Post by Bryan Sweet on Apr 28, 2017 2:57:06 GMT
Illuminated ripples of water lap up against the edge of the pool. The night is serene and peaceful, a stark contrast to the piercing eyes of Ashleigh Grimes, her arms resting atop a hot pink inner-tube as she gazes at her reflection in the water.
“Why is it so many of you refer to yourselves as royalty? It’s my fault, isn’t it? When did nineteen become the age where inexperienced fawns are crowned champion? Again, probably my fault. I left and I apologize for that. Not that I owe you an apology but I let you down. I grew frustrated with the competition, or more accurately the LACK of competition. The endless cavalcade of contenders who left the ring as shadows of their former selves. I didn’t beat my opponents, I broke them. I held up a mirror, pointed out their flaws and humiliated them by beating them with their own moves, and while it may have been exhilarating to witness, living it was nothing short of monotonous. So I apologize if my absence created a vacuum where men like Gray Malone and Matthew Shields proclaim themselves kings while cheap knock offs like Rayven Hardy and Sarah Lacklan teeter on fragile thrones of glass.”
Ash smiles as her fingers trace a path through the water.
“Rock stars, movie stars, network stars… this HAS to be a joke?! Not me, I’m not part of the punchline. I’m a professional wrestler. Oh wait, my bad… I’m a fucking housewife.”
Her head falls back on the tube as she gazes up at the stars and scoffs.
“I WAS a housewife and I was happy… but then the biggest bitch of them all had to open his mouth. My husband told the world that I couldn’t cut it in this business. He gave credence to the hollow words of haters, words I’d ignored so many times before.”
Ash exhales and focuses on the camera.
“You think I’m scared, Sarah? You think I ran from you? I couldn’t be bothered with you and soon you’ll see why. Smacking you down on Twitter is amusing and takes but a moment of my time. Standing in the ring and dragging your pale lifeless corpse from one corner to the next while trying to give people their money’s worth takes effort. Effort you’re not worth. But kudos to you Sarah and kudos to Jay and Gavin as well. You did it. You brought me back. You hovered around the steaming pile of shit this business has become and you buzzed and buzzed until FINALLY I had to stand up and swat you away. So here I am… not a queen… not a champion. I don’t play in a band and I don’t post provocative gifs while flaunting my sexual preference to the masses. Wrestling is ONE of your professions, it’s my ONLY profession. You proclaim yourself the red queen of Lackland. Me? I’m a lowly orphan. If this were a monarchy I’d pay deference to you, but it isn’t. You tout your willingness to take on any and all comers, win or lose. That’s where we’re the same. I took on everyone they placed in my path but unlike you I BEAT THEM ALL. You’re happy just being in the game, Sarah. You make a good showing, flash your wit and move on to the next opponent, maybe you’ll win, maybe you’ll lose… it doesn’t matter. Only it does. It matters to me because I gave every day of my life to this business from the age of fourteen. I deserved that break. And now?”
She laughs as she starts to spin in a circle.
“Now I get to play the role of a lifetime, worthy of a Circle Network original, as I ACT like you deserve to stand in the ring with me, while I PRETEND you pose a threat. You, a part-time wrestler who’s happy just putting up a fight. Congratulations Sarah, you made it. Welcome to the big time. Step into the spotlight and if your porcelain skin doesn’t singe from the heat, bask in it. Enjoy your moment, because that’s all it’ll be. The impression I leave on you will be lasting while for me you’re nothing but a blip on the radar. You like to talk about my circle of friends but it looks like you surround yourself with a pretty tight clique. No judgment. I’m glad they’ll be there for you. You’ll need them. Sarah Lacklan and Guilty Pleasure may be headliners in the world of music but in THIS world you’re nothing more than the opening act for the return of Ashleigh Grimes.”
She smiles mischievously.
“Oh wait you said I WAS Grimes? Bitch, I was Ashleigh fucking Jericho… don’t worry, you won’t ever forget again.”
“Why is it so many of you refer to yourselves as royalty? It’s my fault, isn’t it? When did nineteen become the age where inexperienced fawns are crowned champion? Again, probably my fault. I left and I apologize for that. Not that I owe you an apology but I let you down. I grew frustrated with the competition, or more accurately the LACK of competition. The endless cavalcade of contenders who left the ring as shadows of their former selves. I didn’t beat my opponents, I broke them. I held up a mirror, pointed out their flaws and humiliated them by beating them with their own moves, and while it may have been exhilarating to witness, living it was nothing short of monotonous. So I apologize if my absence created a vacuum where men like Gray Malone and Matthew Shields proclaim themselves kings while cheap knock offs like Rayven Hardy and Sarah Lacklan teeter on fragile thrones of glass.”
Ash smiles as her fingers trace a path through the water.
“Rock stars, movie stars, network stars… this HAS to be a joke?! Not me, I’m not part of the punchline. I’m a professional wrestler. Oh wait, my bad… I’m a fucking housewife.”
Her head falls back on the tube as she gazes up at the stars and scoffs.
“I WAS a housewife and I was happy… but then the biggest bitch of them all had to open his mouth. My husband told the world that I couldn’t cut it in this business. He gave credence to the hollow words of haters, words I’d ignored so many times before.”
Ash exhales and focuses on the camera.
“You think I’m scared, Sarah? You think I ran from you? I couldn’t be bothered with you and soon you’ll see why. Smacking you down on Twitter is amusing and takes but a moment of my time. Standing in the ring and dragging your pale lifeless corpse from one corner to the next while trying to give people their money’s worth takes effort. Effort you’re not worth. But kudos to you Sarah and kudos to Jay and Gavin as well. You did it. You brought me back. You hovered around the steaming pile of shit this business has become and you buzzed and buzzed until FINALLY I had to stand up and swat you away. So here I am… not a queen… not a champion. I don’t play in a band and I don’t post provocative gifs while flaunting my sexual preference to the masses. Wrestling is ONE of your professions, it’s my ONLY profession. You proclaim yourself the red queen of Lackland. Me? I’m a lowly orphan. If this were a monarchy I’d pay deference to you, but it isn’t. You tout your willingness to take on any and all comers, win or lose. That’s where we’re the same. I took on everyone they placed in my path but unlike you I BEAT THEM ALL. You’re happy just being in the game, Sarah. You make a good showing, flash your wit and move on to the next opponent, maybe you’ll win, maybe you’ll lose… it doesn’t matter. Only it does. It matters to me because I gave every day of my life to this business from the age of fourteen. I deserved that break. And now?”
She laughs as she starts to spin in a circle.
“Now I get to play the role of a lifetime, worthy of a Circle Network original, as I ACT like you deserve to stand in the ring with me, while I PRETEND you pose a threat. You, a part-time wrestler who’s happy just putting up a fight. Congratulations Sarah, you made it. Welcome to the big time. Step into the spotlight and if your porcelain skin doesn’t singe from the heat, bask in it. Enjoy your moment, because that’s all it’ll be. The impression I leave on you will be lasting while for me you’re nothing but a blip on the radar. You like to talk about my circle of friends but it looks like you surround yourself with a pretty tight clique. No judgment. I’m glad they’ll be there for you. You’ll need them. Sarah Lacklan and Guilty Pleasure may be headliners in the world of music but in THIS world you’re nothing more than the opening act for the return of Ashleigh Grimes.”
She smiles mischievously.
“Oh wait you said I WAS Grimes? Bitch, I was Ashleigh fucking Jericho… don’t worry, you won’t ever forget again.”