Post by ned on Oct 8, 2020 12:13:46 GMT -5
sometimes i justify the words i spill
like spitting embers they spoke and kill
outside my troubles are colder
but in these eyes the melody smolders
✩
Sometimes we let tragedy define us. Whether personal… professional… geographical… political. Tragedy has a lasting effect beyond just initial grief. It has been the worst kept secret that my life is in shambles. I have made little attempt to paint on a happy face to appease the world. The most devastating moment of my life has had a trickle down effect in some profound ways.
And yet… I carry on. For my daughter. For my family. For my fans. For my tag team partner. For the memory of my late husband. It might be an easier time if this wasn't my first year back in the ring since my neck surgery a few years back. I've only been back at it since May… and I haven't quite found my footing yet. I was on the cusp of reviving what was once a top tier career… and then tragedy struck.
I had no intention on wandering from my path as a contracted performer on CruiserClash over in Action Wrestling. Then fate steered me in a different direction by allowing Derrick Vayden and I to become APW Tag Team Champions. We came over here to defend the gold and I assumed our time here would be spent as a team… but then… the suits had other plans for us. You either adapt or you die… right? Well... if there's one thing I excel at this year… it's adapting. This coming Monday… the Child of Fate will dive into the deep end against the APW Junior Heavyweight Champion… Renaissance Taylor.
Wow.
Have you seen this girl in action? Of course you have! Breathtaking introduction at Alpha Showdown. Dominant performances against Von Vagabond… Sara Cross… Alex Scott… my little brother Ricky Schorg… Elliott Siscoe… and of course Giggles! I've watched her closely and dreamed about a match against her… and here we are. First time ever encounter between Renaissance Taylor and Sara Pettis. This is the kind of stuff the world should be buzzing about… but it's almost like the world doesn't know we exist. We're off in this corner trying to act tough… and it's just not… I don't know… clicking.
I've been a fan of Alpha Pro Wrestling since my husband came here for the Royal Rumble that kicked off 2020 with a bang. There used to be such enthusiasm for this company and it just doesn't… click… anymore. Every week the roster looks drastically different than the week before… and that could explain why I have been asked to compete against Renaissance Taylor. Of course I'm up for the challenge… but it seems like weird timing to me. Was there really nobody left to fight her? She deserves top tier talent… not someone who can barely hold herself together.
Sure, this match looks great on paper. The fans will love it and people will watch it on Netflix. But a week later… will any of it matter? We will head in different directions toward title defenses at Killing Floor. Our paths will not be altered by a win or a loss. Though a win over her would put me in good standing for a title match in the near future. But if Derrick and I lose our titles at Killing Floor… our short-term contracts are up. So… uhh... I don't know where I was going with that.
Sorry.
I was just thinking about how cool it'll be to share the ring with Renaissance Taylor. It will be the ultimate test of my own resilience and adaptability. She is a legitimate badass fighter. Various forms of martial arts. I've only dabbled in martial arts… and I always wondered what it would've been like to continue my training. Now is the chance to test myself and push to my breaking point. Having seen her in action here… I have a feeling she will have no qualms about going down whatever path necessary to secure success.
She's really good and I'm envious of her talent at such a young age. It sounds so fan-girl of me… which admittedly is strange. I was born into this business. I started training in 2007 and worked full-time all over the world until 2014. I took five years off following neck surgery. Now I'm in awe of this girl and all of the tools at her disposal. No, not girl. She is a strong, intelligent, independent woman. The driving force in the revival of my career has been empowering women in this industry. That is my intent her as well.
Renaissance Taylor, you are undoubtedly the future of our beloved industry. In such a short period of time, you have taken Alpha Pro Wrestling by storm. Your debut at Alpha Showdown was everything that any of us could dream of for an introduction to a new audience. You eliminated three people before being eliminated by the current APW World Champion. What an unbelievably cool way to start your career here! That set you on a journey toward a bizarrely entertaining match with Giggles! Wow! How are you not celebrating your undefeated and unstoppable run every single day?!
I know it's typical "bad for business" to spend so much effort putting over my opponent. That's just my… thing… I guess. Game recognize game, right. Hopefully you take this all as a compliment and not as some sort of mind game, Ren. Can I call you Ren? It's easier to get out. I do admire the notion of a Renaissance though. That's how I see my recently revived career. I'm trying to recapture the magic that drove me to multiple World Titles earlier in my career… while also growing and adapting to new challenges.
You'll find as you immerse yourself deeper in this often unpredictable sport that some people… many people, in fact… only care about breaking down their opponents. Physically. Mentally. Emotionally. Sometimes even spiritually. That's not my bag, baby. I go a different route… and that often comes off as aloofness toward my enthusiasm for competition. I’m not much of a shooter, as they say. Instead the ring… it’s a totally different story. When my music plays… all of these pleasantries get pushed beneath the surface until the final bell. That’s when I go from regular ol’ Sara to “Sara Pettis, Child of Fate”.
She is someone you do not want to cross, Ren. If need be… she can be ruthless… cunning… manipulative. She goes to a place within herself that is filled with darkness and the results are not hugs and kisses as I’ve alluded to already. She is a very dangerous person to be up against because no matter how you try to prepare… she will always… always... be on the verge of going the extra mile. Risks be damned. Consequences be damned. She is capable of flipping that switch and cutting off all remorse for her actions… if that is what the situation calls for.
My sincere advice is that you tread lightly, Ren. While I am filled with abundant joy that we have this opportunity to make wrestle next week, I know that it doesn't take much these days to push me to a point of no return. The tragedy of losing my husband has done some surprising things to my psyche. Some of which I don't totally comprehend yet. Until I am fully capable of understanding and controlling what's become of me... it's just... wiser... to not rock the boat. You seem like a smart girl, Ren. I'm sorry. I did it again. You seem like a smart woman. I wish you nothing but the best in your future endeavors... but just think about the possible ramifications of crossing a potentially dangerous line.
What kind of substantial damage could I do to your reign as Junior Heavyweight Champion? You can't imagine. What would happen to your overall legacy if I were to be pushed to the point of no return? You can't imagine. What are you prepared to do if things go down an unforeseen path next week? You... can't... imagine. For all of the things you know or you've seen or you've experienced... you can't imagine what is entirely possible when you meet up with a once and future queen of this industry. The battles you've engaged in so far against Von... Elliott... even Giggles... they pale in comparison to what's coming.
Fate is an amazing thing. It brought me great tragedy... but also a renaissance of my career. I have come too far to only come this far. While I am primarily here until my reign as Tag Team Champion is concluded... there's no telling what fate has in store for me beyond that.
What kind of substantial damage could I do to your reign as Junior Heavyweight Champion? You can't imagine. What would happen to your overall legacy if I were to be pushed to the point of no return? You can't imagine. What are you prepared to do if things go down an unforeseen path next week? You... can't... imagine. For all of the things you know or you've seen or you've experienced... you can't imagine what is entirely possible when you meet up with a once and future queen of this industry. The battles you've engaged in so far against Von... Elliott... even Giggles... they pale in comparison to what's coming.
Fate is an amazing thing. It brought me great tragedy... but also a renaissance of my career. I have come too far to only come this far. While I am primarily here until my reign as Tag Team Champion is concluded... there's no telling what fate has in store for me beyond that.
✩
i know the whispers they hurt sometimes
they swell and fracture my vital light
but can't you see the sanity in my epiphany
let me cure these blackened hearts
