La Pequena Luz & Deanna Frost vs. The European Fiery Nation (Theron/Erikson)

[HardyGirl]

La Pequena Luz & Deanna Frost vs. The European Fiery Nation (Theron/Erikson)


2 RP Limit for singles; 4 RP Limit for tag
Deadline: 11:59:59 pm ET FRIDAY, July 4, 2025 (to ensure enough time for roleplaying; show will still act as if taking place on Thursday).

[Wisteria Waltz]

Everything seemed so much simpler when La Pequeña Luz first began her wrestling career.

It was all about the competition, the stories you could tell in the ring, what kind of figure she would be seen as in her country's very culture. At worst, if things ever escalated between you and another competitor, it would result in things such as masks, hair, even careers being put on the line, a sign of the ultimate stakes of winner takes all. Through it all, though, everything was ultimately settled in the ring, no matter how those stories ended.

Now, Luz knew that life was never as simple as the wrestling business often made it look. After all, she'd been bullied growing up simply for being 'weird' in the eyes of her peers, not to mention she watched her father lose his life in a tragic in-ring accident... only to learn years later just how deep the effort was to orchestrate that nightmare and how many more people ultimately got hurt because of it. Still, if you had asked her if she would find herself in this position several years after she finally made her wrestling debut, she might've assumed you were messing with her just to see how she'd react.

First of all, she had assumed that with Deanna Frost finally back once more, her and Asher Hayes having a unification match over the United States Championship would've been it as far as Rise to Greatness went, and she would've actually been fine with that. True, she technically still had her rematch she'd never used from when Asher had beaten her for the interim belt, but she had been willing to wait until the title finally had an undisputed champion before trying to throw her hat back into that ring. The fact that Deanna would've preferred that she get her rematch first and Asher had no problem with her being part of a triple threat to unify the titles had certainly stunned her, but if they wanted her involved in such a significant match, then who was she to argue?

In her opinion, the only real anomaly was Jordan Majors, who certainly did not deserve to be included in this match at all for everything she'd done, especially after both Luz and Asher had made it clear through in-ring results that she was not the 'rightful champion' she claimed to be. Still, if it either made Jordan finally put her money where her mouth was or humbled her once and for all, then it was a wrestling problem solved in a wrestling ring, exactly as Luz preferred it to be. The fact that Jordan had drugged and stranded Asher somewhere in her home country just to claim the interim U.S. Title belt had infuriated her, and watching the stunt she tried to pull to cost Asher the main event against Selena tonight just made her sick.

Granted, all the other involvement in that match bothered her as well, as did the fact that Glory had caused a distraction that allowed her to secure the win over Ryan last week. At least Amelia could claim to have beaten Ryan completely fair and square... it was just frustrating thinking about how she was just trying to prove herself fair and square and very few people seemed to even care about “doing things the right way” anymore so long as they got the satisfaction of the last laugh at the end of the day.

Breakdown in Cleveland for Luz hadn't been too eventful beyond at least making an attempt to try and convince Jordan to reconsider her entitled attitude, though she had been a bit surprised to meet Deanna at her locker room door with Asher having accompanied her back. That interaction hadn't gone beyond just a respectful exchange of nods, but no words were really needed, and Deanna had remained with Luz and Amelia for the rest of the night watching the show. Perhaps the only other match on the card aside from the main event and the chaos it had devolved into near the end had been the World Tag Title match, mostly because The Light In The Darkness wasn't simply going to ignore the division they had helped rebuild even if they seemed to be branching out more into seeing what they could accomplish on their own, and eventually, they would aim to earn their way back to that point and make title reign number four together a reality.

Once Breakdown was in the books, however, the trio had wasted no time in making sure they had everything before setting off in search of Selena, who was likely going to be in a bit of a sour mood after everything that happened, and Luz honestly couldn't blame her. A small part of her knew that Selena brought this upon herself, but that was a thought that left a bad taste in her mouth and would go unspoken... mostly because she knew full well the difference between Selena Frost the 'villain SCW needs' and Selena Frost the woman who had smiled almost as brightly as Luz herself at her and Amelia's wedding. Once they did find Selena, Luz and Amelia hung back, which caught Deanna's attention. Their presence also did catch Selena's gaze.

“If you need anything, even just someone to talk to, don't hesitate to call us,” Luz smiled to Deanna, nodding down at the phone they had given Deanna earlier.

“And that goes for Selena as well,” Amelia said, loud enough that she knew Selena could hear it, but the nods from both Deanna and Selena before the former joined up with the latter were all that needed to be said in response.

As Luz and Amelia walked away, it was clear on both of their faces that they could feel some sort of unspoken tension in the air being around both Frosts together right now, but given that they may be the only ones outside of their family who had even a bit more insight into whatever was going on than most, it was almost a silent acknowledgment between the four women... a peace offering of sorts from Luz and Amelia that they were going to respect boundaries and not pry any deeper, but would gladly be open to being sounding boards for either Frost if they needed it.

“So,” Amelia finally broke the silence as the two stepped outside and began loading up their car. “I saw that Jordan doesn't seem interested in just trying to prove she still has the skills to back up all her talk fair and square.”

“Yeah... that didn't go how I'd hoped it would,” Luz sighed. “I had a feeling it wouldn't, but... you never know until you try. It worked back in St. Louis.”

“I still can't believe you did something so risky and actually got through to an Empire member who tried to assassinate me barely a week prior,” Amelia said in a neutral kind of tone that Luz couldn't fully decipher, but what was clear was that Amelia was still a little upset and worried over what she'd done. “We still need to talk about that, by the way.”

“No arguments from me,” Luz agreed as they got into the car and Luz began driving them back to their hotel in Cleveland. It might have sounded a bit nonchalant all things considered, but Amelia knew that Luz truly cared and sometimes her voice didn't fully communicate that.

It hadn't been a surprise to Luz back in St. Louis when she'd reunited with Amelia after Ivy had been discharged from the hospital and her wife had nearly broken her in half with the kind of hug she'd have expected from their best friend. Needless to say, Ivy had quite the scary look in her eyes as she demanded answers, having heard from Amelia about the little stunt Luz had pulled. As crazy as it was, especially when she did visit Andy the now-former Empire member a few times before traveling for SCW and even got a surprisingly remorseful apology from him for both Amelia and Ivy, it had not only yielded extremely valuable information to hopefully dismantle this more bloodthirsty splinter cell of The Empire and strike a huge blow to Caleb's cult as a whole, but also further confirmed a few details that had become more and more apparent the longer they all dealt with these lunatics:

Caleb saw anyone beneath him as expendable so long as he, above all else, accomplished his twisted goals of “saving” the human race and absolving his sins to guarantee a place in Heaven through “saving” Luz and Amelia. This included his supposed hand-picked elites, and his attitude of everyone beneath him being expendable seems to have trickled down to them and even had them willing to stab one another in the back for their own ends, regardless of whether they truly aligned with Caleb's “vision” or not.

There was a decent chance that most of the grunts that carried out The Empire's tasks were simply brainwashed by Caleb's silver tongue preying on them in their lowest moments and claiming they could find purpose through the “unity” he promised to bring to the world through the most insane logic imaginable. They had already seen it with Valentina, Henry, and even Roark and Kiki, the latter of whom had been so thoroughly destroyed by how Caleb manipulated people that it was truly heart-wrenching to see how far gone she was even when offered a way out. If there was any way to get that truth through to more of them with indisputable evidence... then maybe Caleb could lose his army altogether and most of this nonsense could finally stop.

Despite knowing that they needed to talk more about what had happened in St. Louis, Amelia still seemed hesitant to keep that conversation going even in the privacy of being alone together in their car. Luz couldn't blame her, considering the whole matter had started with someone from The Empire coming dangerously close to actually taking her life, and the fact that Ivy wasn't going to be sidelined from her own wrestling endeavors for very long because of how thankfully minor her wound was from saving Amelia's life was a miracle in and of itself.

“Hey,” Luz finally said as their car pulled to a stop in a line of traffic, her right hand leaving the steering wheel to gently thread her fingers through Amelia's. “You want to talk about something else first to help ease your nerves?”

“...maybe it would help...” Amelia mumbled in admission after a moment.

“OK... um... anything happen while I was trying to talk Jordan into changing her tune?” Luz asked after a moment of thinking.

“Well... I did get a visit from Chris Cannon...” Amelia replied before explaining what had happened during their brief conversation. While Luz was intrigued by the fact that Chris had sought her out to properly introduce himself and encourage her—especially since neither woman had really crossed paths with him during their first run before the injuries, nor the brief time he had resurfaced during this run trying to manage someone else—she couldn't help but smile at seeing Amelia relax as they talked about Chris's encouragement to her. It was more in the spirit of everything Luz had grown up desiring for her own wrestling career, and seeing more people besides Luz and their friends encouraging Amelia helped ease some of the pain lurking deep in the luchadora's thoughts over having her title match for Rise to Greatness while Amelia still had no idea what awaited her on that monumental night.

“I'm sorry,” Luz finally said as the conversation hit another lull. “I know what I did in St. Louis was dumb and a bit impulsive, even if I gave the idea quite a bit of thought before doing it. I should have said something to you sooner, seen how you felt about it, but... it hurt, knowing that you could've died or gotten seriously hurt, that Ivy did get hurt even if it was thankfully minor. My head was just so cluttered with thoughts about what I could've done, what I should've done, in that moment... I know most of those thoughts would've only made things worse if they'd actually happened, but... but...”

Luz took a shaky breath to try and steady herself as she pulled the car into a parking spot at the hotel.

“I just want this nightmare to end... and no one else to get hurt...”

No sooner had those words left Luz's lips, she found herself grabbed by the shirt and pulled into a kiss loaded with so much passion that she swore her heart was going to burst right out of her chest. Any of those negative thoughts and voices swimming in the back of her mind suddenly disappeared as she felt her arm move of its own accord to pull Amelia in closer, their lips remaining locked for what felt like a solid minute until Amelia finally pulled away, but she kept her forehead resting against Luz's.

“You beautiful dork,” Amelia giggled. “Yeah, I wish you would've talked with me before going with Avery to try and interrogate that guy, even if it worked out. I was so worried that something could happen to you, just as you were for me. But I understand, Luna... and I'm glad you didn't do anything if it would've meant you would've taken that bullet meant for me. You're right, though... this needs to end, and with any luck, we're one step closer to finally having some peace at long last.”

“Eso espero,” Luz agreed as the two finally stepped out of their car, retrieving their bags and heading inside. It was a relatively quiet trip up to where their room was, figuring that all their found family were either asleep already or wanted to let them get their rest.

Just as they used their card key to unlock the door to their room and began to step inside, they heard footsteps on the hallway carpeting, turning in the doorway to see Avery approaching them.

“You girls got a minute?” they asked.

“Of course, Avery!” Luz replied with cheerful energy someone probably shouldn't have at this time of night, especially without the adrenaline rush of wrestling a match coursing through her veins tonight.

“You want to come inside?” Amelia offered.

“That would probably be preferred, yeah,” Avery replied.

They followed Luz and Amelia into the room and gave them a minute to set their bags aside as they double-checked a stack of papers they were holding, with the couple taking a seat on their bed and threading their fingers together once more.

“Any updates on what we learned from that Andy guy?” Luz couldn't resist asking.

“Yes, especially in regards to the name he gave us,” Avery revealed before handing over the papers, which Amelia took before carefully flipping through them. The front page had a small photo paperclipped to it, revealing a man who looked to be maybe a bit older than even Caleb himself wearing glasses with short white hair and a prominent mustache.

“This guy looks familiar...” Amelia murmured.

“You've probably heard of him,” Avery admitted. “That's Stephen Crane... he, or someone on his behalf, has done an impressively good job trying to scrub his existence clean to give the impression that he's been dead for years. Back when Caleb was still in the prime of his wrestling career, though, Stephen was both a composer and a conductor for several prominent orchestras throughout England, especially the London Symphony Orchestra.”

“Right! I remember now,” Amelia stated. “Whenever my parents played any classical music, they often raved about how he was the greatest conductor the LSO ever had and said it was a shame about 'what happened to him' but they refused to actually tell me what that was.”

“Did they even know?” Luz couldn't help but ask, which got Amelia to shrug in response.

“According to what we were able to dig up, apparently he had a complete breakdown after his final performance as a conductor before he retired,” Avery revealed, which Amelia and Luz found shortly after on one of the later pages of the report. “Said something about how he didn't want to retire but was being forced into it and tried to attack the woman who was meant to succeed him, complete with a whole misogynistic rant that's probably better lost to history. He managed to evade the police and completely disappeared after that, and as far as the public knew, he's been dead since you girls would've been maybe two years old.”

“So a former big shot classical musician wants us dead?” Luz couldn't help but ask.

“It would make sense...” Amelia begrudgingly admitted. “If he's got such an old-fashioned issue with women and merged that with any of Caleb's homophobic garbage, he probably feels we're the ultimate sin and Caleb shouldn't even be wasting time trying to 'save' us.”

“I wouldn't be surprised if he legit believes Eve was the root of all of humanity's evil according to that old Bible story,” Luz shook her head.

“Assuming this is the same person and not just someone using his name,” Avery noted, “then there's already an old precedent for how dangerous this man is, and given how easily he's seemed to be able to sway so many into following him into more aggressive tactics than believing in Caleb's plan, we can't afford to take this lightly.”

“So...” Luz said after a moment of burning the potential face of arguably the biggest threat from The Empire besides Caleb himself into her memory. “Now we have a name and a face... what's the next step?”

“Right now, we've made sure to tighten up our security everywhere we all go,” Avery revealed. “We've got men and women hunting for him, but that's easier said than done with anybody in The Empire unless they willingly reveal themselves.”

“Especially since they've suckered so many into their cause that are practically disposable,” Amelia sighed.

“We'll figure something out,” Luz added as she leaned over and kissed Amelia's cheek. “We always do.”

When she reflected on those words before falling asleep for the night, Luz knew she wasn't just talking about the situation with The Empire in any capacity, but for right now? Anything that was a step in the right direction, even a small one, was worth it to get the brighter future both in and out of the ring that she and Amelia were willing to fight tooth and nail for, not just for themselves, but for everyone around them who deserved it.

[The European Fiery Nation]

Konrad and Kemal meeting with the potential new European Fiery Nation member and beating on the boring tag team.

[Wisteria Waltz]

One benefit to Breakdown taking place in Los Angeles this week is the fact that Anaheim is only about an hour drive away, pending traffic, at best. This means that we find La Pequeña Luz in a place that we haven't seen in quite some time, that being her and Amelia's Anaheim home. Luz is currently seated at a little table on a balcony that we've seen The Light In The Darkness use before whenever they've gotten the chance to return home, though aside from her mask it's clear that the tank top and shorts she's wearing are workout gear and her sitting out in this heat gulping down a bottle of water might be part of her cooldown period after an intense workout. Given what awaits her in the coming weeks, it would be no surprise if Luz was training like never before. While it looks like Luz is looking at us, our position also means that she could just be taking in the beautiful view of Anaheim behind us, considering from our view we can see through the sliding glass door where we catch a glimpse of Amelia parked on the couch, also clad in a tank top and shorts and drenched in sweat from her own workout, seemingly in the middle of what we can only assume to be film study for her own next match. Luz turns her head, catching Amelia's gaze as the couple exchange smiles and nods before Luz's focus turns back to what we're certain is us now, her trademark beaming smile in place... albeit with a hint of nervousness that's hard to hide.

“I'm going to be honest with all of you for a moment. If any of you had told me, back when my career was first starting, that I would one day find myself going to SCW's biggest stage of Rise to Greatness to challenge for championship gold, I probably would have thought you were trying to mock me or play some cruel prank taking advantage of the high hopes and expectations I felt I had to live up to at first. True, Ames and I did win our third World Tag Titles at that same pay-per-view last year, but this year... this year it just feels different. I'd be lying if I said I believed this would be where the road to Rise to Greatness would take me this time around. Yeah, I have been sitting on a rematch for the interim U.S. Title for probably way too long at this point, between prioritizing trying to get the Tag Titles back and the mess I'll admit the U.S. Title picture started to become for a bit, but... I thought that Deanna's return would make it as simple as her vs. Asher to finally determine an undisputed champion and, maybe, I'd get lucky once that was settled and see if I could get that rematch, or even earn my way back into the picture if need be.

And yet, not only did Deanna go to bat for me, trying to insist I should have my rematch first, but even Asher admitted he wouldn't mind if I was just part of the unification match altogether.

Maybe a lot of you out there don't know why I'm struggling to comprehend being in this position, but... I've made no secret of the fact that I was bullied growing up, that no one ever believed I deserved anything, least of all just being the daughter of a lucha libre legend. When you're told for so long that you're not worth it, that you don't deserve anything because you're just 'too much' or 'too weird' or just plain 'unworthy,' those voices can easily get stuck in your head, and they're always louder than the voices telling you otherwise. Anyone who's ever been bullied or told they just 'aren't good enough' will know exactly where I'm coming from and how much it just sticks to your brain even years later, long after you've proven that you always were good enough and earned everything you have to your name. That's why it's hard for me to sit here and still wrap my head around the fact that, at Rise to Greatness, I'm going to get the chance to walk in with nothing and potentially walk out as the undisputed SCW United States Champion.

Of course, I still have to make it to Rise to Greatness first, as this road still has a few miles on it before we get to Houston, and as luck would have it, this year's road has offered me a very similar stop to last year's... albeit with a few notable differences that I know have a few eyebrows raised.”

Luz can't help but turn her head again to Amelia sitting inside, where we can see her jotting something down into a notebook on her lap as she continues to study whatever footage she's watching, her fingers twitching in a way that almost reminds us of an instinct to apply some sort of hold. Luz's lips curl into a smile before she turns back to face us, more confidence in that grin of hers now.

“Last year, after Amelia and I were stunned by the Stewards and watched our second run as World Tag Team Champions end by the hand of another newly-ascended Supreme Champion at our expense, we only had one other match along this same road before Rise to Greatness was upon us. Dakon, Ludvig, you guys remember that match, right? Despite the risk of doing so that close to such an important moment for our careers, Amelia and I stepped up to the plate to face the both of you as we sought to regain some of the momentum we'd lost. Not only that, but we also agreed to finally meet you on your terms, stepped into the underground and played by its rules, or lack thereof... and on that night, we beat you at your own game. That spark is what reignited the fire that led to us making last year's Rise to Greatness one to remember as we began our third reign, and arguably our greatest yet, as SCW's World Tag Team Champions.

In that way, it almost feels fitting to be retreading this old ground with the two of you once again.

Of course, it's not quite the same scenario, is it? For one thing, this match isn't Underground Rules this time, which I know the two of you are going to waste no time bringing up and trying to claim that I'm a coward for not meeting you in a scenario where I've already prevailed over you once before. I don't get it guys... if Amelia and I faced you time and time again in Underground Rules and managed to win every single time, would that be what it would take to finally get you to change your tune even a little bit and admit that we're not quite the cowards you always seem to think we are? I'd like to think by now that I've long since proven I'm not afraid of anything you both think you can do... Ames and I beat you in Underground Rules last year, as I said before, we've beaten you and four other teams to win the Chamber Match for the Tag Titles last year while having started the match, and I don't think anything I've had to endure while Amelia and I fought against the Fall of Man for months gives the indication that I'm afraid of getting a little battered and bloody if that's what's expected of me.

But it's not just that, is it? No... your biggest issue has always been both Amelia and I desiring to branch out and prove we're each just as capable on our own as we've already proven we are together. And I know that's going to come up again this time because of the other major difference from our little dance around this same point last year: this time, Amelia isn't going to be my partner.

I suppose I should probably address that, huh? Yeah, it won't be The Light In The Darkness tagging together again come Breakdown in Los Angeles this week. Instead, I'm going to be teaming with one of the people I'm going to be facing in just a few weeks' time to determine the undisputed United States Champion, that being the original champion herself in Deanna Frost. I'd be lying if I said this wasn't going to take a bit of getting used to, but the past two years of Trios tournaments have proven that I'm willing and able to adapt to such scenarios when push comes to shove, as any true competitor would be expected to do. Deanna, I mean it when I say it's going to be an honor getting to team with you and seeing what we can do together in that ring come Thursday night. Maybe it won't be pretty considering this is the first time we've done this, but you know I trust you to have my back and I will have yours without question. And if Jordan thinks she can try to play any games like she did with Asher last week? Well, that's exactly why Amelia will be keeping an eye out for us, making sure this match remains fair as it's intended to be.

But that's not going to sit well with Dakon and Ludvig, is it? No, sadly, I think I already have a pretty good idea of how this is going to go. They're going to use this as an excuse to claim superiority by default just because Deanna isn't my usual partner, because this proves that Amelia and I aren't a 'real' tag team because we have aspirations beyond just what The Light In The Darkness is as a tandem. Heck, I wouldn't be surprised if they try to drive a wedge between Deanna and I with questions about whether or not we can even co-exist because at Rise to Greatness we'll be facing each other along with Asher and Jordan in a four way dance. In that regard, allow me to pose an honest question for the two of you:

Not that I would ever wish this upon anybody, but... let's say, by some freak accident, that one of you got seriously hurt and had to be sidelined for quite some time. Or maybe some serious personal issue comes up and one of you needs to step away for SCW for a little bit to get it in order. Given how much the both of you love trying to shove it down everyone throats that you two are the only 'true' tag team in all of SCW and should be Tag Champs by default based on that claim alone... what happens in that scenario? Does whoever isn't sidelined just team with another member of the European Fiery Nation in the meantime? Do you actually take a stab at seeing where things might go in singles competition? Or would that just... be it? One of you is sidelined, both of you just disappear until everything's all sorted?”

Luz's fingers tap along the side of her empty water bottle as she sits there, giving the impression that she's waiting for an answer she knows she's not going to receive, at least not right now. As she offers this brief wait period, we do see a pained expression flicker across her face as something crossed her mind, which leads to a deep breath and a sigh before she resumes.

“This business takes a lot of twists and turns, and sometimes you don't expect where things could end up, just like how I admitted earlier that what awaits me at Rise to Greatness this year wasn't what I would've been expecting. I mean... when I first started my wrestling career, I was on my own, trying to basically fill the giant boots my father had left behind, and I never would've expected that crossing paths with Amelia in the ring would not only lead to a tag team partner for most of my career, but also the love of my life. That said, if the situation ever arose where we would have to face one another... you better believe we'd give each other our all and put on a show for the ages, because that's the kind of respect we have for one another. That, you two, is why I know Deanna and I can work together to take you both down without issue and still throw everything we have at one another when her title is on the line, because that's how deeply we respect both one another and this business. It's that same respect that's why, as bummed as I was to be eliminated by Asher in the Taking Hold of the Flame battle royal, I didn't hold it against him. It's the nature of the match, after all.

That, I think, is the biggest reason why the two of you haven't been able to become the team you feel you deserve to be. I know you've got the talent, my past dances with you have left me with the battle scars I proudly wear as trophies for it. But, when push comes to shove... you're afraid to adapt. You prefer the bubble of the kind of matches you prefer, even if you know it's not always what you'll be expected to compete in. You prefer any scenario where you get to team together and refuse anything else, even when a golden opportunity is presented that you just need to reach for, even if it means stepping out of that comfort zone once. If you were to answer the question I posed to the both of you by saying you would both just step away to maintain that 'tag team or nothing' mentality... I actually wouldn't blame you. Lest we forget, when Amelia and I were both injured to end our first attempt at an SCW run, my injury was less severe and I could have returned on my own if I so chose... but I didn't. I wanted to wait for her before we took that shot together again.

But it's because we've been willing to branch out, to prove that we're just as good on our own as we are together, that's opened so many more doors for us and proven why we've been getting the attention that maybe you feel you deserve more. After all, SCW is bigger than just its tag division, and I haven't been shy about my biggest goal being to forge a legacy that is all my own to leave behind whenever I retire down the line, not one that was built solely on picking up where my father left off. It's why I'm not simply La Hija de Espíritu Angélico, but La Pequeña Luz, my own person. It's why I am a former interim United States Champion, why I hope to become the undisputed U.S. Champion at Rise to Greatness... no offense, Deanna. But, most importantly, that's why I know that Deanna and I can come together to overcome the European Fiery Nation come Breakdown just up the road from my current home here in Anaheim.

Dakon, Ludvig... know that it's nothing personal. But this time? I hope you take a step back and really listen to the words I've had to say, because sometimes this business isn't as kind as I've tried to be, and you never know how things will play out until you're forced to deal with them. All the same, I wish you the best of luck come Breakdown. And Deanna? Maybe, once Rise to Greatness is in the books... we can hopefully do this again, maybe even with Amelia teaming with us as well.”

There's hope in Luz's eyes as her smile seems to beam brighter than before, even as she stands up and stretches out with a few satisfying joint pops before she turns and slides the glass door open, stepping inside. She closes it behind her, so we don't get to hear anything of the conversation she almost immediately initiates with her wife, but it's not long before we fade out on this wholesome scene and the hope it leaves us with for a bright road to SCW's biggest show of the year, no matter what twists and turns it may still offer.

[SnowQueenSCW]

Frost No More

”Catch-Up”

Eyrie Tower
New York City, New York
July 29th, 2025
5:43am (approx. 25 mins till sunrise)

She had never sped down the road of the interstate so fast, pushing at least 30-40 over the speed limit! Not even on ‘bad days’ like with SCW, or bigots, or even some REALLY obnoxious interstate drivers cutting her off again and again and again or bullying her with their horns to “go faster” despite her following the speed limits! Yeah… mean people in the world…

And she didn’t care about any of them in that moment as she turned the corners and swerved past a red Honda that was going a bit too slow for her- I’m so going to get pulled over by a cop! – she thought in a second before, in the very next second, she almost considered it! She could have one follow her to help and-

“No!” she all but screamed to herself, chastising her own thoughts, as she pulled into the parking lot she had been using for the last several weeks. How she managed to fit the car she had left at the airport just last week for her flight to Texas – how she had managed to, at a near ‘same-speed’ she had been driving, been able to swerve the car into the small slot outlined in the concrete by yellow-painted-line without smashing it into another car or curb, she did not know how she did it – and it was to her, in that single second, the most miraculous thing she had done in the last few days.

But as the second passed, she had forgotten it and sprung out of the car, slamming the door behind her as she raced, on foot, out of the parking lot, down the paved walkway towards the massive building that strove upwards towards the clouds. She didn’t have time! She KNEW she didn’t have time! She had minutes! SECONDS! Until what? She dared not think that far.

She didn’t want to be right! She wanted, more than anything, to be wrong. To simply be wrong and embarrassed then right and…

She pushed herself further still, a spurt of a speed increase as she charged on, barely able to pull the door open for herself in time to avoid running into it, not able to acknowledge the receptionist – Lindsay was on staff this early in the morning – and punching the elevator button with her knuckle, feeling the slight cut of the metal nick her skin the process. She didn’t care, digging through her pockets for the card key to get her to the top floor – to the penthouse suite, the castle – that she had lived in, the pieces, after a restless 30+ hours of thinking, finally fitting into place.

Everything she had seen.
Everything she had heard.
Everything she had spoken.

She had known – but she had thought… had thought…

Ding! She charged full tilt into the metal compartment and, again, pushed the required button and key-swipe-pad with more force than she needed to, but the system obeyed, whisking her up and up towards the top floor.

And with her movement stopped – with no ability to run forward to where she needed to be. With no choice but to wait till she was taken to where she was going… the redhead’s singular thought, plaguing since that night… reared its ugly head once more.

Please be wrong… Please don’t be too late…


************************************

Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse
Cleveland, Ohio
June 26th, 2025
11:08pm

Please don’t be too late…

She hadn’t been booked – nor did she expect to be – for this Breakdown, which was why she had been wearing her regular clothes of blue jeans, black runners and a pink and black t-shirt, when she had witnessed it. Did she regret not being in her old wrestling pants and top, which allowed freer movement? In that moment, as she ran through the halls of the arena… absolutely!

She had been in the dressing room of Light in the Darkness – finally settling there after the long night of walking around backstage at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse arena – watching the main-event with Amelia and Luz there. The tension in the changeroom had been so thick between the three of them. Not because of the upcoming match between Luz and Deanna, along with Asher and Majors, that would determine the undisputed United States Champion – but rather because of the woman they were watching.

The redhead could not deny that things were – weird – to say the least with her return here. Yes, people were happy to see her, several fans and some of her fellow wrestlers like Luz and Amelia, but LotD were subject to something few else where. Where everyone else could just separate the two Frost women (finally…) with Selena being the villain and Deanna being… well, she wasn’t sure anymore what she was here in SCW, Amelia and Luz were the only ones willing to look fast ‘work’. Amelia had, so many times, put it so beautifully, Deanna had thought as she had watched Selena wrestle Asher Hayes…

“Selena is the villain SCW needs right now.”

It wasn’t some trope or some gimmick or some over-the-top nonsense like Fall of Man or Raab and his associates being “all about the violence”. No, that sentence had been one of the many things Deanna had dwelt on during her absence from SCW – the idea of ‘why’ Selena was being who she was. It was so easy to lump her as the villain just as the SCW Universe had lumped Deanna as ‘just Selena’s wife’ at the start of her wrestling career. No one wanted to look deeper. No one felt it necessary – except for Luz and Amelia.

The redhead was so grateful to them – to have them in her life. They had helped her through so much during her ‘time off’, for lack of a better description. And Luz had been so patient with her. By any right, the woman could have demanded the United States Championship (the full title, not the Interim one) after second or third month and Deanna would not have judged her on that. Same with Asher. She had meant what she said when she had confessed that she didn’t see herself as the United States Champion anymore. It had hurt to say it, but it had to be said.

Still, all of that, even her studying the match that had just happened, could wait. Because it had been the sight of how that match had gone – Cid Turner showing up to attack… and then Xander…

She had bolted out of the dressing room before Luz and Amelia could utter a sound, sprinting through the halls despite barely knowing her way around, ducking past crew and fellow-wrestler alike, thinking that same thought over and over again. By the time she had reached the tech booth that lead to gorilla, she could already see the platinum-blonde standing there, holding her neck.

“Just make sure he’s okay, alright?!” Selena Frost yelled at one of the members of the staff before doing a once-over glance at the nearby Aaron Demitria. “He took a bad bump.” She added, grasping her neck and wincing. Taking a deep breath, the Snow Queen walked a few more steps before eyeing some of the crew at the booths with their headsets on, specifically a familiar face.

“Three on one, huh?” she half-spat, half-scoffed at the nearby COO and icon. “Bit much, don’t you think?”
The man, CHBK, gave a mere shrug. “You did this to yourself.” Was his reply. “You mouthed off.”
“Oh yeah!” the platinum-blonde laughed. “Remember that next time, okay? Which one of us waited till after the match to make their case – and which one fucked around with another’s business.”

A second shrug came from the Hall-of-Famer. “Fuck around and find out.” He replied simply.
Once more, a laugh escaped Selena. “Yeah, don’t be getting amnesia on me, old man.” She threw back as she walked away. “Cause what happens next? It’s on you now, too!”

Deanna had watched the whole exchange patiently, wanting to say something but knowing she shouldn’t. Much as she wanted to, they were on different paths – Selena and her – and, for better or for worse, Selena had to face the consequences of her choices, just like Deanna had to face her own as well. Still, as the former world champion left the room, she spotted the redhead.

“Hey…” she breathed tiredly, yet with a little bit of relief. “Don’t panic. I’m okay.”
“What…” Deanna tried. “What makes you think-“
“You’re out of breath and you’re scanning me with your eyes… and not in a sexy way.” The Snow Queen offered with a tease.

Caught, Deanna sighed and dropped the fascade. “What the hell happened out there?”

“What I expected.” Selena admitted, her eyes scanning the hall for any sign of camera – fortunately, there were none. “Cid tried something – that failed – so Xander stepped in.”

“You… you think they’re working together?” Deanna asked, earning a quick laugh from Selena.
“You think Asher and Jordan are working together?”
“No!” the redhead shot out, surprising herself.

“Same thing.” Selena sighed. “Egos wouldn’t allow it. But even so, the fact he let them both get past him – his two icons…”
“He, you mean CHBK?” Deanna asked with a tilt of her head.
“Of course.” Selena winced, rubbing her neck with her hand. “Anything to keep his ‘icons’ and ‘oldies’ in the driver seat.”

“Selena…” Deanna tried. “I don’t think-“

“HEY!” Selena suddenly shouted down the hall, the woman immediately on the move, marching past Deanna. Jerking her head, the redhead was able to just spy the cut hair and bearded face as it turned a corner down the hall, immediately recognizing the man being called out.

“Selena, no!” Deanna ordered, rushing after the Snow Queen as fast as she could. “It’s not his fault!” she tried to explain, slightly surprising herself that ‘defending’ the man was what she desired to do.

But her words seemed to fall on deaf ears as Selena followed the path around the corner, reached the nearby door and pushed them open to exit into the outside parking lot, where she spotted her target by his car. “HEY!” she yelled out again. “I’m talking to you, Asher!”, Deanna heard it as she burst through the doors, trying to get to them both before something happened.

For his part, the Interim-United-States champion stopped what he was doing, sighed, and slowly stepped away from his vehicle to stand in the space as Selena marched up to him. “You going to try and kick my ass out here?” he asked, his voice calm and reserved, a far cry from the arrogant man Deanna had seen even in the earlier promos of his return. “I’m not thrilled with how that bullshit went down either.”

Selena said nothing, merely glaring at the man that had just ended her near-year long run of undefeated wins in singles matches. Deanna wanted to say something so badly. To explain, from an outside perspective, what had gone down. Wanted to defend Asher as having not been responsible for tonight. But she feared anything said would only push her ex-wife further.

“Look…” Asher sighed, tired. “What can I take away from that?” he asked Selena with a tilt of his head. “What? That I need Cid AND Xander just to pin you? Seriously?” he eyed Selena coldly. “I’d rather have lost than have that shit happen.” He added sternly, calm yet sure. It was actually inspiring to Deanna. “But you say and do whatever your ego needs and we can see how this-“

“Thank you.”

The two words – perhaps the only two words – that could have stunned everyone in the parking lot were spoken from Selena, causing both U.S champions to gaze at the woman in shock.

“What you did.” Selena stated, running a hand through her long hair. “Looking after Deanna, I mean. I can’t…” she sighed. “With the cameras rolling, I can’t be there always. And I can’t be involved with her business. But I…” she seemed to wince at either the pain or her words. “I still don’t like you. Still don’t believe everything you’re selling. But… But I appreciate you being there for her and… and not taking advantage of her when you could have.”

She stepped back a little, giving a little shrug of her shoulders. “That’s all I wanted to say.” She turned her head back to Deanna, who was still too stunned to speak. “I’ll go get Ra to get our bus and I’ll wait in the bus, okay?” she didn’t wait for an answer, walking away from the two.

“Hey.” Asher called out, regaining the woman’s attention. “Next time we face, I won’t be needing anyone to pin you.”

For a moment, nothing was said, until Selena walked back up to Asher. For a moment, she turned her head to eye Deanna before leaning in closer to whisper something to the current champion that Deanna couldn’t hear. Before the younger Frost could move closer, whoever, Selena was gone again, marching away towards the limo bus she owned. It wasn’t until she was out of sight that Deanna heard the long exhale come from the man beside her.

“Damn.” He shook his head quietly. “Didn’t expect that.”
“Me neither.” Deanna also exhaled, but moreso in relief. “I thought she was going to try and kick your head off.”

Asher, meanwhile, kept his eyes on where he had last seen the Snow Queen for a moment before turning his head back towards Deanna. “She pissed?”

Deanna shrugged. “I think it’s more the same reasons as yours.” She settled on saying. “The interference and all that. You know her and ‘integrity’.” She offered a shrug.

“Alright.” Asher nodded. “You okay? You need me to walk you to your bus?”

Grateful, Deanna shook her head. “That’s okay, Asher.” She added a smile. “I just… I appreciate you not just attacking her on sight.”

“She’s…” Asher sighed, as if slightly at odds. “She’s different off camera.” He observed. “Still don’t like her but…” the man once more brought his attention to Deanna. “I can see how you two work.”

“Worked.” Deanna sighed, gazing the way Selena had gone. “Past-tense.”
“Sorry.” Asher offered. “Breakups suck.”
“Don’t I know it.” Deanna nodded before refocusing back on Hayes. “What did she say to you just now?”

Asher sighed. “She said ‘I’m afraid that won’t ever happen…’.” He answered. “But…she sounded… I don’t know… sad.” He gazed back at Deanna. “Is that possible?”

“No idea.” Deanna shrugged. “But I’m sure you’ll get another chance.” She gave one more nod. “Thanks again.”
“No problem.”
“And uh…” she hesitated. “Let me know if you need any help dealing with Jordan if she tries that shit with the weed again.”

She left the conversation at that, walking slowly towards the bus as Selena had instructed. Yet, she couldn’t shake this feeling she had.

She sounded so… I don’t know… sad. Is that possible?

For her part: That observation was more shocking than hearing Selena Frost say ‘Thank you’.

_________________________________________



So… SCW Universe… where do you want to start?

Wow… something I have said so many times in my life, sounds almost foreign to say. I am filled with nerves. I am filled with uncertainties and even things that I could have done easily even a year ago seem strange.

For months and months, I have dreamed of this moment. The chance to wrestle again, to promo again. To do what I have grown to love to do and that is be an SCW superstar. I wasn’t born into it. I wasn’t gifted or talented at birth. There’s nothing in my genetics that screams ‘super soldier’ or whatever. I came into this by fate and fortune and I have never looked back.

And now… now that I am back. Now that I am here… I want to say so much. I want to share so much with all of you… and it doesn’t feel right. It doesn’t feel like it’s the right time. Because words are things people can say. ANYONE can say. I mean, we have had someone running around here for months declaring herself ‘The United States Champion of SCW’, despite never winning the title!

So as much as I want to talk to all of you and I want to share so much with you, I do not believe that this is the time for that. I believe now is the time for action! I believe now is the time for much more powerful statements to be made because, as the saying goes, ‘ACTIONS speak louder than words’.

Because the loudest words regarding me right now are “Can she still go”?

‘Can she still go’? Does Deanna Frost have it in her after being gone for so long? Does Deanna Frost still have the skills to be at the level she was at? Or is she only setting herself up for the disappointment of her life?

But the thing is… people think that me coming back here and having a ‘burnout’ of my own? That THAT is the disappointment of a lifetime…

Those people don’t get it.

What has been a greater disappointment is having to sit on the sidelines for nearly a year while my friends fought wars and battles that I wanted to help them with. While SCW was attacked by not just women and men but a Fall of Man and I couldn’t be there to fight for it. That the title I carried for over a year was defended and stolen and I couldn’t do anything about it! So, in the end, I’d rather lose it all by being beaten… then to sit on the sidelines and watch it all fade away.

So I am not here to preach. I am not here to promise. I am not here to ‘guarantee’ a single thing. I am here in my return match for one reason and that is to fight! I am here to fight tooth and nail to survive and to fight beside my friend. A woman I respect so much in Luz!

And we are not a tag-team. We come from different tag-teams, her and I. Both former tag-team champions and up against a team we both know very well in our own battles. The European Fiery Nation.

Now, boys. You probably don’t remember me, but before I was taken from this place, I was the person ducking your boss as he swung that damn mace at me before I took him down with a Burnout. I was also the one that watched you crush and smash Enigma – Veil now, I know – into the ground before he disappeared in a puff of smoke. So I know how dangerous and brutal and violent you two can be, want to be, and will be on Breakdown.

And yes, you have the advantage on Luz and I. We have never tag-teamed. You guys have. And you guys have been here this whole time. I haven’t. But there’s something you guys aren’t yet realizing.

I’m not a weak-link in the chain of this match. I’m a wildcard! Because I may be rusty, I may not. I may be dull, I may not be. But just as likely as the chance that I could be the one that costs Luz this match, is also the chance that I’m the one that excels in it.

Because tonight, I’m not interested in proving I’m ‘tough’. Proving I’m ‘better’. Proving I’m ‘this’ or ‘that’. No, Erikson and Theron. I am intend on proving is that I am back! The Red-Manned Lioness is back in SCW! And I am not going anywhere! I am not going back, I am not going away, no! I am going straight to Rise to Greatness, which means that this Breakdown, Luz and I are going to go RIGHT THROUGH you two!

And when you two wake up from the beating she and I will give you, you might be able to answer that burning question on everyone’s mind.

Will Deanna Frost burnout? Or will she rise to greatness?!

Checkmate, bitches!