February 13, 2021 – Los Angeles
Fresh off the tag league finals, Cookie and I felt surprisingly relaxed. She had given up her chance at competing in the upcoming gauntlet, and her reasoning seemed strange to me in some ways. But I was going to support her regardless. When we traveled back home, I exclaimed my feelings on preparing for the gauntlet. Namely, how the hell does someone prepare for the potential of a never-ending match? Say you come out first with hopes to run the table… how do you prepare for 15 – or now 14 – other opponents that are all unique in their own way. It’s somewhat similar to Taking Hold of the Flame, I suppose. But instead it’s a constant 1 on 1 battle to the finish. Early Saturday morning, Cookie told me to prepare for a training session that she had put together. That wasn’t unusual at all, but usually we prepared for tag matches together. She was going to prepare me to do this ALL on my own. As the afternoon waned, I saw a car pull up outside and Cookie grabbed me to board Vihaan’s Escalade to her special location. As we drove to the place, I tried to pry for information.
Jordan: So where are we going?
Cookie: Just let it go. It’s a training place. You act like Vihaan and I are kidnapping you…
I looked up and saw Vihaan’s eyes piercing through me in the rear view mirror.
Jordan: I trust you, boo. I know you’d never kidnap someone.
Cookie: Allegedly…
Jordan: What?
Cookie: Nothing!
I narrowed my eyes and turned to look out the window. My eyes focused on something as Vihaan turned down a dirt road.
Jordan: I think something’s out there…
Cookie: Out there? Could be. We’re not sure. We’ve been trying to learn the truth behind that mystery for years and years.
Jordan: I think it’s alive…
Cookie: The aliens?
Jordan: What!? No, that!
I pointed and Cookie leaned on my side as the object in the distance turned to its side a little more and showed what it obviously was.
Cookie: Ah, that’s just a tiny cow.
Jordan: Boo… that’s a goat…
Cookie: I think that means we’re here!
Vihaan pulled us into a driveway with a large warehouse looking building in front of it. Cookie quickly jumped out and ran inside. I got out cautiously and surveyed the area as I walked toward the door Cookie had disappeared behind. This looked like a perfect place to be murdered and hidden without much evidence left behind. My mind always seemed to search for that worst possible conclusion. As I stepped inside the building I saw an old wrestling ring setup. I was instantly reminded of the random ass places Jake dragged me to over and over. I walked over to the ring and ran my hand along the bottom rope before I pulled myself up and stepped between the ropes.
Cookie: Is dat Jourdan Majors ova der waitin’ for somma dat jambalaya?
I swung around to see Cookie wearing a dress and a fancy hat. Under her arm she was holding a chicken. It looked like one of our chickens. Confusing me even more. My eyes were wide.
Jordan: What the fuck is this?
Cookie: Oh, dahlin. You know I’m just Bree Lancaster here with my puppy dog Domatella.
Jordan: What!? Did you just mix the names or her dog and her boyfriend?
Cookie: Oh, did I?
I laughed and looked at her as she climbed into the ring. She sauntered back and forth like a southern belle. Definitely not Bree’s style, but I got the idea she was playing hard on Bree living in Louisiana. But none of this seemed to make any sense.
Jordan: Ok, what the hell are we doing here?
Cookie: You said you didn’t know how to prepare for the other people in the match, so… Vihaan and I are going to be every single person in the match.
I heard the warehouse door slam and saw Vihaan come trotting into view wearing a costume of some sort of animal. Clearly, he was supposed to be a horse or something. He literally galloped into the room, smashing something in his hands together to make a sound. When he reached the ring, he seemed exhausted.
Vihaan: I’m sorry Cookie. This llama costume was hard to put on.
I buried my head in my hands and began laughing. I knew exactly who Vihaan was supposed to be now.
Jordan: Let me guess…
Cookie: Yes, Vihaan is Don Helms in this situation.
Jordan: That’s not even really close to what his name actually is.
Vihaan: She means Dom Teller. I’ve seen all of his movies. I’d say he’s a solid B minus level actor at this point. However he is no Ron Jeremy who is 10 out of 10.
Jordan: … He does porn.
Vihaan: … Dom does porn?!
Jordan: No… Ron Jeremy does.
Cookie: How do you know that?!
Jordan: Let’s not lose sight, that he isn’t a llama. This is already out of control… Cookie woah!
Cookie threw the chicken and then ran at me and drove a shoulder into my stomach and slammed me to the mat, but out of pure instinct I wrapped my arm around her throat and my legs around her waist and locked in a submission hold. She was caught by surprise.
Jordan: Dave already tried that shit on me, boo!
Vihaan screamed and came running into the ring. He slid under the rope and then stumbled face first into the mat. I let Cookie go and stood ready to face Vihaan, but he tripped again and fell through the middle rope and to the floor. Cookie took the hat off and tossed it to the outside. She dusted off her hands and placed them on her waist, pushing her hip out.
Cookie: That was a nice counter! I figured you would just let me classify your insides with that tackle.
Jordan: Classify my what? Is that what you think that’s called?
Cookie: Does it matter? Vihaan! Go get dressed. It’s time to take this to the next level…
Cookie rolled under the bottom rope and reached under the ring. She grabbed a pair of kids’ school scissors and a stuffed animal penguin and slid back in. She aggressively circled me like I was going to get shanked by these small scissors.
Cookie: Snip snip! Snip snip! I’m gonna cut you!
I ran a hand through my hair.
Jordan: So this is Kim then?
Cookie: Yes! I’m Kimmy Scissorhands! If you try to come after me, you might get cut!
Jordan: I thought her thing was staples? She carries around a staple gun or something. I swear. Did you just mess up another SCW personality?
Cookie: Maybe in SCW it’s staples. But maybe in some other company… it’s scissors!
Cookie emphasized the S’s like a possessed snake. As she circled me, I stepped out of place and circled her. Fake Kim seemed to be studying me for an opening to attack. But I didn’t feel the threat from a woman holding a stuffed animal.
Jordan: And the penguin!?
Cookie tossed it at me and smacked me in the chest. It bounced off and fell lightly to the mat. She held out the scissors and I spun around with a kick and knocked them clean out of her hand and across the room. She looked at me disappointed and I shrugged. Cookie slumped her shoulders in disappointment and I smirked and let out a soft fit of laughter.
Jordan: You’re going to have to do way better than that…
Cookie: You just wait!
Cookie rolled out of the ring and threw up the apron as she dug for something else. I scanned the room half expecting Vihaan to be disguised as a bush so he could run in and smack me in the head.
Jordan: This is pretty silly. I’m not sure it’s going to prepare me for anything. But it’s entertaining at least.
Cookie popped up with a dark wig on and wearing what looked like a trash bag. I raised a brow at her in a bit of concern as she slid under the rope and circled me with a smirk on her face. The trash bag had nearly torn off as she slid in and hung loosely from one of her shoulders. I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes.
Jordan: I’m confused by this one.
Cookie: I’m Ravyn…
Jordan: Oh… the trash bag…
Cookie took the wig off and changed her posture suddenly.
Cookie: Or am I Syren! Rawr! Or am I Ravyn!
Jordan: So you’re suggesting that Ravyn and her wife Syren are, what, the same people with different colored hair?
Cookie: No! I’m changing the way I’m standing!
Jordan: Ok, boo. Touche…
Cookie: Now, you’ve beaten us both at different times. But not always. So, what does it take to beat us?
Jordan: You’ve just got to be on your game. Ready for anything. And ready for Infamous to be around.
Vihaan: AHHH!
I heard a blood curdling scream behind me and turned to get laid out by Vihaan, who was wearing an ill-fitting version of Holly Adams’ gear with an equally bad-fitting blonde wig. The wig barely held on to his head and the gear was tighter than tight. He’d stuffed balloons into his top to attempt to look like Holly, and one had spilled out when he went on the attack, leaving him with a balloon uniboob. I laid on my back and looked at them.
Cookie: Ha, we got her! Yes, now kick at her!
I burst into laughter watching Cookie voice both parts of Syren and Ravyn with wig changes as she and Vihaan tried to keep me on the ground. I rolled across the mat and under the bottom rope and looked at both of them.
Vihaan: We won, bitch. Yas! We eliminated her!
Cookie: That’s not how a gauntlet works! Or a battle royal even!? How did you win the end of the year match?
Vihaan: Fuck this! All of this! I did it for the money, so that Vijaan can suck my oversized, hard to handle, big and veiny–
Jordan: I’m going to stop you right there!
I had slid in during their small spat and I laid out Vihaan with a jumping cutter and laughed as he laid on the ground coughing. He held his stomach and groaned in pain. Cookie tossed the wig off and ran over to check on our trusty driver.
Cookie: Kylie!? Woah!?
Jordan: What!? I thought we were training? And why was Vihaan Holly and not CHBK? How does that make any sense?
Cookie: I knew something seemed off. Vihaan makes a pretty terrible woman. But Holly is in the match and CHBK is just old.
Vihaan: Fuck you, Miss Jordan! I sue you for this. You have hurt me!
Jordan: You attacked me though. I defended myself.
Vihaan: Damn you white women! You’re all the same! I hate this whole thing!
Vihaan got up and stomped off out of view. I shrugged as Cookie got up and climbed between the ropes. She went right back to the same place as the last costume change and I retreated to a corner and leaned against the turnbuckle. I looked up at the lights, dim, but just enough to light this makeshift ring.
Jordan: I’m impressed by your commitment to this whole idea, Cookie. I think in a way I get what you’re trying to say. Everyone is so different and chaotic and… you just have to be open and loose and free and roll with the punches. Which we both know is the biggest issue with me, right? I mean, I’m always getting so uptight about the craziest things and… what the fuck!?
Cookie was standing before me looking like pure royalty. I couldn’t even tell if all the jewels were real or fake. The costume was supposed to be some sort of adult version of Frozen’s Elsa. A dead giveaway that she was our own frozen queen Selena. But Selena had nothing on the amount of skin that Cookie was flashing.
Cookie: Kneel, peon…
Jordan: Selena would never say that.
Cookie: I say kneel!
Jordan: Ok…
I played along and knelt down and then Cookie smacked me on the side of the head with a plastic scepter. I rolled over to the side and looked up to see her drive it down toward me again. I rolled away as the scepter smashed the mat and broke into pieces. Plastic bits went everywhere as Cookie brought the scepter up to her face and disappointedly studied it.
Cookie: Ah, man!? This was a rental!?
Jordan: You rented a weapon?
Cookie: I wasn’t about to buy this.. Anyway.. I’m so cold… brrrr…
Jordan: You pinned this woman a few days ago. You know this isn’t true.
Cookie: Touching her made me so cold… so cold… I couldn’t feel my pus–
Jordan: ETHEL!?
Cookie: Call me Queen Selena, bitch!
I reached up and snatched the crown off her head and put in on my own head. I felt the crown taken off my head from behind and turned around to a sight that made me stumble backward into Cookie’s arms. Vihaan was standing there wearing nothing but leaves. It looked like he’d drawn on his own body with a marker. He was wearing a wig of dreadlocks. I couldn’t help but laugh at the sight before me. His Holly was bad, but this was somehow worse.
Jordan: Holy shit! Put some clothes on you weirdo!
Vihaan: Prepare to taste the fury of nature, bitch!
Vihaan aimed a punch at me and I ducked to the ground as he punched Cookie square in the face. I looked up from the mat and saw the wide-eyed look on Vihaan’s face as Cookie stumbled back holding her face. She dropped her hands and blinked a few times, and then she scrunched up her nose.
Cookie: You make a terrible, Datura. She would never punch her queen…
Cookie turned and stormed away as I gathered to my feet. I rested an arm on Vihaan’s shoulder as he watched her with a defeated look on her face. He brought his hands up and buried his face in them as he pouted.
Jordan: That’s a shame. I know how badly you want Cookie to be on your side and take you out for that date. But I’m not sure how you get past punching her in the nose.
Vihaan: I was punching you, Miss Jordan. You moved you damn… damn you, fuck you! You ruined it!
Vihaan shrugged my arm off his shoulder and stomped away. Leaving me in the ring alone. I took a moment to look around the warehouse and smiled. Yeah, I sorta longed for those good old days sometimes. It was so much simpler when I was arguing with my brother and the expectations were so low. Now the expectations were always high, and the obstacles even tougher to overcome. There was so much pressure to carry my half of the load in a tag team. Even more pressure to live up to the hype I’d generated over the past year. I was more than sure that I had failed in that respect. But there was always time to turn it around. My attention was grabbed by a single piece of paper that fell from the sky and landed in the ring. I walked over and picked it up. It just said “Trios.” I dropped the piece of paper as I felt the ring rumble and turned to see Vihaan and Cookie again. Vihaan was once again dressed as a woman.
Jordan: Alright, now what’s this?
Cookie: We’re the ones you couldn’t beat. The ones who took Trios from you.
Jordan: Ah, so Cookie you’re Ace… and Vihaan you’re Glory?
Vihaan: My dad was Glenn Braddock!
Jordan: Ok?
Cookie: We represent your failure. Yes, you are in this match because of me. But you’re also in this match without control because of me. You were good enough to control your destiny in Trios, but not good enough to beat us. You even took the pin!
Jordan: Yeah, I sure did. But I don’t regret how that ended anymore. It set so many things in motion.
Cookie: Wanna wrassle in lube, baby?
Jordan: He doesn’t talk like that…
Cookie: Come over here and give it a kiss.
Jordan: Ok, he might talk like that.
Vihaan: AHH!
Vihaan tried to strike me, but I blocked it with my forearm. I looked at him and saw him gritting his teeth as he desperately tried to inflict some sort of pain to me.
Vihaan: Feel my Glory!
Jordan: What!? She doesn’t say that?
Vihaan kicked me in the stomach and I doubled over. I felt him grab my hands and spin and plant me into the mat with Glory’s finisher. I looked up at him as he jumped in excitement.
Vihaan: Ha, take that! I got you Miss Jordan. You have nothing on the Great Vihaan!
I threw a kick out and nailed Vihaan in the groin. He buckled in pain, stuck his knees together, and fell on to his face. I burst into laughter as he groaned on the mat.
Cookie: Oh! Maybe don’t come over here and kiss it then…
Vihaan: Damn you Miss Jordan. You play dirty. You cheater!
I shrugged and pulled myself up to my feet with the ropes.
Jordan: I’m running out of steam here… what else do you got?
Cookie: Well, I have a neck brace for Sophie.
Jordan: Why?
Cookie: I guess she broke her neck or something. But I really loved camping with her that one time!
Jordan: We got so fucking high, dude. But Sophie was nice. And really cool as fuck!
Cookie: Heh, I slept in a car with Ace. I slept in a car with myself!
Jordan: You’re trying to be yourself and Ace at the same time?
Cookie: It’s hard to keep up… oh and the goddess outfit was on backorder so… I’m KATIE STEWARD NOW!
Cookie tried to poke me in the eyes but I dodged it and slapped her hand away. She pouted at me and crossed her arms.
Jordan: Ok, yeah. You nailed that one. Hey, where did Vihaan go?
The warehouse goes dark and some music begins to play in the distance. It vaguely sounds like Giovanni Aries’ song is playing.
Jordan: Oh, this one is exciting!
Cookie: It is?
I watched as Vihaan turned the lights back on and walked to the ring doing his best Aries imitation. He walked into the ring and up to me.
Vihaan: Death to the lizard kingdom!
Jordan: Mmm, tell me more baby?
Cookie: What?
Vihaan: Ha, you want to journey to my wonderland? Do you want me to open your eyes to the truth?
Jordan: Yes, I want it all…
Vihaan: Come with me, my kitten. Let me open your mind.
Jordan: Yes… I will be your cheshire cat…
Cookie: Ok, that’s enough!
Cookie started snapping and stepped between us. She looked a bit concerned. I felt like her interruption woke me from a trance.
Jordan: Woah… what happened?
Cookie: That’s what I wanted to ask?
Jordan: Ah cool, Vihaan looks decent as Giovanni actually. That’s one dude I’m a bit worried about. We’ve never really fought outside of battle royals that I can remember.
Cookie: Uh huh… Vihaan, next thing.
Jordan: Still a few people left, huh?
Vihaan stepped out of the ring and retrieved a box and brought it back to Cookie.
Jordan: What’s that?
Cookie: This is where our paths converged. Last year there was a match where my life was threatened. Derek’s too…
Vihaan: Fuck Derek Adonis!!!
Jordan and Cookie: Shhh!!!
Cookie: Anyway. Your opponent technically won that match and received an amazing award.
Jordan: Heh, if you say so. I think he was pretty upset about that.
Cookie: I still have access to all the KABLAM properties because Derek has renounced the whole company.
Jordan: Ok…
Cookie: And therefore. Without further ado. I present you with…
Cookie opened the box and looked down into it before turning it my way.
Cookie: The silver cock!
There was dead silence as I saw Vihaan creeping away in the distance. I looked at Cookie and tilted my head.
Jordan: You thought… I’d want this?
Cookie: It’s a great honor. Only two of these were ever made. And I wanted you to have the lone silver one. We can display it at the house and it can be a talking piece when people come over and–
Jordan: And what does this have to do with Chris Cannon?
Cookie: This is a reminder. You gain something from every match. Never waste a minute in the ring because everything is another lesson learned. You get better every time you step between the ropes. As long as you commit to that teaching.
I was shocked to hear something like this from Cookie. She was right. I tried to take that approach, but it was easy to forget when you lose a big match or a big opportunity goes by the way side.
Jordan: Wow, boo… that’s so deep. I’m impressed.
Cookie: I know! That’s what I thought when I saw it on the internet!
Jordan: The internet?
Cookie: Yeah, on BlackOutAcademy.com!
Jordan: Oh…
Cookie: Ok, one more thing. Be right back!
I watched Cookie leave and I walked over to the ropes and leaned on them. I wasn’t sure exactly how much this experience would help me come next week’s gauntlet match, but I was willing to keep an open mind and an open approach to it. I suddenly smelled the scent of weed in the air and narrowed my eyes as I turned to see what was in front of me.
Jordan: HOLY FUCK, ETHEL!?
Cookie was standing butt ass naked, with a joint hanging from between her lips. She reached up and pulled the joint down and slowly let some smoke out.
Cookie: Sup, student. Is there a problem?
Jordan: Why are you naked?
Cookie: Just chilling. Need to be ready if the next hot bitch shows up.
Jordan: Ok, what if Vihaan walks in?
Cookie: Just relax, dude. Come take a hit of this?
I rolled my eyes and then of course I took the joint and took a hit. Then I shot a look at Cookie.
Jordan: Did you steal this from Asher?
Cookie: Maybe…
Vihaan: Hello?
Jordan: Shit, get your clothes on!
Vihaan: Miss Cookie!? Is that….
Vihaan made a loud noise and stumbled backward. I grabbed Cookie and one of her many costumes and we hid along the apron alongside the ring as we heard Vihaan hit the ground with a thud. We laughed among each other as she put clothes on and then we found Vihaan passed out from the brief moment of seeing Cookie nude. Hopefully this experience prepared me somewhat for the gauntlet. But mostly? It reminded me just how good of a friend Cookie truly is.
February 15, 2021 – Los Angeles
Late Sunday night I was awakened from a streaming stupor to an appointment added to my calendar by my agent Karen. I wish I could have known what it was for, but true to her typical form she was short on details and high on mystery. It was a meeting at the studio. I found that odd since we had wrapped things already. The trailer had already been out and everything. We were weeks away from the show dropping on Netflix. I got a ride from Vihaan and had him go ahead and leave when we arrived. Karen had strangely blocked out the rest of the morning and most of the afternoon. When I walked inside, I immediately noticed the set from our last shoot was still there. That same bed with slightly messed up sheets, raised up just enough so that my dumb ass could fall off of it. The strange thing though, was all the crew that seemed to be busy around us. I shrugged it off as I spotted Tim in his makeshift office in the back. I made my way in his direction and stepped through the doorway.
Tim: Close the door.
I closed the door and turned around. He gestured to a seat and I sat down as he leaned back.
Jordan: What’s with all the crew out there? Is someone reusing our set for a different show? Are… you filming another show?
Tim shot me a confused look.
Tim: Do you not know why you’re here?
Jordan: I haven’t a clue.
Tim: Oh, fuck me…
Tim leaned forward and placed his elbows on the desk.
Tim: The sex scene is fucked. The footage is just gone.
Jordan: What!?
Tim: They film everything in digital these days. The files got corrupted. This rarely ever happens. And when it does, we usually have other takes. But we filmed two takes of this and it’s all gone. All of it. I don’t even have footage of you falling out of the bed for my own personal blooper roll. So we’re fucked.
Jordan: What are we going to do? I mean, the show? Is it ok without it?
Tim: You really need to get a better agent, hun. You’re here right now because we’re going to set up and film that scene again.
Jordan: Oh… just fuck off!
Tim: Excuse me?
I froze. My eyes were wide as I looked at Tim. It was an instantaneous reaction that came from deep within my brain the moment I processed it. But here I was again. Testing Tim’s resolve when it came to an untrained actor he’d been forced into working with for this project.
Tim: Did you just tell me to fuck off?
Jordan: I’m sorry, I didn’t mean–
Tim: I don’t care what you meant. I don’t appreciate that shit from you when I have done everything possible to make this process easy for you. You came in here a green as grass in the midwest and I was patient. They told me I needed to make this work. YOU were the one they wanted here. So I made it work. But then I go back and I see the stuff you did. Most of it was decent. But this scene? There was nothing from you in it. No life. Even before this footage was gone, it was already worthless. Because you mailed it in.
I looked down and sighed.
Tim: I just keep wondering, when is this girl going to put in some real effort?
Jordan: What do you mean?
Tim: The whole damn world can tell you want to be successful. It’s written all over you. Except for in your actions. You’ve never given the important moments enough effort. This scene, whether you like it or not… whether it makes you uncomfortable or not… this scene is one of the most important scenes we will film on this show. Segments of the show were re-written specifically for this. And you’re mailing it in.
Jordan: I’m not mailing it in! I just…
Tim: Then what is it? Because we asked you to show some skin and I know that wasn’t easy for you. But instead of acting like an adult about this, you came across like a child! Throwing a little tantrum about this and that. I thought you’d gotten this all out of your system, but then you looked like a robot in need of a reset the last time you were in front of the camera. We’ve got to have more. I need you to want this show to be as successful as you want yourself to be.
I bit my lip and just nodded. Inside I felt a little bit of defeat. Part of what he said was hitting me straight to my core. Maybe this was a problem for me outside AND inside of the ring.
Tim: Ok? Can we do that? Please!?
Jordan: Yeah, sorry… uhh…
Tim: Take a minute and take a breath. I need some fire today.
Jordan: Fire, right.
Tim: Please do not walk back on to my set with the weak shit you gave us last time. Don’t let down your co-stars. Don’t let down me and the rest of this crew.
I gave him a nod and let out a deep breath and then stood up and reached for the door.
Tim: Hey!
Jordan: Yeah?
Tim: Don’t let down yourself, Jordan.
He gave me a momentary glance and then looked back down at some paperwork in front of him. I turned and made my way down the hall and toward the women’s dressing room area. When I walked in, Izzy was sitting in the chair with her legs crossed and talking to Ashley. Ashley was already in full hair and makeup, already wearing a robe for the scene. Even with the robe on I could tell she wasn’t wearing the same lingerie as last time.
Ashley: Hey! Welcome to take three of this stuff!
I smirked and watched as Ashley peeled her robe back a bit.
Ashley: We’re twinsies this time!
Jordan: Really?
Ashley: Director didn’t tell you? Not only are we reshooting it but as he told me… we’re enhancing it. He thought it looked terrible.
Jordan: He told me it was corrupted?
Ashley: That’s what I heard, too. But also that we might as well take this opportunity to do it better. So, at least you won’t be alone on this one.
She giggled and shot me a wink as she stood up.
Ashley: I’ll see you out there, though. I need to read over the script again.
She hopped up and left me with Izzy. I looked at my old friend and let out a sigh. She shrugged. I walked past her and put a bag down and started to peel my clothes off. I was dressed down expecting some sort of quick check-in. But here I was getting naked for this TV show again. I was faced away from Izzy as I stepped out of my clothes.
Izzy: Your ass looks better than ever. You know that?
I looked over my shoulder and shot her a glance.
Izzy: Don’t get all pissy. Just a compliment. Back in Chicago you were skinny as a rail. Now you look strong. Toned and defined. I almost wouldn’t recognize you if it wasn’t for that particular way your back curves right there with those dimples.
I felt myself blushing a little bit as I turned back forward. I reached for a robe off a hook and slipped it on, wrapping it around me as I stepped toward Izzy and sat in her chair. She immediately grabbed a brush and then grabbed a pair of pasties and handed them to me. I peeled off the adhesive side and stuck them against my skin as she grabbed my hair and lightly pulled a brush through it. I looked in the mirror back at her and watched her.
Izzy: How did that conversation go with Tim?
Jordan: It was… yeah…
Izzy: That good, huh? I can only imagine.
Jordan: The worst part was that I didn’t even know this was happening.
Izzy: How is that possible?
Jordan: Because I need to fire my agent I think.
Izzy: Jesus… leave it to you to hire the dumbest agent ever.
Jordan: What is that supposed to mean?
Izzy: I’m just saying. You always just kind of roll with things. If I were you, I would have solved a problem like your agent ages ago because I wouldn’t want to be stuck dealing with that all the time.
Jordan: But… Karen is nice!
Izzy: Oh my god, your cousin Karen? She’s an agent?
Jordan: Sort of… she needed a job! She’s got that law degree, but no one has ever wanted her at their firm since the time she tried to use the movie Lethal Weapon as a legal defense.
Izzy: Ah yeah, the too old for this shit thing. I remember you telling me about that.
I laughed softly and shook my head.
Izzy: So really, what did Tim say when you were shocked.
Jordan: He didn’t say anything about that. It was more about… ugh…
Izzy: What?
I closed my eyes and let out a deep sigh.
Jordan: He said I need to grow up and stop acting like a child and actually put some effort into this.
Izzy: Why do you seem surprised by that?
Jordan: What is that supposed to mean?
Izzy: That is the description of you to a tee. You’re always acting like that about things you don’t like.
Jordan: That’s not true!
Izzy: Ok, how about when we were in Chicago and they wanted you to change your gear color, but you were pissed off because you don’t like the color yellow. You threw a giant fit about that. Made a big scene in front of everybody. And then when you got out there for the match you were absolutely shit. All because they wanted you to match your tag team partner.
Jordan: Yeah, well, your gear sucked.
Izzy: You wore a mask! It’s not like it was a fashion statement!
Jordan: Don’t you talk shit on La Luchadora!
Izzy rolled her eyes.
Izzy: It was the dumbest gimmick ever. Here was this cute as fuck, perfectly beautiful blonde girl with blue eyes that thought she needed to cover up the one thing that made you pay attention. Some of us wish we could draw people in and hide the rest of our flaws because of something like that. Not you though. Even when they begged you to take it off, you had to fight.
Jordan: I was trying to be true to myself!
Izzy: Not wearing that mask you weren’t. You were hiding. Even without one now, you’re still hiding. You hide behind your brother. You hide behind your friend. You very rarely step out and let the world just see… you!
I let my eyes go to the floor as Izzy worked on my hair and I just let out a deep breath and shook my head back and forth slowly. When I looked up, Izzy was putting the final touches on my hair.
Jordan: If you hate me so much now… how were you ever my friend before?
Izzy: I was your friend because you hadn’t fucked me to get at your girlfriend. You ruined everything there was between us. You knew I had a crush and you took advantage of me and crushed me.
Jordan: I’m not that person anymore. I’m sorry that I did that to you back then. But I wish I hadn’t.
Izzy looked at me in the mirror and I watched as she shrugged and shook her head.
Izzy: I wouldn’t change a thing now because it pushed me to get the fuck out of that shitty wrestling world and do something else in my life. I still can’t believe my fucking luck that I ended up forced to work with you again.
I chuckled softly and she kept her eyes looking into mine.
Izzy: But the thing is, you aren’t as far away from that old you that person you say you aren’t any more. You’re still not a finisher. You still… don’t seem to just go out and take what you want. I’ve seen that here, and I’ve seen it when I watch you in the ring now.
I tilted my head slightly as I looked at her.
Jordan: I… what do you mean?
Izzy: With you, there’s some fire. There’s a little passion. But there’s not enough. You need more. You have to show more. I know I’d like to still be employed come the end of this season, but who knows if they will stay committed. They might think this show sucks. You have a chance to really do something in your career though. You just need to… put in a little more effort. Show that you truly care.
Jordan: I do care. I want to win. I wanted so badly to be the tag team champion with Cookie so fucking badly.
Izzy chuckled and looked at me, putting the brush down to her side.
Izzy: Your old pal Bree said it best the other day. You’re the girl that just can’t have nice things. And when you do get them, you don’t even hang on to them. Prove the Bree Lancaster’s of the world wrong. I’ve never seen you fight for something harder than you fought to prove Sienna wrong. Channel that fight, and then never let it go again.
I nodded to Izzy, and to myself, and stared straight ahead at my own reflection.
Izzy: And while you’re at it, try and channel some of that fight into this scene so we can keep getting that Netflix money for another season… ok?
I nodded and then stayed quiet as she put on the finishing touches for hair and makeup. She gave me that strip to cover the unmentionable section again and I strolled out of the dressing room area still locked in deep reflection about the things I’d heard from Tim and Izzy. Had I truly been letting these people down? And Cookie down? And myself? I walked to the bed and approached Sam and Ashley. Sam looked me up and down.
Sam: Fuck…
Ashley: What is it?
Sam: She’s got that look again.
Ashley: Look?
Sam: The one like she’s gonna trip out and forget where the hell she’s at again. We’ve got to get this damn scene right.
Ashley: Give her a break. She’ll be fine! Are you good Jordan?
Jordan: Huh? Uh, yeah! I’m fine.
Sam looked up and shook his head and let out a frustrated sigh.
Sam: Listen, Jordan, I don’t want to be a dick when I say this… but maybe this acting thing isn’t something you’re cut out to do. I mean, you never seem like you want to be here. You’re barely even trying. You’re making the rest of us look like complete shit. For some reason they gave you basically the biggest role of all of us… and you’re just shitting all over this whole thing.
Jordan: What!?
Ashley: Sam, stop!
Sam: No! I went to Juilliard for this!? To be upstaged by some amateur because a studio head fell in love with the idea of her being in a leading role? I will not let her sidestep my entire fucking career!
I furrowed my brow as Sam kept at it.
Sam: Great! Now she’s showing more emotion than she has this whole season! It took me letting her know exactly how terrible she is to finally get even a scowl out of her.
Ashley: Sam! Enough!
Jordan: It’s fine…
I shrugged and smiled. Ashley crossed her arms as she turned and looked at Sam. I pulled off my robe and tossed it off the stage and to the floor. Ashley shot me a look and gestured downward. I hadn’t even covered up. But fuck it! Three people now came straight at me today. They wanted me to show them something? I was going to show them something.
Tim: Ok then… looks like one of you is ready to go. So positions then?
I crawled up on the bed with my eyes locked on Sam as he and Ashley made their way over. They both slipped out of their robes and got up on the bed. The scene called for us all to be on our knees at the start. The cameras would be position behind for shots of Ashley and I’s bare bottoms. After that, some position changes had been added. Me focusing on just Ashley, while Sam focused on just her as well. It was all to set up some sort of future tension between Sam and I’s characters. But I was about to create some more tension between me and Sam.
Tim: Action!
As soon as the cameras started to roll, I looked Sam in the eyes and then went in for what probably looked like a sensual kiss on his neck. But I sunk my teeth in just deep enough to make it hurt. I heard him straining under the bite and I released my grasp and pulled back, looking at Ashley and planting a deep kiss on her lips. It lingered, long enough that Sam seemed to get aggressive so he could push his way through to get one from her too. Then as he broke the kiss with her and looked at me, I went for it. I grabbed his ass with one hand and dug my nails in as I pulled him tightly against me for that kiss. I felt him let out a wimpy yelp against my lips. He must have been in great pain with the way he gripped his hand against my waist. I dug in deeper, forcing him to really squeeze at my hip. Ashley’s hand lingered at my side as she watched, almost sensing I was going too far. Then I released my grip and broke the kiss all at one time.
Tim: Cut! Cut!
Sam: You bitch!
Tim came jogging up the stage to us.
Tim: That was some good shit! I don’t know what you’re yelling about…
Sam touched his butt with a hand and brought it up to show a trace of blood.
Sam: God damnit! I’m bleeding!? Look what she did to my skin!?
Sam turned and showed his ass to Tim, but Tim grinned. He let out a laugh.
Tim: Ha! I love it! Someone get us a towel to wipe this up. That was incredible! That felt so… passionate and as real as these terribly conceived threesomes could ever feel. Well done, Jordan. THAT is what I was talking about. Now let’s get this cleaned up and keep on going, shall we?
Sam shot me a look as he turned to gather his robe and I smirked.
Jordan: Don’t mail it in now, Sam. I’d hate for that Julie Andrews education to go to waste!
Ashley: It’s Juilliard…
Jordan: Whatever!
Sam sulked off to get his towel and clean up as Ashley grinned at me and shook her head. For once, it felt damn good to put that kind of effort into something. It felt good to be in control. It was nothing like the beatings I took at the hands of Sienna. In those I kept getting up, but I was never in control of it. With this, I was the one dishing out the punishment. And it felt good. It was exactly what I needed. I could practically feel new life being breathed into me as I stood there waiting for Sam to get cleaned up and come back. Maybe this was the approach to a gauntlet. Maybe if I took control and never once let up… maybe then I had a real chance to turn this gauntlet thing on its head. And if not, I just filmed one hell of a scene and left my mark on a little uptight Hollywood asshole that needed to be put in his place.
Promo
A camera turns on to show a few chickens walking in a circle around a water feature. Jordan Majors comes into view and throws a handful of food and then grabs the camera, attached to her phone and takes a seat on top of a low fence.
Second chances… second chances are few and far between in this world. At the end of 2020 I was given my first chance at the world title. I stumbled and fell face first. There truly is no shame in losing if you know you’ve given it your all. But I feel some shame from my loss to Bree. I should have beaten her. I should have walked into Last Grasp of Reality as interim champion and faced David Helms. Well, it didn’t happen. Instead, Ace Marshall rode up on his white horse with Trios contract in hand and he made his claim for a wild February Breakdown date. He added me, of all people, into this and thrust me right into my second world title match. A chance for me to make it right.
Jordan hops off the fence and walks forward, looking at the camera as she speaks. The LA hills fill the background behind her.
I don’t view this as a gift from Ace. I know him well enough to see everything as some sort of a test. When I was gearing up to compete alongside him for the buy-in last year, he forced me into a battle with my arch nemesis. Ace wanted me to be forced to fight Peyton Rice in an uncomfortable situation for a few reasons. One, the man likes to have a good laugh. Two, he’s obviously a pervert and just wanted us covered in luse for his own enjoyment. But thirdly, he was challenging me to step outside of my comfort zone. It worked. I ran the table and earned the right to draft my own team. It was a thrill I’ll never forget. But it wasn’t a gift from my old buddy Ace. No, it was a lesson. Because Ace is always teaching me, and I’m always finding that I still have a lot to learn.
She sighs to herself as she walks inside a home and the hills disappear from view.
So where were we at right now? I’m fresh off a loss in the finals of the Tag League. I had hoped for a win there, of course, but Cookie and I lost just two matches the whole way. A/C Unit is a good team. I’m proud of what we accomplished in spite of what people expected from us. But it still leaves a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. Like I said last week, I can’t help but feel that I’ve begun to develop this reputation for losing when the big prizes are on the line. Since I won the Adrenaline Championship last year, I preceded to drop it a month later. I lost both key matches to Sienna. Cookie and I lost to Frozen Hell with a chance to go undefeated. I lost to Bree at end of the year. And then, the tag league finals. It feels like I’m right there at the top, just itching to break through that proverbial glass ceiling. But I still haven’t managed to break through it. Something has to change. Enter. This. Match.
Jordan smirks as she plops down into a chair and leans forward to the camera. Her face feels the view.
This is not a gift from Ace Marshall, this is simply my chance to change everything. If anyone knows anything about me, they know that I live for proving people wrong. Nearly running the table from start to finish at Taking Hold of the Flame proved that. Most of what Cookie and I did during the Tag League was further proof of that. So this? This is my chance to not just break through the ceiling, but kick the door in and burn down the whole building. To tear down the walls that have been built around me and tell the world that my time is now. To show them what I’m truly capable of.
She leans back a bit, moving the camera to her other hand and then holding it low and looking down into it.
I’m not naive to the challenge. Look at the people that are in this match. Ace Marshall alone is tough enough, but then you toss in perennial champions like Bree, Syren, Ravyn, Selena… it’s a murderer’s row of competition. Then you look at people like Chris Cannon and Asher Hayes… Glory Braddock of course. Nothing here is easy. Hell, the so-called “experts” are probably already looking at someone like me and putting me down at the bottom of the barrel in terms of chances to win this. But I assure you this confidence you hear from me, it’s in no way false. If I’ve proven anything at all, it’s that I won’t let anything beat me down for good. I won’t let anything stop me. Very quietly last year, and surprising to everyone I’m sure, is the fact that the list of people who actually pinned me is pretty small. Four of those five? David Helms, Bree, Sienna, and Syren. Yeah, maybe 2021 got off to a shaky start, but I’ve never let that define me. I know what’s fallen into my hands here. I know what I have to do.
Jordan runs a hand through her hair.
I could sit here and say thanks to Ace all day, but part of me wonders what other tricks he has up his sleeve. After all, there might not be anyone as intelligent as him in this match. He knew exactly what he was doing when he scheduled this clusterfuck of a match. And now I know exactly what I have to do. Whether I enter this at No. 1, No. 15 or somewhere in between, I have to be ready to outlast, outmatch, and outwit anyone who stands across from me. I’m sitting here acting like that’s easy either. There are people in this match I’ve never even shared a ring with, so I can’t pretend to know what challenge they might present. I’m just looking at history. Since I lost the Adrenaline Championship my only attempts at another title have come because of a fan vote and a Trios cash in. The odds are that I might not be seeing another opportunity like this coming anytime soon. I have to make the absolute most of this. I need to win this.
She smiles and then shrugs to herself.
That doesn’t really make me any different from the rest though, does it? Every single person in this is hungry for the title. They know what’s on the line here. Hell, Gio probably just wants to win this so he can break it. But regardless, the motivations here are mostly the same. Power and personal glory, accomplishment… sure. Everyone has their reasons. But I need to prove something to myself, and to everyone else. I am ready to be among the best in this company. I am ready to take that next step and prove that I can more than just hang with the best. I can BE the best. So why not prove that in a match with some of the best this company has to offer by walking away with the SCW World Championship in my hands? Why not enact a little chaos into this company by being one of the people no one expects to win this, strolling out of Breakdown with that championship firmly attached around my waist? No, tell me. Why the hell not?
Jordan holds the phone in both hands and leans forward.
What’s to stop me from making it to the end and becoming champion? Legacies? Past results? You can toss all of that by the wayside. This match changes everything. All bets are off the table. Weeks ago I was playing with house money and I never took advantage of it. I’m not making that mistake again. I don’t care if you call yourself a living legend, a once in a generation talent, or the blonde bitch that has an insult ready for everyone that crosses her path, you can all accept falling at my feet. I might have failed at winning this title last time, I might have failed last week at winning the Tag League, but this week… this week I show that I’ve simply failed forward. I show everything that I’ve learned from all the negative was just building toward this positive moment. I show that I learned from all the lessons that Ace taught me over the past year. This is the turning point, and a hell of one at that.
She leans forward more, until just her face is filling the picture.
Every single one of you in this match all have the same dream, and that complicates things because it highly conflicts with my dream. Sure, I could sit back and continue to ride the status quo. I could just give it my best effort and win a few matches here and there, collect the checks from the small screen hobby on the side and live a comfortable life here in the hills of Los Angeles. But I’m committed to something different entirely. I want to be SCW World Champion. And to do that, I have to win this match. There are no guarantees in this business. You don’t always get rematches, second chances are few and far between, you could even go out there this week and break your neck and this whole ride could be over just like that. But the one guarantee for anyone in this match that has to face me is they are in for the fight of their life. I will battle, and I will fight, and I will scrap with every last bit of energy I have. To knock me out of this match you’re going to have to literally knock me out. That’s the only way I’m willing to go out. Otherwise, you can turn the lights out on your chances and shine the light on me as your new SCW World Champion.
Jordan smirks and pauses for a moment. Then she raises her eyebrows.
Oh, one more thing. Maybe one more guarantee. Facing me in this match will turn your dreams to nightmares. Outlasting me will only leave you with just enough to face your immediate demise when the next person comes out. Underestimating me? Well, that only ends with Jordan Majors holding gold in the air at the end. And what a site that will be. Just know when I say this that I mean it. Because Jordan Majors IS money. You can take that to the bank!
She blows a kiss to the camera and then gives it a wink before turning it off and ending the recording.
Everything You Wish You Could Be 