Post by dawnhalliwell on Mar 15, 2018 12:44:00 GMT -5
"It still feels like a dream.
All my career, despite all the bluster and all the hard talk, I don't think I ever thought I'd make it here. I thought I'd be one of those girls who'd always be stuck chasing, never quite making it to the finish line of the marathon. But here I am, standing before you now as the first ever Combat Wrestling Women's Heavyweight Champion.
And if I have anything to say about it? The ONLY ever Combat Wrestling Women's Heavyweight Champion.
Not that I'm saying I'll deny people a fair shot - far fucking from it. I may be a bitch, but I'm not one of those bitches who are going to just sit back and rest on her laurels, keeping my grubby little hands on something that I'm not earning day in and day out. No, if you've been paying attention to a single word I've said since I stepped up into this ring, it's that I'm always spoiling for a fair fight. There's nothing in this world that I live for more than the chance to cross fists with another gal just as ferocious and hungry as I am, putting everything on the line as we go full boar at one another in a test of endurance, strength, skill, and sheer bull-headed stubbornness. I will happily put my title on the line against any of the women on this roster in a fair fight, no matter if you're a legend or a wet-behind-the-ears newcomer who got a title shot as her first ever match.
The thing is? Nobody's had what it takes yet. Despite the odds that may have been stacked against me as a relative newcomer who walked into this company after a potentially career-ending injury, just a few fucking hours out of PT? None of you have put me down yet. None of you have been able to beat me in a fair fight in that ring... and as I have no intention of letting myself go soft, I'm not planning on letting any of you change that. But I still expect you to come. I want you to come, week in and week out, to test me. To make me prove that I still deserve this. To keep me from ever getting comfortable, from ever thinking I can relax.
That's why I'm saying it right here and right now - I'm putting my title on the line in EVERY MATCH I'M BOOKED IN. If any woman in any match in Combat Wrestling pins me, makes me tap out, or knocks my ass cold? Congratulations... Champ.
Because if anyone can beat me in a fair fight, then they deserve it more than I do.
... But what about the fights that aren't so fair?
What about the fights that, just by looking at them, make me wonder if I even want to show up for work that day?
Hello Caitlyn. Hello Aiden. Hello, Hungry Jack.
My name is Dawn Motherfucking Halliwell.
And you three don't deserve this."
"I'm sure the three of you are thinking this is kind of a bullshit match, right? The three of you locked in a triple threat against the three champions of the company? The worst part is that none of you have had tremendous success here - and even though it probably doesn't sound like it, I don't mean that in a mean way. You've all struggled. You've been beaten down, taken hits, and now the three of you are put into this match? I wouldn't blame you three for thinking that this match was just an excuse for the three champions to show off for a bit. Even the name of the match, the 'Champions' Showcase' seems to reinforce that. If I were in your shoes, I'd be pissed as all hell.
Fuck, I'm not in your shoes, and I'm pissed on your behalf anyway.
Just because the three of you haven't had the same luck that some of us have doesn't mean you deserve to be locked into a match that seems designed just to make the three champions look good. I don't need help with that - none of the three of us do! We all had our chances to look large and in charge at Ascendancy, and we all did exactly that. All three of us went out there, kicked ass, took names, and earned belts. This... this just feels like gloating. And while at least one of my partners is, I'm sure, all for that sort of shit... I'm here for the fair fights. This isn't that. This is the sort of match where if I wasn't booked where I am, I'd be raising hell and rebellion, doing everything in my fucking power to make the Champions eat some fucking humility - and even though I'm on the champions side tomorrow night, I still kinda want you three to do exactly fucking that.
This isn't why I wanted to become Champion. I wanted to become champion to push myself to be better by putting it all on the line week in and week out, taking all comers and all challengers. I didn't want to become champion to step on the throats of everyone else in the roster.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you three aren't worth my time. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I'd paid super close attention to Hungry Jack and Aiden because... well, let's be real for a moment, they're never going to be my problem unless they have some pretty heavy personal shit that they're going to work through, in which case: respect. But Cait? Fuck, girl. Cait's my best friend here. She's been shit on by people who didn't deserve to be taking those steaming dumps in the first place, but she's powered through it all and risen to become better than them. Hell, that show she put on at Ascendancy was hot fucking shit! Cait's my girl. Cait's my buddy. And while I do deeply look forward to the day when she steps up to take her shot at me in a fair fight... this isn't how I wanted it to go down. Three champions at once, and none of us were asked to put anything on the line? With people like Killian in that ring, it's going to turn into a bloodbath. And I'm not going to sit around and let it happen.
Because I love... I live... to rebel.
And that's why, come Friday Night Fury? Killian and Taane might want to watch their backs. Because I'm rooting for the underdogs, and am all outta fucks to give.
If Caitlyn steps into that ring, I'm going to give her my all and fight her as fair and formal as I possibly can. Give her the respect that I would any woman who came to challenge for my belt, because that's what I'm putting on the fucking line. But Killian and Taane? If either of them show even a speck less respect for their opponents in that ring? If they cheat or scoff or look down on their opponents even for one fucking second...
... then I'm going for the chain.
And it won't be Caitlyn, Aiden, or Hungry Jack who eats it.
If we win this match, we're going to do it fair. We're going to do it respectfully. And I absolutely will sabotage my own team if my partners decide to pull some shit that these three fighters don't deserve. I'm here because I'm always spoiling for a good, fair brawl - but if anyone, even the people who are supposedly my allies walking into this throwdown, try to take that away from me? Well then that's going to rile my temper something fierce.
And boys? Zelda, Amber, Crystal and Lizzy will tell you what happens when you piss me off. And I like them... a lot more than I like one of you.
Because Killian? You seem to really enjoy fucking with my dad. There's a pretty big part of me that really, really wants to be responsible for your first loss on this show. Because even though it'd come at the expense of my first loss, too? I always put family before business... especially when siding with family means I get to have just a bit more satisfaction.
ALL.
BLOODY.
HAIL!"
All my career, despite all the bluster and all the hard talk, I don't think I ever thought I'd make it here. I thought I'd be one of those girls who'd always be stuck chasing, never quite making it to the finish line of the marathon. But here I am, standing before you now as the first ever Combat Wrestling Women's Heavyweight Champion.
And if I have anything to say about it? The ONLY ever Combat Wrestling Women's Heavyweight Champion.
Not that I'm saying I'll deny people a fair shot - far fucking from it. I may be a bitch, but I'm not one of those bitches who are going to just sit back and rest on her laurels, keeping my grubby little hands on something that I'm not earning day in and day out. No, if you've been paying attention to a single word I've said since I stepped up into this ring, it's that I'm always spoiling for a fair fight. There's nothing in this world that I live for more than the chance to cross fists with another gal just as ferocious and hungry as I am, putting everything on the line as we go full boar at one another in a test of endurance, strength, skill, and sheer bull-headed stubbornness. I will happily put my title on the line against any of the women on this roster in a fair fight, no matter if you're a legend or a wet-behind-the-ears newcomer who got a title shot as her first ever match.
The thing is? Nobody's had what it takes yet. Despite the odds that may have been stacked against me as a relative newcomer who walked into this company after a potentially career-ending injury, just a few fucking hours out of PT? None of you have put me down yet. None of you have been able to beat me in a fair fight in that ring... and as I have no intention of letting myself go soft, I'm not planning on letting any of you change that. But I still expect you to come. I want you to come, week in and week out, to test me. To make me prove that I still deserve this. To keep me from ever getting comfortable, from ever thinking I can relax.
That's why I'm saying it right here and right now - I'm putting my title on the line in EVERY MATCH I'M BOOKED IN. If any woman in any match in Combat Wrestling pins me, makes me tap out, or knocks my ass cold? Congratulations... Champ.
Because if anyone can beat me in a fair fight, then they deserve it more than I do.
... But what about the fights that aren't so fair?
What about the fights that, just by looking at them, make me wonder if I even want to show up for work that day?
Hello Caitlyn. Hello Aiden. Hello, Hungry Jack.
My name is Dawn Motherfucking Halliwell.
And you three don't deserve this."
"Are you sure about this?"
Dawn laughed as she dragged Caitlyn through the restaurant. "Damn right I am. What, is there some rule that we're not allowed to hang out in our downtime? Fuck that. I get the impression that if it weren't for me you'd be ordering takeout Chinese food and watching Anime on your laptop in bed with... two blankets covering you, going through a 6 pack... of Mountain Dew. You strike me as a Code Red girl."
Caitlyn stammered. "How... I feel so called out right now! But we're..." she lowered her voice to a whisper, "we're fighting one another next week. Shouldn't we be, like... I dunno, all grrr and stuff?"
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Look, hon. In this business you're going to be called upon to fight people you're friends with. It happens. But I'm not about to put friendship on hold for a couple weeks because the bookers think it'd be neat to see us fighting. Besides, I want you to meet some people."
Caitlyn's eyes went wide. "P-people? You didn't say there'd be more than just us."
"It's a surprise," Dawn replied. "Some of my best friends came into town, and I think you all should meet."
They stepped into a back room that had been reserved for the party, and Dawn grinned at the sharp intake of breath that Caitlyn made as she saw who was inside. Even so, Dawn broke into a wide smile as she pointed everyone out.
"Caitlyn, these are my friends. You already know Ciara, my manager..."
Ciara waved. "Heya."
"Cals, one of my roommates from my old apartment."
"Yo."
"And this is Vivienne Rodgers and her 'friend' Xavier Cross." Dawn paused with a grin. "Hey, didn't you say that you saw Vivienne on TV last week? Something about inspiring you and giving you the motivation to come back from your slump, rallying back to that huge win of yours at Ascendancy? What a coincidence that she happens to be another former roommate and one of my best friends."
Vivienne stood and offered her hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Caitlyn! I'm just glad I could help when you needed it."
Caitlyn turned beet red as she shakily accepted the gesture. "Uh. Um. Yes. Um. Hi. You're... uh. Hi there." She turned to Dawn. "ImightneedyoutopinchmebecauseI'mnotconvincedthisisreallyhappening."
Dawn pinched Caitlyn on the back of the neck. "OW! Oh. Um. Right. It's, uh... it's nice to meet you!"
Xavier laughed. "Wow, Dawn! Didn't even warn the poor girl? She looks a bit shell-shocked."
Dawn shrugged and clapped a hand on Cait's shoulder. "Girl helped me out before in ways she didn't know. Figured I'd try to repay the gesture... but she get's so adorably flustered when she gets a good surprise."
Caitlyn turned back and gave Dawn a hug. "Thankyousomuchforinvitingme!!! This is... this is awesome. Thank you."
Dawn winked, and Vivienne and Ciara exchanged an excited look. "Any time, girl. Now come on and sit so we can order. I'm ravenous."
Dawn laughed as she dragged Caitlyn through the restaurant. "Damn right I am. What, is there some rule that we're not allowed to hang out in our downtime? Fuck that. I get the impression that if it weren't for me you'd be ordering takeout Chinese food and watching Anime on your laptop in bed with... two blankets covering you, going through a 6 pack... of Mountain Dew. You strike me as a Code Red girl."
Caitlyn stammered. "How... I feel so called out right now! But we're..." she lowered her voice to a whisper, "we're fighting one another next week. Shouldn't we be, like... I dunno, all grrr and stuff?"
Dawn rolled her eyes. "Look, hon. In this business you're going to be called upon to fight people you're friends with. It happens. But I'm not about to put friendship on hold for a couple weeks because the bookers think it'd be neat to see us fighting. Besides, I want you to meet some people."
Caitlyn's eyes went wide. "P-people? You didn't say there'd be more than just us."
"It's a surprise," Dawn replied. "Some of my best friends came into town, and I think you all should meet."
They stepped into a back room that had been reserved for the party, and Dawn grinned at the sharp intake of breath that Caitlyn made as she saw who was inside. Even so, Dawn broke into a wide smile as she pointed everyone out.
"Caitlyn, these are my friends. You already know Ciara, my manager..."
Ciara waved. "Heya."
"Cals, one of my roommates from my old apartment."
"Yo."
"And this is Vivienne Rodgers and her 'friend' Xavier Cross." Dawn paused with a grin. "Hey, didn't you say that you saw Vivienne on TV last week? Something about inspiring you and giving you the motivation to come back from your slump, rallying back to that huge win of yours at Ascendancy? What a coincidence that she happens to be another former roommate and one of my best friends."
Vivienne stood and offered her hand. "Pleasure to meet you, Caitlyn! I'm just glad I could help when you needed it."
Caitlyn turned beet red as she shakily accepted the gesture. "Uh. Um. Yes. Um. Hi. You're... uh. Hi there." She turned to Dawn. "ImightneedyoutopinchmebecauseI'mnotconvincedthisisreallyhappening."
Dawn pinched Caitlyn on the back of the neck. "OW! Oh. Um. Right. It's, uh... it's nice to meet you!"
Xavier laughed. "Wow, Dawn! Didn't even warn the poor girl? She looks a bit shell-shocked."
Dawn shrugged and clapped a hand on Cait's shoulder. "Girl helped me out before in ways she didn't know. Figured I'd try to repay the gesture... but she get's so adorably flustered when she gets a good surprise."
Caitlyn turned back and gave Dawn a hug. "Thankyousomuchforinvitingme!!! This is... this is awesome. Thank you."
Dawn winked, and Vivienne and Ciara exchanged an excited look. "Any time, girl. Now come on and sit so we can order. I'm ravenous."
"I'm sure the three of you are thinking this is kind of a bullshit match, right? The three of you locked in a triple threat against the three champions of the company? The worst part is that none of you have had tremendous success here - and even though it probably doesn't sound like it, I don't mean that in a mean way. You've all struggled. You've been beaten down, taken hits, and now the three of you are put into this match? I wouldn't blame you three for thinking that this match was just an excuse for the three champions to show off for a bit. Even the name of the match, the 'Champions' Showcase' seems to reinforce that. If I were in your shoes, I'd be pissed as all hell.
Fuck, I'm not in your shoes, and I'm pissed on your behalf anyway.
Just because the three of you haven't had the same luck that some of us have doesn't mean you deserve to be locked into a match that seems designed just to make the three champions look good. I don't need help with that - none of the three of us do! We all had our chances to look large and in charge at Ascendancy, and we all did exactly that. All three of us went out there, kicked ass, took names, and earned belts. This... this just feels like gloating. And while at least one of my partners is, I'm sure, all for that sort of shit... I'm here for the fair fights. This isn't that. This is the sort of match where if I wasn't booked where I am, I'd be raising hell and rebellion, doing everything in my fucking power to make the Champions eat some fucking humility - and even though I'm on the champions side tomorrow night, I still kinda want you three to do exactly fucking that.
This isn't why I wanted to become Champion. I wanted to become champion to push myself to be better by putting it all on the line week in and week out, taking all comers and all challengers. I didn't want to become champion to step on the throats of everyone else in the roster.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying you three aren't worth my time. I mean, I'd be lying if I said I'd paid super close attention to Hungry Jack and Aiden because... well, let's be real for a moment, they're never going to be my problem unless they have some pretty heavy personal shit that they're going to work through, in which case: respect. But Cait? Fuck, girl. Cait's my best friend here. She's been shit on by people who didn't deserve to be taking those steaming dumps in the first place, but she's powered through it all and risen to become better than them. Hell, that show she put on at Ascendancy was hot fucking shit! Cait's my girl. Cait's my buddy. And while I do deeply look forward to the day when she steps up to take her shot at me in a fair fight... this isn't how I wanted it to go down. Three champions at once, and none of us were asked to put anything on the line? With people like Killian in that ring, it's going to turn into a bloodbath. And I'm not going to sit around and let it happen.
Because I love... I live... to rebel.
And that's why, come Friday Night Fury? Killian and Taane might want to watch their backs. Because I'm rooting for the underdogs, and am all outta fucks to give.
If Caitlyn steps into that ring, I'm going to give her my all and fight her as fair and formal as I possibly can. Give her the respect that I would any woman who came to challenge for my belt, because that's what I'm putting on the fucking line. But Killian and Taane? If either of them show even a speck less respect for their opponents in that ring? If they cheat or scoff or look down on their opponents even for one fucking second...
... then I'm going for the chain.
And it won't be Caitlyn, Aiden, or Hungry Jack who eats it.
If we win this match, we're going to do it fair. We're going to do it respectfully. And I absolutely will sabotage my own team if my partners decide to pull some shit that these three fighters don't deserve. I'm here because I'm always spoiling for a good, fair brawl - but if anyone, even the people who are supposedly my allies walking into this throwdown, try to take that away from me? Well then that's going to rile my temper something fierce.
And boys? Zelda, Amber, Crystal and Lizzy will tell you what happens when you piss me off. And I like them... a lot more than I like one of you.
Because Killian? You seem to really enjoy fucking with my dad. There's a pretty big part of me that really, really wants to be responsible for your first loss on this show. Because even though it'd come at the expense of my first loss, too? I always put family before business... especially when siding with family means I get to have just a bit more satisfaction.
ALL.
BLOODY.
HAIL!"