European Fiery Nation vs. Twisted & Sadistic

[Braddock]

OOC: the scene ran longer than I planned. So this will definitely have to be a two part.

1 of 2
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August 5th, 2023
Miami, Florida
Off Camera
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Glory Braddock and Brittany Lohan walked into Toronto for Rise To Greatness and took a big step forward in their goal to capture the SCW World Tag Team Championship. Team Desire may not be the champions, but they are an established team and they have a reputation of success in SCW. Katie Steward herself is one tag team championship away from Supreme Championship status. Braddock and Lohan knew that a victory over Team Desire would help them considerably and they achieved that victory at Rise To Greatness. That’s the second tag team win under the belts of Twisted & Sadistic since their reunion in Supreme Championship Wrestling, which means the momentum is solidly in their favor as they head into the Rise To Greatness seasonal break.

This seasonal break may be a vacation to most but for Glory Braddock, the idea of a vacation just isn’t in her vocabulary. The British Bombshell is always preparing, constantly strategizing and working out for the next opponent. In this case the next opponent for Twisted & Sadistic is the European Fiery Nation. Konrad Raab’s buddies, Dakon Theron & Ludwig Eriksson, a very much pro-European and, much like their leader Raab, are very much into causing as much chaos as possible. This will present a unique challenge for Glory Braddock. Chaos is not her thing. She is strictly a mat wrestler, a submission specialist. While she does have Brittany Lohan by her side, a self-proclaimed War Machine who has engaged in the chaos of the SCW Underground division in the past and not only survived but thrived, Braddock does not want to rely solely on Lohan to carry the weight of the team for this, their first match post-Rise To Greatness. The fact is, Glory is too proud to ever let anyone carry her to a victory. The British Bombshell is determined to carry her weight in this match, even if that means going into the world of chaos and violence that the European Fiery Nation seems to enjoy. There is only one place where Glory Braddock feels she can get the best possibly training for that type of environment and it is not with her typical trainer, her “uncle” Blake O’Malley. No, Blake is more of a wrestling purist like her and her father. He admittedly would not be of much help in this scenario. So instead of looking towards Blake, Glory is looking at her own family, she is looking towards her cousin Angelica Jones.

Angelica Jones has a history of thriving in the death match environment. She also manages the career of the current SCW Underground Champion Kimberly Williams. This match may not be an Underground match but Jones can certainly prepare Glory Braddock for any potential chaos that Theron and Eriksson may bring to the table when Breakdown returns in late August. Braddock would have gladly made the flight to Boston to be with her cousin but Angelica insisted on flying to Miami instead to save The British Bombshell the trouble. Thus Glory Braddock now finds herself in her private gym in the basement of her luxurious Miami, Florida home. Glory Braddock is in purple workout shorts, a white top, and sneakers. Her long blonde hair is pulled into a ponytail in the back. Angelica is wearing black workout pants, a white top, and black sneakers. Her long red hair is left to hang unrestrained, flowing freely to past the shoulders. The two women are circling one another. Braddock and Jones have fought one another in the ring on more than one occasion and are well aware of what each are capable of; thus the reason for caution. This may be sparring but Braddock, with her pride, still does not want to make a mistake.

“Ok, let’s tie up…” Angelica says.

“Are you sure?” Glory says skeptically. “A tie up? That doesn’t sound like Theron or Eriksson.”

“Trust me.”

Braddock shrugs and cautiously approaches for a tie up. Instead of getting a tie up, she receives an eye rake from Angelica Jones, causing Braddock to stagger backwards. Jones then floors her with a spinning heel kick. Before Glory can pop up, Jones wrenches in a rear chinlock, keeping Braddock grounded.

“An eye rake? What the hell, Angel?!”

“You wanted me to prepare you for European Fiery Nation? This is your education. Lesson one when preparing for people like this, expect the unexpected and do not trust them under any circumstances.”

Braddock grits her teeth as she fights back to her knees. Angelica keeps the hold wrenched in tightly. Glory fights back eventually to her feet. Jones goes to a side headlock. Glory drives an elbow to her cousin’s gut. No give. A second elbow and finally Angelica’s grip begins to weaken. A third elbow from Glory finally forces the break. Glory goes for a clothesline but Angelica ducks and tries to go back to the headlock only Braddock counters into a belly to back suplex. Both women pop back up quickly. Angelica walks into a poke to the eyes from Braddock followed by a spin kick of her own putting Angelica down.

“Is that the tactics you were talking about, mate?” Glory asks with a smirk on her face. Angelica laughs as she pushes herself back up.

“Precisely.”

Angelica chops her in the chest, then another chop, and a third backing Glory into the ropes. She whips her into the ropes but Glory ducks the clothesline attempt and hooks her into a crucifix takeover. Both women pop back up. Glory rushes in but Angelica catches her with a deep arm drag into an arm bar.

“Sloppy, Glory.”

“Shut up, mate, and just keep fighting.”

Angelica keeps the hold in tightly, trying not to make the mistake she made last time. But eventually Glory does get to her knees and theme eventually to her feet. Angelica switches to a hammerlock. She keeps this hammerlock in as tightly as she can for as long as she can. Then a noise is heard near the entrance of the basement. Jones is distracted as she spots Kurt Logan, Glory’s husband, walking into the basement. He is just standing there, watching this sparring session. The distraction served its purpose as Glory quickly counters into a hammerlock of her own and then transitions into another belly to back suplex on Angelica.

“Got ya, mate!” Glory says laughing as she pulls herself back up. Angelica laughs as well as she sees Glory’s outstretched hand. Angelica nods her head as she accepts the help from Glory to pull herself back up to her feet.

“Yeah, you did. Was that all a plot from the two of you from the beginning?” Angelica asks jokingly. Glory feigns innocence and Kurt shakes his head as he makes his way towards the ring.

“Glory is innocent this time.”

“Of course I am.” Glory says before pointing an accusatory finger at Kurt. “But are YOU innocent?”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Were you spying on me?” Glory asks jokingly. “Are you being jealous again? Worried that Angel and I are checking out picture of hot men or something?”

“Or hot women.” Angelica shrugs her shoulders. “I’m bi.”

Kurt smiles sheepishly. “I’m not spying, ladies. Honest…” his voice trails off as Glory and Angelica burst into laughter. Clearly they have embarrassed him.

“Don’t sweat it, love. I was just joking.” Glory says before exiting the ring. She approaches Kurt and plants a kiss on his lips. “I am allowed to tease you now and again, right?”

“Anytime.” Kurt says as he kisses her right back. Angelica, who is still in the ring, rolls her eyes.

“Are you two lovebirds going to make out or can we continue this sparring session?”

“Oh get off it, Angel.” Glory remarks. “SCW doesn’t return with Breakdown until August 31st. We have all bloody month to prepare for one match against European Fiery Nation.”

“Right, opponents that you were a little concerned about, if I recall.” Angelica points out. “You were concerned enough to enlist my help in preparing you for their type of chaotic, violent style of combat. And we have only just begun the sparring. This is just warm up. We haven’t got to the violence yet.”

“Oh I know you are excited about bashing my head in with a steel chair.”

“Are chair shots to the head necessary?” Kurt asks curiously. “It isn’t like Twisted & Sadistic are facing Konrad’s buddies in an Underground Match. This is just a standard tag team match. Glory and Lohan should have the edge, especially if Theron and Eriksson, like Konrad, tend to lose their cool rather quickly.”

“That’s what I told Glory.” Angelica points out. “But she insists on being prepared for anything and everything.”

“What can I say?” Glory shrugs her shoulders. “I am my father’s child. He was a perfectionist in the squared circle too.”

“Being a perfectionist can sometimes be a bad thing.” Angelica points out as she exits the ring and stands next to Glory and Kurt. “This match, yeah, you have a full month to prepare for it. But when you only have a week or two weeks to prepare, what then? Sometimes you will have to settle for ‘good enough’ and forget about perfection.”

“I know.” Glory nods her head. “It’s just that these tag team championships are so damn important to me. The tag team titles are the only thing left for me to win, the only prize in SCW that eludes me. If I win them, I become Supreme Champion. And I know what it sounds like, it sounds like I’m just chasing awards, achievements, and trinkets. But that isn’t it.” She shakes her head. “I need this Supreme Championship to prove to all of my critics, all of those who questioned my decision to sign with SCW those many years ago, this is about me proving them wrong.”

Angelica sighs as she places a hand on Glory’s shoulder. “You don’t have to prove anything to me.”

“Angel, I didn’t say…”

“You didn’t have to.” Angelica states. “I know you were talking to me. All of this time when you point out how people doubted you and criticized your decision to sign with SCW, I know you were talking about me because I was your biggest most vocal critic.”

“You never went public with it.”

“No, but you and I argued about it frequently. I didn’t believe you could hang in SCW. But I was wrong. You have already proven me wrong multiple times over. The Supreme Championship isn’t necessary.”

“Maybe not for you.” Glory shakes her head. “But for me it is.”

Angelica is about to speak up when her cell phone goes off. Angelica pulls out her phone and the caller ID clearly says “Kim”. Angelica chuckles softly. “It’s Kim…she said she’d call, she told she had some insight into the Kurinsky family.”

“Really?” Glory asks curiously. “Any idea what she’s learned?”

“No clue. She wouldn’t say. Maybe she’ll tell me here in a few moments?”

“If she does, let me know. My biological mother was a Kurinsky, your mother was a Kurinsky, that’s one big thing we share, Angel. I would love to know more about what kind of legacy runs through my veins.”

“Will do.” Angelica nods her head as she walks off with phone in hand to talk to her daughter. Glory then turns to her husband Kurt and kisses him again. Kurt smiles warmly.

“What was that for?”

“Are you complaining?”

“No.”

“Then who cares? But uh, while you’re here, what’s on your mind?”

“What do you mean?”

“What did you come here to the basement for, love?” Glory asks. “I doubt you just randomly decided to come and watch your wife and her cousin beating up each other.”

“That’s true…” Kurt sighs “...honestly, I did come down here because I needed to speak with you about something that is kind of urgent.”

“It might be urgent if you felt the need to interrupt my sparring with Angelica.” Glory points out. Kurt nods his head.

“It is. It has to do with with your ‘friend’ Melody.”

The emphasis Kurt puts on the word ‘friend’ is telling, because he knows that Melody and Glory are not friends. Not anymore. Melody Murphy and Glory Braddock used to be close friends back when they were in school together. Together with Francis Taylor they were a tight knit group of mean girls that ran the school. They were inseparable. That all changed shortly after Glory got pregnant. Melody and Francis betrayed Glory and tried to turn her into the object of scorn and ridicule. The bully became the bullied. Glory survived it and grew into the successful woman she is today. She never expected to encounter Melody again. Not only did Melody return to her life but she is now a potential business partner for Glory’s company and she is dating Glory’s other childhood best friend, Francis Taylor’s brother Matthew Taylor. Glory narrows her eyes in an angry glare.

“What’s wrong with her?”

“I got a call. Not from her but from Matthew. He wants us to double date.”

“You mean me and you go out with Matty and Melody?”

“Yes.” Kurt nods his head. “That typically is what a double date is.” Glory rolls her eyes.

“Don’t be a smart ass.” Glory remarks. “While you’re at it, call Matty back and tell him that a double date isn’t happening.”

“Yeah, well, that’s the other thing.” Kurt sighs and shakes his head. “Matthew already told Melody that we agreed.”

“What?!”

“He has reservations at some fancy restaurant and everything.”

“Bloody hell…” Glory shakes her head in disgust “...why the hell wouldn’t he run this by me first?!”

“Probably because he knew you’d react like this.” Kurt points out smirking.

“Didn’t I tell you to quit being a smart ass?”

“You did.” Kurt says, nodding his head. “But Glory, you need to think logically about this, maybe going out on a double date with them isn’t such a bad idea?”

“Don’t tell me you’re on board with this nonsense?”

“Glory, I know the story between you and Melody. You told me all about it and what happened sucks. It was terrible. But you were both teenagers at the time. Two decades have passed since that happened. Why are you still holding onto this grudge?”

“You have no idea, Kurt.” Glory shakes her head. “No idea whatsoever.”

“Yeah, I do.” He nods his head. “Melody bullied you, harassed you, made the rest of your teenage years a living hell. But time has passed. People mature. Don’t you think its time you drop this? It appears Melody has dropped it. Besides, whether you like it or not, it appears as if you and Melody are going to be working together as business partners anyway. And whether you like it or not, she is your best friend’s girlfriend. She is going to be deeply involved in your life going forward. You need to learn to live with it.”

“That isn’t it!” Glory exclaims. “The bullying and the harassment I endured was hell, but I have moved on from that, and I am at the point where I can even potentially forgive her. I will never ever forget and I may not even trust her ever, but I might forgive her. And I can even develop a working relationship with her again. I’m sure I can.”

“Then what’s the problem?”

Glory Braddock walks over to the ring. She sits down on the apron. Kurt approaches her. Tears are flowing down her cheek. Kurt pats her on the back to comfort her. Finally Glory looks up into his eyes and sighs deeply.

“After I got pregnant…and Melody turned her claws towards me…” she shrugs her shoulders “...I still have no clue why she turned on me, why she decided to mock and ridicule me, why she decided to make my life a living hell. But the point is that she did and I realized from that point that she was doing to me what she and I both had done to others at school. I was once the perpetrator, then I became the victim. I vowed that I would never become that person again.”

“You’ve grown since then, Glory. You have changed. You wouldn’t be like that again just because you started working with her.” Kurt insists as he shakes his head.

“You know better.” Glory says quietly. “You know better because you know me. Its like Twisted & Sadistic, working with Brittany Lohan, it brings out a more twisted and sadistic side of my persona. Then there’s Aphrodite Noel…my Mother…she got into my head, adopted me as her daughter, and now anytime she’s around I bend the knee. Its my one weakness, Kurt. Mind games have a strong impact on me. That’s why I do not trust myself to stay the way I am. That’s why I am avoiding being around Melody. Because I don’t want to be tempted to become that person again.”

“You’re right, I do know that is your one weakness.” He smiles warmly. “But you have overcome that weakness before.”

“I had to go to therapy.”

“It takes strength to admit when you need help and you are strong, Glory. I know you don’t want to be around her but you can’t keep putting this off. Eventually you will have to be with her. Board meetings, shareholder meetings, you’ll see her whenever you’re training with Matthew at Blake’s gym in Birmingham, you will see her everywhere because whether you like it or not, she is back in your life. Use this as an opportunity to learn how to cope with her being in your life. Learn how to deal with it because you cannot change it.”

Braddock looks away for a moment. Even though she hates to admit it, Kurt has a good point. Melody is back in her life whether she wants her to be or not. As the head of Glorious Golden Enterprise, the company that Melody is about to partner with and invest in, Glory will have to be involved with her. Melody is dating Glory’s best friend Matthew Taylor and who knows how long or how far that relationship will go? Glory will no doubt run into her several times whenever she’s around Matthew. This is one problem she cannot run away from. Just like facing The European Fiery Nation, a duo whose style of chaos and violence is far removed from her own style, is not exactly something she would like to do, she knows she must confront them in that match. And she must confront Melody Murphy sooner or later. She can either run away or fight. Glory Braddock is a fighter. She will always fight.