Slaying Old Demons: Part 2

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Off Camera

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Julia Braddock’s return to the UWA has been a rather successful one thus far and is cause for celebration.  She began with a victory over Ryan Watson and Lilith Evens in triple threat action.  And the following Outbreak she participated in a battle royal.  And while she didn’t win the battle royal, coming in third place in a match with as much talent as it had says a great deal about Julia Braddock.  Primarily, it tells the world that she is indeed back, she is focused, and she is ready to take back her spot near the top of the UWA universe.

Her next challenge comes in the form of Gavin Taylor and that indeed will be quite a challenge.  Some may underestimate him due to the crazy things he says and the front he puts on, but the fact is that he is an incredibly talented athlete.  In the now defunct IWC he was a multi-time champion and he came within a hair of becoming UWA World Champion on many occasions.  Gavin Taylor, like him or not, has always been in the discussion when it comes to the world championship.  Defeating him will definitely send a message to the UWA and Julia Braddock knows it.

The mere fact that she gets to face Gavin Taylor instead of some no-name jobber or a lowly, struggling mid-carder is enough to make anyone feel good about their prospects in this rough, cutthroat business.  It’s enough to make them believe that perhaps they have made it.

Julia Braddock should be happy.  She should be thrilled.  It seems that her resurgence in UWA is happening just as she had wanted it, just as she had envisioned it.

Yet Julia Braddock does not appear to be happy as she drives a rental car down the streets of Charlotte, North Carolina.  The frown etched across her face and the dried up tears on her cheek tell a story of a woman who is suffering, who is far from living the carefree life most would expect her to live.

What’s wrong with this beautiful British blonde?  It all boils down to one individual…

…Jacob Samson.

Jacob was Julia’s ex-boyfriend during a time in her life when she was having difficulty with her drug addiction.  Jacob and Julia are no longer an item, thanks in large part to Aphrodite Noel.  She knew nothing of Jacob; but she didn’t have to.  Aphrodite Noel, in an effort to help Julia, ordered that Julia cut all ties with her former life of drugs before the rehabilitation.  So Julia left him without even a word of goodbye.

Unfortunately for Julia, it turns out that Jacob had been keeping track of her the entire time.  Jacob Samson definitely takes the cake in terms of being a stalker and now Julia must find some way to deal with it and deal with this demon of her past, a demon who seemingly won’t go away.

Julia is hitting the streets of Charlotte in this rental car looking for Jacob.  Julia Braddock was a member of the regional federation known as Southeastern Wrestling Conference when she met Jacob Samson for the very first time and got caught up in the drugs.  SWC operated out of Charlotte and that’s how she and Jacob met.  Now she hopes to track him down again.  Why?

Jacob has struck a nerve with Julia by insisting that if the rest of the world knew of her past that they would not accept her, that they would disown her and treat her like garbage.  Julia doesn’t want to believe it but a strong part of her mind does believe it.  Enough of her mind buys into Jacob’s song and dance that she has to see him, at least one more time, to try and put her concerns to rest.

He said he would see her again, he said that Julia would come visit him one last time.  He was right; but Julia hopes that this is the last time she ever sees Jacob Samson.

That’s the plan anyway.

Julia pulls the car into an old parking lot.  The car comes to a stop and Braddock exits the driver’s side, shutting the door and locking it behind her.  Most would be wary of this place but, for Julia, she’s not frightened or nervous.  She is used to this as she has been here before.  It is familiar territory for her.

Braddock begins walking away from the car and towards an alleyway.   In the dim light that oozes through a narrow gap lies the alleyway. It's the underworld of any town: gloomy and unpleasant. The vines that crawl up window sills and the crumbling plaster that envelopes the old stone bricks appear romantic at first but become daunting as the sun sets behind the skyline of chimneys. Darkness is lurking in every corner inside the labyrinth of narrow passages and dead ends. Litter is dumped on the street and birds nest amongst the sprawling rot.  Just then…

“Hi there, gorgeous.”

She is startled at first but as she turns around she spots him…it’s Jacob.  He is wearing a similar attire from the last time she saw him; torn denim jeans and a hoodie.  It’s almost as if he never even bothered to change clothes.  Julia Braddock knows this life; she lived it before.  There is a chance he hasn’t changed clothes since the last time they spoke.  He doesn’t seem to care, either way.  The grin on his face speaks of confidence, borderline arrogance as he approaches Julia.  The blonde just stays firm, refusing to show any signs of trepidation or nerves.

“I knew you couldn’t tear yourself away.” He reaches out and runs his hand through her long blonde hair. “You were just too curious, weren’t you?  Curious about what your boyfriend was up to now.”

“You are not my boyfriend, Jacob.” Julia states, shaking her head. “I told you, I have a boyfriend and his name is JaMarcus Avery.  What you and I had, Jacob, it’s over…”

“Nah, not in my book.” He shakes his head and points at Julia. “YOU never broke it off.  YOU never even bothered to tell me goodbye.  You just never bothered to come back.”

“Take a hint, asshole.” Julia snaps with venom dripping from her voice.

“What can I say, I was never good at guessing games.” Jacob winks with mischief. “Besides, what does that idiot have to offer you that I can’t offer you?”

“Seriously?!” Julia exclaims, stunned that Jacob would actually ask this.  She snickers lightly. “Well let’s see, he’s loving, caring, he has a good, legitimate job…”

She glares angrily at Jacob “…and he could kick your ass.”

“Right, right, you got me there.” Jacob says with a chuckle. “I’ll give you that one.  He does have a legitimate job and he could whip my ass.  And hell, maybe he does care for you?  He must be something special in order to accept a druggie like you…”

Julia wants to strangle Jacob.  She wants to slap him at least.  But she hesitates.  She hesitates because of something Jacob just said.  She cannot honestly respond to him; or at least, she doesn’t want to.  Jacob picks up on the reluctance, the hesitation, and immediately knows why…

“Oh my fucking God, this is rich!”

“Shut up, Jacob.”

“No, no, this REALLY IS RICH!” He points a finger at Julia. “You haven’t even told your precious JaMarcus, have you?”

Julia sighs and shakes her head.  To deny it would be a lie and Jacob would know she’s lying.  He already figured it out.  Jacob is reveling in this as he laughs nastily at his ex-girlfriend.

“You can’t even tell your new boy toy about your dirty little past.  That right there proves that I’m right about you, babe.  You know that he won’t accept you if he knew, you know that everyone else will abandon you if they all knew about your past…”

“SHUT UP!” Julia exclaims again with tears forming in her eyes. “Just shut up…I don’t care what you say, Jacob!  I am different!  I have changed!  I…”

“You don’t get it, do you?” He chuckles. “But then again, you always did need a little guidance.”

He smirks. “I’m not talking about whether or not you’ve changed…though I seriously suspect you haven’t…I’m just saying that if you really did change, you should have no problem telling the world about your past.  Either you haven’t changed as much as you think you did, or you don’t trust those people you claim are your friends and loved ones.”

He stands there, arms folded over his chest, waiting for Julia to answer.  She struggles for the words but can find none.  He’s accusing her, indicting her, and she can’t do anything about it except stand there and take it.  Jacob just nods his head.

“So which is it?  You’re either the same damn bitch you were when you were hooked up with me or those so-called friends of yours are fakes.”

Julia rears back and slaps him across his cheek.  Jacob reaches out and grabs her by the throat.

“Do not do that again!  Whether you believe it or not, you need me!” He releases his grip on her neck. “Let’s face facts, if I’m right and you haven’t changed, and you’re just lying to yourself, then I am the only one who can offer you what you really need, what you want, the drugs that can make your life whole…”

“No!” Julia shakes her head vehemently. “That life is behind me!  I’m through with it!”

“Ok, then your so-called friends and loved ones are just frauds who will abandon you the moment they find out about your past.  I’m one of the few who knows of your past and will accept you regardless.”

A long tense gaze from Julia into the eyes of her ex-boyfriend Jacob is what follows.  She ponders his words yet she knows almost immediately what the answer will be.  She shakes her head.

“No, Jacob…just no.  I told you, I have changed.  And even if you are right about my friends and loved ones…which I doubt, by the way…but even if you are right about them, and if you are right that you are the only one who would accept me, I also know that acceptance isn’t the end game for you.  You always want more than just acceptance.”

She sneers. “You want me to regress back into that life you live.  I’m here to tell you that I am done with that life. I have improved myself and I am a stronger person for it.  I am happy with what I have accomplished in my career as a professional wrestler and what I will accomplish in the future.”

She points a finger at Jacob. “But I will accomplish nothing if I stay attached to you.”

“Yeah, right, the future…” Jacob rolls his eyes “…I heard all about how you want to reclaim your top spot in the UWA and, hey, I’ll admit, you’ve taken  it by storm since returning, but let’s be honest with ourselves, Julia, do you really believe that they’ll accept you if they ever found out about your past?”

He snickers and shakes his head. “Drew Bryant or David Helms one would fire your ass in an instant.  Fleur may fight to keep you around just for the sheer ratings that might come with having a druggie on camera.”

Julia is enraged now and she slaps Jacob a second time.  Jacob once again grabs her by the throat.

“I told you not to do that again!”

“ACK!”

“Listen VERY closely, Julia…I only do this because I am trying to help...are you going to listen?”

She nods her head.  Jacob releases his grip.

“Now listen to me, you say they’re your friends and loved ones, you say they all support you, but you still haven’t answered my charge; what would happen if they were to find out about your past?”

“I don’t know…” Julia shakes her head “…but it doesn’t matter, because they do not need to know!”

Julia Braddock has had enough of Jacob Samson and his games, his intimidation.  She decides to just turn and walk away.  Jacob sneers and calls out after her.

“Just like you, Julia…just like you to walk away from your problems the way you walked away from them years ago…”

“Go to hell, Jacob!” Julia says sharply without even bothering to turn around.

“You can’t run away from this one, Julia!” Jacob shouts after her. “They will find out about your past and they will turn on you!”

“You’re bluffing!” Julia stops momentarily to turn and face Jacob. “There is no evidence of my drug addiction.”

“Maybe not,” he sneers “but I’m not talking just about the drugs.”

“Huh?”

“Dealing in drugs wasn’t the only illegal activity you were a part of, sweetness.  Remember?”

What is Jacob talking about?  Is he just deranged?  Is he reaching?  Julia ponders it for a moment and considers just walking away but then she remembers.  It hits her like a bolt of lightning; or maybe a punch in the gut is the more apt term.  She sighs as she lowers her head in shames and walks back over to Jacob Samson.

“Yes, you do remember.” He sneers. “And you should know I have evidence to prove it.”

“What do you want?”

“See?  That wasn’t so hard.” Jacob says as he kisses her on her cheek. “You’re still my baby girl, you just needed some guidance.”

“I said…what do you want?”

“Eager to get started, I see!” He grins knowingly. “I like that about you.  Now as far as what I want…”

He runs a hand down her cheek “…I just want you.”

“What the…”

“I mean it.” Jacob says, nodding his head. “I miss what we had.  I miss the fun we used to have; the thrill of it all…”

“No, not that!” Julia shakes her head. “I’m done with drugs!”

“Yeah, yeah, you’ve said.” He rolls his eyes. “If you actually mean that then I guess I’ll have your share too, but the point is you are gonna hook me up.  That’s what I want.”

“I…I can’t, Jacob…” she sighs “…I can’t.”

“Is that so?” He smirks. “I’m not a bad guy, and I’m very patient.  I mean, I’ve waited on you to return to my life for damn near five years.  So I can give you time to think.  But don’t take too long to think about this, and remember…I have dirt on you that, if released to the public, would ruin you.   So ask yourself, is staying pure really worth your career?”

Julia watches on in tears as Jacob turns and walks away, leaving her alone to ponder her next move, to think about her future.

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On Camera

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You know, I couldn’t have asked for a better return to the UWA.  Victorious over Ryan Watson and Lilith Evans in a triple threat match and third place in a battle royal, outlasting some of the best UWA has to offer.  One victory under my belt and even despite the fact that I lost, I have proven not only that I can still hang in UWA, but that my road back to the top will be a quick one; not because I’m the end all be all, or that I’m the greatest of all time, some monikers that my next opponent may try to lay claim to…because I’m not one to lay claim to such a title with so great a talent pool, not just in UWA, but all over professional wrestling…

…I know that this road back to the top will be quick because I am determined to make it so; I am determined to make it back to the top and once again be one of the most talked about names in the UWA.  I am going to do everything in my power to earn that spot back and my momentum has not stopped since my return.

Gavin Taylor, you’re not going to stop me, either.

Gavin, you think you really are the end all be all.  You really think that you are the All-Star and that this company needs you, that you are irreplaceable.  Newsflash, Gavin…everyone is replaceable, including you.

No disrespect intended, Gavin.  You definitely have the credentials of a top contender.  You were a multi-time champion in IWC and came damn close to being world champion on multiple occasions here in UWA.  I will give credit where credit is due and state clearly, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that you are a legend and I look forward to facing you one on one on Outbreak.

You’re going to find out real quick that you are not the end all be all.  I’m going to push you to your limits and, God willing, beat your ass on Outbreak.  And after I beat you, I’m not going to go around calling myself Best in the World.  I’ll leave that to my sister.  But maybe, just maybe, you’ll have learned a lesson in humility.

What you are, Gavin, is just a used car salesman.  You advertise your material as the best of the best, top quality, and yeah, there is some great stuff there, maybe even some great vehicles, but you also have some lemons in that batch, and lately you’ve been serving up a whole bunch of lemons.

Serve up a lemon against me and I will smoke your ass, Gavin.  Guarantee it.

I’m not one to take anyone or anything lightly and you shouldn’t take me lightly either, Gavin.  I am The Kensington Knockout, a UWA original, I’ve come home, and I’m going to continue my momentum back to the top by having a knock down drag out fight with the All-Star…

…and when it’s all said and done, The All Star’s light will have gone out and The Kensington Knockout will stand tall as the victorious one.

Slaying Old Demons: Part 1

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Scene 1

Off Camera

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Julia Braddock is grinning from ear to ear as she makes her way down the halls of the arena after her victorious return to UWA against Lilith Evans and Ryan Watson in triple threat action.  Anytime she wins she feels great but this was extra special for her.  She has set out to prove that, despite the words of famous author John Steinbeck saying otherwise; you can come home again, and that specifically she, Julia Braddock, can return to UWA, a place she called home for a very long time until she left several months ago.

It won’t be as easy as winning one match and Julia knows it.  She understands that while being accepted back in the UWA community may be one thing, but returning to her former spot in the company before she left is an entirely different challenge altogether.  Julia Braddock can’t just pick right back up where she left off as a top competitor in the company; she will have to work her way back up to that position.  She will have to earn it once again.

Picking up a victory tonight over Lilith Evans and Ryan Watson definitely helps pave the way towards that goal, and that is what makes Julia smile on this night.  It also helps to hear the fans cheering her, as if all is forgiven for what she did before and after her departure from the company.  This is why, in Julia’s mind at least, wrestling fans are the greatest fans of all time.  They are forgiving.  They are willing to accept you back in their community.

Forgiveness is something Julia needs right now more than anything else.  She recently ended a family rivalry involving herself and her sister Glory.  She has no clue what kind of toll that fight took on their father, Glenn Braddock.  Julia hasn’t had much time to speak to him about it but she knows that he is here tonight, supporting her in her return to UWA.  Even if she cannot talk to him about that, at least now would be a good time to bond and reconnect with her biological father, a man she has known all of her life but never knew until recently was her father.

The blonde haired beauty is still in her wrestling gear, her match against Watson and Evans having just been completed, and she has been walking the halls in the direction of her dressing room.  That search comes to its conclusion as she rounds a corner on the left and spots her dressing room door, cracked open ever so slightly.  She smiles, assuming it must be her father, Glenn Braddock, waiting for her on the inside.

Julia pushes the door open and steps inside. “Dad?”

Immediately she spots her father, the grizzled veteran Glenn Braddock, standing there on the inside, waiting for her with open arms.  She walks over and embraces her with a tight hug.  It is odd to her that he is this intimate.  Glenn Braddock would just assume beat the hell out of you than hug you.  Glenn Braddock is the type of individual who once sent Godzilla scurrying for the relative safety of the nearest active volcano.  In short, Glenn Braddock is not a hugger.  Yet here he is, embracing his youngest daughter.

“You did great out there against Watson and Evans.”

“Thanks, dad.” She smiles warmly.  “Did I mention that I’m glad you came?”

“A few times,” he says with a grin “but I didn’t come alone.”

“Huh?” Julia turns and happens to spot another individual in the room; it’s her agent, Kayla Jones. “Kayla?!  What are you doing here?”

“Something wrong with me being here to support my client?” Kayla asks mockingly.

“No, I guess not…” Julia’s voice fades off as she ponders things “…it’s just that you never have come to my events before.”

“I know,” Kayla says with a sigh and a half-grin forms on her face “and maybe it’s time I change that practice?”

Kayla Jones is a former world champion in her own right, a successful professional wrestler, but now she wants to try things from the other side of the ring, specifically on the outside as a manager and agent of the upcoming superstars.  Julia Braddock is one of Kayla’s clients and Kayla has done her best to manage her career to the best of her ability.

The redheaded Boston native places her hands on Julia’s shoulders. “You were brave tonight, going out there in front of a crowd that you didn’t know if they would be hostile towards you or accepting, against Lilith Evans and Ryan Watson, both of whom who wanted this just as bad as you…”

“Wrong,” Julia says, interrupting Kayla with a shake of her head “Watson and Evans did NOT want this as bad as I did.  And that’s why I won tonight.  I wanted it more.”

Kayla smirks. “Right, be that as it may, you were brave out there tonight, congratulations.  You earned this.”

“Maybe I did, but it is far from over.” Julia remarks, shaking her head. “I was a former Hybrid Champion and former Queen of the Ring Champion here in UWA before I left.  I was a top contender and I threw that away, Kayla.  I threw that away when I left.”

“Yes, but you’re back now.”

“I am back, but it isn’t as simple as that.  I threw my spot, my position, and everything I had built away when I left. I’m going to have to re-earn my spot and one match isn’t going to do that, even if it is a match against the likes of a Ryan Watson or Lilith Evans.  It’ll take several matches, several wins, before I put myself back to where I once was.” Julia shakes her head. “So no, this isn’t over, not by a long shot.  This has just begun.”

“Just begun?” Kayla says as a sly grin forms on her face. “Oh ye of little faith…”

“Huh?” Julia looks on puzzled.  Glenn Braddock then places a hand on Julia’s shoulder.

“Listen to her, Julia.  She has some good news for you.” A knowing grin forms across his face. “I think you’ll like it.”

“Ok then,” Julia turns to face Kayla again “what do you got?”

“I have a match for you, that’s what I have.” Kayla remarks. “What if I told you that by the time the next Outbreak rolls around you could be beyond where you once were, you could be in the driver’s seat of all of UWA?”

“What?” Julia pauses to take it all in and then shakes her head. “No, I don’t want this handed to me.  I want to work for it and earn it.”

“I know, Julia, trust me, I know this.” She says, assuring her. “I know what my clients want and I know you want to earn it yourself.  So I made sure to honor those wishes.”

“Ok, so what match did you get me?”

“Well the match wasn’t my idea, to be fair.  UWA management came up with it.  But I did make damn sure you were included in this match.”

Julia rolls her eyes. “You’ve left me on the edge of my seat long enough…what is the match?”

“A battle royal; a Choose Your Poison Battle Royal, as UWA is calling it.  Your opponents include Lilith Evans, Ricky Octavius, Christian Savior, Angyalka Cruze, Ryan Watson, Alex London, Joey Michaels, Abigail Lindsey, Alana Starr, Mya Denton, and Styxx.”

“Alana Starr, Abigail Lindsey, Ricky Octavius and other big stars of UWA?” Julia nods her head with approval. “Good, I want tough competition, I don’t want to be handed my spot.”

“Right, and with those names and more in the battle royal you won’t be handed anything.  You will have to earn every bit of that win.  But aren’t you curious as to what you’ll get if you do win?”

Julia pauses momentarily and then nods her head. “Sure…”

“It’s called Choose Your Poison because the winner of this battle royal will get to book any match he or she wants at any time.”

“Wow,” Julia’s eyes grow wide “I can see why you said I’d be in the driver’s seat.”

“Exactly.” Kayla remarks with a confident grin. “You win this, you could put yourself in a world title match if you wanted.  You could have anything you want, Julia, just win this match, and you wouldn’t be handed anything.  It would truly be a hard fought and hard earned victory because of the caliber of opponent you’d be up against.”

“In that case…” Julia’s voice trails off, a confident grin forms on her face “…maybe it’s time I put this journey back to the top on the fast track?  Maybe it’s time I choose my poison?”

“Choose wisely.” Kayla says with a wink.

“And don’t doubt yourself.” That’s Glenn voice as he turns her around to face him.  Glenn embraces his daughter in a hug, that’s twice in one night, very unusual. “You’ve earned this, Julia.  Never forget that.”

“I won’t dad.” Julia says with a grin. “I won’t.”

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Glenn Braddock

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I hope all of you bloody wankers were watching; I hope you were watching because many of you were probably stunned and disappointed last Outbreak.  That gobshite Ryan Watson was so popular and infamous and everyone was highly anticipating his arrival in UWA.  And some of you buffoons even thought Lilith Evans had built up momentum and might win.

Yeah, right.

What happened was that Julia Braddock was victorious.  The hometown girl made her return…not a damn debut, but a return, she returned and she was victorious against Watson and Evans.  She denied them their impact and at the same time she made an impact of her own.

Julia Braddock returned and made a statement and that statement should be bloody well clear but in case any of you are brain dead then I’ll spell it out for ya…

“I’m back and I’m ready to reclaim my spot.”

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Kayla Jones

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I stand here tonight proud to say that I am the agent of UWA competitor Julia Braddock.  You do remember her, right?  The Kensington Knockout is a former UWA Queen of the Ring Champion and was the first ever UWA Hybrid Champion before her sudden departure from the company but if you didn’t remember from last Outbreak, then maybe you’ll remember now that she returned with such a definitive win over such stiff competition as Ryan Watson and Lilith Evans.  And that isn’t to take anything away from Watson or Evans, they certainly provided great competition to The Kensington Knockout, but this just wasn’t their night.  This night belonged to Julia Braddock.

Now there’s a choose your poison battle royal and while my client wants to work her way back up to the top, she also understands that this is a once in a lifetime opportunity that, if she were to win, she could book herself in any match she wants, even a title match.

And she also understands that this battle royal, with the stakes as high as they are, will feature some of the best competition UWA has to offer, so if she does manage to win, it won’t be anything  handed to her, it will be a victory she will have earned the hard way.

Spoiler alert, ladies and gentlemen…the winner of the Choose Your Poison Battle Royal is going to be my client, Julia Braddock.

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Scene 2

Off Camera

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Outbreak has long since ended.  Julia’s agent Kayla Jones and Julia’s father & trainer Glenn Braddock encouraged Julia to leave with one of them but she insisted she was ok, that she needed to shower first, get changed back into some nicer clothes, and go back to her own hotel.  The Kensington Knockout just wants to be alone to bask in the afterglow of her return to UWA.  After the initial signing of her new UWA contract she wasn’t certain that this would work out, but now that she’s picked up her first win, now that she has come out victorious over Ryan Watson and Lilith Evans in her return match, she is beginning to think that she may very well make it work.

Perhaps she can come home again to her home in UWA?

The beautiful blonde is decked out in a floral print yellow maxi dress with strappy sandals on her feet.  Her long blonde hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length.  She has her gym bag in her hand as she walks through the nearly empty parking lot, trying to find her rental car.  But she is stopped by a voice from seemingly out of nowhere.

“Hey…Julia…”

This startles Julia to no end, primarily because she thought the arena was empty except for herself and a few other officials who have stayed behind to make sure the ring got taken down and everything else was cleaned up.  Julia being a wrestler is no stranger to self-defense, so she’s ready to defend herself if necessary; and yet something about that voice does sounds strangely familiar, as if she should know the person.

Still, in any event, it is better to be safe than  sorry, and so Julia does drop the gym bag to make sure both of her hands and arms are free and available if she does need to fight off a thief, a stalker, or whoever this may be, if worse comes to worse.

“Who is that?” Julia says out loud. “I warn you, I don’t have any money on me and I will beat your ass if I have to.”

“I’m not after your money.” The voice comes out of the darkness but she can pinpoint it now and she spins around to the direction it is coming from. “Besides, you wouldn’t hurt me, Julia.  You never could.”

“You don’t know me.” Julia remarks, shaking her head.

“I know you, you just may have forgotten me.”

“Your voice does sound familiar…”Julia muses out loud.

“That’s because we know each other.”

“I don’t care,” Julia snaps back, shaking her head “I’m out of here.”

She picks up her gym bag and is about to walk away, as fast as she can to get to her car, but the voice calls out after her again…

“Julia, wait!”

“No!” She starts walking away…

“Sure, leave, but aren’t you the least bit curious as to who I am and how I know you?”

Julia stops walking, as curiosity is admittedly getting the best of her.  She drops her bag back down to the ground.  The voice can be heard chuckling from the darkness as she turns to face its direction yet again.

“I won’t hurt you, Julia.  Cross my heart, hope to die.”

“Fine…” Julia says, relenting against her better judgment as curiosity does get the better of her “…come on out, whoever you are.”

“I knew curiosity you would get the best of you.” The voice says with a bit of arrogance. “It always did.”

“Who the hell are you?”

She watches the darkness from afar, the darkness where she feels the voice is coming from.  Eventually a figure, a silhouette, begins to form from the darkness.  She continues to watch until a male figure steps out into the open, into the light.  He is wearing torn denim jeans, black boots, a torn black t-shirt, a black leather jacket, and his brown hair is not styled or combed at all.  Dried cuts and bruises are all over this man’s body, indicating that he lives quite a bad life, most likely on the streets.  He is definitely a far cry from the lifestyle Julia now leads and yet, Julia’s eyes grow wide with a look of recognition as she seems to know him from somewhere.

“My God!” Julia gasps. “Jacob?!”

“I knew it,” Jacob remarks with a chuckle “I knew you would remember me.  Too many awesome memories of the two of us raising hell up and down the streets together for you to forget Jacob Samson.”

“No,” she shakes her head “just no.  I’d rather forget!”

“Oh come on, my British babe.” He holds out his arms as if asking for a hug. “Didn’t you miss your old pal Jacob?”

“I…well…” Julia walks in and accepts the hug from Jacob.  He kisses her on the cheek and he immediately realizes that he went too far as she pushes him away and she backs up a few feet.  Jacob looks on curiously, puzzled…

“What’s wrong, babe?”

“Jacob, I can’t.  I…” she sighs “…I’m seeing someone else.”

“Oh, you mean that muscle-headed idiot Jamarcus Avery?”

Julia cocks her head to one side, studying Jacob curiously. “How did you know about Jamarcus?”

“I’ve been following you, babe.  I’ve been watching your career very closely and I must say, I’ve been very impressed.  Former GCW World Champion, UWA Hybrid and UWA Queen of the Ring Champion; you’ve been awesome.  Now you’re back in UWA and you won tonight…congratulations…”

“Were you in the crowd?”

“Nah,” Jacob shakes his head “I couldn’t scalp any tickets.  But trust me, I was able to watch.  I had my ways.”

“Well if you’ve been following my career as closely as you claim, then you should know that Jamarcus and I are very close.  And that means you and I are NOT an item any longer, Jacob.”

“Right, I kinda figured that, but the thing is, you see,” he runs the back of his hand against Julia’s cheek “you never told me we were split.  Hell, you never even indicated anything was wrong.”

“Jacob, let me explain…”

“No, Julia, let me explain this to you.” Jacob says, growing a little frustrated himself. “I cared about you; hell, I still do care about you.  You were my girl, and as far as I’m concerned you still are my girl, despite what JaMarcus Avery is or was or whatever.  But if you wanted to move on, if you didn’t like what we had going on, that’s fine, but the least you could’ve done was tell me.  But did you tell me anything?”

He shakes his head. “No…one day you’re there with me, doing that crack, that heroine, all of it…and the very next day you disappear.  Can you imagine my surprise when I learn you’ve moved in with that crazy broad Aphrodite Noel?”

Julia rears back and slaps him across the face. “That’s my mother you’re talking about!  She took me in off the streets, she took me out of the situation I was in with you, and believe me when I say my life was in danger and she rescued me!”

“You’re exaggerating.”

“I’m not exaggerating.  We were both druggies, Jacob…and by the looks of things, you still are…and those drugs could’ve easily killed me, and had they not killed me, the money we owed to the other drug dealers would’ve led to us being killed.  Mother rescued me, and helped change my life for the better.”

“Oh she changed your life alright,” Jacob says, snickering “I also saw you on television wearing these fancy clothes like you’re some kinda wealthy bitch, calling yourself a queen just because Aphrodite said you were.”

“Jacob, stop,” Julia shakes her head “just stop.  I am a different person.  I am not the same woman you knew back then, that same woman who was hooked on drugs and hooked on that way of life.  I’ve changed for the better and, whether you like it or not, I am NOT your girl anymore.”

“Heh, that’s funny,” Jacob says with a smirk “because when I first saw you running around as Queen Julia, clearly with a ton of money backing you up, I almost decided to approach you then, because I was thinking about how much drugs that money of yours could buy the two of us.  But then I realized that you probably wouldn’t go for it because you bought into that garbage Aphrodite sold you.  You actually believe that you are a changed person.”

“I have changed, Jacob!”

“Nah, not really.” He shakes his head. “You’re still a druggie, just like me, you’re just in withdrawal. You’re in denial. Tell me something, babe…does anyone outside of Aphrodite and maybe your sister know about that you were a…how did you put it…a ‘druggie’ like me?”

There is a long, tense pause as he stares at Julia, waiting on her answer.  She finally shakes her head, indicating a ‘no’ and he chuckles.

“That’s what I thought.  These fans who cheer you, would they still cheer you if they knew you did drugs?  Your peers in the UWA dressing room, would they look down on you if they were to find out you were on drugs?  Now your father may know and he may still be supportive despite that, your ‘mother’ may be supportive because clearly she knows, but do you really believe everyone else would still be supportive if they knew the truth?”

He shakes his head. “Nah, because the truth is you’re living a lie, you’re a fraud.  You’re lying to them.  You’re leading them to believe that you are something you’re not.  If they realized what you did once…they’d turn on you…but me…”

He rubs the back of his hand against her cheek “…I’m always there for you.”

“NO!” She rears back and slaps the taste out of his mouth.  The slap is so hard he staggers backward. “NO!  GO AWAY, JACOB!”

“Fine, I’ll leave.” He smirks. “But I’ll be back, and you know how to reach me when you realize that this life you’re living is a lie.  My number hasn’t changed.  And I still have plenty of the good stuff for you, plenty of drugs…we can pick up right where we left off.”

Julia shakes her head and mutters ‘no’ over and over again as she turns and runs away from Jacob, trying desperately to get away from this demon of her past.

==========

On Camera

==========

It’s been said that you should never look a gift horse in the mouth.  In other words, don’t be a fool.  Take advantage of the opportunities gifted to you.

Funny, how things work out, isn’t it?  I made my return to UWA two weeks ago against Ryan Watson and Lilith Evans.  Both were very game, both fought their hearts out.  Both brought their A-Game to the table and I knew that walking away with a victory would be a very tough task to achieve.  Yet, despite the odds, despite it being a triple threat match where I wouldn’t even have to be involved in the decision in order to lose, I still managed to defeat Watson and Evans.  I stopped Lilith’s so-called momentum.  I disrupted Ryan Watson’s great debut.  Instead, I made an impact for myself.  I stepped in and I made a statement to the UWA universe and that statement was received loud and clear…

…“The Kensington Knockout” Julia Braddock was back and she was ready willing and able to work her way back to the top.

That’s where I was when I left.  Or at least, I was almost there.  I had been UWA Queen of the Ring Champion and UWA Hybrid Champion.  I competed in the Elimination Chamber at the Sectioned event last year for the world title.  I was close before and I knew I was on the precipice of greatness when I left, when I threw it all away.

Most would walk right on in and demand to have their old spot just handed to them but not me.  I made it clear two weeks ago that I wanted to work my way to the top, that I wanted to earn my way, to repay my debuts all over again.  It was the least I could do, in my view; and defeating Ryan Watson and Lilith Evans was a great way to get off to a great start on the journey back to the top.

Yet here I stand now two weeks later, next Outbreak, booked in a Choose Your Poison Battle Royal against some of the top talents of UWA; talents such as Lilith Evans, Ricky Octavius, Christian Savior, Rose Savior, Angyalka Cruze, Ryan Watson, Alex London, Joey Michaels, Abigail Lindsay, Alana Starr, Mya Denton, and Styx.

A battle royal is one thing, and if this were just any old battle royal that would be good enough for me, but UWA saw fit to add a little caveat: the winner will get to book him or herself in any match they see fit.

So I could conceivably win this match and put myself in a world championship match.  I could win this battle royal and jump in line ahead of everyone else, ahead of even the former world champion Rachel Lee.

I do make one promise and that is if I win this once in a lifetime opportunity, I will not use it until I feel I am worthy and I am ready for such a huge prize.  I still want to earn my way back to the top and while winning this battle royal will put me in the driver’s seat, I will still honor that promise I made to myself to fight my way back.

Now that doesn’t mean I won’t do anything and everything within my power to come out of Outbreak with a victory.  I am a Braddock and competition runs through my veins just like the blood that pumps through my body, and the other athletes in this battle royal, my competition, they’d better be ready to receive the absolute best of The Kensington Knockout.

Lilith, we already fought two weeks ago and I ended any of that supposed “momentum” you had from “nearly” beating Victoria Salinas.  In my book, nearly beating someone is still a loss, so that’s two straight losses.  I’m about to make it three because you aren’t going to win this, Lilith.  This is my destiny.

While you’re at it, clue Mya Denton into this too.  You’re her pal, right?  Let  her know what is in store for her in this battle royal as she faces off against The Kensington Knockout.  She, like you, will fail.

Ricky Octavius, a loyal UWA standard bearer, but not afraid to voice his opinion if UWA does wrong, and for that I’m impressed.  You are also the X-Limits Champion, potentially the last one if UWA goes through with its threat to get rid of it; another thing I’m impressed by.  I look forward to testing my mettle against you, Ricky.  I look forward to testing myself against one of the best UWA has right now.  But be ready, because I’m going to test you as well, because I want this win just as much as you or anyone else in this battle royal wants it.

Maybe even more than anyone else in this battle royal.

Christian and Rose Savior, you should stay focused on the tag team division.  Focus on Abilana.  Your hands will be full enough with them and I’d hate for you to get distracted.  But go ahead, give it your best shot in this battle royal. Fact is, battle royals are every man and woman for themselves.  Only one can win.  You’ll turn on each other.  It’s academic.

Same goes for Abigail Lindsey and Alana Starr. You two are the current UWA World Tag Team Champions and that is very impressive.  I’d give you the same advice I gave The Saviors, stay focused in the tag team division, but if anyone can split their focus it might be you two, both former world champions.  Though you’ll have to get through me to get it and I will be hard to stop.

Abi, you should know damn well how much of a challenge I can be, and if you don’t remember, just ask your cousin.  Just ask your Aphrodite.

Ryan Watson, we already danced once before, and while you were impressive to the crowd in your UWA debut, you still lost and your UWA debut was a loss thanks to me.  Now you have a chance to make up for it but, just as I told Lilith, I’m going to add yet another “L” to your record.  I intend on winning this and making sure you don’t win it.

Cruze, London, Styx, we haven’t formally been introduced.  My name is Julia Braddock and I am a UWA Original.  They claimed that I made my debut two weeks ago but it was no debut.  It was my coming home party.  I’m back and you’re about to recognize why I am among the many names who helped put this great company on the map and why my star will continue to shine bright.

Last, and certainly least, is Joey Michaels.

Joey, you poor little fool, having to stoop to such lows as to bring my sister Glory into the argument in order to do what?  Try to get under my skin?  Try to make me jealous?  Newsflash, you narcissist punk, I’ve been there, done that, fought with Glory for an hour over my bitterness and jealousy…yeah, I admit it, jealousy damn near tore us apart…but guess what?

We survived.  Not only did we survive, but we grew stronger as a sisterhood because of it.

And you’re right, I am a Braddock and greatness is expected of me, but I’m not here to be Glenn Braddock or the second coming of Glory Braddock, I am here to be the FIRST EVER Julia Braddock and I am here to make a name for myself, not to make a name for someone  else.

That’s why this place, this great company, is MY home…not Glory’s, not Glenn’s…MINE!

Your sad attempt at trying to get under my skin just proves one thing to me, Joey, and that’s that you are insecure. You may not be as confident as you really and truly sound.  Who are you trying to convince with your loud shouting about how great you are?  Who are you trying to convince with all of those damned names you gave yourself?  I can tell you that David Helms and Drew Bryant do not care.  I can tell you Fleur Jamieson does not care.  I can tell you damn sure that the rest of the UWA roster does not care if you want to call yourself The Monday Night Delight.

But maybe, just maybe, you’re trying to convince yourself.

Well listen to this, Joey, because I don’t have to convince myself of anything.  I know my talent, I know my abilities, and I know what I can do inside of this ring.  I know that I have the potential to do great things in the future here in UWA and I know it could happen as early as this coming Outbreak if I win the battle royal…

…and if I don’t win the battle royal, then fine, I continue to bust my ass and work my way back to the top.  But the point is that The Kensington Knockout is NOT just a blip on someone’s radar screen.  I am here to make an impact.

So get ready for the impact that I will make on Outbreak, guaranteed.