regardless of how stupid it was and how easily it could have been a trap set by Enigma. She had promised to look after and protect Jessica – even if it was against her own wife. It was another promise she refused to break. Taking Jessica in to stay with her had been the simplest choice.
For the last few days, she had simply watched over her dear friend, letting her sleep when she needed to, letting her borrow Selena’s clothes, ensuring she ate proper food and was taking care of herself. She even let the woman do a bit of workout training in the gym. Not the rigorous regimen demanded of SCW wrestlers, but the kind to regain strength and good health.
And not once had Jessica brought up the elephant in the room, nor had Deanna spoken of it. The wrestler had no desire to force such a conversation out. Like at Breakdown, all she cared about was getting Jessica healthy and safe.
Still, even if the lack of that ‘talk’ had allowed more of the Jessica Deanna knew and loved to come out, there were still dark remnants of Enigma’s influence, specifically at night. Every night, Jessica would wake up screaming, coming out of a nightmare the likes of which, judging from Jessica’s cries, Deanna would not wish even on her greatest enemy. Every night, while Jessica stayed in the guest bedroom in the basement, Deanna would hear her, wake herself up and make her way downstairs to help the young woman settle down enough to fall back to sleep.
The routine was tiring but… at least it made Deanna feel like she was doing something right in helping Winters.
“What did my parents say?” she heard Jessica ask, the brunette staring at Deanna – dressed in green shorts and a blue t-shirt.
“They were fine with it.” Deanna answered simply. “You were right. They don’t have any clue at what’s going on and I…” she released a sigh. “I couldn’t really explain it to them.” She stole a glance towards Jessica. “Don’t really know how to.” She admitted. “So, I told them that you were staying with me and I’d be looking after you and making sure you were getting better. They seemed to accept the whole ‘it’s a work-related thing’ as a reason.” She shrugged her shoulders.
“Yeah…” Jessica nodded. “They’ve just been scared and confused, I think. None of this makes sense to them. Doesn’t even make sense to me.”
“Me either.” Deanna shook her head. “The fact that it’s been you has been even more terrifying for me.” She stopped as she saw Jessica’s eyes flit over to her. “This isn’t some movie or show, Jessica. This is real life here. And you…” she gave an innocent shrug. “You’re one of the bravest and strongest women I know. Not to mention your loyal and kind and good and-“
“Stop.” She heard Jessica’s voice break, the SCW interviewer sniffling a little at Deanna’s emotional confession. “I can’t believe that after…everything.”
“The point I am making…” Deanna assured. “Is that you’re not the kind of person to blindly be brainwashed like that. Not by anything that COULD be real like hypnosis or whatever. I mean, you were there for Blood Grove, New Eden, Katya buying off people and nothing! So… either this Enigma is incredibly talented to the point that its scary, or… he’s actually supernatural.” Deanna sighed. “And the fact that he could get to you… makes it all the more terrifying to me that it could be the latter.”
The two sat in silence for a few minutes, letting Deanna’s assessment sink in and further unsettle them.
“Where…” Jessica’s voice rose up to break the silence, her eyes on her teacup, specifically on the snowflake-designs. “When I was under… I still heard a lot of things…” her eyes found Deanna’s. “Selena… you and her…”
Deanna breathed. “Yeah…” Deanna nodded. “It’s ending… her and I.”
The declaration seemed to emotionally gut-punch Jessica, the woman seeming to have the wind knocked out of her. “H…How…Or why?”
“Either question works, I guess.” Deanna shrugged. “And you saw what she’s become, Jessica. It’s a road…” Deanna sighed. “I was blind to it far longer than I should have been. It’s a road I can’t follow no matter how much I want her with me. What she’s choosing to do, who she’s becoming… and then with you…” Deanna stopped herself, not wanting to further upset Jessica. However, the intuitive woman was easily able to connect the dots.
“Did…” Jessica asked slowly. “Did she really mean to kill me?”
She sounded so broken, and why not? Jessica and Selena had been friends longer than Deanna had even known the Snow Queen. The SCW interviewer had been one of the first friends Selena had ever had when she first entered into SCW, the pair striking a bond that had survived ten long years. And when Deanna had joined the picture, Jessica had embraced the woman with open arms, treating her with the same love and fierce loyalty she had shown Selena.
Still, because of that love, the redhead refused to lie to her. “I…I had originally thought so.” She answered, seeing Jessica seize up a little. “But… now? No, I don’t.”
“You don’t?” came the surprised expression from Jessica.
“No…” Deanna sighed. “See… after all that happened? I visited Selena and she was a wreck from me signing the divorce paper.” She quickly waved her hand. “That’s not important. But our dog-“ she gestured to Oberon, who was now sleeping on the couch, having gone there to rest during the two women’s conversation. “He accidentally ingested a good amount of the drug Selena was going to use on you.”
“Oh no…” Jessica’s eyes flitted over to Oberon, who merely tilted his head at her.
“He was quite sick…” Deanna nodded, eyeing the dog as well. “But, as you can see, he’s fine. And for a dog to ingest a drug like that and be okay… it got me thinking…” she continued. “I went through Selena’s computer downstairs in her office and found a video made the same week as her last visit to you, one she had sent to Aaron Demetria-“
“Is she?”
“Yeah… still keeping him close at hand. Poor man can’t seem to get out. Selena thinks she’s doing what’s best for him and she doesn’t… she doesn’t see the truth, I think. So obsessed with ‘fixing everything’ and ‘undoing the past’ and ‘pushing SCW to the new standard’…. Even if it has to be her that’s the most hated person in SCW to do it.”
Again, there was a moment of silence, the pair lamenting over the fallen Snow Queen, albeit different emotional connections/reasons.
“But anyway,” Deanna spoke slowly. “I looked at the video and saw her making that syringe of NX. The one she was going to use on you.”
“NX?”
“The painkiller drug she was going to use? That one she and I were addicted to years ago?”
“Oh…” Jessica nodded in recollection, refacing the facts she had just spoken, as if to come to terms with it. “So… she really did plan to OD me…”
“I… I don’t think so.” Deanna tried. “In the video… even while talking to Aaron… she seemed so meticulous in getting the drug out of the pills. And her eyes were so focused on the syringe, like she was trying to get a specific amount.”
“So?” Jessica asked.
“Why care about that if she wanted to OD you? Why not just fill the whole syringe and be done with it? And for that matter, why use a drug that couldn’t even outright kill a dog? Why not use something more lethal?” Deanna reasoned. “I… I took a massive dose of NX once…” she explained. “And the chemical levels put me into a short-lived coma…”
“I-“ Jessica paused, her face scrunching up to recall. “I sort of remember that. You were out for several days.”
“Right. And bedridden for a bit longer.” Deanna nodded, which was why she had been so disgusted to see the vile painkiller again. “But I… you don’t know how much I took. It was a lot.”
“So…” Jessica reasoned. “You think that Selena only meant to put me in a short-term coma?”
Deanna nodded. “Or just incapacitate you more so… at least long enough to keep you from me and… I don’t know, maybe because I refused to back down from Enigma, she was giving me a way to focus on him and not have to worry about you? Like how he made you interfere with my match? Maybe… she was just trying to give me my best shot at beating him and freeing you. I just… I don’t know with her anymore… It’s not as black and white as it used to be…”
“Especially because you still love her.” Jessica observed knowingly, earning a long sigh from Deanna.
“I’m a real mess, aren’t I?” she could feel her tears stinging again as she looked away from her dear friend.
“Look who you’re talking to.” Jessica teased, a sliver of her wit breaking through. “For what it’s worth… I’m sorry.”
Deanna’s head shot up, her emerald eyes wide at the woman. “Why the hell are you sorry? You haven’t done anything wrong!”
“You’d be surprised how much time I had to think in-between the moments my mind was taking a vacay…” Jessica slowly spoke, simply holding her tea in her hands. “I’ve been an SCW interviewer for years and years, Deanna. It’s the job that I love… like you love being a wrestler.”
Instead of agreeing verbally, Deanna merely nodded her head, not wishing to break Jessica’s train of thought.
“So… I know how to connect the dots and I know how to read wrestlers. Call it ‘journalistic intuition’. I saw it with Selena… and I see it with you… even after everything…” she grinned to herself. “Old habits, you know?”
Taking a moment, the brunette exhaled a long breath, keeping her eyes on Deanna. “That’s why I’m sorry. For letting myself get taken over by Enigma. For getting involved. I feel…” she bit her lower lip. “Everything that’s happened? You and Selena – it was over me. Her trying to protect you from me.”
“You can’t-“
“Yes, I can.” Jessica interjected. “Because I see it even now! If it wasn’t for me, you would just beat the hell out of Enigma and that be that. I don’t even think Enigma would be in the equation! Pretty sure Raab would be dealing with him still. And you’d be focusing on Knox and the title. But because of me, you’re tied up in two nights and you’re…” she took a long hard look at Deanna. “I can see how lost you are. Without Selena now, because of all of this. You’re losing more matches because you’re not focused, because of me…”
Deanna opened her mouth to retort – to deny such implications, if only to spare her friend’s feelings. But no words came out. Because, despite the blame being twisted and incorrect, there was a kernel of truth to the whole affair. Ever since Enigma and all of this, she had lost her focus. Hiro saw it, CHBK saw it, Selena saw it, most of SCW was seeing it. Hell, even a walk-in like Knox had called her out on it.
“Jessica…” she tried, moving closer to sit on the couch near Oberon but much closer to Winters. Reaching out, her small hands took in Jessica’s. There was no nail-polish or anything. These hands were pale – not as pale as Selena’s – but clearly not seen the sun for some time or for very long. “I was on borrowed time anyway.” The redhead spoke softly, not surprised at Jessica’s confused expression. “Not… not like that, hun.” She tried to explain. “But, looking back… I guess I was, or always had been, protected these past few years.” Her eyes grew distant, looking at something only she could see. “Sure, I got my arm broken and constantly associated with Selena, threatened and attacked… but no one has gone after me on a personal level like this… like Enigma. Even Knox with his little barbs – that was what I used to deal with. People and stuff like that… Enigma changed all that.”
“He’s a monster.” She heard Jessica growled, allowing her attention to return to her guest and friend.
“But how different is he from Xander Valentine smashing a sledgehammer against Selena’s bus to scare me? Than Chris Cannon throwing me over the barricade from the audience and then into it to distract Selena? Than Vixen Cain trying to kidnap Selena and David by joyriding their bus?” Deanna sighed. “All this time… nothing like that happened to me. I could focus on being a wrestler because no one was bothering to try and get to me like that. No one saw the point…”
She bit her lower lip. “Now…there is a point.” She looked up at Jessica. “Because now I’m good enough to be beaten and have it mean something to a person’s career. Look at Knox’s reasoning. It’s…” she breathed. “It’s a far cry from being ‘Selena’s shadow’.” She laughed bitterly. “I was stupid to think some things would stay the same while I was trying so hard to change everything.” She gave Jessica’s hands an affectionate squeeze. “Knox was right… what I’m going through… who hasn’t gone through it themselves? Who hasn’t had someone making things personal through their private life? Everyone else has…” her eyes found Jessica’s again. “Except me. Until Enigma…”
She said nothing after that, merely letting her emotions run through her. For so long, she had been a pawn for those trying to get to Selena: Jenni Anderson, Regan Street, Vixen Cain, Xander Valentine, The Brand, Kimberly Williams with that kidnapping, and so many people had used her as a means to get to Selena. But nobody would dare try and use Selena – the woman that was arguably one of the biggest stars in SCW and now one of the most untouchable – to get to Deanna, not if it meant risking the ire of the Snow Queen. So… Deanna had been, in a roundabout way, protected. If no one saw her as anything but ‘Selena’s shadow’, then no one would care what she did.
But now? Being out of that shadow, like she said to Jessica? It meant her protection was gone. She was on her own…
The thought was both wonderful and terrifying at the same time. She had expected the moment of ‘freedom’ to be after some big match – maybe a big win that she did on her own. Or maybe after RTG… but no… it had already happened. Maybe it had happened earlier than she realized – she couldn’t pinpoint where or when or what had made it happen, but it had – she was just the last person to see it. And without Selena’s shadow – without even being a ‘Frost’, which was where she was headed…
“I don’t know who I am on my own.” She admitted aloud, hearing the shocked gasp come from Jessica at the heartfelt confession.
But just as she was sure Jessica was about to say something, the pair were interrupted by two sounds. The first was a loud, almost desperate knocking at the door, followed by barking as Oberon leapt off the couch and bolted towards the front door of the house. For a second, Deanna simple allowed the noise to go one, her emotional state a little too charged to really get up and process-
“MRS. FROST!” the voices, all saying that name at different times to make a wave of pleas travelled through the door and to her ears, followed by more pounding on the door. In a second, Deanna recognized the voices as young children, causing her to shoot up to her feet and rush to the door, where Oberon, on his hind legs, was scratching at it.
“Down, Obi!” Deanna ordered, pulling the Samoyed down and away from the wooden structure before using her free hand to unlock and open the door.
To her shock, however, she found eleven pairs of eyes staring wildly back at her – it was almost enough of a shock to make her yelp in surprise. Before her, in various gym shorts and t-shirts, stood all ten of Selena Frost’s students of the ‘Summer School Program’, including her son, David! Beside them, with a look of equal alarm was one of the teachers of the school and the program, Ms. Harris. It took only a second for Deanna to check the clock hanging on the wall and register what time it was to realize that this party being here… didn’t make sense!
“What is it?” she asked concerned, gazing at the eyes of everyone. “What’s happened?”
Immediately, every child seemed to want to answer at once, as a wave of noise, a jumbled mess of words, flew at Deanna, almost bowling her over with their volume and panicked tone. Quickly, and out of necessity, she raised her hand. “Please! Please!” she practically begged. “Not all at once!”
Understanding, the noise slowly died down, allowing Deanna to breathe a sigh of relief. “Now…” she turned her attention to Ms. Harris, then back over to the children. “Now… one person. Please tell me what’s going on and why aren’t you all at school.”
It was strange, but the children all seemed to have the same thought at once as – per the instruction of needing to choose one person to talk – all eyes flew to David Frost, the boy stepping forward without thinking twice.
“Mom…” his breath rushed out. “It’s mother!”
Emerald eyes went wide. “What do you mean? What’s happened to her?”
“She’s in jail!” David blurted out! “She’s been arrested for assault!”
_______________________________________________________________
So… where do we start?
And that’s actually a REALLY good question of me to ask right now, isn’t it?
Because, no big secret and what is starting to become the norm for me around here, Deanna Frost is pulled in different directions. On one side, we have The Enigma, the man, the entity, the supernatural power that I have been chasing for months. The man that I will face at the Rise to Greatness Pre-Show and defend the United States championship against. And on the other side, probably eating popcorn or whatever snack he found at the concession stand, we have Matthew Knox. The man that I will be facing the next night at Rise to Greatness and, should I still be the United States champion, I will ALSO be defending the title against him.
Ooooofaaa….
Talk about a lot to unpack there. Because you couldn’t get more opposite ends of the spectrum with these two. You’ve got Enigma with his dark powers, a man that has reached into the very core of my private life, pulled it out and displayed for all to see. A man that has used his dark powers to corrupt and hurt many people – people that I care deeply about. A man that has made this personal on a level that I have NEVER experienced before!
And then there is Knox. A man that is all about the wrestling and being the best. A man that has made this personal on a professional level with his smack-talk. A man that, unlike Enigma, has more experience than me and could very easily be a better wrestler than me. And unlike me, neither of them are dealing with a second match this weekend.
So, again, that question comes up: where do we start? The supernatural supervillain? Or the wrestling-behemoth? The personal-emotional drama or the professional one?
Where…do… we start?
It’s a question I’ve been asking myself for the past two weeks as everyone else is asking me. Everyone: my friends, my boss CHBK, my friend Hiro Tanaka, my little gritters, all of them are asking and telling me the same thing: that I have to decide. That I have to focus. That I need to stop trying to go in these different directions and pick a lane. Pick a spot! Pick a way out of this! A way to survive because if I keep getting pulled, like a piece of paper, I am going to be ripped to shreds.
And that’s a humbling thought. Because it’s not about ‘biting off more than you can chew’. I’ve done that before and I learned the hard way what that was like with Asher Hayes when I failed to capture the SCW world title during a second match of the night deal. It’s not like that this time around. This isn’t me fighting for another title, for another accolade, for another place, another step up in this business. No. This is me fighting for my place IN this business. Fighting for what I am and what I want to do. To say to the world ‘THIS is who I am! THIS is where I stand!’.
And for me, aside from the nerves and the stress, I have to appreciate the concern of my friends and peers. Because they are just speaking logic. It would be easier for me to look at this the ‘Knox way’. To focus solely on the United States Championship and deal with him. It would be much easier to focus solely on The Enigma and be the one person that can actually shatter that ‘untouchable’ fascade he has constructed amidst his smoke and mirrors!
If I looked out for myself and only myself? If I focused on one or the other, either shattering Enigma or being the rude awakening that Knox desperately needs, yes, I would be beyond confident. I would have no stress. I would have no worries. I would know EXACTLY what I would need to do for each scenario.
But it means someone else will suffer. Either Jessica and all she went through, like Ginny and Angelica, or the title that I have worked for so long to be worthy of. To, with a world title protected by contracts and ‘chosen officials’, to be a title devoid of that and simply being a title of pride and heart and grit – a workhorse title fitting of SCW. And to forsake that? I’d be failing all of you, all of the people that have stood by me – that have come with me on this year-long journey, giving me the chance to prove myself to all of you, all of you seeing past my last name for the woman I want so desperately to be.
And in that… I found my answer. My answer to the simple question “which way will Deanna go?” is equally simple.
The world – SCW Universe and Knox – want me to pick a direction. I say, “I won’t”. Not that I can’t! I simply WON’T!
Because that may be who Knox is. That may be who Enigma is. Each one ‘playing it safe’ in their own way! Knox running from JC and taking only one match. Enigma hiding with his smoke and his followers – getting other people to do his dirty work for him – these two may want to ‘play it safe’ to get what they want. I don’t. I never had ‘played it safe’ and I never will! What I do, good or bad, smart or stupid, is do the next right thing.
That’s who I am. That’s what I have always done. And there are two right things at play here. One: Enigma needs to get his and Jessica deserves to come back to SCW free of his influence and free of any fear from him. Enigma took that from her, he violated her safety, endangered her life, and I cannot stand idly by while a friend I love so much is treated that way!
The other right thing that needs to be done: the United States championship needs to be defended properly. Professionally. Needs to be contended by top stars as the prize and championship that it is. And that won’t happen when I face Enigma. I’m sorry, but a match like that? All that personal drama – the level it’s reached? Most would agree the United States championship, in THAT match, even to The Enigma, is an afterthought. So, the next right thing? Is to have a match where that title IS the reason. IS the focus! IS the center-attention and the desire of both combatants!
So, where does that leave me? Where does that leave me if I am staying in my place and refusing to forsake one so I can focus on the other? Will I be ripped apart? Maybe… it’s definitely a possibility. By this time Monday, I may be looking at myself in the mirror, without a title, without being a champion for the first time in over a year, and I may be frustrated and angry, maybe even regret my choice for this….
But that’s what it is: MY choice. I choose to continue to be pulled in two directions and I choose to hold on, pull back, and refuse to break or tear or shatter! And I choose to do the right thing.
Which means, Enigma, that you’ve made the biggest mistake of your short-term-SCW career. Because the only thing this whole thing has done – the only thing Knox has done with his actions – is make it clear that I have to get to him WITH the United States Championship still in my possession. I have to get to him and make our match for the title that I still hold.
Which means, on top of beating the hell out of you for the personal reasons, I now have more reasons to put you down for good. You asked me a question some weeks ago, Enigma, you asked me if I knew who I was. Without Selena’s shadow covering me, without Selena and the Frost fanbase (when it was around), without her ‘protection’… without her as my wife… did I know who I truly was?
And truly, Enigma? No. I don’t. I am close to knowing but I still don’t know. I don’t know fully who I can be on my own. It is a day I have dreamed of ever since I became a wrestler: the day where I am recognized not as ‘Selena Frost’s wife’ or ‘in the shadow of Selena Frost’ but my own woman and dammit, Sharper hit the nail right on the head – that day has finally come!
The day where someone like you, someone like Knox, sees me as a target. Where Knox acknowledges me as ‘the most dominant champion in SCW right now’. Where Adam Sharper, the brilliant and honest mind of SCW that he is, says so. Well… if that isn’t proof-positive that I am on my own, then I don’t know what is!
And while I don’t really know yet who I am on my own, Enigma, I know one thing about me. At my core, no matter who I will be, I am still someone that loves and cares deeply. For my children, for my friends, and, while I’ll probably get some jeers for this, for Selena.
I am a woman that loves this place, loves the people here, loves the hardworking folks that make this federation run, and every single SCW fan!
And right now? That’s good enough to make the choice I’ve made. That’s good enough to pull back on the forces trying to pull me apart! To pull so hard that I tear those forces apart. Which is what I will do to you, Enigma.
And let’s not kid ourselves, I know that’s a tall order. I saw the beating you took from the Fiery Nation. I saw you get right back up after that as if it never fazed you. So I know taking you down will be a tall order. Taking you down before you can disappear in a puff of smoke. Because I don’t have the strength of Konrad Raab. I don’t have the viciousness of ‘The One’ Kristen Scott. But there is a reason I have beaten them time and time again and there is a reason I am still here as the United States champion and it’s called ‘grit’!
It's taking everything you’ve thrown at me so far and keep coming back for more! It’s fighting not just for myself, but for Jessica! For Ginny! For Angelica! For every person you think is your ‘toy’, your ‘plaything’! This… this has become so much bigger than you vs. me, Enigma. This is you vs. SCW!
This is you against all of us that say ‘NO!’, you don’t get to control us! You don’t get to try and ruin our lives! You don’t get to do these things with no consequences! You don’t get to scare us anymore!
This is you learning that every action has a consequence, Enigma, a lesson that I will be giving to Knox the next night, I assure you! But on the night you’ve chosen? It will not be you taking everything from me. It will not be you corrupting my soul or taking my mind or breaking me – NO!
Rise to Greatness Pre-show? The show where I won this title last year… the reign does not stop. The reign continues into the main show. The only thing that will be stopped, Enigma, is your hold on Jessica Winters and your hold of terror on SCW! And at my freshest? At my most ready? I will not be consumed by your shadows and darkness. No, I will be the light – the fire – that burns through it. I will be the fire that burns so bright, even Matthew Knox will take notice and, perhaps for the first time in his whole career, will feel a sliver of doubt over what he’s demanded out of me – what awaits him the next night.
A fire, Enigma, that will burn through your smoke, your mirrors… your mask… until there is nothing left of you! Until there is nothing left of you to slither away! Nothing left to corrupt. Nothing left to run.
All of it, Enigma, will be taken out… in one massive burnout!
Checkmate, bitches!
OOC: The following follows Selena’s first RTG roleplay and is to be counted for both of Deanna’s RTG matches.
The Witches of Alden
”The School of Frost: Part 2 - Warning”
Frost ‘Forever Home’
Manhattan, New York
July 22nd, 2024
12:49pm
Deanna sat quietly in the large lazy boy, quietly sipping her orange-pekoe tea, the dark green cup – the one she had bought while taking her Elsianna to see Wicked the Musical on Broadway a few weeks ago - feeling nice and warm in her small hands. The house was usually quiet, with barely the sounds of the various machines like the AC working. Casting her eyes over to the side of the family-room, she spied the large, white fluffball, Oberon, sleeping soundly in one of his many little sleep-pens, the dog not the least bit concerned what time of the day it was to do so.
The redhead almost envied that of him. He just does what he wants to do when he needs to do it. Hungry? Eat. Sleepy? Sleep. Need cuddles? Tackle the red-haired one! she smiled to herself at that one, recalling too many times the rather large Samoyed had made such a decision on her person. Had she not been a trained wrestler, made to powerlift women and even some men much heavier than her, she would have surely spent such moments knocked to the floor!
Once more stealing a quiet glance at the sleeping hound, Deanna allowed a quiet smile to grace her lips. She did, indeed, wish for such simplicity in her life. She had, honestly, thought her life could not get more complicated than it already was.
She had accepted her situation as best as she could. She had Enigma on the Saturday and Matthew Knox on the Sunday, a pair of matches that could, very well, see the end of her reign as the United States Champion this coming Rise to Greatness weekend.
With Knox, it was far simpler – boarder-line Oberon-level of simple. The veteran of wrestling had come to SCW last month and simply demanded to be given a title shot fresh out of the gate. The man didn’t care about Enigma or Jessica or all the drama that surrounded it. Hell, the redhead was pretty sure he was one of the few people in SCW that didn’t give a care about knowing about Deanna’s marital statis like Enigma seemed to be. On paper… it was… he was…
Another sigh came from Deanna. It was a standard, United States championship title defense with him. No different than the ones she had taken with the likes of Scott Reed, Adam Brock, and Polly Pignotti to name a few. And yet, the real challenge came from Knox, himself. He was an unknown. Sure, there had been some videos of his time in past federations, but not many that Deanna had stumbled across – perhaps due to her lack of ‘research skills’. Wikipedia and the ‘big-video sites’ like Youtube and Dailymotion could only get one so far, it seemed. Regardless, it was clear Knox had ‘moved up’ to the bigger company that was SCW, and while he boasted years of experience – sort of reminding Deanna of Josh Hudson’s tirade against Selena… the redhead quietly hopeful that it would lead to some humility finally coming to the Snow Queen – Knox had only had a handful of matches in SCW itself. Four if the royale was to be included. And yes, he had won the last three of those matches, but none had been at the level of a pay-per-view. How could they be after making his debut at Taking Hold of the Flame in the royale?
Maybe that’s why I’ve been getting some heat backstage… Deanna sighed, allowing the next ‘complicated’ part of the situation get her attention. There were a number of people backstage and an insurmountable amount within the fanbase that was the SCW Universe that were not happy with the redhead accepting Knox’s challenge at the main-show so briskly. A growing frustration that the man had ‘cut the line’ as it were, with only four matches landing him an opportunity to become not only the United States Champion, but the one that ‘ended the longest reign in recent SCW history’?
And on that… Deanna could kind of understand their frustration. There were a lot of people in SCW that, maybe, felt they deserved that chance on such a big stage. Scott Reed came to mind, as did Polly Pignotti and maybe some legends like Syren and Ravyn, or Bree or maybe a few more Hall of Famers! Without thinking, Deanna’s finger circled around the top of the cup as her thoughts continued. She had never meant to offend anyone with accepting Knox’s challenge, but… she sighed.
The truth was Knox had made some decent points, in line with past remarks from Hiro Tanaka and some of the commentary team. The United States Championship needed to be defended and, in truth, Deanna had taken on so much of the roster already. Was that why it had been so easy for Knox to barge in and take the front? Was it her fault because she had beaten so many of the potential contenders for her title over the past year? I mean… there was the triple threat match… the two chamber matches… Last woman standing match… all the single matches…
How had she never thought about it before? How had the number of defenses and number of victories never shored up in her mind? They just… hadn’t. It had always been ‘move on to the next one. Never stale and never settle’. That had been her way, the redhead refusing to rest on her laurels. Had… had SCW quietly run out of options and not realized it? Especially with Selena depleting the world title divisions and ranks so openly and stating so far more aggressively?
Had…. Had Deanna unknowingly been doing the same thing? Was that partially why she had jumped at the challenge and accepted it? Because, despite everything else, deep down she still wanted to be a good champion and have new challenges to face for the title she had loved championing for the past year?
Or was she just trying to get back to how things were? When there wasn’t any personal drama or stakes for a loved one’s very control of their own life? When it was just her… just… she felt a sniffle escape her and only then did she catch the droplet of water fall into the remains of her tea, causing a ripple within the colored hot-water. A second droplet came just a few millimeters from the other, dropping into the drink and Deanna blinked her eyes, realizing that she had cried a little from her thoughts, yet she did not stop or even slow them.
Were her tears not proof-positive? That she longed to go back to the days when she was just defending the title? Fighting through the ranks? When her friends and family weren’t put in danger? When she wasn’t so distracted by something so…so… so unreal?
Knox could laugh at it, but he had that luxury! He had the luxury of such a simple mentality that rivaled Oberon. Just show up, win, and get what you want! Simple! Enigma wasn’t targeting him or his loved ones! True, he had JC but to a level of this demented and terrifying? No! It was wrestling-related! That’s all it was.
Enigma was… Another sigh and, this time, Deanna used her free hand to swipe the tear off her cheek before it could fall into her tea. Enigma was much of an ‘unknown’ to Deanna as Knox was, but where Knox got it from simply ‘just arriving in SCW last month’, Enigma had it through his ‘powers’ and ‘mind-games’. For months, he had been in SCW and for months, no one had managed to unmask him or keep him down. Months of going through challengers and winning a Television title and no one had a clue as to how he did what he did, why he did what he did, or what he truly wanted!
Again, another unknown. Another opponent Deanna could only study to a certain degree. She was fighting a wall of unknown, when the past year had brought her out of the shadow of Selena and made her the focus of so many to scrutinize and study. Had that not been why Knox had gone after her and not Selena in the first place – citing the reason as ‘the most dominant champion in SCW’? Deanna would be flattered if she didn’t feel so… so… powerless against it all.
All she knew how to do was fight. She couldn’t conjure up dark clouds or followers like Enigma and she didn’t have the experience in the ring and on the microphone as Knox clearly had, the man playing mind games with her since the road to Rise to Greatness had begun – seeing his victory over her as a forgone conclusion.
She felt so… angrily, she swiped at her tears again… she felt at such a disadvantage. Because, truthfully, she didn’t know how she was going to get through this! She didn’t know how best to strategize against Knox and his striking and grapples. She didn’t even know what to expect from Enigma and his powers! She didn’t know a damn thing about either of her opponents that wanted to end her reign… or worse…
How can you… when you don’t even know yourself?
The thought came of its own and it easily knocked the breath out of her lungs for a second. Enigma was attacking her on a personal level – being the one to drag her impending divorce from the woman she still loved into the light, endangering Jessica, attacking her with such emotional mind games… as a person, a mother, and as a woman. Knox was attacking her professionally, targeting her as a wrestler with his jabs to her grit, will and ‘being a champion’.
Except she didn’t know which one to be. The woman and friend and protector of her loved ones or the woman that fought for something worthwhile in SCW – to be something inspirational or good for SCW, whatever it was?
How can I be both? she almost laughed to herself. The world had told her she couldn’t. Either mockingly or concerned, they had all made the same point. That she was being pushed in so many different directions that, if she didn’t let go and pick one direction, she would rip apart into pieces. Shreds of what was once a promising wrestler… How can I be both… when I can’t even have a name or a title for my promos?
She didn’t stop the sting of her own thoughts. It had been back in November when she had cast aside her ‘Queen’s Guard’ moniker and the title of her promos ‘The Guard Tower’ – embracing the very real fact that Selena Frost had, potentially, left SCW for good. And while that hadn’t been the case, Deanna had, at the time, simply wanted to further her own growth and evolve outside of her wife’s shadow and mere association with the Frost name. She had promised her fans – her ‘little gritters’ – that she would think of something when it naturally came. When an identity that was hers and hers alone – with NOTHING to do with Selena Frost – came to her.
Now… eight or nine months later… and she still didn’t know. She had simply let herself be ‘The SCW United States Champion’ Deanna Frost, letting her identity simply be tied to something else – a title she loved and truly believed in (just like she had Selena).
“But without it…” she whispered to herself. “Who am I?”
And that was the painful part. She didn’t know. She still didn’t know who she was. She didn’t know who Enigma was, she didn’t truly know who Knox was, and she didn’t know who she was.
They knew who they were! Enigma spouted it so often and Knox had built a career on being ‘The Raven’! Who was she in comparison to all of that? She had no superpowers like Enigma, nor did she have the experience that Knox had.
She was just… Deanna.
One last swipe of the eyes and Deanna gave up on finishing her tea, placing the hot beverage on a coaster on the long, wooden, coffee table in front of her, leaning back into her chair and rubbing her temple with her still warm fingertips. She stayed still and silent for a few minutes, letting her mind wander over such thoughts with her emotions, hoping they would solve themselves, or at least give some kind of solution to the problem.
She couldn’t give up on Jessica and freeing SCW from Enigma. The man had to be stopped. Nobody deserved to have their will taken from them like that! Nobody! Blood Grove had tried that with brainwashing and whatever and Selena had fought for all she was worth to free SCW from them, defeating Red Rayne and being instrumental in that group being removed from SCW for good. The Snow Queen had been able to help save SCW, risking her life and career… because it was the right thing to do. And Deanna felt the same way…
But she couldn’t give up on being a good champion either! In trying to further her evolution through this sport. She had made a promise to the SCW Universe and to Bree Lancaster when she had won the title off the now-current-Adrenaline champion. That she would do all she could to be worthy of the championship. It was the nerve Knox had worked when he had demanded the redhead just hand him the title and be done with it. She felt her jaw clench at that. The bastard thought that beating her, becoming SCW U.S. champion was going to be a piece of cake. That Deanna’s entire year as the champion was nothing more than some kind of joke. And what did that say about the title? About the division… about people like Polly that had raised their game to a new level and fought in chambers and last women standing matches with Deanna? About ‘The One’ Kristen Scott, who had used her coveted ‘Trios Shot’ just to try and get the title off of Deanna? About the newcomers/returnees like Cassie Wolfe and Scott Reed? Who desired to be a champion and worked so hard to have a chance at her title? And what about the fans? The people that had come around to simply ‘hating all Frosts’ to giving Deanna a chance to now… now… fully believing in her despite their hatred for Selena?
She… Deanna sighed… she couldn’t let any of them down or dishonor them either, which meant she couldn’t stop being the wrestler she wanted to be either. She couldn’t let go of either direction she was being pulled. All she could do was hold on tighter and try, with all she was, not to break…
The sudden barking of Oberon startled the redhead, causing her to jump a little out of her seat as the dog was suddenly up and bounding towards the large exit of the room, stopping at the door frame and jumping, the dog’s paws were immediately on the legs of the woman standing there, the good boy panting and clearly in need of some pets or some form of affection. Saying nothing, Deanna stood to her feet and watched the woman before her give a grateful smile before reaching down to scratch the fluff-ball’s ears. Obi hummed contently, even licking the hand when it moved towards his muzzle before, after several seconds, jumping back to all-fours and scampering around the room to find something else to do.
Seeing him go, Jessica Winters gave a slow sigh before turning her gaze back to Deanna. “Please tell me your clock upstairs is broken and I did not just sleep twelve hours.”
The redhead could not help the laugh that escaped her, small as it was. Moving over towards her, Deanna gently took her dear friend’s hands and pulled her into the family/sitting room, gently guiding her to sit on the chair opposite of her own.
“In all fairness.” She answered Jesscia’s query. “After the night you had, I didn’t want to disturb you.”
“Yeah…” Jessica sighed sadly, with a bit of guilt as she looked back up to Deanna. “Sorry about that. Did…” she looked around the room. “Did the kids get upset?”
“Amiliah was scared.” Deanna shrugged. “She thought a banshee was hiding in the house. I…” Deanna sighed. “I asked Gerda to look after them for a few days. Least till we get through the weekend.”
“Yeah…” the SCW interviewer shook her head. “God knows what I’ll do if I see them… especially if they’re wearing shoelaces…”
“Jessica, stop!” ordered Deanna. “I didn’t send them away because of that.”
“Really?” Jessica tilted her head, unjudgmental but knowingly. “There wasn’t the slightest bit of worry in your mind that bringing me here to stay with you would cause that? After all I did?”
For a moment, Deanna didn’t answer right away, choosing instead to meet her friend’s gaze with her own. “None of that was you.” She stated firmly. “Now stay seated.” She ordered. “I’ll make you some tea. I hope Orange Pekoe is alright. I already had a pot made.”
“It’s fine…” Jessica settled on saying before becoming silent as Deanna moved into the kitchen that was part of the large room and taking the already hot kettle and pouring a cup into another teacup, this one black with snowflakes decorating it…
Carefully, she brought the cup over to Jessica and handed it to her before moving back to her chair and sitting down.
“Thanks…” Jessica whispered. “And thanks for last night and…” she gestured to herself, more specifically to the clothes she wore. Black track pants and a, Deanna almost laughed out-loud, a large black shirt with the words ‘Believe it!’ written on it, one of Selena’s older t-shirts.
“I figured you’d prefer comfy clothes right now… you’re more Selena’s size than me.” Deanna shrugged, admiring the taller figure sitting in the chair. “And as for last night… Do you want to talk about it?”
“No.” Jessica shook her head. “They’re just something I’ll have to get used to.”
“Dreams pass in time.” Deanna simply replied. It was the woman sitting before her that had added the newest layer of complication into her life that had been mentioned previously. It had been last Breakdown, during an interview with Destiny Page, when Jessica had ‘broke into’ Breakdown, searching for her. Not Selena – her. It was all so… still so unbelievable to the redhead. According to Jessica, she had finally awakened from the stupor Enigma had placed on her, and, despite being turned over to her parents, had travelled all the way to Detroit just to find Deanna.
She had looked so disheveled, scared, and confused… what else could Deanna do? She had been the ‘protector’ of Jessica ever since Enigma’s tricks and Selena’s… she shook her head… there was only one option she could do, regardless of how stupid it was and how easily it could have been a trap set by Enigma. She had promised to look after and protect Jessica – even if it was against her own wife. It was another promise she refused to break. Taking Jessica in to stay with her had been the simplest choice.
For the last few days, she had simply watched over her dear friend, letting her sleep when she needed to, letting her borrow Selena’s clothes, ensuring she ate proper food and was taking care of herself. She even let the woman do a bit of workout training in the gym. Not the rigorous regimen demanded of SCW wrestlers, but the kind to regain strength and good health.
And not once had Jessica brought up the elephant in the room, nor had Deanna spoken of it. The wrestler had no desire to force such a conversation out. Like at Breakdown, all she cared about was getting Jessica healthy and safe.
Still, even if the lack of that ‘talk’ had allowed more of the Jessica Deanna knew and loved to come out, there were still dark remnants of Enigma’s influence, specifically at night. Every night, Jessica would wake up screaming, coming out of a nightmare the likes of which, judging from Jessica’s cries, Deanna would not wish even on her greatest enemy. Every night, while Jessica stayed in the guest bedroom in the basement, Deanna would hear her, wake herself up and make her way downstairs to help the young woman settle down enough to fall back to sleep.
The routine was tiring but… at least it made Deanna feel like she was doing something right in helping Winters.
“What did my parents say?” she heard Jessica ask, the brunette staring at Deanna – dressed in green shorts and a blue t-shirt.
“They were fine with it.” Deanna answered simply. “You were right. They don’t have any clue at what’s going on and I…” she released a sigh. “I couldn’t really explain it to them.” She stole a glance towards Jessica. “Don’t really know how to.” She admitted. “So, I told them that you were staying with me and I’d be looking after you and making sure you were getting better. They seemed to accept the whole ‘it’s a work-related thing’ as a reason.” She shrugged her shoulders.
“Yeah…” Jessica nodded. “They’ve just been scared and confused, I think. None of this makes sense to them. Doesn’t even make sense to me.”
“Me either.” Deanna shook her head. “The fact that it’s been you has been even more terrifying for me.” She stopped as she saw Jessica’s eyes flit over to her. “This isn’t some movie or show, Jessica. This is real life here. And you…” she gave an innocent shrug. “You’re one of the bravest and strongest women I know. Not to mention your loyal and kind and good and-“
“Stop.” She heard Jessica’s voice break, the SCW interviewer sniffling a little at Deanna’s emotional confession. “I can’t believe that after…everything.”
“The point I am making…” Deanna assured. “Is that you’re not the kind of person to blindly be brainwashed like that. Not by anything that COULD be real like hypnosis or whatever. I mean, you were there for Blood Grove, New Eden, Katya buying off people and nothing! So… either this Enigma is incredibly talented to the point that its scary, or… he’s actually supernatural.” Deanna sighed. “And the fact that he could get to you… makes it all the more terrifying to me that it could be the latter.”
The two sat in silence for a few minutes, letting Deanna’s assessment sink in and further unsettle them.
“Where…” Jessica’s voice rose up to break the silence, her eyes on her teacup, specifically on the snowflake-designs. “When I was under… I still heard a lot of things…” her eyes found Deanna’s. “Selena… you and her…”
Deanna breathed. “Yeah…” Deanna nodded. “It’s ending… her and I.”
The declaration seemed to emotionally gut-punch Jessica, the woman seeming to have the wind knocked out of her. “H…How…Or why?”
“Either question works, I guess.” Deanna shrugged. “And you saw what she’s become, Jessica. It’s a road…” Deanna sighed. “I was blind to it far longer than I should have been. It’s a road I can’t follow no matter how much I want her with me. What she’s choosing to do, who she’s becoming… and then with you…” Deanna stopped herself, not wanting to further upset Jessica. However, the intuitive woman was easily able to connect the dots.
“Did…” Jessica asked slowly. “Did she really mean to kill me?”
She sounded so broken, and why not? Jessica and Selena had been friends longer than Deanna had even known the Snow Queen. The SCW interviewer had been one of the first friends Selena had ever had when she first entered into SCW, the pair striking a bond that had survived ten long years. And when Deanna had joined the picture, Jessica had embraced the woman with open arms, treating her with the same love and fierce loyalty she had shown Selena.
Still, because of that love, the redhead refused to lie to her. “I…I had originally thought so.” She answered, seeing Jessica seize up a little. “But… now? No, I don’t.”
“You don’t?” came the surprised expression from Jessica.
“No…” Deanna sighed. “See… after all that happened? I visited Selena and she was a wreck from me signing the divorce paper.” She quickly waved her hand. “That’s not important. But our dog-“ she gestured to Oberon, who was now sleeping on the couch, having gone there to rest during the two women’s conversation. “He accidentally ingested a good amount of the drug Selena was going to use on you.”
“Oh no…” Jessica’s eyes flitted over to Oberon, who merely tilted his head at her.
“He was quite sick…” Deanna nodded, eyeing the dog as well. “But, as you can see, he’s fine. And for a dog to ingest a drug like that and be okay… it got me thinking…” she continued. “I went through Selena’s computer downstairs in her office and found a video made the same week as her last visit to you, one she had sent to Aaron Demetria-“
“Is she?”
“Yeah… still keeping him close at hand. Poor man can’t seem to get out. Selena thinks she’s doing what’s best for him and she doesn’t… she doesn’t see the truth, I think. So obsessed with ‘fixing everything’ and ‘undoing the past’ and ‘pushing SCW to the new standard’…. Even if it has to be her that’s the most hated person in SCW to do it.”
Again, there was a moment of silence, the pair lamenting over the fallen Snow Queen, albeit different emotional connections/reasons.
“But anyway,” Deanna spoke slowly. “I looked at the video and saw her making that syringe of NX. The one she was going to use on you.”
“NX?”
“The painkiller drug she was going to use? That one she and I were addicted to years ago?”
“Oh…” Jessica nodded in recollection, refacing the facts she had just spoken, as if to come to terms with it. “So… she really did plan to OD me…”
“I… I don’t think so.” Deanna tried. “In the video… even while talking to Aaron… she seemed so meticulous in getting the drug out of the pills. And her eyes were so focused on the syringe, like she was trying to get a specific amount.”
“So?” Jessica asked.
“Why care about that if she wanted to OD you? Why not just fill the whole syringe and be done with it? And for that matter, why use a drug that couldn’t even outright kill a dog? Why not use something more lethal?” Deanna reasoned. “I… I took a massive dose of NX once…” she explained. “And the chemical levels put me into a short-lived coma…”
“I-“ Jessica paused, her face scrunching up to recall. “I sort of remember that. You were out for several days.”
“Right. And bedridden for a bit longer.” Deanna nodded, which was why she had been so disgusted to see the vile painkiller again. “But I… you don’t know how much I took. It was a lot.”
“So…” Jessica reasoned. “You think that Selena only meant to put me in a short-term coma?”
Deanna nodded. “Or just incapacitate you more so… at least long enough to keep you from me and… I don’t know, maybe because I refused to back down from Enigma, she was giving me a way to focus on him and not have to worry about you? Like how he made you interfere with my match? Maybe… she was just trying to give me my best shot at beating him and freeing you. I just… I don’t know with her anymore… It’s not as black and white as it used to be…”
“Especially because you still love her.” Jessica observed knowingly, earning a long sigh from Deanna.
“I’m a real mess, aren’t I?” she could feel her tears stinging again as she looked away from her dear friend.
“Look who you’re talking to.” Jessica teased, a sliver of her wit breaking through. “For what it’s worth… I’m sorry.”
Deanna’s head shot up, her emerald eyes wide at the woman. “Why the hell are you sorry? You haven’t done anything wrong!”
“You’d be surprised how much time I had to think in-between the moments my mind was taking a vacay…” Jessica slowly spoke, simply holding her tea in her hands. “I’ve been an SCW interviewer for years and years, Deanna. It’s the job that I love… like you love being a wrestler.”
Instead of agreeing verbally, Deanna merely nodded her head, not wishing to break Jessica’s train of thought.
“So… I know how to connect the dots and I know how to read wrestlers. Call it ‘journalistic intuition’. I saw it with Selena… and I see it with you… even after everything…” she grinned to herself. “Old habits, you know?”
Taking a moment, the brunette exhaled a long breath, keeping her eyes on Deanna. “That’s why I’m sorry. For letting myself get taken over by Enigma. For getting involved. I feel…” she bit her lower lip. “Everything that’s happened? You and Selena – it was over me. Her trying to protect you from me.”
“You can’t-“
“Yes, I can.” Jessica interjected. “Because I see it even now! If it wasn’t for me, you would just beat the hell out of Enigma and that be that. I don’t even think Enigma would be in the equation! Pretty sure Raab would be dealing with him still. And you’d be focusing on Knox and the title. But because of me, you’re tied up in two nights and you’re…” she took a long hard look at Deanna. “I can see how lost you are. Without Selena now, because of all of this. You’re losing more matches because you’re not focused, because of me…”
Deanna opened her mouth to retort – to deny such implications, if only to spare her friend’s feelings. But no words came out. Because, despite the blame being twisted and incorrect, there was a kernel of truth to the whole affair. Ever since Enigma and all of this, she had lost her focus. Hiro saw it, CHBK saw it, Selena saw it, most of SCW was seeing it. Hell, even a walk-in like Knox had called her out on it.
“Jessica…” she tried, moving closer to sit on the couch near Oberon but much closer to Winters. Reaching out, her small hands took in Jessica’s. There was no nail-polish or anything. These hands were pale – not as pale as Selena’s – but clearly not seen the sun for some time or for very long. “I was on borrowed time anyway.” The redhead spoke softly, not surprised at Jessica’s confused expression. “Not… not like that, hun.” She tried to explain. “But, looking back… I guess I was, or always had been, protected these past few years.” Her eyes grew distant, looking at something only she could see. “Sure, I got my arm broken and constantly associated with Selena, threatened and attacked… but no one has gone after me on a personal level like this… like Enigma. Even Knox with his little barbs – that was what I used to deal with. People and stuff like that… Enigma changed all that.”
“He’s a monster.” She heard Jessica growled, allowing her attention to return to her guest and friend.
“But how different is he from Xander Valentine smashing a sledgehammer against Selena’s bus to scare me? Than Chris Cannon throwing me over the barricade from the audience and then into it to distract Selena? Than Vixen Cain trying to kidnap Selena and David by joyriding their bus?” Deanna sighed. “All this time… nothing like that happened to me. I could focus on being a wrestler because no one was bothering to try and get to me like that. No one saw the point…”
She bit her lower lip. “Now…there is a point.” She looked up at Jessica. “Because now I’m good enough to be beaten and have it mean something to a person’s career. Look at Knox’s reasoning. It’s…” she breathed. “It’s a far cry from being ‘Selena’s shadow’.” She laughed bitterly. “I was stupid to think some things would stay the same while I was trying so hard to change everything.” She gave Jessica’s hands an affectionate squeeze. “Knox was right… what I’m going through… who hasn’t gone through it themselves? Who hasn’t had someone making things personal through their private life? Everyone else has…” her eyes found Jessica’s again. “Except me. Until Enigma…”
She said nothing after that, merely letting her emotions run through her. For so long, she had been a pawn for those trying to get to Selena: Jenni Anderson, Regan Street, Vixen Cain, Xander Valentine, The Brand, Kimberly Williams with that kidnapping, and so many people had used her as a means to get to Selena. But nobody would dare try and use Selena – the woman that was arguably one of the biggest stars in SCW and now one of the most untouchable – to get to Deanna, not if it meant risking the ire of the Snow Queen. So… Deanna had been, in a roundabout way, protected. If no one saw her as anything but ‘Selena’s shadow’, then no one would care what she did.
But now? Being out of that shadow, like she said to Jessica? It meant her protection was gone. She was on her own…
The thought was both wonderful and terrifying at the same time. She had expected the moment of ‘freedom’ to be after some big match – maybe a big win that she did on her own. Or maybe after RTG… but no… it had already happened. Maybe it had happened earlier than she realized – she couldn’t pinpoint where or when or what had made it happen, but it had – she was just the last person to see it. And without Selena’s shadow – without even being a ‘Frost’, which was where she was headed…
“I don’t know who I am on my own.” She admitted aloud, hearing the shocked gasp come from Jessica at the heartfelt confession.
But just as she was sure Jessica was about to say something, the pair were interrupted by two sounds. The first was a loud, almost desperate knocking at the door, followed by barking as Oberon leapt off the couch and bolted towards the front door of the house. For a second, Deanna simple allowed the noise to go one, her emotional state a little too charged to really get up and process-
“MRS. FROST!” the voices, all saying that name at different times to make a wave of pleas travelled through the door and to her ears, followed by more pounding on the door. In a second, Deanna recognized the voices as young children, causing her to shoot up to her feet and rush to the door, where Oberon, on his hind legs, was scratching at it.
“Down, Obi!” Deanna ordered, pulling the Samoyed down and away from the wooden structure before using her free hand to unlock and open the door.
To her shock, however, she found eleven pairs of eyes staring wildly back at her – it was almost enough of a shock to make her yelp in surprise. Before her, in various gym shorts and t-shirts, stood all ten of Selena Frost’s students of the ‘Summer School Program’, including her son, David! Beside them, with a look of equal alarm was one of the teachers of the school and the program, Ms. Harris. It took only a second for Deanna to check the clock hanging on the wall and register what time it was to realize that this party being here… didn’t make sense!
“What is it?” she asked concerned, gazing at the eyes of everyone. “What’s happened?”
Immediately, every child seemed to want to answer at once, as a wave of noise, a jumbled mess of words, flew at Deanna, almost bowling her over with their volume and panicked tone. Quickly, and out of necessity, she raised her hand. “Please! Please!” she practically begged. “Not all at once!”
Understanding, the noise slowly died down, allowing Deanna to breathe a sigh of relief. “Now…” she turned her attention to Ms. Harris, then back over to the children. “Now… one person. Please tell me what’s going on and why aren’t you all at school.”
It was strange, but the children all seemed to have the same thought at once as – per the instruction of needing to choose one person to talk – all eyes flew to David Frost, the boy stepping forward without thinking twice.
“Mom…” his breath rushed out. “It’s mother!”
Emerald eyes went wide. “What do you mean? What’s happened to her?”
“She’s in jail!” David blurted out! “She’s been arrested for assault!”
_______________________________________________________________
So… where do we start?
And that’s actually a REALLY good question of me to ask right now, isn’t it?
Because, no big secret and what is starting to become the norm for me around here, Deanna Frost is pulled in different directions. On one side, we have The Enigma, the man, the entity, the supernatural power that I have been chasing for months. The man that I will face at the Rise to Greatness Pre-Show and defend the United States championship against. And on the other side, probably eating popcorn or whatever snack he found at the concession stand, we have Matthew Knox. The man that I will be facing the next night at Rise to Greatness and, should I still be the United States champion, I will ALSO be defending the title against him.
Ooooofaaa….
Talk about a lot to unpack there. Because you couldn’t get more opposite ends of the spectrum with these two. You’ve got Enigma with his dark powers, a man that has reached into the very core of my private life, pulled it out and displayed for all to see. A man that has used his dark powers to corrupt and hurt many people – people that I care deeply about. A man that has made this personal on a level that I have NEVER experienced before!
And then there is Knox. A man that is all about the wrestling and being the best. A man that has made this personal on a professional level with his smack-talk. A man that, unlike Enigma, has more experience than me and could very easily be a better wrestler than me. And unlike me, neither of them are dealing with a second match this weekend.
So, again, that question comes up: where do we start? The supernatural supervillain? Or the wrestling-behemoth? The personal-emotional drama or the professional one?
Where…do… we start?
It’s a question I’ve been asking myself for the past two weeks as everyone else is asking me. Everyone: my friends, my boss CHBK, my friend Hiro Tanaka, my little gritters, all of them are asking and telling me the same thing: that I have to decide. That I have to focus. That I need to stop trying to go in these different directions and pick a lane. Pick a spot! Pick a way out of this! A way to survive because if I keep getting pulled, like a piece of paper, I am going to be ripped to shreds.
And that’s a humbling thought. Because it’s not about ‘biting off more than you can chew’. I’ve done that before and I learned the hard way what that was like with Asher Hayes when I failed to capture the SCW world title during a second match of the night deal. It’s not like that this time around. This isn’t me fighting for another title, for another accolade, for another place, another step up in this business. No. This is me fighting for my place IN this business. Fighting for what I am and what I want to do. To say to the world ‘THIS is who I am! THIS is where I stand!’.
And for me, aside from the nerves and the stress, I have to appreciate the concern of my friends and peers. Because they are just speaking logic. It would be easier for me to look at this the ‘Knox way’. To focus solely on the United States Championship and deal with him. It would be much easier to focus solely on The Enigma and be the one person that can actually shatter that ‘untouchable’ fascade he has constructed amidst his smoke and mirrors!
If I looked out for myself and only myself? If I focused on one or the other, either shattering Enigma or being the rude awakening that Knox desperately needs, yes, I would be beyond confident. I would have no stress. I would have no worries. I would know EXACTLY what I would need to do for each scenario.
But it means someone else will suffer. Either Jessica and all she went through, like Ginny and Angelica, or the title that I have worked for so long to be worthy of. To, with a world title protected by contracts and ‘chosen officials’, to be a title devoid of that and simply being a title of pride and heart and grit – a workhorse title fitting of SCW. And to forsake that? I’d be failing all of you, all of the people that have stood by me – that have come with me on this year-long journey, giving me the chance to prove myself to all of you, all of you seeing past my last name for the woman I want so desperately to be.
And in that… I found my answer. My answer to the simple question “which way will Deanna go?” is equally simple.
The world – SCW Universe and Knox – want me to pick a direction. I say, “I won’t”. Not that I can’t! I simply WON’T!
Because that may be who Knox is. That may be who Enigma is. Each one ‘playing it safe’ in their own way! Knox running from JC and taking only one match. Enigma hiding with his smoke and his followers – getting other people to do his dirty work for him – these two may want to ‘play it safe’ to get what they want. I don’t. I never had ‘played it safe’ and I never will! What I do, good or bad, smart or stupid, is do the next right thing.
That’s who I am. That’s what I have always done. And there are two right things at play here. One: Enigma needs to get his and Jessica deserves to come back to SCW free of his influence and free of any fear from him. Enigma took that from her, he violated her safety, endangered her life, and I cannot stand idly by while a friend I love so much is treated that way!
The other right thing that needs to be done: the United States championship needs to be defended properly. Professionally. Needs to be contended by top stars as the prize and championship that it is. And that won’t happen when I face Enigma. I’m sorry, but a match like that? All that personal drama – the level it’s reached? Most would agree the United States championship, in THAT match, even to The Enigma, is an afterthought. So, the next right thing? Is to have a match where that title IS the reason. IS the focus! IS the center-attention and the desire of both combatants!
So, where does that leave me? Where does that leave me if I am staying in my place and refusing to forsake one so I can focus on the other? Will I be ripped apart? Maybe… it’s definitely a possibility. By this time Monday, I may be looking at myself in the mirror, without a title, without being a champion for the first time in over a year, and I may be frustrated and angry, maybe even regret my choice for this….
But that’s what it is: MY choice. I choose to continue to be pulled in two directions and I choose to hold on, pull back, and refuse to break or tear or shatter! And I choose to do the right thing.
Which means, Enigma, that you’ve made the biggest mistake of your short-term-SCW career. Because the only thing this whole thing has done – the only thing Knox has done with his actions – is make it clear that I have to get to him WITH the United States Championship still in my possession. I have to get to him and make our match for the title that I still hold.
Which means, on top of beating the hell out of you for the personal reasons, I now have more reasons to put you down for good. You asked me a question some weeks ago, Enigma, you asked me if I knew who I was. Without Selena’s shadow covering me, without Selena and the Frost fanbase (when it was around), without her ‘protection’… without her as my wife… did I know who I truly was?
And truly, Enigma? No. I don’t. I am close to knowing but I still don’t know. I don’t know fully who I can be on my own. It is a day I have dreamed of ever since I became a wrestler: the day where I am recognized not as ‘Selena Frost’s wife’ or ‘in the shadow of Selena Frost’ but my own woman and dammit, Sharper hit the nail right on the head – that day has finally come!
The day where someone like you, someone like Knox, sees me as a target. Where Knox acknowledges me as ‘the most dominant champion in SCW right now’. Where Adam Sharper, the brilliant and honest mind of SCW that he is, says so. Well… if that isn’t proof-positive that I am on my own, then I don’t know what is!
And while I don’t really know yet who I am on my own, Enigma, I know one thing about me. At my core, no matter who I will be, I am still someone that loves and cares deeply. For my children, for my friends, and, while I’ll probably get some jeers for this, for Selena.
I am a woman that loves this place, loves the people here, loves the hardworking folks that make this federation run, and every single SCW fan!
And right now? That’s good enough to make the choice I’ve made. That’s good enough to pull back on the forces trying to pull me apart! To pull so hard that I tear those forces apart. Which is what I will do to you, Enigma.
And let’s not kid ourselves, I know that’s a tall order. I saw the beating you took from the Fiery Nation. I saw you get right back up after that as if it never fazed you. So I know taking you down will be a tall order. Taking you down before you can disappear in a puff of smoke. Because I don’t have the strength of Konrad Raab. I don’t have the viciousness of ‘The One’ Kristen Scott. But there is a reason I have beaten them time and time again and there is a reason I am still here as the United States champion and it’s called ‘grit’!
It's taking everything you’ve thrown at me so far and keep coming back for more! It’s fighting not just for myself, but for Jessica! For Ginny! For Angelica! For every person you think is your ‘toy’, your ‘plaything’! This… this has become so much bigger than you vs. me, Enigma. This is you vs. SCW!
This is you against all of us that say ‘NO!’, you don’t get to control us! You don’t get to try and ruin our lives! You don’t get to do these things with no consequences! You don’t get to scare us anymore!
This is you learning that every action has a consequence, Enigma, a lesson that I will be giving to Knox the next night, I assure you! But on the night you’ve chosen? It will not be you taking everything from me. It will not be you corrupting my soul or taking my mind or breaking me – NO!
Rise to Greatness Pre-show? The show where I won this title last year… the reign does not stop. The reign continues into the main show. The only thing that will be stopped, Enigma, is your hold on Jessica Winters and your hold of terror on SCW! And at my freshest? At my most ready? I will not be consumed by your shadows and darkness. No, I will be the light – the fire – that burns through it. I will be the fire that burns so bright, even Matthew Knox will take notice and, perhaps for the first time in his whole career, will feel a sliver of doubt over what he’s demanded out of me – what awaits him the next night.
A fire, Enigma, that will burn through your smoke, your mirrors… your mask… until there is nothing left of you! Until there is nothing left of you to slither away! Nothing left to corrupt. Nothing left to run.
All of it, Enigma, will be taken out… in one massive burnout!
Checkmate, bitches!
![[Image: hffOaUZ.png]](https://i.imgur.com/hffOaUZ.png)
SCW Supreme Champion
6x SCW World Champion
4x SCW World Tag-Team Champion
2x SCW United States Champion
3x SCW Adrenaline Champion
SCW Television Champion
Longest Reigning SCW World Champion (234 days)
Winner of Shot of Adrenaline Tournament (2016)
Winner of Best of the Best Tournament (2016)
Winner of Trios Tournament (2018)
Winner of U.S. Championship Tournament (2020)
Winner of World Championship Tournament (2023)
Winner of Tactical Warfare (2014, 2019)
Winner of Elimination Chamber (2015, 2024)
Winner of Roofed Cage Match (2019)
Winner of Last Person Standing Match (2019)
The Unbelievable Main Event (2021-2025)
Winner of Double Jeopardy Match (2022)
Winner of EOTY Invitational (2023)
Winner of EOTY Invitational (2023)
Winner of Ironman Match (2024)
Wrestler of the Year (2016, 2021, 2022, 2024)
Tag-Team of the Year (2020 - w/ Regan Street)
Match of the Year (2018, 2019, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Feud of the Year (2014, 2019)
Shocking Moment of the Year (2024)
![[Image: 34zetxl.png]](https://i.ibb.co/SnpvD5T/34zetxl.png)