31st May, 2019
19:02 PM GMT +1
Dublin, Ireland
Exact Location: FLYEfit Macken Street Gym
Status: Off-Camera The announcement of whom Sam and Jackie were going to fight came with mixed reactions … at least from The Titaness. On one hand, thank god. New opponents. On the other?
Well … this would be a hell of a chore.
There was only so much poor Joseph could do by himself, and the unfortunate truth was he was barely close to either Shox and Tox’s height
or weight. Thankfully, Sam and Bandit had agreed to ask from soon-to-be-family’s help. Specifically, Shonn Maguire, whom agreed to set her and Bandit up with some friends of his that would be able to assist them in getting ready for the upcoming tag team match.
To say this would be an interesting meeting would be an understatement. It was either the idea of meeting some new faces making her a slight bit nervous or knowing she was still going in with a somewhat wounded knee.
Not nearly as bad when La Gata Negra checked it out, granted. But with all of the recent bookings, Sam hadn’t exactly gotten much time or chances to allow her joint to rest.
Still, fuck the idea of just handing these straps over, she thought, taking a break as she entered the gym alongside both Jackie and Joseph. Eventually, they all entered a mostly empty room that had been reserved for the six of them.
.. Well, technically six, but who was keeping track of the number of individuals actually using this place? Hopefully no one, anyway.
As the three new faces came into view, Sam offered a smile and wave. The three walk over and join them, the lead, smaller one nodding.
”Aye, ‘ello there. Me name’s Sean Casey, these bae me brothers, Shane an’ Shannon. We hard ye bae naedin’ some help an’ we go way back wit th’ Maguires so haer we are.” He motions to the two men standing next to him, both towering over him looking like they might actually be the same size as Tox and Shox.
”Damn, that’s a lot of Irish beef…”Sam nods in agreement, unable to help but chuckle softly as she tilts her head up in order to make eye contact. Something she hasn’t had to do in … months. Probably a year, if not two.
”Yep, that is indeed a lot of beef, as you say. Well then …”Turning her head to look back over to Bandit, she then nodded to the ring.
”Since this is gonna be a lot more challenging than the wanna-be team of Mosh and Ripley, you think it’d be smarter if I were the legal person first?””You sure that’s a good idea with your knee how it is? I mean… I guess it would be an acid test…”Sam briefly paused, mainly to make damn sure the response that had jumped in her head was completely accurate … or as close to it as possible.
”No one outside of the Maidens, Lio, and any of the Dragons should even know. I’ve never exactly announced I’m injured. I’ve just kept the fact I’ve taken breaks vague. Most have likely assumed it’s linked to Dazi’s passing, which is at least partially true.”And while no one had succeeded in discovering her wound - accidentally or otherwise - the one person that had … was from EWC.
”I doubt Shox and Tox do homework of any kind. And it’s been a lot more tolerable as of late.”Which led to the next fear … but Sam just kept it in her head as opposed to voicing it. That’d just be her luck; speak her mind, only to make it occur.
”So for now, yes. If nothing else, this can be a test to determine whether that’ll be a smart move come the actual fight.” And with that, Sam pulled herself on top of the apron, sliding between the ropes, and finally entering the ring inside the room.
”Alright, let’s give this a shot then.”While Bandit and Sam were talking, Shane and Shannon looked a bit hesitant. Apparently, hearing one of their sparring partners was already hurt made it seem like this may be an easy way to make things much worse before better.
The looks did
not escape Sam, who narrowed her eyes in annoyance.
”Nu-uh. None of that. If it were too bad, I wouldn’t be here. They’d both make sure of that.” She nodded back to Bandit and Orion to help indicate whom ‘they’ referred to.
The two still looked a bit unsure … but eventually, Shane got in, while Shannon remained near the apron. Shane took charge and ran forward … and both Bandit and Orion could tell the next things that happened were Sam allowing them to purposely play out.
Shane would get Sam up on his shoulders in a fireman’s carry. But before he could slam her down, she wrapped her arms around his neck, locking the Exiled To Tartarus technique in.
Though she couldn’t see the amused smirk, Sam definitely felt it. This seemed to be more than enough to help reassure Shane she was completely serious about wanting to partake in this, as well as able.
Despite there being a very obvious strength difference, it took more effort than anyone would have expected for Shane to yank Sam’s arms off his neck. Sam would drive her good knee into Shane’s back before letting go, taking a few steps away as she landed on the mat.
Shane began to saunter towards Sam, but before he could get too close, she lowered herself and got in a recognizable stance. And though he prepared somewhat for it, he didn’t find the right timing to avoid the spear that came from Sam, resulting in the ring shaking violently as what was likely four to five hundred pounds of pure mass collided straight onto the canvas.
Just that alone had made Sam sore. The right amount of momentum and ensuring she put enough ‘oomph’ into her attack to make Shane fall down … oh yeah. That took a lot of wind out of her, actually.
But … this was likely how it would go.
You’re basically gonna fight two Masters at the same time, she reminded herself, smirking at the memory of the triple threat for the Mile High Championship. After finally mustering the will and strength to push herself off, she ran to the corner and tagged Bandit in. The smaller woman slingshots herself in and starts hitting and running until she tries one too many running forearms in a row and gets knocked on her ass by the larger Irishman standing in against her. She spends the next few minutes taking alternating shots from Shane and Shannon until she manages to move out of the way and cause them to collide with each other. At that moment, Bandit quickly rolls across the ring and tags out.
..Huh. That was an interesting thought. This wasn’t meant to be a Tornado Tag match. But … would they try to be have it so both brothers were in the ring at the same time? Maybe. They
were Skrabz’s homies, and Skrabz wasn’t really a man who believed in honor or fair fighting very much .. if at all. That definitely would be one way to try to get the advantage.
Keeping those thoughts in mind, Sam stepped in, now looking between the two opponents. When they both got up to being on at least one knee, The Titaness rushed forward, extending both arms out and knocking them both down with a double clothesline. Down, however, did not quite equal out - something Shannon very quickly hinted as he grabbed a hold of Sam’s ankle and hoisted her up while simultaneously getting back up.
Samantha’s hands never got to reach up to try to pry herself free, as Shane grabbed hold of both The Titaness’ arms and held them tightly.
Well … they got the whole ‘not being fair’ aspect down very well, she mused, finding her brain working faster than usual now that she was dangling upside-down and blood was flowing to her head.
Apparently, one - or both - had noticed which knee she’d used to hit Shane’s back with, because it was her good ankle which was being held. If being trapped like this hadn’t been frustrating enough, Sam gasped as Shannon began slowly squeezing down on her ankle, giving her an unspoken timer of sorts.
And so, she did the first thing that came to her head. She thrust her left leg up, slamming it square into Shannon’s jaw. It was enough to take both opponents by enough surprise that their grips loosened enough.
An extra headbutt to Shane’s own left knee finally aided in Sam collapsing on her back. Free, now visibly sweating, sore … but free all the same.
”Bae watchin’ th’ lass’s head now, Lads, ye dinna bae wantin’ tae bae gettin’ outdone like tha!” The sight of Sam’s body shaking didn’t go unnoticed by Orion. He simply kept silent … for now. However, after five more minutes and seeing her land rather roughly - on and off the knee - that was when he made a T shape with his hands. And … Sam very begrudgingly nodded her head in agreement.
”Need some of the Ibuprofen?”Sam nodded again, looking somewhat embarrassed she had to openly admit such a thing.
”Yeah … please.”Within moments, Joseph placed a water bottle beside Sam and two tablets in her hand. She unscrewed the cap and downed the pills, using the water to help make it go smoother for her.
“You ok, Sam?”A weak smile crossed her face as Sam slowly nodded.
”The major difference in fighting the Master and Candi at the same time wasn’t just being at one hundred percent. I had a lot more adrenaline going during the actual match. But … not being completely well either? Ugh, this is gonna make this defense a real bitch.”A deep breath passed her lips as Sam slowly stood back up. Shane and Shannon had been in their own corner .. likely planning from what The Titaness could guess. That must have been true enough, as Shane exited, leaving only Shannon inside the ring.
Another back-and-forth exchange would be seen. Though Sam had a slightly easier time than Bandit, she also got her share of hard hits in, as well as given to her.
Finally, she managed to hoist him up with a Powerbomb, and nodded to Bandit when it got to the apex of the lift. Bandit climbs up to the top and waits for Sam to drive him down before launching herself into the Snowbird Splash. Shane comes running back into the ring and Sam catches him, elevating him up for Bandit to catch him in the Cheshire Grin. With both brothers down, the two women step back and nod slowly, cautiously.
“Didn’t feel like I caught him quite right on that Grin…”Sam slowly nodded in agreement, replaying the image over a few times in her head.
”It wasn’t as off as it could have been, but … yeah. I think I get what you’re trying to say.”A wry grin spread over her face as Samantha looked up towards Jackie.
”I hope you’re feeling well enough, because it seems like the next few days are gonna be super long. Including tonight.” Bandit shrugs, smirking back.
“That’s what planes are for.””Among other things,” Sam agreed, chuckling softly. She barely finished standing up before being charged at again. The Titaness leaped forward, intending to retaliate with her own counterattack.
4th June, 2019
00:29 AM GMT +1
Dublin, Ireland
Exact Location: Undisclosed hotel in Dublin
Status: On-Camera The camera pans in on The Titaness sitting atop the bed. She has quite a few numerous, but otherwise small, marks in her face. A few are dangerously close to her eyes. The dried blood - particularly on her face - indicates she’s very recently been in a fight. She waves to the camera, clears her throat, and begins to speak.
”Brix City Boyz … anyone ever tell you two you sound sorta like a reject version of the Backstreet Boys? You are the homies to a rapper, so … maybe it’s not as crazy as it sounds?”Sam shrugs, smirking as she pulls her laptop beside her.
”Before we get into the ‘real’ talks, I wanted to try my hand at a parody. And …”Sam waves her hand.
”Meh. I’ll just hush and let the lyrics speak for themselves, yeah? I’m not likely as good as Skrabz, but I’ll damn well try. Sorry in advance if I’m slightly off key.” Her grin widens as she pulls a tab up. We see it’s on Youtube. More specifically, it has the instrumental to The Backstreet Boys’
“I Want It That Way” pulled up.
When Sam hears her cue, she begins to sing.
♪♫♬ “Yeah
Your plans will backfire
Our one desire
Believe when we say
We'll beat you that way
But you're not that smart
By thinking your reign will start
At Mile High on Sunday
We'll beat you that way
One, two, three!
Ain't nothing but a disgrace.
One, two, three!
When you find the mat up in your face.
One, two, three!
You'll hear it on the replay
That we beat you that way.” ♬♫♪
Even by the half-way mark, Sam’s expression had started to change. But it wasn’t until uttering that last line she gave in … and falls backwards on the bed, busting her ass off as she fumbles around, managing to pause the YouTube video.
”Fuck, fuck, fuck! Oh, goddamn … ahh, shit! My sides …”At least a good two or so minutes pass before The Titaness manages to sit back up. Her face is even more crimson, now from both her laughing fit and whatever fight she was in earlier. Samantha raises a hand, wiping some stray tears off her face before speaking when she catches the last bit of breath that was lost.
”Kudos to people like Weird Al who can do that shit with a straight face. Yeah … I didn’t really think that was for me. Whew. Okay, I’m done. After last night especially, I needed that laugh. Now then …”Sure enough, her eyebrows narrow as she looks right at the camera.
”You two have gone on and on about being the realest and shit, yeah? That’s fine. That’s not my problem, even. It’s … the fact you don’t think I’m real?”An eyebrow raises whilst still staying furrowed.
”You don’t think I am … and yet, I was in Mile High since episode number fucking one. Something even Skrabz can’t boast about.”She waves a hand dismissively through the air.
”Yeah, yeah. Travel issues - think he said some crap like that. I believe it, mind you. Just think that’s a bit of an easy … well, that doesn’t matter. Point is, as good as Skrabz is, he can’t boast that he’s been at Mile High since the beginning like me and some of the others have. But there’s so much more than Mile High I have been a part of. Most underground, and thus unofficial … but the fact remains that they do count. They’re not ‘professional’ wins and losses, but they certainly do exist.
“So .. how am I the fake one here?”Her eyes roll.
”I guess if you wanna properly recall that yes, I didn’t used to be a Shieldmaiden, you’d be only partially correct. However …”Samantha reaches back and pats her cut.
”This … this is very real. So are these.”The camera zooms in at the cue. With it closer up to Sam’s face, we can better see multiple, small holes.
”From fucking thumb tacks when I participated in a different open battle royale mere hours ago. And this …” She lifts some bangs up, showing the slightly crooked X scar going across her forehead.
”One half was from me and Bullet’s Ladder Match, the other from when I fought Erik Holland for the Eternal Warfare Strap while I was briefly in a death match fed.”The camera zooms back out, refocusing on a still glaring Samantha.
”So, boys, where are your scars? Hmm?”A knowing smirk reappears on her face as she nods confidently.
”You likely don’t have any. None new or recent, anyway. You … were likely doing almost the exact same thing Skrabz was after Mile High shutdown; sitting around with your thumbs up your asses.”She quickly holds her index finger up.
”Note the keyword there; almost. I do know that Skrabz went into xWo for a bit. But I’ll save that talk for later. After that fell apart though?”Her head shakes.
”Nothing. He didn’t do a damn thing, and I’m pretty fucking sure that’s true with you two. Meanwhile, we - as in the Shieldmaidens - have never once stopped fighting! Least of all me, but when I say all of us, I do mean all. If Mosh and Ripley thought they could take these tag titles … with minimal training … why do you think you’ll have any better luck? Because you’re taller than them? Stronger?”Sam snickers, shaking her head from side to side.
”Since Skrabz swears he knows everything about me from my HcW days, why not have him confirm the number of times I went against a true titan in his own rights. Gabriel Fucking Ohio - seven feet tall, damn well nearly four-hundred pounds. And I --”She places a hand over her heart, looking
very proud as she finishes her sentence.
”I fucking reclaimed a title from him and two other wrestlers in a Fatal Four Way before HcW shut its doors. Belts like the tag team ones me and Bandit have … you don’t just get them for the fuck of it. Not usually, anyway.”The last sentence is muttered under her breath, but still able to be heard.
”No, these are fucking earned by sacrificing everything; blood, sweat, tears, your goddamn careers even! As far as I’m concerned, you have done next to nothing to prepare for our match. Meanwhile, me and Bandit … we have gone against a different pair of twins who could pass off as another fucking set of brothers of yours. And even with me not being at one-hundred percent … I’m still gonna come in. Because I refuse to half-ass anything. So … with everything I have relayed thus far … do I sound like a ‘scared’ bitch to you two?” Her hands are shaking now, fueled by … likely rage, if anyone had to guess.
”If you dare say yes … you’re even more stupid than I imagined. Would a ‘scared bitch’ go toe-to-toe with tall bastards like The Master for a chance to become the first winner of the Mile High Championship?! Would she continue to come back to Mile High - week in and week out - and put her very body, life, and career, constantly on the line?”She wags a finger towards the camera, before flipping it off.
”Not a scared one, no. Nor would she voluntarily seek such a violent lifestyle out as young as sixteen. You heard right, six-fucking-teen. What were you two - or even Skrabz - doing by then? I wouldn’t be amazed if the answer is fucking around; literally or otherwise.”Her fists grip firmly onto the bed sheets.
”Not me though. No, I started busting my ass so I could enter the professional world of wrestling when I knew I was ready! And back then? The stakes were far more personal and higher than winning a mere belt.”Sam’s teeth latch lightly onto her lower lip, letting go after a few brief seconds, before resuming.
”Con-fucking-grats. New opponents - finally. I truly am glad for that much. And yet, on the other hand … for you two simple-minded fucks to think it’ll be like a walk in the park ….”Sam growls.
”You are the literal, living definition of ‘all brawn, no brains’!”Her smirk returns as she chuckles lowly.
”But then again, when said guys are standing beside a man like Skrabz … that sorta ‘standard’ is probably to be expected, huh? Well … think what you want. You’ve got a better chance of winning that battle royale than beating me and Bandit. Especially considering it’s Falls who is allowing that sorta match to be hosted.”Sam shakes her head.
”I don’t think that poor girl even understands what she just allowed. Well … her problem, not mine. Hell, with that being pointed out … did it ever dawn on you two you’re not gonna be at one hundred percent health yourselves?”Her head turns as she looks over.
”Wanna make any bets with me, love?””Not for that, nah. You’re likely right. All brawn, no brain. I don’t know if there’s much they thought about ahead of time.”Sam clicks her tongue, but nods and accepts the response. In case the voice wasn’t recognized, the owner comes into the frame. Joseph “Orion” Hunter sits behind Sam, placing a quick kiss atop her cheek before wrapping his arms around her waist.
”I will give you credit with a few things. You do have a much more ‘real’ bond than Mosh and Ripley ever did. And you likely will be a fuck ton more competent than they ever were. But to think it’s gonna be as simple as you’re implying?”Her head shakes from side to side again.
”That is your biggest mistake. Making that assumption. We have fought like hell to reclaim and retain those titles. They’re not going anywhere. Not even in the hands of the new tag teams who have miraculously appeared from all but nowhere. Now that Mile High has reopened, we’re going to make these belts actually mean something! Just like I did with the Throwdown Title … before Tammara had to fuck that up.
“Oh yeah. Don’t think I’ve forgotten about that, Azurine. Nowhere close.”Sam holds her title against her chest.
”Hell is so much more likely to freeze over before you rip these out from me and Bandit’s hands. You two wanna see ‘real shit’? Oh don’t worry, you will. June ninth … your dreams truly will be shattered. I don’t give a fuck what it costs me. Me and Bandit will still be Mile High’s tag champions. Like us or not.
“And for the record? I, personally, don’t give a fuck if Skrabz retains or not. Because you best believe that the day the Shieldmaidens hold all of the gold will arrive. Just a matter of when that day shows up, not if. I’ll see you both soon. Hope you come in wearing some war paint, because I sure as fuck will.” After making her last declaration, the feed cuts out, the promo coming to an end.
