Deanna Frost vs. Dexter Grant

[SnowQueenSCW]

Frost No More

”What’s In a Name?”

Eyrie Tower
New York City, New York
December 10th, 2025
7:12am

Deanna woke before the alarm. She’d been getting up early for months now—ever since the tournament and ever since her body had decided sleep was optional and anxiety wasn’t. She lay still for several seconds, staring at the ceiling. If she strained her ears and slowed her breathing, she could hear some sort of noises, perhaps Oberon or Midna waking up and making their way around the house. And while she was not entirely tired and groggy still, the redhead was still on the edge of ‘sleep amnesia”, where a person, as they awaken, forgets things for a brief moment.

For the briefest of moments, Deanna could not recall what had awakened her – some kind of nightmare? Even so, as she allowed her eyes to settle closed again, inhaling and exhaling a long breath, it felt so peaceful. Nestled next to her partner, the kids minutes away from charging in for morning attention (the younger children anyway) along with their pets.

It all sounded wonderful... normal... ordinary...

Can’t say the same about last night, can we?

The voice was like the coldest of water being poured on her, her mind snapping awake and, instinctively, connecting everything together. Last night. Her being worried about her match with Grant for the Adrenaline Championship this coming weekend. Elsianna coming downstairs to talk to her.... Wanting to change her name to... to...

Yours... stated the Heart. You must feel so happy and proud of yourself. You’re now the ‘favourite mom’! And if you win the title this weekend – oh she may be the president of your fan club... after she builds it! You think she’ll dye her hair red to look more like you? Sel-Sel would probably have an aneurysm at the sight!

Slowly turning her head to look beside her, the redhead saw the woman lying next to her. The platinum-blonde lay on her back, one arm draped over her own stomach while the other rested near her head. Her breathing was shallow but steady. Carefully, Deanna shifted onto her side and studied the platinum-blonde. There were shadows under her eyes and her jaw was somewhat tense, like she’d fallen asleep that way. Resisting the urge to reach out and smooth the tension away from the Snow Queen’s face, Deanna, instead, breathed a quiet sigh as she kept watching.

Last night... she knew that she couldn’t stay in bed and hide from the world, despite part of her wanting to. Slowly, the redhead slipped out of bed and padded towards the bathroom, immediately closing the door and turning the light on. The first thing she saw in the large room was the large mirror and her own reflection within it.

Red hair mussed.
Green eyes tired but alert.

She looked… steady. That was the word Selena had used last night after their talk. Studying herself, Deanna wasn’t sure when that had happened... Or if it was even a real observation.

She dressed quietly and stepped out of the bedroom, making her way into the kitchen and starting the kettle out of habit more than need. Tea had become her ritual, it seemed. As the water heated, she leaned her hip against the counter and let her thoughts drift where they’d been carefully avoiding.

Elsianna.

The memory of the girl’s voice still rang in her ears. I don’t want to be you anymore. An honest remark that was like a sniper’s shot to Selena’s heart. It was impossible for Deanna not to see the immediate damage such a remark had done to her partner. Exhaling slowly through her nose, she glanced toward the hallway where the stairs were located. The kids’ rooms were still quiet. No movement. No sound of crutches yet.

Good. she thought honestly. This morning needed to unfold gently, if it was going to unfold at all.

The kettle clicked off and Deanna, immediately, poured the water, added the tea bag, and wrapped both hands around the mug as if anchoring herself. For a moment, she allowed herself to move to the second issue in her mind: SCW.

Specifically, Dexter Grant and the Adrenaline Championship. Her pulse quickened despite herself. She could almost feel the canvas beneath her boots, hear the crowd — would they be wanting her to succeed? Or would they want her to fail now that there was a chance that a Frost could be a champion again? The Heart of Veil stirred faintly in the back of her mind, amused.

Everything colliding at once it whispered – which Deanna didn’t answer. She knew the damn thing was just trying to egg her on. To push her. She had dealt with that before – people trying to tell her who she was or what she was or who she would have to be in order to ‘beat them’. Kimberly Williams had bragged about making Deanna ‘embrace the darkness’ when they had brawled all those years ago for the Underground title, which the redhead had refused. Bree Lancaster had done something similar back in the day. And with the way Dexter Grant conducted himself and the kind of promos he would air – analytical with a twisted-narrative, actually somewhat like Selena’s – she was certain she’d be hearing similar words and ‘assessments’.

Product of the machine...
Part of the conspiracy...
Golden-child...
Selena’s shadow-dweller...
Fragile flower...

His various words from Breakdowns and promos – she had done her research. She refused to be unprepared. Grant wanted to see this as ‘just another title defence’ against another person ‘blinded by social media’, whatever that meant – Deanna didn’t really use social media anymore – but the truth was, it wasn’t just another match in the tournament. It was so much more...

She heard the movement just as she brought her cup of tea up to her lips to sip, causing a sort of oopsie-moment as she, instinctively turned her head, causing a few drops to spill on her tongue and lips, making her wince at the still hot drink. “Ouch! Ouch!” she hissed, wiping her mouth and tongue with her hand to try and dispel the spark of pain.

Selena stood in the doorway, hair loose, and gave a tilt of her head at the whole display. She wore one of Deanna’s hoodies—an old dark-green one, faded from countless washes. She’d taken to doing that every now and then, slipping into clothes that were big and comfy for Deanna.

A small thing, but a telling one.

“You’re up early,” the platinum-blonde remarked.
“So are you,” Deanna replied gently, tongue out to try and cool it off.

With a shrug, Selena stepped into the kitchen, leaning against the counter opposite the redhead. For a moment, neither of them spoke. The silence wasn’t hostile—but it wasn’t example comfortable either.

“Did she sleep?” Deanna finally asked.
Selena nodded. “Eventually.”
“Did you?”
The platinum-blonde huffed a short laugh. “Define sleep.”

“Fair enough.” the younger woman sighed. She, herself, had managed only a few hours. The two stood there quietly while Deanna made another cup of tea, this one for Selena.

“Do we have a plan today?” Deanna finally asked, passing it to her.
“Depends on what mood-”

Before Selena could finish, the sound of crutches echoed faintly from the hallway, causing both women to turn at the same time. Elsianna appeared slowly, carefully navigating the corner into the kitchen. She also wore a hoodie two sizes too big and her hair was still sleep-tangled.

“Morning,” Deanna tried softly.

Elsianna nodded. “Morning.” Her eyes flicked to Selena. Long enough to acknowledge her presence but nothing more.  If the Snow Queen was affected by such behaviour, she gave no sign of it.

“Good morning,” she simply said.

Awkwardly, Elsa manoeuvred herself to the table and sat, setting her crutches aside. Deanna moved automatically, pouring another mug of tea and setting it near Elsianna, the girl giving a murmured thanks in response before everyone fell back into silence.

No one mentioned last night. Not yet...

The quiet stretched until Deanna felt it pressing on her chest. It was one thing to be delicate about things, another to avoid them entirely! That’s when it just ended up being avoidance, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to allow that! She cleared her throat softly, gaining the attention of the other two women.

“I have training later today.” she said, keeping her tone neutral. “Just a light session.” she did not mention her trainer – that secret still maintained. If anything, she had demanded harsher workouts with Akina to prepare her for the match with Dexter. While Akina had been confused, she had acquiesced soon as the redhead had explained how important it was to her. But again, that didn’t need to be shared...

In response, Selena just nodded. “I’ve got a meeting at noon.” she replied. “Some kind of online interview to promote the pay-per-view.” she sipped at her tea, grumbling, “Least I’m booked this time...”

Oh, you can relate to that, can’t you? teased the Heart. Didn’t they keep you off the big show so they could ship you to KABLAMia?

Deanna mentally silenced the voice. She hadn’t cared then and she didn’t care now where SCW sent her. If that’s what was needed to help the tournament and the Adrenaline division, time and location were irrelevant to her. It’s why she hadn’t raised a fuss over spending several Breakdowns these past months with nothing to do, management having ‘nothing’ for her in terms of time or segment(s). It was fine. Deanna had seen it as an opportunity to let whatever TV-time she had to be focused on her matches – Let my work do the talking...

It had actually been a blessing. She had seen Dexter’s little jab at her with Page last Breakdown – the champion clutching at straws and jumping from one ‘Line/remark/assessment’ to another without really addressing anything. Was that how his promo was going to be? Or would he just make up some narrative and paint her as something she clearly wasn’t? Maybe having less of a presence than some of the other SoA combatants, and certainly less than Selena, was more advantageous than she realized...

Looking up from her drink, the redhead eyed her daughter across the table. “Elsa…” Deanna tried. “About what we talked about last night...” She saw Elsianna’s shoulders tensed. “We’re not deciding anything today. That hasn’t changed.”

“I know,” Elsianna replied flatly.
“But...” Deanna added, meeting her daughter’s gaze, “We’re also not pretending it didn’t happen.”
Elsianna’s jaw tightened at that last statement. “I didn’t change my mind.”
“I didn’t ask you to.” Deanna pressed gently.

Another bout of silence, which was enough for Deanna to throw a glance at Selena. SAY SOMETHING! she mentally commanded – causing the platinum-blonde’s eyes to widen before she cleared her throat.

“Elsa,” Selena began, then stopped, then began again. “I meant what I said last night. About talking and listening.”

Elsianna didn’t answer.

“I won’t push.” Selena continued quietly. “But I need you to know… I don’t want you to go anywhere.”It wasn’t much, but it was something - least Deanna thought so.
“I’m going to school.” was all Elsa would give as a reply.
“I’ll drive you,” Deanna said immediately.
Elsianna hesitated, then nodded.

As she gathered her things, Selena remained frozen, like any wrong move might shatter what little ground she’d regained. Deanna caught her eye and gave a small, reassuring nod, before getting ready. Before long, the redhead and Elsa were on the road to get the Frost-daughter to school (Selena promising to take Amiliah and David after they woke up).

At an intersection stop, Deanna stole a glance towards her daughter. “Hey.” she offered, getting the girl’s attention. “No matter what name you carry, you’re still my daughter, okay? That won’t change.”

Elsianna slowly nodded. “I know.” The school eventually came into view as Deanna parked the car. Elsianna unbuckled her seat, pausing before opening the door.

“Mom?” she said quietly. “If I do change it... Will you hate me?”
“Never.” Deanna replied firmly. “Not in a million years.”

Elsianna nodded, then stepped out of the car. As Deanna watched her disappear into the building, she let out a sigh.

War within her family over a name.
War within SCW in the name of the Adrenaline Championship.

The Heart had been right. It was all coming to a head in both directions... and she wasn’t sure where she’d be when either concluded. Whether she was driving toward victory and redemption... or towards disaster.

Or towards something far more complicated.

In short, for the first time in a long time, Deanna Frost wasn’t sure which name she was fighting for anymore...
_________________________________________


So… where do we start?

How about this, gritters? A year ago, I was confined to my hometown in Kentucky, being told my future in SCW was in doubt. My return date was TBD. My historic 480+ day reign as United States Champion was colder than my wife can be in front of a camera.

In short, after about two years of working as a wrestler, where my career was beginning to take off... it was all taken away from me. Nobody, least of all me, knew if it would ever come back, let alone be what it once was, or if I would ever be the same again.

And while I can’t be sure if that doubt is still lingering or if it’s finally behind me, one thing I can say is this: Here we are, over a year later, and Deanna Frost and her gritters are going to the semifinals of the Shot of Adrenaline Tournament!

Five matches in. Ten points. That might just be numbers to management, but to me? There’s only one other person who’s done that as well, and that’s my opponent tonight, the Adrenaline Champion. And while he’s going to strip things down, tie some things around, and make some twisted tie-ins about how I’m connected to this “machine” he claims to be fighting against, all in an attempt to push me back down, that is not going to happen!

Because this isn’t just my moment. It’s all of yours, gritters. It belongs to everyone who saw me come back nervous and unsure. It’s for everyone who saw me filled with doubt and zero belief. It’s for everyone who watched me fail at Rise to Greatness, admit that I was completely lost, and who still said to me, “Keep fighting.”

Two words. Two simple words that have meant more to me than anything else over the last year. Two words that have been the backbone of my return! Two words that’s what’s been driving me. What’s been motivating me and pushing me to give this tournament everything I have. Every match, every night, every opportunity.

Dexter Grant likes to talk about his theories, right? His conspiracy theories. “This happens because of that.” “That happens because of this.” He’s concocted a narrative where he is the center of the universe and everything that happens purely does so just to mess with him or screw him over, where every decision exists solely to hurt him. And first of all, Grant, could you possibly be any more egotistical?

Let me share something with you. I was around during the first Shot of Adrenaline Tournament ten years ago, when my partner—my future wife—competed in it. Long before you ever stepped foot in an SCW ring. Guess what? The rules were the same back then as they are now.

And part of me honestly wishes this match between you and me for the Adrenaline title had happened sooner. Because while you want to cry about the very foundation of the tournament, while you want to make excuses and demand that people not get shots because they’re “subbing in,” I would have loved to defend that title every single match in this tournament.

When I was United States Champion, I asked for the chamber just to give more people a chance. I saw it as an opportunity to elevate the title and push SCW forward. Something you claim to want to do, yet here you are complaining about the one thing you’re actually supposed to do as champion.

Defend.

But that hasn’t been the road taken for me. And let me tell you my theory about that, Grant, because you seem to think management is against you and I’m this “golden goose,” the one meant to save SCW or save the division.

Gods, I hate when people talk like that. SCW doesn’t need saving, Grant. What, you think you’re the first “savior” to walk through these doors talking about fighting the machine? Guess what—SCW is still here. SCW is still standing. And if they wanted to mess with you or get the title off you, you wouldn’t be facing me.

You’d be facing a far more dangerous Frost.

Reality check—disconnect to reconnect, right?—here’s yours. I don’t think the reason we haven’t fought sooner has anything to do with money, or pay-per-view buys, or anything like that.

I think the reason it’s taken so long for me to face you for the Adrenaline Championship is because I wasn’t ready.

Yes, Grant, I’m putting that on me.

It’s been a long few months getting through the ranks of this tournament, and I know—I know—that if I had faced you earlier, you would have beaten me. I wasn’t where I needed to be to beat you. That’s why I had to go through the ringer. That’s why I had to take the long way, longer than anyone else has.

Spencer’s energy.
Lawler’s drive.
Kim’s chaotic style.
Polly’s desperation.
Kemal’s violence.

No match was the same for me, Dexter. Every match forced me to adapt. I had to think fast. I had to find a way to survive. And every single time, I had to get better and BE better, because what was the alternative?

You talk about this “do-or-die” thing. About how you have to win. About how it’s different for you than it is for me. But while you were staring ahead and bathing in the spotlight, you didn’t see me chasing at your heels.

Thanks to Trios, I fell behind early with my matches happening later. I watched you pull further and further ahead of the pack, and I knew that if I lost even one match, my momentum was gone. I lose a step? And that gap between us widens until I can never catch you.

And on a personal note, Grant? I didn’t want to fall behind someone who treats this division the way you do.

I didn’t want my heart, my grit, and the SCW Universe’s support of me to be belittled and discredited by someone too busy whining about Kimberly Williams getting a path to the world title or about Alex Belmont coming in on behalf of Dumont to actually care about the Adrenaline division.

I’m not going to say the line you think I am about you ruining the division. And I’m not going to lie and say I’m saving it.

But you sure as hell aren’t making it better.

Back to Belmont. You talked about wanting to bring prestige to this tournament, then complained about facing Alex instead of being handed a free pass. Let’s be clear—you had no problem taking free points when Spencer was taken off the shelf. You were happy to take those points because it benefited you. But the second you had to take a risk, the second the ruling didn’t go your way, you complained.

You’d rather get a free pass than defend the Adrenaline Championship, and that’s a problem I have with you.

Because let’s pull the veil back, Grant. You bend rules. You cheat. You use Wendell. You screwed Lawler. You cheated Polly. The list goes on. You talk about doing good for SCW, but your actions tell a very different story.

And that’s the thing—I don’t care about your message. This isn’t about silencing you for management. This isn’t about a vendetta or some conspiracy.

I want to beat you because I don’t like how you are treating this division.

You justify cheating and screwing people because your message “needs to be said”, but without that title, you have no message. No podium. No power. And the truth is, Grant, you’re afraid to be without it. Afraid of losing. Afraid of being seen as less.

That’s my issue with you, Grant. Because this division isn’t meant to be used for yourself. It’s meant to inspire others. It’s meant to push people to work harder and be better.

Want proof? I’m the proof!

I came back after nearly nine months and have run the same gauntlet as you, but I did it cleanly and proudly! I’m undefeated like you, except I earned it. No tricks. No friends.

That’s what Shattered Reality is for us, Grant. The meeting of two ‘ways’. You represent one future for the Adrenaline division, and I represent another.

And there’s only room for one.

And when all your tricks and lies don’t work, Grant? When heart beats hypocrisy. When faith beats frauds, and all your little plans can’t stop that title from being taken from you... When you’re left without the thing you’ve built your identity around—

The only thing you’ll need to talk about is who the hell is Dexter Grant going to be now?

Checkmate, bitches.