Family Matters: Part 2

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Family Matters

Part 2 ; Scene 1

Off Camera

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They say that even in troubling times, all you need to do to stay positive is just look for the silver lining in the dark clouds.  Julia Braddock, in her return to the Independent Wrestling Cartel, has not had that great of a run.  She has had a draw with Cassandra Mason, a loss to Tina Valentine, and then a loss in a tag team match to Alana Starr and Tina Valentine.  Heading into the IWC pay per view, Last Stand, this could be a huge confidence killer.  One could use momentum to win the Last Stand Rumble and right now Julia Braddock has none.

Yet there is quite a bit to celebrate, if you just look past the dark clouds and look for those silver linings.  Julia Braddock is still free and, despite the losses, has made quite the headway towards redeeming the Braddock name.  She does get to participate in the Last Stand Rumble itself and it doesn’t matter whether you have a winning streak or whether you haven’t won a match in years, this one rumble style match is like the winning lottery ticket to greatness.  Winning this one match catapults you into a world championship match against the top wrestler in the world today at the grandest show of them all…

….Olympus.

Wait what?  Something is amiss here.  Winning the Last Stand Rumble earns you a shot at the IWC World Championship at IWC Invictus, correct?

Normally it would.  But things are different this year.  This year IWC experimented with a brand extension.  A Riot Brand and the new Uprising Brand.  The experiment was a success, as was the ever-popular Uprising Brand.  In fact, Uprising was so successful and so popular that Drew Bryant and new Uprising General Manager David Helms decided to break away from IWC altogether and form its own company; the Uprising Wrestling Alliance.  The break will become official as of Last Stand where Uprising and IWC superstars compete against one another for the first time and, if an Uprising superstar wins, that individual will earn a shot at the world champion at Uprising’s first solo pay per view Olympus.  This opportunity doesn’t come often and it is an opportunity for Julia to impress the wrestling world and show the Uprising roster that she is back and that she is just as good and formidable as ever before.

There are other reasons to celebrate as well and perhaps this is why Braddock family friend Francis Taylor is hosting a grand dinner party in honor of not only Julia Braddock for her intrepid return to the world of pro-wrestling but also for Francis’s brother Matthew Bowden, for his own return to pro-wrestling.  He is a recently signed member of the IWC roster.  He will not be going to Uprising with Julia, he will be staying on Riot, but nevertheless this is a rare opportunity for him as well.  Not to win, necessarily, as he really doesn’t care about winning, but just to get out there in front of the fans and enjoy himself as he entertains them in the only way he knows how.

The grand ball room at Francis Taylor’s estate is exquisitely decorated with an oriental style carpeting. The walls look as if they were layered in gold but we know that can’t be, for even Francis Taylor, as rich as she is, can’t afford that much gold.   Eight grandiose diamond-decorated chandeliers hang overhead from the high ceiling.

Julia Braddock is standing near the entrance dressed in a crimson embellished metallic sheath lace dress.  The luminous sequins and metallic threads highlight the embroidered lace blossoming atop a scalloped sheath.  Tonal bands crisscrossing the waist accentuate a feminine silhouette.  She is perched atop strappy silver high heeled shoes.  Her long blonde hair is pulled up in the back.  The young Braddock watches as the party goers mingle.  She is actually quite surprised at the turnout for Francis Taylor’s party.  Granted Francis, like her brother Matt, knows how to throw a party, but she was expecting primarily the close inner circle to attend this party; namely her cousin Glory Braddock and Glory’s husband Kurt, Glory’s father and Julia’s uncle and trainer Glenn Braddock, Julia’s agent Dr. Henry Van Stanton, Braddock family friend  and Francis’s brother and IWC roster member Matthew Bowden as well as Matthew’s girlfriend Helen Martin.  That was it.

And yes, they all attended the party.  Well, all but Glenn.  Julia was disappointed that Glenn did not make it.  But she was just as surprised to see that oh so many others did attend.  Many of these people she sees mingling and socializing and dancing to the sweet tunes being played on the speakers by the DJ, many of these people she has not seen before in her life.

“Funny isn’t it?”

“Huh?”

Julia was deep in thought and thus was startled as she turns to see her close friend Matthew Bowden standing next to her with a glass of champagne in hand.  A wide smirk is on his face.  In typing Matthew Bowden fashion, he is bucking the trend.  He isn’t dressed to the “T” as Francis requested for this nice party.  The Show Stealer of IWC is wearing denim jeans, tennis shoes, and a black “IWC” t-shirt.  A smug look is written across his face.  But it isn’t arrogance or cockiness.  This is just Bowden being his normal self.  He wants to get reactions out of people but he won’t get a reaction out of any of the Braddock women.  They know how he is and they are used to him, especially Julia.  Julia and Matthew used to play pranks on one another all the time.  In fact, some thought they would get together some day.  But that was before Matthew met Helen Martin.

“What’s funny?”

Julia asks, looking confusingly at Matthew.  Bowden just responds by nodding in the direction of the other party-goers, the same people Julia had been staring at earlier before Bowden came along and interrupted her thoughts.

“Them.  I mean, this is supposed to be a party for you and me and Glory but do you know them?”

Julia frowns as she thinks about it for a moment.  She then shakes her head.

“No, I don’t recognize any of them.”

“I didn’t think so.”   Bowden answers.  “And Glory doesn’t know any of them, either.  I just got through asking her.”

“Do you know them?”

Matthew Bowden chuckles and nods his head.

“Yep…”

Julia grins curiously, anxiously, and turns around to face Matt.

“Well out with it!  Who are they?”

“Those are executives from Taylor Incorporated as well as the Board of Directors.”

“Oh…”

Julia looks somewhat disappointed.  She is disappointed in the fact that Francis Taylor would invite her business partners to a party for her and Glory and Matt.  Matthew Bowden then points to two Chinese men in suits.

“See those two guys?”

“Yeah…”

“Those are two of her foreign investors.  Quite frankly, anyone not British you can bet are probably her foreign business partners.”

Julia sighs and shakes her head.

“Why would she invite her business partners to this party?”

Helen Martin, Matthew’s girlfriend approaches and stands next to Julia, placing a hand on her shoulder.  Julia turns to face the woman who is wearing an eyelash lace sheath dress that stops just above the knee with three-quarter inch sleeves.  Helen is perched atop matching pink high heeled pumps.  A knowing grin is on her face.

“That’s just how his sister is, sweetie.  You should know that better than I do.”

Julia smiles politely at Helen.

“Yeah, I guess I should.  But still…”

“Eh, don’t let my stick in the mud sister get you down.” Matthew begins. “Just enjoy the party!”

“Matt’s right.” Helen says in agreement. “Enjoy the party.  Find someone to dance with!”

“Speaking of…” Matthew extends a hand to Helen “…shall we?”

Helen nods her head before taking her boyfriend Matthew’s hand.

“Yes, let’s!”

With that, Matthew escorts Helen out to the dance floor.  Julia watches them walk away and watches them as they begin to sway back and forth to the beat of the music.  The young Braddock wishes she could take Helen and Matt’s advice and just enjoy herself but she can’t seem to do so.  The people and environment just seems so wrong to her.  Something doesn’t feel right about this and it makes her want to run away.  But this is a party for her in her honor and she can’t just walk away.   It would be impolite.  Yet that fact doesn’t seem to bother Matthew and Helen as they continue to cut a rug out on the dance floor.

Perhaps she would be able to enjoy herself more if her uncle and trainer Glenn Braddock had showed up for this party.  This party is being thrown by Francis Taylor in honor of his own daughter Glory Braddock and yet he’s not here to celebrate her.  This party is being thrown for Julia, Glenn’s niece and protégé, and yet he still couldn’t find time to show up for this party?  Julia would like to think that something happened to him, that something is wrong, but she knows better.  She knows where he is.  Glenn is where he always is.  Glenn is at the Braddock Wrestling School.  Moping.  Staying to himself.

Maybe she should be with Glenn right now preparing for the Last Stand Rumble?  If she were to spend this much time training then maybe she would have a better chance of winning the rumble match itself.  And yet another part of her tells her that as important as it is to win the rumble match and to have a successful wrestling career, her career cannot be everything.  She doesn’t want to be like Glenn Braddock where she eats, sleeps, and breathes wrestling.  She wants to enjoy herself and to have a social life.   But at the same time she doesn’t want to be like her friend Matthew Bowden whose attitude towards wrestling is borderline disrespectful.  She wants to find a happy medium.  She wants to enjoy herself while at the same time being successful.  Is that too much to ask?

“Is something wrong?”

Julia is startled again as she turns around again, this time to find her agent, Dr. Henry Van Stanton, standing there next to her.  A glass of wine is in his hand.  He has a friendly smile on his face.   The good doctor is wearing a mostly dark purple suit and tie combination.  The presence of Henry Van Stanton, like Bowden and Helen earlier, makes Julia feel more at ease.

“Oh, it’s nothing, Doctor.”

“It’s nothing, is it?”

Henry runs a finger down her cheek.

“That ‘nothing’ has made you look quite sad.”

Julia sighs.

“Am I that obvious?”

“Yes, and it isn’t polite to be sad at a party in your honor.”

Henry quickly downs the last of his wine (which wasn’t much) and then places the glass down on a nearby table.  He turns back to face Julia, smiling down at her in a manner that is almost fatherly in appearance.

“So tell me…what’s wrong?”

Julia motions with her arms to the people, the strangers she and Bowden were talking about earlier.

“These people…”

Next she motions up towards the ceiling up at the chandelier.  She touches the walls with their golden appearance.

“…this décor…this whole environment…it makes me feel uncomfortable, Doctor.  It’s just all wrong.  All of it.”

“Why is it wrong?”

“Because it isn’t me!”

Julia looks over at the front of the room, where the DJ is located.  She finds Francis Taylor approaching the stage.  She motions towards Francis.

“Francis is supposed to be throwing this party in my honor, in Glory’s honor, and in Matt’s honor, but does this represent any of us?”

She shakes her head.

“I don’t know about Glory, she’s changed, but as for me and Matt, this does not represent us!”

Henry chuckles as he looks around, taking in the surroundings himself.

“It is quite the grandiose affair and the decorations…all of it is indeed fit, dare I say, for a Queen…”

Julia glares angrily at him.

“Don’t say that, Henry.”

“Why not?”

“Because…umm…”

“I am a Doctor, but it doesn’t take a PhD to figure out that this grandiose atmosphere reminds you of the royal treatment you received when you were forcibly transformed into Aphrodite Noel’s daughter.  The golden walls and diamond chandeliers remind you of the monster known as Queen Julia Noel that you have tried so hard to bury.”

Julia nods her head slowly and sadly as tears form in her eyes.  Henry takes her into his arms and hugs her tightly.  A loud booming voice over the microphone interrupts them, causing them to break the embrace…

“May I have your attention please?!”

Francis Taylor is on stage with the DJ and is on the microphone.  The dancing and music has talked, as has the socializing and mingling from the other party-goers.  Everyone, including Julia and Henry, have now turned their attention towards Francis Taylor, the host of this party.

“First of all I would like to thank the Board of Directors at Taylor Incorporated for allowing me the use of this ballroom to throw this party, a party in honor of three people very close to me, very near and dear to my heart.  First my brother, Matthew Taylor…”

“THAT’S BOWDEN TO YOU, WOMAN!”

Julia can’t help but giggle.  That shout could only have come from Matthew Bowden who is still on the dance floor with Helen.  Francis doesn’t think it is as funny, for she barely manages to maintain her composure.

“Right…but my brother Matthew, while he may not have been interested in the family business, still proudly represents us in the sport of professional wrestling and I wish him luck in the upcoming IWC Last Stand Rumble!”

The crowd applauds loudly.

“And while they may not be my family, the Braddock family has been incredibly close to the Taylor family for a long time, so close that we have almost been like family.  This is why I want to recognize two individuals, Glory Braddock and her cousin Julia.”

She motions towards Julia, who stands in the back of the room with Henry.  Julia blushes furiously.

“Julia recently returned to active wrestling competition and, like my brother Matthew, will be competing in the Last Stand Rumble.  I wish her the best of luck as well!”

Another loud ovation from the crowd can be heard.

“All three of you have meant so much to me.  I wish all three of you the best of luck in the future, especially you Julia and you Matt, as you two prepare to compete in the Last Stand Rumble!”

With that said the crowd applauds one final time and so does Francis Taylor before she steps away from the microphone and then steps off of the stage.  Julia turns to face Henry and she is smiling.  Henry smiles as well.

“See that, Julia?  These people here, whether you know them or not, are celebrating you for who you ARE not for who you WERE.  We live in the here and now, not in the past.”

“But isn’t it important to learn from the past?”

Henry nods his head.

“Indeed it is.  If we do not learn from the past we are doomed to repeat the past.  But you are not tied down to your past.  You can break away.  That’s what you are doing now.  Win or lose, you can do just that in the Last Stand Rumble.  You can break away from your past.  You can remind everyone that you are not the same person you once were.  But…”

Julia frowns and blinks a few times curiously.

“But what?”

“You still have a loose end from your past you need to tie up.”

“What’s that?”

“Aphrodite.”

Julia sighs and nods her head.

“I know.  I have yet to sit down and have that heart to heart Glory had with her.”

“You have your chance.  Aphrodite is here tonight.”

Julia’s eyes grow wide.

“You’re kidding?”

Henry shakes his head.

“I’m not kidding.  I saw her near the drink table a few minutes ago.  I think you should go talk to her.”

“Do I have to?  I’m afraid.”

Henry places his hand upon her shoulders.

“Don’t be afraid.  Things are different now.  Trust me.”

Julia spots Aphrodite standing off to herself by the punch bowl.  Smiling warmly and politely Julia approaches her former “mother” and embraces her in a hug.

“I am so glad you made it, Aphrodite!”

“I...”

Aphrodite hesitates. She wasn’t sure it was a good idea to show up. The former queen appreciated the invitation. The tail end of her ‘motherhood’ was a disaster. She pushed Julia, who used to be her friend before Aphrodite’s thirst for power and a makeshift family consumed her. And she blames herself for the trauma Glory Braddock went through. The important this is she’s at the party. A good sign.

“I’m glad to be here.”

Julia laughs lightly.

“I think we both could use a little awkwardness taken off the situation.”

Julia looks around at the people here.

“I mean, this isn’t exactly my idea of a good time.  Too upscale for my tastes.  But I could hardly turn down Francis when she’s going to so much trouble.”

“Today is about you and Gloria. I’m proud of you both for taking the necessary steps to reclaims your life.”

Aphrodite says with a genuine smile.

“Thanks.  I had a lot of help from my uncle Glenn and Henry but I managed.  Though now that you mention Glory…”

Julia frowns nervously.

“...you do realize that she has taken no steps towards changing her legal status as your daughter, right?  She uses the Braddock name but her legal status has not changed.”

Aphrodite’s eyes widen. Hearing that bit of news shocks her.

“Gloria is a busy woman. I’ll assist anyway I can to make things right.”

Aphrodite’s eyes scan the room.

“Does Glenn still want to kick my butt for everything I put your family through. I’ll find somewhere to hide.”

Julia shakes her head.

“You’re fine.  And as far as Glory is concerned, she’s not brainwashed.  It’s more complicated than that.  I was hoping you might know something, actually.  I asked her why she hadn’t made the change and she said she had major issues with her biological mother, my aunt Mary Ford.  She seems like such a sweet woman, though, I can’t think of anything she could have done that would upset Glory so much that she’d make such a...um...protest?”

“There history is complicated, Julia. Not my place to go into it. Gloria doesn’t do anything without good reason. Her reasoning is valid.”

“I’ll try to accept that.”

Julia places a hand on Aphrodite’s shoulder.

“And try to understand that I have forgiven you.  Let’s move past this.   Ok?”

“I agree. Before Brittany (Kayl) you were the best friend I ever had, well.. my only friend. I want that for us again. Don’t know how successful I’ll be turning over a new leaf. Have my doubts but.. I’m trying. Chris (Davids) helps keep my grounded. You and Gloria will always be family to me. I’m ready to move forward.”

“And I want us to remain a family.” Julia smiles. “Just like it used to be.”

A familiar voice is heard not far away…

“Family reunion?”

It’s Glory Braddock, carrying a glass of champagne with her as she approaches Julia and Aphrodite.  She stands with the two women, smiling from ear to ear.  Glory is wearing an irresistible long black maxi dress.  That dress itself is a solid black but her long sleeves are of black see-through lace.  Her feet are encased in black strappy high heeled shoes.

“Some party, eh?”

Aphrodite nods.

“Yes. Anytime the three of us are in the same room is truly a blessing.”

“Julia!  Julia!”

Julia turns away from Aphrodite and Glory to find Francis Taylor approaching quickly, trotting along as fast as she can in her four inch heels.  The rest of her is wearing a tight form-fitting little black sequined sleeveless dress.  Her long blonde hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.  Julia, while still a little upset with Francis, forces a polite smile upon her face.  Francis meant well and was only trying to do something good for her.

“Hi, Francis!  Great party!”

“Julia…”

Francis, finally making it to Julia, stops and pauses to catch her breath.  Julia frowns.

“Is everything ok?”

Francis shakes her head.

“No, you need to leave.”

Julia blinks curiously.

“Why?  What’s wrong?”

“I just got a call from Glenn.”

Julia’s face goes pale.  The worst possible scenarios flow through her head as she notices the horrified look on Francis’s face.  Is her uncle ok?  What’s wrong with Glenn?  Is there a more disturbing reason why he couldn’t make it to the party?  Has he been hurt?

“Is my uncle ok?”

“I don’t know.  He just called and said he needs to speak with you.  He seemed so very cryptic…”

“Cryptic isn’t Glenn Braddock.”

Francis nods her head.

“I know.  That’s why you just need to go and see him.  Now.”

Julia sighs.

“Is he at the school?”

“Yes, just go outside and tell my chauffer where to go.  He’ll take you.”

Julia nods and makes her exit.  The worst of thoughts are still running wild through her head.  Anything could happen.  Anything at all.

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Family Matters

Part 2 ; Scene 2

Off Camera

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The Braddock Wrestling School is an amazing sight in the daylight.  Students who attend the school are struck by the near run-down appearance of the legendary establishment, an establishment that still pumps out some of the best wrestlers in the world today.  In the moonlight of night time in London, England it is almost a fearful sight.  It looks like a place you want to avoid for fear of being mugged.  But for Julia Braddock this place is neither an awe-inspiring sight nor is it a fearful sight.  Whether it is daytime or nighttime, this place for Julia Braddock is simply home.  This building contains wonderful memories of her, Glory, and Matthew training together, learning the tools of the trade together under the infamous Glenn Braddock.  It also contains bad memories, memories of Julia becoming weak and resorting to drugs in order to deal with the pressure of living up to the Braddock name.  This place reminds her of the time she came crawling back to Glenn Braddock and begged him for his forgiveness and asked to be allowed back to the Braddock family.  For Julia Braddock, whether memories are good or bad, this place will always be like a second home to her.  This is why she is not afraid of it nor is she intimidated by it as the fancy black Lexus pulls up in the parking lot in the dead of night.

The only thing that frightens Julia is the fear of what might be wrong.  Glenn Braddock had called and specifically asked for Julia to come by the school and speak to him.  Glenn Braddock is a man obsessed with training and no doubt he probably thinks Julia would have been better served skipping the party and training and preparing for the Last Stand Rumble instead.  But Glenn is not a man who would make cryptic phone calls in order to trick into the school to workout and train.  He would tell her to her face what she needed to do and if she chose to ignore his advice then, in his mind, the consequences would be upon her shoulders.  Glenn Braddock is a man who believes that people control their own destinies and so he would not try tricking Julia in this manner.

Could he be hurt or injured?  That is a distinct possibility.  The only problem with that theory is why did he call Julia and not the local doctors?  Or why not even call his own daughter at the very least?  Why call his niece if he is injured?  Perhaps someone is holding him hostage or is robbing the school and he needs assistance?  But why wouldn’t he have called the police?   Glenn is not one to put his family needlessly in jeopardy.  Everything Julia can think of seems to be shot down as not really possible if you truly know Glenn Braddock and the type of man he is.  Still, he did call and he asked for Julia.  So Julia dropped everything and came.

She wasn’t enjoying that party anyway.

Julia exits the backseat door.  She walks over to the driver’s side and hands Francis Taylor’s chauffer some cash.

“Thank you.  Please wait here, I hope this won’t take long.”

With that, Julia turns and walks towards the school.  She walks with a purpose and a clear determination in her stride until she gets to the front door.   She stops and pushes it open.  She finds the lights are dimly lit and no one is anywhere in sight.  Equipment is strewn about.  It looks like a warzone.

But then again…that’s normal…

“Glenn!” Julia exclaims loudly. “Uncle Glenn!  Where are you?!”

There is no sight of him and no answer back to her demand.  Julia notices the office light is turned on.  She turns and walks towards the office.  The only sound that is heard is the sound of her high heels clicking across the hard concrete floor.  Julia makes it to the office door and shoves it open just as she did the front door.  Immediately she finds Glenn Braddock sitting there at his desk with one arm folded across the other.  Glenn is staring blankly ahead.  Julia stares back at him.  She has never seen him like this and is growing more and more concerned by the second.

“Uncle Glenn?”

“Julia?”

“Yes, it’s me.  Are you ok?”

Glenn sighs and nods his head.

“I’m fine.” He motions to a chair near his desk. “Please, sit down.”

That feeling of nervousness and concern grows. This just isn’t like Glenn Braddock.  Glenn Braddock is a modern day human form of Godzilla who doesn’t give a shit about anyone or anything.  Yet here he is, looking like he is about to break down.  Nevertheless, Julia Braddock sits down in the chair and stares at her uncle.

“What’s wrong, Uncle Glenn?  Francis said something was wrong.”

“I love you, Julia.”

Julia blinks furiously.  This was a shock.  Glenn never says those three words.  He rarely even tells his own daughter Glory that he loves her.

“You’re scaring me, Uncle Glenn.  Tell me what’s wrong.”

“What’s wrong?” Glenn chuckles. “Bloody fucking hell, there’s a great deal wrong with this situation right now, but the biggest thing that’s wrong right now is the truth.”

Julia shakes her head.

“You’re not making any sense.  What do you mean the truth is what’ s wrong?”

“The truth is what’s wrong with this because you haven’t been told the truth for a long arse time, Julia, and bloody hell, you deserve it.  I just…”

Glenn slaps himself across the forehead.

“…I just feel like shit that I had to be forced into it.”

“You were forced into it?”

Glenn nods his head.

“Your damn manager said he would tell you if I didn’t and quite frankly, you should hear it from your family.”

Julia cocks her head to one side as she studies Glenn closely and intensely.  This doesn’t feel right to her but she remains quiet and watches as he stands up from his desk.  Glenn begins to pace the floor like a caged lion as he begins his story.

“Your mother…”

“What about her?”

“She’s alive.”

Julia shakes her head.

“No, she’s not.  She passed away a few years ago.  Remember?  I was at her bedside when she breathed her last breath.”

“It would be nice story if that were true,” Glenn begins “but that was not your mother.  That was your step-mother.”

“How is that possible?” Julia demands. “It just doesn’t make sense.  I’ve known her all my life.”

“You only know what me and your father wanted you to know.  Your father and your mother separated shortly after you were born and then your father hooked up with the woman who would become your step-mother.”

Julia stares at Glenn, who is still pacing the floor.  She takes this all in and tries to consider the possibility.  Would Glenn Braddock lie?  He’s saying he did back then but is he lying now?

“Tell me then, if this is true, is my real mother still alive?”

“Yes, she is.”

“Who is she?”

“That’s even harder to explain.”

Julia stands up and approaches her uncle.  She stops him from pacing and places hands upon his shoulders.

“Start at the beginning.”

Glenn sighs deeply.  Clearly he is troubled and isn’t sure he wants to finish this.

“My wife and I separated.  I told you that it was because wrestling took up too much of my time.  I told you that she hated wrestling keeping us apart and that she left me as a result.”

“Yeah…”

“Think about it.  She left our daughter Gloria in my care.  What mother would do that?  Not any normal mother.  But she wasn’t normal by any stretch of the imagination.  She hated the thought of having children and being bound to a family.  So she began having an affair…”

Julia’s eyes grow wide as she senses where this is going.  She shakes her head.

“No…don’t say it, Glenn…”

“She had an affair with my brother Peter…”

Julia shakes her head vehemently.   Tears are forming in her eyes.

“So Glory is my…”

“She is your half-sister.  Yes.”

Julia turns her back to Glenn and just continues to shake her head.

“No…everything I was told was a lie…”

“Julia, I’m sorry…”

He reaches out to try and comfort her but Julia turns and slaps him across the face.

“Don’t you dare talk to me!”

“I said I’m sorry!”

“Sorry isn’t good enough when you’ve been lied to your entire life! I don’t even know who I am anymore!”

“You’re Julia Braddock!”

“But what the hell does that mean?!”

With that Julia Braddock turns back around and storms out of the office.

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Glory Braddock

On Camera

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My name is Glory Braddock and I have been given permission to tell the true story of Julia Braddock.

When my father competed all over Europe, everyone called him Britain’s Best because they know how good he was.  I wanted to continue the tradition of great Braddock wrestlers.  In my hometown, people began calling me Britain’s Best and some in the states just simply called me the Best in the World.  Now I’m not so sure about that last one but I do know I did my best to do the Braddock name and tradition proud.

Julia Braddock was always her own woman.  Unlike me and my father, who at times are obsessed about this business and its traditions, Julia just wanted to have fun with whatever it was she was doing.  Whatever she set her mined to, she wanted to have fun with it and that included pro-wrestling.

I think my father didn’t quite get that part of his niece.  He didn’t quite understand it.  He thought everyone should be like him.  That’s why forcefully pushed Matthew Bowden away from his school.  Bowden didn’t care at all about winning.  He still doesn’t.  But at least Julia does care about winning, she just always wanted to have fun too.  But my father didn’t get the difference and anytime she lost a match or anytime she failed in a training activity he would be hard on her.  But then again, he was hard on all of us students.  But I guess he was especially hard upon her and he eventually broke her.  Julia lost that aspect of her personality that made her unique.  She forgot what it meant to have fun and she just focused only on trying to live up to the high standards and expectations of the Braddock family.

She resorted to drugs in order to try and take the pressure off of her and try to take her mind off all the stresses.  Aphrodite Noel found out and blackmailed her, holding that knowledge over her head.  Eventually she brainwashed her and made her into her daughter.  Seeing Julia lose her Braddock identity was bad, but the worst part was the fact that the fun-loving Julia Braddock was gone.

That could have been the end of the story but Braddock blood runs through her veins and that makes her a fighter.  It makes her a warrior.  Julia fought back and won her identity back, she won the trust of her family and the wrestling world back, she paid her debt to society and has recovered, and what’s even better is that she found her smile again.  The happy, fun-loving Julia Braddock is back and that thrills me to no end.

Julia’s story is a story of a woman who brought herself back from the brink of collapse to being a part of one of the premier wrestling organizations today, Independent Wrestling Cartel.  Now she has the opportunity to help build a new legacy with Uprising Wrestling and, if she can win the Last Stand Rumble, she can get her first ever shot at a world championship.

That’s the kind of person you are all up against, ladies and gentlemen.  You are facing someone who refuses to die, who refuses to give up, who refuses to quit.  You are facing someone who is just too damn tough to keep down.  She will keep getting up no matter how many times you knock her down.  And if I were a betting woman, I’d bet on a Braddock winning the Last Stand Rumble.

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Julia Braddock

On Camera

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We open in front of the San Siro Arena in Milan, Italy the place that will play host to the IWC Last Stand pay per view event not too long from now.  The sky is a bright Carolina blue and the sun shines down bright and happily upon the pedestrians walking to and fro.  There is a slight breeze which can only be detected by flags waving off in the distance.  But then one particular pedestrian in general appears to take a special interest in the arena as he walks in from stage right with his back turned to the camera so that we cannot see his face.  After pausing to stare for a few moments the silence is broken…

“An amazing sight, isn’t it?”

He turns around to face the camera and politely waves.  We see that this is none other than Dr. Henry Van Stanton, attired in a pair of dark purple slacks, matching vest and suit jacket with a silk white button up shirt underneath.  His face as a smug, almost arrogant grin etched across it.

“Oh, I’m sorry, I forgot to introduce myself?  I tend to do that.  I just automatically assume you know me.  My name is Henry Van Stanton, Dr. Henry Van Stanton.  I am the manager of The Kensington Knockout and the latest superstar to come from the famous Braddock wrestling bloodline.  I am the manager of Julia Braddock.”

He uses his thumb to motion to the arena behind him.

“And in that arena behind me, I am confident that my client will complete a journey.  She will complete a quest and, hopefully in the process, win the Last Stand Rumble and go on to main event Olympus for the world championship.  Julia’s is a quest of redemption and a journey of re-imagining herself in a new light, a light that forces everyone to stand up and recognize her for who she is; not just another Braddock wrestler, but as her own woman, and a very talented woman at that, talented enough to take on anyone or anything put in her path, including the mountain that is the Last Stand Rumble.”

“Enough!  Enough!”

Henry turns and watches as his client, Julia Braddock, comes walking into the scene from stage left.  Julia is dressed in denim jeans, black boots, and a silver sequined top.  Her long blonde hair hangs unrestrained and loose to just below her shoulders.  A wry grin is etched across the beautiful British woman’s face as she steps up next to her manager and looks him in his eyes.

“Haven’t you rambled on enough, Doctor?”

Henry chuckles.

“Well I WAS going to do the entire promo for you…”

Julia shakes her head and then gives him a playful shove.

“No way!  That’s my job!”

Henry nods his head.

“Ok, the floor is yours my  dear…”

Henry takes a step back but stays on camera.  Julia turns away from him and turns to face the camera.  She smiles knowingly.

“The good doctor is absolutely right.  This has been about two things for me from the very beginning…”

She holds up two fingers.

“…redemption and making a name for myself.  I have fought long and hard to redeem myself.  That much, as far as I’m concerned, is a forgone conclusion.  As far as making a name for myself, well that remains to be seen.  When the name Braddock is uttered, immediately everyone thinks of my uncle Glenn or his daughter Glory Braddock, perhaps the more successful of the Braddock family, am I right?”

Julia nods her head.

“That’s right…but Last Stand will be breakout moment.  It will be my time to shine and show the world what kind of Braddock I can be.  Glenn Braddock had to have his breakout moment, that first major tournament win where the people of Great Britain sat up and recognized how good he was.  Glory had to win her first championship in a one night single elimination tournament in order to prove herself.  But as for me?  The Kensington Knockout will have to endure the challenge of the Last Stand Rumble and while I won’t sit here…”

“Stand…”

Julia stops and turns to face Henry.

“What?!”

“Stand here, Julia.  You’re standing, not sitting.”

Julia rolls her eyes.

“It’s just an idiom, Doctor!”

Henry chuckles and shakes his head.

“Go on…”

Julia turns away from Henry and faces the camera again.

“Anyway…I won’t stand here and make grandiose predictions about how I’m going to win Last Stand before it even happens, but I am going to stand here and tell you that I am going to make one of the biggest impacts in this year’s rumble and I am going to make sure everyone remembers The Kensington Knockout Julia Braddock!”

Julia stands there with a confident grin on her face.  Henry waits expectedly.  Then he clears his throat.  Julia turns to face him.

“What?”

“You’re not done.”

“I told you I wanted to be short and sweet this time.  That’s why I removed that other bit.”

“But I liked that other bit.”

Julia rolls her eyes.

“Fine…”

Julia turns back to face the camera.

“The wrestling world, and IWC in particular, is going through a time of change.  Change is scary, change is frightening, and change can upset us sometimes, but the fact is that without change, without evolution, we would be stagnant and we would eventually die off; we would eventually cease to exist.  So as much as it may pain us to watch IWC change, the change is inevitable and must occur.  IWC changed once with the brand extension, allowing for the creation of the Uprising Brand.  Wonderful new opportunities for new superstars was created with this brand extension.  The brand extension created a healthy rivalry between two great rosters of athletes.”

Julia pats herself on the chest.

“I am not a gambling person but you could say I put my money on the Uprising Brand.  And if you look at the results, I think it would be a safe bet that the Uprising Brand came out on top because the Uprising Brand of IWC became so popular and so successful that it outgrew IWC itself.  Uprising has now become its own wrestling organization!  And that makes this coming Rumble match all that much more interesting, because not only is this perhaps the last time we see the combined rosters all under one roof, but this is one of rare opportunity where we will get to see IWC versus Uprising with a world title shot on the line!  And I’m ready to fight for my company, Uprising Wrestling!”

Julia shakes her head.

“But if you think I’m just fighting for Uprising Wrestling then you’re wrong.  Don’t forget, I’m fighting for me as well.  Yeah its selfish, but being in this business means you have to be selfish, and by God I want to be world champion.  I want to make that big impact and I want each and every wrestling fan watching this match to know my name by the end of the night! I don’t want them to remember me for brawling to a draw with Cassandra Mason, taking Tina Valentine to her limit, or losing in a tag team match to the female odd couple of Alana Starr and Tina Valentine.  I don’t want to be remembered as the monster Queen Julia Noel who ran rampant throughout the wrestling industry. I want to be remembered and I WILL be remembered as the woman who went into Last Stand and left everything on the table, who put it all out there on the line.  I want to be remembered for one of the most heroic efforts in Last Stand history.”

Julia shrugs.

“And hey?  If I win, that’s even better!”

Once again Julia pauses, thinking she is finished.  Once again Henry shakes his head and clears his throat to get Julia’s attention.  She turns to face him.

“What’s wrong this time?!”

“You forgot the big finish.”

“Big finish…?”

Julia looks at him curiously.  Henry grins.

“You know…the big finish…”

Julia frowns and shakes her head.

“Not a chance.”

Henry wraps his hands together in a begging motion.

“Please?  For me?”

Julia rolls her eyes.

“Fine!  For you!”

She turns back to face the camera.

“There are a lot of talented individuals involved in this Rumble,  talented individuals ranging from Marina Valdivia, Alana Starr, fierce threats such as that of New Eden, Riddick, and great newcomers such as Matthew Bowden looking to make a splash by winning it all…”

“Not really…”

Julia turns to face Henry, now looking thoroughly annoyed at the man.

“What’s your problem THIS time?!”

“Matthew Bowden doesn’t really WANT to win…he just wants to entertain and he wants the thrill.”

Julia holds up her hand to silence him.

“No…just…no…not now!”

She turns back to face the camera.

“Fact is whether you are a rookie or a veteran, young or old, faction or otherwise, I am coming after everyone and I am going to do everything within my power to make sure that I am the LAST PERSON STANDING IN THE LAST STAND RUMBLE!”

She turns to face Henry one last time.  She places her hands on her hips.

“Did that meet your perfection standard, Doctor?”

Henry chuckles but he nods his head.

“Indeed it did.  It was perfect.” He points at the camera. “Fade to black, camera man.”

The camera fades to black.