Taking The Flame

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Sam’s Thoughts

On Camera

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The debut of my client Angelica Jones is drawing near and the fulfillment of the greatest debut in professional wrestling history is drawing ever closer to fruition as we inch closer and closer towards Taking Hold of the Flame.  Thirty nine superstars of SCW will try to stop the Firestar, they will try to survive the wrath of the Golden Goddess, but they will not succeed.  You cannot fight fate and it is fate that has determined my client’s destiny as the future winner of that battle royal and the future world champion.

Oh but do you not believe me?  Do you still think I am all talk and that my client cannot back up her words?  What does scripture say again?  Do not test the Lord thy God.  But if you want to put The Golden Goddess to the test then so be it, but you have been warned.

Alec Jacobs, you are the sacrificial lamb the unbelievers sent to face my client.  You are the one they are going to test her against.  If you ask me, it is a pathetic test.  A giant, muscular meathead like you doesn’t measure up to The Golden Goddess.  And yet it is you who gets the privilege of being the first to face her, the first to challenge her in SCW.

Count your blessings then, Jacobs.  Count your blessings that you get to be the first to lose to Angelica Jones, the first to go down in defeat in what will turn into her greatest winning streak ever, her greatest run of dominance ever.  Consider that you will get to tell your children about how you were the first to get beaten in the Angelica Jones Era of SCW.

That’s right, ladies and gentlemen.  The Angelica Jones Era has arrived in SCW and it starts with Alec Jacobs and it will continue through all of the other thirty nine participants in the Take Hold of the Flame battle royal until only she remains, until only The Golden Goddess remains standing tall as your winner, your number one contender, and your future world champion.

Oh and to anyone with any funny ideas of splitting us up, think again.  Angelica Jones and I share a special bond.  I guided her for nearly seven years of her professional career, helping her to obtain ten world championships and three halls of fame in the process.  Now we have reunited and if anyone thinks they can drive a wedge between us then you are dead wrong.

The Angelica Jones Era will be driven by the fuel, fire, and motivation of The Jones-Hodgson Team.  We are a team and that teamwork is what has allowed us to prosper for all this time and it will continue to allow us to prosper during our SCW tenure.

You cannot stop the juggernaut that is The Jones-Hodgson Alliance.  Do not even try.

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Taking The Flame

Off Camera

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It is important to always know where your priorities lie.  That task can be difficult for some, especially if you are a busy individual like Angelica Jones.  The woman known as Golden Goddess, Firestar, and The Dragon has to wear many hats in her life.  To her three children, Jessica Lasiewicz, Annabelle Jones, and Kelly McBride, she has to be the mother.  To Lindsey Carter she has to be the wife.  Inside of the squared circle she has to be a professional wrestler.  In the recording studio, at concerts, and on tour she has to be country music singer.

Keeping your priorities in check is difficult especially for Jones, who has so many priorities to bear in mind.  The problem Jones has always had is that her priorities would oftentimes get out of order from where they should be.  Deep in her heart and soul she knows her children should come first followed immediately by her significant other.  Most any normal human being would tell you that it is the proper order of things.

The problem Angelica had is that her competitive spirit would continue to get the better of her.  The constant drive to be the best in professional wrestling, her desire to be world heavyweight champion, would lead her to making questionable decisions, making questionable judgments, and would ultimately knock her priorities completely out of whack.

After a four year drought of not being anywhere near a world heavyweight championship, Angelica Jones got frustrated, she lost hope and patience and decided to make winning a world championship her top priority.  To do this she went back to the first person who helped her obtain a world championship, Samantha Hodgson, with the promise that she would again be world champion if she just did what Samantha asked of her.

Samantha’s demands were quite substantial and they included changing her appearance, lifestyle, and spending less time with her family, family that included her new wife Lindsey Carter.  Samantha did not approve of Lindsey, for in Sam’s mind a gay marriage between two women would be frowned upon and Angelica would get black-balled from the title shot she wants because of it.

This arrangement lasted for five months until finally Angelica and Lindsey had enough of it.  Everyone has their breaking points and did the happy couple.  The Golden Goddess went to her agent and demanded a change.  She demanded that she let her live her life the way she wants or that she’d sign with a new agent.  In fact, she even mentioned to Sam that she had been speaking to a new agent.

His name was Silas Mason.

That’s right, the same Silas Mason who has the likes of Kelcey Wallace, Taylor Chase, and Brittany Lohan all in his camp.  All three former or current world champions in the industry.  All three among the best.  Like him or not, that record right there speaks to his ability as an agent and manager and if anyone could guide Angelica to a world title, it would be him.

But she is willing to give Samantha another chance, mainly due to the time they have shared together.  Despite what Hodgson did, Angelica feels she owes it to her to give her one last chance at redemption.  Now Angelica can finally get back to her life as it should be; mother first, wife second, wrestler third, and country music singer fourth.

As a wrestler she can look forward to facing Alec Jacobs on the next edition of Breakdown.  It will be her SCW debut and she is already against stiff competition in the form of the one type of athlete that has given her difficulty in the past; a powerhouse.  The size and strength advantage of someone like Jacobs tends to make things difficult for Angelica.  She has to rely heavily on her speed and agility, striking quickly and hoping to avoid getting caught, for if she gets caught by Jacobs then she’s done for and she knows it.

Losing her debut is something she hopes to avoid so heavy training and preparation for this match will be important in the days ahead.  But before she can begin her training for the match, she has to put her other hat on; the hat of country music singer.

Her music career actually began in 2003 with her debut album titled Firestar.  In 2005 she released a second album titled I Light The Fire. She took nearly a nine year layoff before working on another album, which was released in early 2014 titled Legacy.  Her new album, which , appropriately enough, will be called Taking The Flame, will be released in 2015 but today she is going to get started on the recordings.

Samantha Hodgson is leading the way into the recording studio wearing a green executive pantsuit with a white silk button up blouse underneath the blazer and black high heeled pumps on her feet.  Following closely behind, with a big grin on her face, is none other than Angelica Jones.  She is wearing a snakeprint cami bluse with spaghetti straps, a black pleated maxi skirt, and flat sandals.  Her long hair, naturally red but dyed blonde on this day, is hanging unrestrained to shoulder length.

“Don’t you just love coming to the recording studio with me!”

Angelica says in an overly happy voice, somewhat bubbly voice.  She says it this way with an intention, because she knows Samantha Hodgson does not like coming to the recording studio with Angelica.  This is part of the job she does not like.  Being the manager of a world champion and sharing that spotlight with Angelica has spoiled her.  She wants the finest of the fine now and being in a recording studio listening to Angelica sing songs is not her idea of the fine life.

“Promise me this won’t last long.”

“It shouldn’t.” Angelica responds still with that sickeningly sweet voice. “All me and the producers are doing today is listening to the songs and picking out which ones I’ll sing.”

“Good…”

“Awwww, now Sammy, you make it sound like you don’t want to be here!”

Samantha rolls her eyes as the two women approach the studio.  It is a rather simple place, a one story establishment and not too terribly big but enough for Angelica’s purposes, as she is the only one to use it.  Her producers meet her here every time they plan to record music.  It really is a nice set up Angelica has for herself.

Upon entering they are immediately greeted by a man, dressed in blue jeans, cowboy boots, and a plain black t-shirt.  He has a black goatee and smiles warmly, extending a hand first to Angelica for her to shake.

“Good afternoon, Angel.”

“Hi, Steve!”

He turns his hand to Samantha but she refuses the handshake.

“Hello.”

Steve pulls his hand back, stares for a moment and then just shrugs off her apparent rudeness before turning his attention back to Angelica.

“So, are you ready to get to work?”

“Of course!  And you know this is my favorite part!”

“Yeah, the part you don’t have to do anything!”

Steve and Angelica share a hearty laugh but Hodgson, standing in the background with her arms folded over her chest tapping the floor impatiently with her high heeled foot, does not look to be in a jovial mood.

“Ms. Jones, as your agent I must advise you that time is of the essence.”

The blonde turns and sticks her tongue out at Samantha. “Quit being a party pooper!”

“I’m not being a party pooper.  I am merely reminding you that you have another career, one as a professional wrestler.”

Jones sighs and nods her head. “Yeah, yeah, I know.  I’m facing King Kong Jacobs.  I get it and I’ll be ready, but we have to take care of business here first, ok?”

“Of course, but remember that you want to be a world champion again.” Samantha makes a few cautious steps towards her client. “And any distraction from that goal could prove costly.”

Jones furrows her brow. “Yeah, and remember that you aren’t the only agent in town.”

Hodgson and Angelica have a brief stare down as they both remember, Angelica remembering her goal of being champion and Samantha remembering the threat that Silas Mason proves to her grip over Angelica Jones.  All the while Steve, the producer, is watching on curiously.

“Um…is something wrong, ladies?”

Something is definitely wrong.  Samantha is having a hard time letting go of her control over Angelica Jones and Jones herself is finding it increasingly difficult to work with Samantha period.  It almost seems like a matter of time before they split up, but neither wants to admit it.

“No…nothing is wrong.” Samantha answers.

“Nothing at all.” Jones chimes in.

“Well, that’s good.” Steve doesn’t sound convinced but wants to change the subject. “So, if you ladies will just follow me we can get started.”

Angelica and Samantha follow Steve down the hall, around a corner, and into room which leads to the recording area itself.  There is a control room with a large black panel with lots of buttons and two massive speakers overhead.  There is another room separated by soundproof glass with a microphone.  Jones, Hodgson, and Steve are in the control room and the three sit down at the control panel.  Immediately Steve reaches for a CD and pops it into a CD player.

“Ok ladies, sit back and enjoy.”

“Enjoy what?”

Samantha’s smart ass attitude is met with a slap to the knee from Angelica.

“Hush you!”

Steve hardly noticed as he uses the mouse to click play on one of the songs.  Second later the sound of guitars is heard and then later a female is heard singing.  All of this music blasts over the loud speakers overhead.

“This first one is a bit of an upbeat kind of song about a woman who looks good and she knows it and isn’t afraid to advertise it.”

Then Steve points at Samantha. “When I first it, I thought of you!”

“Oh?”

He nods his head. “Yep, the song writer calls it Golden.  I personally think it’d be perfect for Angel’s album, considering the way you’ve been trying to rebrand her as The Golden Goddess and all.”

Samantha grins; for the first time she seems to be getting credit for a good idea.

“Thank you, Steve.” She pauses to listen to more of the song. “And I agree, this does sound perfect for her album.”

“How would you know?” Angelica says playfully. “You hate country music.”

“I hate all country music except for yours.” Samantha says, correcting her.

All this time while they have been talking the song continues to play and, truth be told, Angelica was impressed by the sound of the music as well.  Jones has to admit, Steve and Sam are onto something about Golden.

“Well, I think this is one we can have unanimous consent on!” Angelica says beaming. “The song sounds great so far and combined with its connection to the rebranding, how can we turn this opportunity down?”

“We can’t.” Samantha retorts.

“Then it’s settled.” Steve says. “It’s going to be on the album.”

Steve stops the song.  He knows Hodgson doesn’t want to be here any longer than she has to so he is trying to speed this process up.  He moves onto another song he likes and clicks play.  This time the guitar music is much slower.  The three listen as a female singer starts the song but eventually a male starts singing later.

“This is a ballad.”

“I can tell…”

“It’s a real good one!” Angelica says cheerfully. “Do you want to cut it for the album?”

“I definitely would but there might be a problem with that.”

“What?”

“You need a male to sing it with you.  Brad Paisley?  Keith Urban?  Blake Shelton?   I doubt we could get anyone with big enough name recognition to help you out.”

“What are implying?” Samantha says standing up out of her chair. “My client has plenty of name recognition!  These idiots should be falling over themselves wanting to sing with her!”

“Angelica has name recognition as a professional wrestler but not as a country music singer.” Steve informs her. “She released two albums in three years, took a nine year layoff, and then released a third album.  That downtime hurt her.  Plus to become a big name on the country scene you have to go on tour and she can’t go on tour when she’s competing for Supreme Championship Wrestling.”

Angelica shrugs her shoulders. “He’s right, Sammy.”

Hodgson sighs and sits back down, feeling defeated. “Fine.”

“We won’t scrap it.” He stops the song and goes to the next one, clicking it. “But we’ll keep it in the back of our minds.  If someone is interested in singing it with Angel, we’ll use it.”

The next song starts up fast like the first one.  Angelica and Samantha both seem to light up like Christmas trees as the first of the lyrics begin to come through over the loudspeakers.

“Now that sounds nice!”

“I agree.” Hodgson remarks. “What is this one called?”

“It’s the title of the album.  Taking The Flame.  It’s about a young woman who wants to succeed in life and will not let any obstacle stand in her way.”

“Sounds an awful lot like someone we know.” Samantha says with a knowing wink directed at Angelica.

“What are you saying?”

“I am saying you should consider coming out to this song at SCW’s Taking Hold of the Flame event.”

Immediately upon hearing her suggestion, Angelica starts laughing.  “What’s so funny?”

“Your suggestion!”

“I think it’s a good idea.  Who else in SCW sings their own theme music?”

“No one, and that’s the point.”  Angelica is still having a hard time holding back her laughter. “It’s just not done.”

“Doesn’t mean you can’t do it.”

“I’d rather not start a new trend.  Sorry, Sam.”

“Either way, I think it deserves another listen.” Steve stops the playing and clicks the next song.  It is another slow paced song, it gives off the vibe of a sad, grief ridden song with the way it starts out.

“It’s about a man who comes home from war to find his wife in bed with another man.  He’s upset, she’s guilt ridden, they both end up committing suicide.”

“It certainly sounds like a powerful song.”

“Yeah, but there’s one problem.” Angelica says, not sounding too impressed.

“What?”

“It’s basically the female equivalent of Brad Paisely’s Whiskey Lullaby.”

“Whiskey What?” Samantha asks.

“Whiskey Lullaby.” Steve responds. “And she is right, it was done basically as the female answer to that song.”

“Right, but there was already a female answer to it and her name was Allison Krauss.”

“But it sounds so good.”

“It was good,” Angelica says “when Brad Paisley and Allison Krauss sung it.  But I’m not going to sing a cheap rip off.”

She looks at Steve. “We’re not going to cut it, Steve.”

“Cut what?” The trio turn to the sound of a newcomer entering the studio.  It’s none other than Lindsey Carter, Angelica’s wife. “They told me you were just listening and not recording and that it was ok to sneak up on you!”

“Well it wasn’t ok.” Samantha growls.

“Don’t listen to her, Linds.” Angelica gets up out of her chair and meets her in the center of the room where they share an embrace and then a passionate kiss on the lips. “My priorities are straight and you are my priority, babe.”

“Awww, that’s sweet Angel!”

Samantha stares a hole right through the both of them.  It is clear she doesn’t like this one bit and Steve, wanting to avoid conflict, quickly changes the subject.

“Well, um, I hate to spoil the lovebirds but I think I have another song here for you to listen to, Angel.”

“Oh yeah?”

Angelica walks back over to her seat and sits down.  She motions for Lindsey to follow.

“Come on, Linds.  My lap is the best seat in the house, girl!”

Carter giggles as she walks over and sits down on her wife’s lap.  Hodgson just rolls her eyes at this.  Steve presses play on the next song and the music begins, another fast one.

“This is about two lovers having a good time!”

“Then it’s our song.” Angelica says, kissing Lindsey again.

Samantha is not happy about this.  Not happy at all.  This relationship between her and Lindsey Carter is going to damage Angelica’s reputation and she is sure of it.  As her agent she is responsible for looking out for Angelica’s well being.  Something has to be done about Lindsey Carter, and it is for Angelica’s own good.

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David vs. Goliath

On Camera

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The room is dimly lit but, the truth is, there isn’t much to see anyway.  The room is empty except for a lone light brown wood stool sitting in the center of the room, the pale blue wall is bare and there is no carpet, just hardwood floor.  A clicking on the hardwood floor is heard.  It isn’t long until the feminine figure of Angelica Jones steps into the picture.  On this occasion she is wearing a gold colored knee length half-sleeve sheath, chic and modern formal cocktail dress with a bateau neckline.  Her feet are encased in strappy three inch heels and her long red hair hangs down unrestrained to shoulder length.  The self-described Golden Goddess of professional wrestling faces the camera, gives a polite wave, and then sits down.  A wide, ear to ear, cheesy grin forms on her face.

“Christmas comes early because it appears as if SCW and its fans get to see yours truly in action earlier than they expected!”

The cheesy grin fades and is replaced by a much more serious look on the face of the Boston native.

“I am looking forward to Taking Hold of the Flame.  I am looking forward to competing at that pay per view, winning that battle royal, and going on to face the world champion, whomever that may be.  It isn’t arrogance, it isn’t a foregone conclusion, but I truly believe that I can win that battle royal and furthermore that I can be the flag-bearer in SCW, that I can be the world champion.”

“It isn’t like I haven’t been doing that before.  In my first year as an active wrestler I won a world title and ever since then I was the standard in that company and in every company that I would later on sign with, Motor City Wrestling and the Millennium Wrestling Alliance and so on and so forth; I was the measuring stick, I was the standard by which every wrestler on those rosters would measure themselves by.”

“Now it’s time for my debut in a new company.” She chuckles lightly.  “I haven’t had to debut in a new company in a long time and I look forward to making waves, I look forward to making an immediate impact, and I just know my opponent is looking forward to making a name for himself at my expense.”

She nods her head.  “Isn’t that right, Alec Jacobs?”

“My Agent, Samantha Hodgson, I think tends to oversell and overhype things just a little.  I won’t go as far as she did and say that you are some sacrificial lamb.  The strength and power that you exude makes you a dangerous opponent, especially for someone my size.”

The grin returns to her face. “You know, I hate to make a cheesy overused comparison, but it really is like a David versus Goliath battle in that you are the big strong monster Goliath and I am puny little David with his slingshot.”

“And that’s how I intend to look at this match because I thrive upon being the underdog.  I love it when people underestimate me because of my size and lack of strength.  I love it when people look at my actions outside the ring, think I’m crazy and nuts and overlook me as insignificant.”

“People who overlook me tend to suffer the consequences.  But you’re not that stupid, are you Alec?  You’re not going to overlook me as insignificant, because if you do that is the last mistake you will ever make.  If you overlook me as insignificant I will burn you alive, just as I have burned everyone else alive.”

“The monster Goliath overlooked David as puny and not much of a challenge.  David burned him with his slingshot before ripping his heart out.  David proved on that day that he was not some insignificant person; he proved that he was someone to be feared and respected.”

The Golden Goddess stands up off of the stool.

“Coming up on Breakdown I guarantee that I will prove to any critics and doubters that I may have here in SCW that I am not insignificant.  I will prove that I am deadly threat to be taken oh so seriously and I am going to prove that at the expense of Alec Jacobs.”

“You see, ladies and gentlemen, what I lack in size and strength, I make up for in speed, agility, and experience,” she holds up three fingers and then points them directly at the camera “three things that my opponent is sorely lacking in himself.”

Firestar shakes her head. “Alec Jacobs, you drew the short end of the straw, buddy.  All mommy and daddy tell us about David and Goliath is that Goliath got beat by a little boy with a rock and a slingshot.  But what there are gruesome details in The Bible that mommy and daddy leave out, like how David beheaded Goliath.”

“You can expect me to be that ruthless when we meet on Breakdown, Alec and you had better not overlook me, because I do have the skills and experience to get the job done.  I have the skills and experience necessary to cut you off at the head just like David did to Goliath.  See, you don’t have experience.  I do have experience.  I have been to war for eleven years.  I have shed my own blood while at the same time making others bleed, I have broken my own bones and the bones of others, I have suffered excruciating pain, pain you can’t even imagine yet.”

The beautiful Boston native nods her head.  “Oh but you will experience that pain.  One day, maybe not by my hands, but one day you will experience that pain and you will think back to me, and this day as I warn you about what lies ahead for you in this industry.”

“You don’t have to worry about the long term future, you just need to worry about Breakdown and you need to worry about me.  You need to worry about staring hell in the face and finding out will you be man enough to fight back or are you going wither and break under the pressure?  I’m here to tell you that you are about to stare hell in the face and that hell is named Angelica Jones.”