07-09-2025, 10:33 PM
The first thing we see is an absolutely beautiful view of one of the beaches Miami is famous for, a place where anyone can go to just relax and enjoy the sand and waves without a care in the world. Miami is a top tier vacation destination for a reason, after all, especially with places like this where you can go to truly get away from it all. That said, it's hard not to notice that we seem to have a bit of an overhead view of this beach, and it starts to become clear as we pan back to reveal that we're not quite on the beach proper. Instead, we're actually on the balcony of one of the beachfront hotels, given the kind of view that makes one excited to wake up to the rising sun and take in the view of a beach you likely hope to find yourself on shortly.
While the sun is high enough in the sky that we're certain it's early afternoon at the very least, one thing we quickly deduce is that we're not here just to enjoy the ocean view. Standing out on this balcony, breathing in the air to keep herself grounded, is Amelia Nevado, wearing a rather elegant sundress whose skirt flutters in the breeze but is long enough to avoid any violations of modesty. It's the kind of beautiful look at her that we don't get to see very often, and makes it hard to argue how La Pequeña Luz fell for her. Despite dressing herself up a bit today to enjoy this beautiful day in Miami, there's a focus in Amelia's eyes as she turns to face us, and it's not hard to guess why.
“You all know by now how I was raised and what was expected of me coming into this business, I haven't been shy about sharing any of it. One thing that I think keeps slipping under the radar, though, is just how much my mindset was truly impacted growing up. My parents expected a lot out of me... perfection was the bare minimum. Every time I set foot into that ring, it was expected that I would win, that I would outwrestle whoever was put in front of me and dominate, because according to them, I was put on this Earth to be that good, end of discussion. I didn't need to earn anybody's respect, you all were supposed to just owe it to me, acknowledge that I was your superior and hope you never saw your name across from mine on the card. I didn't need to Rise to Greatness... I was expected to be greatness itself with everything that I did.
If any of that sounds insane to you, then you now understand exactly what Luz did when she saw me having a full scale meltdown backstage the night she handed me my very first pro wrestling loss after a year of perfection. None of that pressure was anything I put upon myself, it's what my parents buried me under, expecting me to just hide the cracks it left upon me because I would become the diamond of the Blythe family name and carry it to heights beyond even their abilities. It's also why this perception people keep trying to have of me bothers me so much... this belief that Luz has proven herself the superior half of The Light In The Darkness and she's destined for huge things while I'm just struggling behind her, hoping that maybe one day I can catch up. It's why the loss to Glory a few weeks ago got to me more than it probably should have, not because of who I lost to because I do respect her, even if I disagreed with how she went about things and Luz called her out on it, but because what she had to say going into the match combined with the lengths she went to in order to beat me perpetuated that belief. After all, my wife has the chance to walk out of Rise to Greatness as the undisputed United States Champion... while I, up until last week, had no idea whether or not I would even have a place on the biggest show of the year, just standing in the background helping my wife and our friend Deanna and otherwise being a supportive figure in the spotlight Luz is going to have.
Glory wasn't wrong when she said the sky was the limit on what I could do for Rise to Greatness, especially since I still possess my Trios contract, and that was why she needed that win more... but in the process, she inadvertently reopened the old wounds of feeling like I should've already had a plan for Rise to Greatness, perhaps even something involving championship gold just like Luz. Those doubts pounding in my head, telling me I'm a failure and I should be so much more already than I am around here... just because I cut my parents out of my life a long time ago doesn't mean I don't still hear their criticisms plaguing my thoughts, grinding me down and pushing me into unhealthy territory that's ultimately going to get me hurt instead of getting me the results they would've wanted to see from me. The scars they left run deep into my very psyche, and I wouldn't be surprised if I'll be plagued by the thoughts of their disappointment for the rest of my life.”
Amelia closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. We see a familiar tanned hand reach into the shot at this point, taking one of hers and threading their fingers together as the thumb gently runs along her knuckles. Amelia opens her eyes and smiles in thanks to Luz standing just outside the shot, taking a moment to ground herself once more. Another deep breath later, and that determined look is back in her eyes as she turns her gaze back to us.
“I'm not bringing this up to try and create some dumb narrative believing that being challenged to a match at Rise to Greatness by someone the caliber of Chris Cannon isn't good enough, though my parents would certainly think so if I still let them dictate who I am and why I do this. I'm doing this to be honest and upfront with all of you about why I am the way I am, why I sometimes struggle with setbacks even when I've long since learned that, contrary to my parents' beliefs, I'm not some unstoppable wrestling machine who can't ever be defeated.
I'm also bring it up because, while the causes for this mindset may be different between us, I do know exactly where my opponent come Breakdown this week has his head at.
Gavin Taylor is a man who had a lot of hype behind him when he came to SCW, and who could blame him? He made a name for himself in an old developmental promotion that used to be under SCW's umbrella, he's provided one heck of a challenge against every champion he's ever challenged for their title, he was the runner-up in the Taking Hold of the Flame battle royal a few years ago and followed that up by stunning Syren in a 30 minute Ironman Match on the Rise to Greatness stage. He's christened himself The All-Star, among several other nicknames and monikers, and for the most part, he's backed it up in the ring.
There's the key words... 'for the most part.' I'm no stranger to them... I hear it all the time when people say I've accomplished so much 'for the most part' before the 'but' has to come in. It always ignites the doubts and negative thoughts about how I should be more, according to them... and you know that feeling too, don't you, Gavin? Whether it's your own voice or the voice of the fans you've tried so hard to earn the respect and admiration of, you hear the doubts plaguing your thoughts, weighing you down like a stone anchored to your legs and pulling you into the depths no matter how hard you try to fight it. You believe, deep down, that you should've been more by now, that The All-Star should've been more than a nickname, but a declaration of who you are and why you matter to SCW and its fans. It's hard... I know it's hard, because I'm right there with you, fighting that same fight. We've both been consumed by our setbacks, fighting to earn everything that we want to achieve.
The only real difference is that your doubt comes from the pressure you put on yourself the moment you gave yourself all those labels and had to live up to them. Mine is lingering trauma from a life I left behind and try to forget about in favor of the brighter future I want to earn, because I've accepted that I'm not perfect... far from it! I know I'm mortal, I know I can be beaten, and I try my best to learn and grow from every single match regardless of the result.”
Amelia sighs, but before she potentially starts to spiral, she feels Luz squeezing her hand in encouragement, which goes a long way in helping her to keep going.
“That's the tricky part about a match like this... we both need this win, and while the reasons may appear different on the surface, the truth is that those reasons are more similar than many might think. Yes, I now have a match waiting for me at Rise to Greatness while your path is still open Gavin... yes, I do still have my Trios contract which, as Glory pointed out weeks ago, circumvents the need to actually 'prove myself,' but that's not how I want to do this. I want to be able to walk into Breakdown this Thursday night and put on the kind of classic I know we're both capable of, I want to push you above and beyond your limits while you return the favor Gavin. I want to know that if I win this match, I truly did earn it... I want to prove that whatever I ultimately use that contract on, I deserve it not because of a piece of paper I can fill in the blanks on, but because I know in my mind and my heart that I've earned whatever challenge I put in front of myself.
You've been there before, Gavin... you held this contract once, you cashed it in for a World Title match when you felt you had enough momentum behind you that you'd truly earned it, that you were ready to be a World Champion.
I don't want you to look at this match as a chance for another setback should I be the one to win, Gavin. I want you to join me in that ring, let go of all those doubts and fears, and let's help each other show the world that we are exactly who we say we are: you as The All-Star, and me as someone with the talent to shine as brightly as my wife to inspire her as she inspires me. I want to prove that the words of Chris Cannon from two weeks ago were true and worthy of his attention, and you want to prove that you deserve to have someone step up to the plate and give you a challenge for Rise to Greatness because you deserve to be able to stand on that stage and shine Gavin. Let's walk into Breakdown and steal the show together, and regardless of who wins, we both show why we belong here in SCW.
I'm looking forward to a great match Gavin, and may the better wrestler on this night win.”
Amelia bows her head in a show of respect to Gavin, a smile on her lips and tears beginning to form in her eyes from the raw passion for this business that began to lace her voice. As we begin to fade out, we catch a hint of Luz stepping into the shot to kiss Amelia on the cheek and offer words of encouragement, this sweet moment after such a sincere request being the last thing we see.
While the sun is high enough in the sky that we're certain it's early afternoon at the very least, one thing we quickly deduce is that we're not here just to enjoy the ocean view. Standing out on this balcony, breathing in the air to keep herself grounded, is Amelia Nevado, wearing a rather elegant sundress whose skirt flutters in the breeze but is long enough to avoid any violations of modesty. It's the kind of beautiful look at her that we don't get to see very often, and makes it hard to argue how La Pequeña Luz fell for her. Despite dressing herself up a bit today to enjoy this beautiful day in Miami, there's a focus in Amelia's eyes as she turns to face us, and it's not hard to guess why.
“You all know by now how I was raised and what was expected of me coming into this business, I haven't been shy about sharing any of it. One thing that I think keeps slipping under the radar, though, is just how much my mindset was truly impacted growing up. My parents expected a lot out of me... perfection was the bare minimum. Every time I set foot into that ring, it was expected that I would win, that I would outwrestle whoever was put in front of me and dominate, because according to them, I was put on this Earth to be that good, end of discussion. I didn't need to earn anybody's respect, you all were supposed to just owe it to me, acknowledge that I was your superior and hope you never saw your name across from mine on the card. I didn't need to Rise to Greatness... I was expected to be greatness itself with everything that I did.
If any of that sounds insane to you, then you now understand exactly what Luz did when she saw me having a full scale meltdown backstage the night she handed me my very first pro wrestling loss after a year of perfection. None of that pressure was anything I put upon myself, it's what my parents buried me under, expecting me to just hide the cracks it left upon me because I would become the diamond of the Blythe family name and carry it to heights beyond even their abilities. It's also why this perception people keep trying to have of me bothers me so much... this belief that Luz has proven herself the superior half of The Light In The Darkness and she's destined for huge things while I'm just struggling behind her, hoping that maybe one day I can catch up. It's why the loss to Glory a few weeks ago got to me more than it probably should have, not because of who I lost to because I do respect her, even if I disagreed with how she went about things and Luz called her out on it, but because what she had to say going into the match combined with the lengths she went to in order to beat me perpetuated that belief. After all, my wife has the chance to walk out of Rise to Greatness as the undisputed United States Champion... while I, up until last week, had no idea whether or not I would even have a place on the biggest show of the year, just standing in the background helping my wife and our friend Deanna and otherwise being a supportive figure in the spotlight Luz is going to have.
Glory wasn't wrong when she said the sky was the limit on what I could do for Rise to Greatness, especially since I still possess my Trios contract, and that was why she needed that win more... but in the process, she inadvertently reopened the old wounds of feeling like I should've already had a plan for Rise to Greatness, perhaps even something involving championship gold just like Luz. Those doubts pounding in my head, telling me I'm a failure and I should be so much more already than I am around here... just because I cut my parents out of my life a long time ago doesn't mean I don't still hear their criticisms plaguing my thoughts, grinding me down and pushing me into unhealthy territory that's ultimately going to get me hurt instead of getting me the results they would've wanted to see from me. The scars they left run deep into my very psyche, and I wouldn't be surprised if I'll be plagued by the thoughts of their disappointment for the rest of my life.”
Amelia closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. We see a familiar tanned hand reach into the shot at this point, taking one of hers and threading their fingers together as the thumb gently runs along her knuckles. Amelia opens her eyes and smiles in thanks to Luz standing just outside the shot, taking a moment to ground herself once more. Another deep breath later, and that determined look is back in her eyes as she turns her gaze back to us.
“I'm not bringing this up to try and create some dumb narrative believing that being challenged to a match at Rise to Greatness by someone the caliber of Chris Cannon isn't good enough, though my parents would certainly think so if I still let them dictate who I am and why I do this. I'm doing this to be honest and upfront with all of you about why I am the way I am, why I sometimes struggle with setbacks even when I've long since learned that, contrary to my parents' beliefs, I'm not some unstoppable wrestling machine who can't ever be defeated.
I'm also bring it up because, while the causes for this mindset may be different between us, I do know exactly where my opponent come Breakdown this week has his head at.
Gavin Taylor is a man who had a lot of hype behind him when he came to SCW, and who could blame him? He made a name for himself in an old developmental promotion that used to be under SCW's umbrella, he's provided one heck of a challenge against every champion he's ever challenged for their title, he was the runner-up in the Taking Hold of the Flame battle royal a few years ago and followed that up by stunning Syren in a 30 minute Ironman Match on the Rise to Greatness stage. He's christened himself The All-Star, among several other nicknames and monikers, and for the most part, he's backed it up in the ring.
There's the key words... 'for the most part.' I'm no stranger to them... I hear it all the time when people say I've accomplished so much 'for the most part' before the 'but' has to come in. It always ignites the doubts and negative thoughts about how I should be more, according to them... and you know that feeling too, don't you, Gavin? Whether it's your own voice or the voice of the fans you've tried so hard to earn the respect and admiration of, you hear the doubts plaguing your thoughts, weighing you down like a stone anchored to your legs and pulling you into the depths no matter how hard you try to fight it. You believe, deep down, that you should've been more by now, that The All-Star should've been more than a nickname, but a declaration of who you are and why you matter to SCW and its fans. It's hard... I know it's hard, because I'm right there with you, fighting that same fight. We've both been consumed by our setbacks, fighting to earn everything that we want to achieve.
The only real difference is that your doubt comes from the pressure you put on yourself the moment you gave yourself all those labels and had to live up to them. Mine is lingering trauma from a life I left behind and try to forget about in favor of the brighter future I want to earn, because I've accepted that I'm not perfect... far from it! I know I'm mortal, I know I can be beaten, and I try my best to learn and grow from every single match regardless of the result.”
Amelia sighs, but before she potentially starts to spiral, she feels Luz squeezing her hand in encouragement, which goes a long way in helping her to keep going.
“That's the tricky part about a match like this... we both need this win, and while the reasons may appear different on the surface, the truth is that those reasons are more similar than many might think. Yes, I now have a match waiting for me at Rise to Greatness while your path is still open Gavin... yes, I do still have my Trios contract which, as Glory pointed out weeks ago, circumvents the need to actually 'prove myself,' but that's not how I want to do this. I want to be able to walk into Breakdown this Thursday night and put on the kind of classic I know we're both capable of, I want to push you above and beyond your limits while you return the favor Gavin. I want to know that if I win this match, I truly did earn it... I want to prove that whatever I ultimately use that contract on, I deserve it not because of a piece of paper I can fill in the blanks on, but because I know in my mind and my heart that I've earned whatever challenge I put in front of myself.
You've been there before, Gavin... you held this contract once, you cashed it in for a World Title match when you felt you had enough momentum behind you that you'd truly earned it, that you were ready to be a World Champion.
I don't want you to look at this match as a chance for another setback should I be the one to win, Gavin. I want you to join me in that ring, let go of all those doubts and fears, and let's help each other show the world that we are exactly who we say we are: you as The All-Star, and me as someone with the talent to shine as brightly as my wife to inspire her as she inspires me. I want to prove that the words of Chris Cannon from two weeks ago were true and worthy of his attention, and you want to prove that you deserve to have someone step up to the plate and give you a challenge for Rise to Greatness because you deserve to be able to stand on that stage and shine Gavin. Let's walk into Breakdown and steal the show together, and regardless of who wins, we both show why we belong here in SCW.
I'm looking forward to a great match Gavin, and may the better wrestler on this night win.”
Amelia bows her head in a show of respect to Gavin, a smile on her lips and tears beginning to form in her eyes from the raw passion for this business that began to lace her voice. As we begin to fade out, we catch a hint of Luz stepping into the shot to kiss Amelia on the cheek and offer words of encouragement, this sweet moment after such a sincere request being the last thing we see.
![[Image: uKMzpho.png]](https://i.imgur.com/uKMzpho.png)
Tag Team Record: 28-11-1*
La Pequeña Luz Solo Record: 19-10
Amelia Blythe Nevado Solo Record: 14-9-1
*The tag team turmoil on the 9/14/2023 Breakdown is counted in this record as the three separate matches LITD had in the gauntlet up until their elimination.
Breakdown 3/30/2023 - Kim Williams' Trios Cash-In
La Pequeña Luz: 3 Falls
Amelia Blythe Nevado: 2 Falls
*Neither one finished high enough to win any championships in this match
*Result listed separately and not counted in records due to lack of clarity on how to count falls
SCW Accomplishments
SCW Television Championship (Amelia Blythe Nevado - 29 Days)
SCW Television Championship (La Pequeña Luz - 98 Days)
SCW World Tag Team Championship [3] (1 - 81 Days) (2 - 109 Days) (3 - 231 Days)
SCW United States Championship (La Pequeña Luz) [2] (1/Interim Reign - 94 Days) (2 - Current)
2024 Trios Tournament Winner (Amelia Blythe Nevado, w/ Xander Valentine and Billy Heaven Jr.)
2023 Tag Team of the Year
2023 Match of the Year (Kim Williams' Trios Cash-In)
2024 Tag Team of the Year