Dexter Grant vs. Marie Jones

[The Matt]

2 of 2
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October 20th, 2024
Boston, Massachusetts
Off Camera
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In a few short days Marie Jones will be making the trip to Canada for Breakdown and her match against the strange but deadly Dexter Grant. The Phoenix knows the importance of this match for her career. She has already had several opportunities to recapture gold and place herself back into a top spot in SCW, but thus far she has always come up short in her attempts. Now she finds herself against Dexter Grant, a strange competitor with unusual viewpoints looking to make a name for himself at her expense. The Phoenix refuses to be just a mere stepping stone for his own career. Marie knows that this is win or go home for her. She needs to win this match in order to set her career back on track. The importance of this match weighs heavily on her mind, which is part of the reason that she has decided to pay a visit to her mother, the matriarch of the Jones family, Angelica Jones. Angelica has been an advocate, a backstage politician if you will, helping to manage the careers of both Marie and Marie’s twin sister Kimberly in recent years. Marie has leaned upon the wisdom of her mother ever since she made her return to SCW several months ago. Angelica’s guidance, experience, and wisdom helped Marie navigate the rough and tumultuous waters of her return towards eventually redeeming herself and earning the trust of the fans and the locker room. She is certain that her mother will have words of wisdom that will help her take care of Dexter Grant this week on Breakdown. Yet her match against Grant isn’t the only reason that Marie has decided to pay her mother a visit. She wants information, information that only her mother can provide.

In the heart of an upscale neighborhood in Boston, Massachusetts, the home of the Jones family, specifically the living room of the Angelica’s modern, luxurious home radiates both warmth and sophistication. The space is expansive yet inviting, with floor-to-ceiling windows flooding the room with natural light and offering a breathtaking view of the city skyline. The walls are a soft, neutral off white color. A plush sectional sofa, upholstered in soft beige fabric, anchors the living space. It is flanked by sleek, glass-topped side tables with chrome bases. In the center of the room, a low-profile coffee table made of polished walnut wood sits atop a luxurious cream and silver geometric-patterned area rug, offering a modern contrast to the soft, comfortable furniture. Nearby, a fireplace with a marble mantel adds both warmth and elegance to the space, even though it is not currently lit. The matriarch of the family, Angelica Jones, sits on one side of the sofa. Her fiery red hair falls just below her shoulders, styled loosely to frame her face. She is dressed casually but tastefully, wearing a soft, lavender cashmere sweater paired with a black maxi skirt and simple black flats. There is an air of confidence and grace about her, as if she is accustomed to the finer things in life but remains grounded in her interactions. Next to her sits Marie Jones, with the same striking red hair, though hers is a few shades brighter, pulled back in a loose ponytail. Marie’s casual attire consists of a pale pink blouse and comfortable, dark blue jeans. She has an easygoing smile and a natural warmth, her posture relaxed as she leans slightly towards her mother.

“Don’t get me wrong, Marie, I am always happy for you to visit me. But you insisted you needed to advice, guidance.” Angelica shrugs. “I’m not sure what kind of guidance I can provide. Your next match is against…Dexter, right? Dexter Grant?”

“Yeah.” Marie nods her head. “The weird anti-social media dude.”

“Right, him.” Angelica nods her head. “Well, he’s certainly unusual, unorthodox perhaps, but honestly? As new as he is to the business, and as…well…distracted as he tends to get about pointless things like the social media crap…I would think that a multi-time champion like yourself would have no problem taking care of him.”

“Yeah, well, I thought I would have no problem defeating Waylon Creek to become SCW Television Champion and it didn’t happen. I thought I would have no problem defeating YUYO but I lost to her…twice…I thought I would have no problem winning that triple threat at Apocalypse and earning a United States Title shot, but I came up short.”

“Oh I see.” Angelica smirks. “You need a confidence boost, is that it?”

“You could say that.” Marie shrugs. “I mean, I thought I had been performing at my best but, obviously I haven’t…” her voice trails off. Angelica smiles warmly and pats her daughter on the back to comfort her.

“Take it from me, who has been in your position before. These tough times will come. You just have to try and endure them. Better times will come.”

“Really?” Marie seems skeptical, arching her brow. “I don’t know, mom. If I lose to Dexter Grant, where does that leave me going forward? CHBK has been very gracious in giving me these opportunities, opportunities I’m not sure I deserved…but if I lose to this weirdo…”

“Stop right there.” Angelica says forcefully. “You let me worry about CHBK. Dealing with him and the rest of the suits in SCW is my job, remember? Your job is to get in the ring and do what you do best, which is to wrestle. My time in this business, its quickly coming to an end. Hell, I only wrestle part time nowadays. Who wants to see a fifty year old wrestle, am I right?”

“Stop.” Marie shakes her head. “You still have plenty to contribute. You are a thirteen time world champion.”

“My time has come and gone. You and your sister, this is your time now, Marie. This is the era of Marie Jones and Kimberly Williams. I look forward to guiding you and your sister’s careers and seeing what you can accomplish.”

“Thanks, mom.” Marie says, her head bowed ever so slightly. “I just don’t want to let you down. You know? I already this family down so many times before, turned on the family, its just so…”

“No way.” Angelica shakes her head. “Stop with that talk, Marie Annabelle Jones.” Angelica says forcefully, as only a mother can. “We’ve been through this already. Your past with Inner Peace, and what they did to you, how they brainwashed you against us, that is forgotten. It is all in the past. Ok?”

“I wish it was that easy.” Marie says quietly. This comment peaks Angelica’s interest.

“Did something happen between you and the district attorney? I know you told me that you were going to speak with him again.”

“Yes, his office summoned me.” Marie sighs. “Luckily he has no intentions on charging me of any crimes due to my association with Inner Peace.”

“Well that’s quite a relief.”

“Yeah…I still might have to confront Raul, though.”

“Oh?” Angelica asks. Marie nods her head.

“Kevin Hayden says I may be called on to testify in court against Raul. So I may not be completely done with this Inner Peace debacle. But at least I can finally see some light at the end of the tunnel. You know?”

“That’s good. Very positive news.” Angelica smiles. “You know, Marie, I am proud of you. You could have easily just sat back and let Julianne suffer so much, it would be easy to do nothing, but you put yourself at risk by speaking directly to the district attorney and letting him know the truth of what really was going on at Inner Peace.”

“It’s nothing.” Marie shrugs her shoulders. “It was just the right thing to do…and maybe what God wanted me to do.”

“God, eh?” Angelica chuckles. “I never knew you to be so openly religious. I thought that was my thing.”

“You can blame your good friend Sister Maria for that.” Marie grins. “I have been visiting with her on a more regular basis lately. She’s become my…Spiritual Director.”

“Spiritual Director?” The term seems to take Angelica aback. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Marie nods her head. “Is…is there something wrong with that?”

“No. I’m just surprised. That’s all. I mean, how did this all happen?”

“Well in my first visit with the district attorney, it was clear that if they were going to accept Julianne’s insanity plea, then they may look at my own mental capacity. I was involved in the same organization she was, working for Raul just like her, so it would stand to reason that if Julianne needed mental help, so would I. Percy suggested that I get ahead of the game, get ahead of the DA’s office, and seek help for my trauma.”

“Sister Maria is that help?” Angelica asks.

“Yes. She’s helping me deal with the trauma of the past that led me to joining Inner Peace in the first place, namely my fiance Arthur killing himself. She’s helping me move on from the trauma I experienced in Inner Peace. She’s helping me move forward. That’s all. Is there a problem?”

“No, it’s just that…” Angelica sighs “...if you were seriously going to get help, then maybe you should seek out real professional help. A therapist perhaps? A psychiatrist?”

“But Sister Maria…”

“She isn’t a licensed therapist.” Angelica says. “If you wanted someone who would keep everything secret, you know you could have sought out Dr. Jennifer Warren. She has been working for our family for years. She would have signed off on any documentation you needed to keep the DA off your trail.”

“It isn’t about keeping the DA off my trail.” Marie insists. “I just need help. No offense, mom, but this family has a history, a reputation of spending time in mental hospitals. Both you and my sister were ordered by law to spend time there for one reason or another. I did not want to end up following that same path. So I got help from Sister Maria.”

“But a Spiritual Director is…it’s just different.”

“Is it?” Marie asks curiously. “I thought you were a good and proper Catholic. I thought you would be thrilled with me seeing a Spiritual Director now, especially the same one you have been seeing lately.”

“Marie…” Angelica sighs “...yes, Sister Maria has been acting as my spiritual director, but that’s different. My issues are different.”

“Different how?”

“They just are.” Angelica’s tone is no longer friendly and motherly. She seems more frustrated now. “Sorry…just…if you are serious about getting help, see a legitimate therapist, ok?”

“Yeah.”

Marie does not feel the need to continue this argument any further. She decides to drop the issue for now. Still, something seems off about her mother and Marie doesn’t like it one bit.

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On Camera
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Here we go again, Phoenix fans! I find myself back in a familiar situation; at a crossroads. I find myself not sure really where I go from here. Ever since I made my return to SCW in spectacular fashion I have had some success mixed up with some difficult setbacks and disappointing failures. I took the United States Champion Deanna Frost to her limit. But taking a champion to her limit means nothing if you can’t get the job done. I took the Adrenaline Champion YUYO to her limit…twice…but it means nothing if I can’t get the job done. I took the SCW Television Champion Waylon Creek to his limit…yes, TWICE, you’re welcome Kim…but it means nothing if I cannot get the win.

Still, there have been bright spots. I did manage to win a third Television Championship. I did win two matches in one night. I have taken on and humbled the likes of The Last Monarch and The All Star. I have proven that I still am very much capable of beating anyone on this roster at any given time if I am just given the opportunity. But opportunities are hard to come by and at the end of the day I need to earn them. I need to get back to doing what I do best and that is to just win baby.

Sorry to my fellow Patriots fans out there. I know I quoted Al Davis, but that doesn’t mean I am suddenly a Raiders fan by any stretch of the imagination! Winning, or at the very least performing at a high level, that is what I am known for in SCW. I am a former United States, Adrenaline, Television, and Tag Champion. I have already done more than enough to earn consideration for Hall of Fame status when the time comes that I hang up my wrestling boots for good. But one thing I am not and I never will be is a mere stepping stone for the next cool thing to step foot in SCW.

Dexter Grant, let’s be clear, I am definitely not saying that you are cool. You are certainly unusual with your rather strange anti-social media views. That’s fine. I have my own irrational hatred towards the Buffalo Bills. So I get it. I hate to say, unfortunately, that I do have a social media presence. I’m sure that’s a black mark in your eye. But I can honestly say that I do not spend a lot of time on social media posting pictures of myself or engaging in mindless twitter wars.

Or is it an X-War now? Thanks, Elon.

In any event, I can maybe relate to you and your strange views in at least one sense. Social media is pointless when it comes to this business. Sure, it can be a net positive when it comes to expanding your brand and promoting yourself, but at the end of the day, professional wrestling is all about one thing and one thing only…winning. Just win, baby, as Al Davis said. It doesn’t matter how much you hype yourself or how many witty one liners you throw out there on social media, if you cannot pin your opponent’s shoulders to the mat for a three or make your opponent tap out, you have done absolutely nothing. You have failed at your task.

Dexter, I am here to tell you right now that I am sick and tired of coming up short. I am sick and tired of failing. This week on Breakdown, I am going to educate you about what this wild wild west of SCW is really about when I beat you down, handing you a humbling, reality check, a similar reality check I gave to Ryan Lecavlier at Rise To Greatness. I am going to take you away from your delusional fantasy and paranoia and bring you back to reality. In short, I am going to defeat you and then YOU will be the one who has to regroup, YOU will be the one who has to figure out what comes next, and me…I will be back on track.

I am The Phoenix, right now I may be down but I am never ever out of it. Not completely. And just like the mythical Phoenix I will rise from the ashes and reclaim my spot. I will do it all at your expense, Dexter, because you are in my way and I am not going to let anyone stop me. Not even you.