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Post by Star Stormz on Mar 5, 2022 1:43:21 GMT -5
PWS:APEX PRESENTS- DEMON’S RUN Footprint Center - Phoenix, AZ Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 United Title Match 30 Minute Ironwoman Match Cleo Philips (c) vs Alexis Makarios Deadline is Sunday March 13th at 11:59:59 PM EST Min: 500, Max: 5000
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Post by Cleo Phillips on Mar 13, 2022 7:38:59 GMT -5
Demons Run was still a few days away, enough time for the United Champion to visit The Lyons Den and visit some of the new student, and maybe get some advice from her own trainers as well. Her upcoming match with Alexis was a big one and one she didn’t intend to lose.
But, she didn’t intend to lose to Kallie Reznik either, and since then she kept asking herself if she was perhaps getting a little too confident as champion, too comfortable with her success in PWS. For the first time in a while, she felt like her back was against the wall.
Alexis had won their bet, and made it a 30 minute ironwoman match. It really was the perfect match for the two, both women were fierce and had the same fight or die attitude. The United Championship match was going to be a fight to remember, and there would be no arguing that in the end, the winner will truly deserve to be called champion.
—-------
Cleo shut the door of the rental car, as Z stepped out of the passenger side. As they shut the doors, they notice a fancy BMW in the parking lot of The Lyons Den.
“Damn, who drives the beamer?” asked Z walking over to the car.
“I don’t know.” said Cleo, “Let’s just get inside, we’re already late.”
“Yeah, sorry. Gotta admit, it’s a nice car though.” said Z-Money.
“Well, yeah. You got me there.” admitted Cleo, as the two checked the car out, for a moment before a voice yelled at them.
“Hey, get away from my car you criminals.” the voice yelled.
Upon closer inspection, it was Alexander Lyons, Cleo and Z both looked at each other and shook their heads.
“Did I stutter?” Alex said, “Trying to steal my car? You know it’s worth more than your life.”
Cleo rolled her eyes, “Man, we just got here. Thought the car looked nice, so we took a quick look. My bad.”
“You better not have touched it.” Alex snarled.
“Hey relax dude, we didn’t touch shit.” Z-Money stepped in.
“Let’s just go Z.” said Cleo, “We’re already late because SOMEBODY had to make a detour to Wendys.”
“I wanted a Frostie…” shrugged Z-Money.
Cleo shakes her head and glares at Alex, as she and Z headed into the school. She could feel his eyes glaring at them as the doors closed and made sure to give him the finger as the doors slammed shut.
“Asshole.” she muttered.
“Something don’t seem right.” said Z.
Cleo noticed the chatter seemed a little more active, Keevee Kaiser was sitting with a student who was seated in a chair, rubbing his neck.
“Yo, sensei!” she smiled, “Everything good?”
Keevee looked over, “Oh, hey Cleo.” he said, “We’ll be fine, you don’t need to worry about it..”
Cleo raised an eyebrow, “...What happened?”
Kaiser sighed, “....Alex.”
Cleo frowned, “...What happened?!”
Kaiser explained the situation quickly. Alex had nearly choked this poor kid unconscious. Worse yet his father and owner was protecting and even encouraging such practices.
“Fucking bastard.” Cleo said,”You gonna be alright Evan?”
The kid nodded, but still remained quiet.
“I swear, when I see him…” Cleo said angrily.
“Evan, why don’t you cool off in the showers, then see if Coach McKinney needs anything." said Kaiser
Evan nods, and disappears off into the locker room area.
“Everything good sensei?” questioned Cleo.
“You tell me.” Kaiser responded.
“What you talking about?” asked Cleo, a little defensive.
“Well, first off….don’t bother with Alex. He’ll be dealt with. You don’t need to involve yourself in that.” Kaiser said,”But more importantly, how are you feeling about your match with Alexis Makarios?”
Cleo sighed, she had to be honest. Kaiser was her coach, her trainer, her sensei. Whatever your favorite terminology might be, teacher perhaps?
“I’m worried being champion, might be getting to my head a little. This whole bet with Alexis started because we both had to flaunt our egos a little.” she explained, “I feel like maybe I’m not pushing myself as hard as I should be sometimes.”
“I see..” said Kaiser, listening.
“I went and sold the bus, it felt too boujee.” she said. “Donated the money to a children's charity.”
“I noticed you hadn’t used it in a while.” Kaiser remarked.
“It just wasn’t working for me anymore.” Cleo continued, “While it helped a little, I can’t shake this feeling too relaxed in my position in PWS.”
“Look.” Kaiser said, “All you need to be is yourself. There’s nothing wrong with believing in yourself. You should always do that, just don’t let it sour into arrogance. If selling your bus helps you feel more grounded, then you did the right thing.”
“Still can’t shake that loss to Kallie” Cleo admitted.
“So,she beat you. So what?” said Kaiser. “You knew how good she was. I told you she trains with some of the best up in Wolfslair. You knew that it was a possibility, and on that night it happened. Kallie Reznik was the better woman.”
“I just didn’t think the loss wold bother me so much.” Cleo continued.
“It’s called being competitive.” Kaiser said, “That’s all. You know what to do next right?”.
Cleo raised her eyebrow,”Beat Alexis?”
Kaiser laughed, “Well, yes. But find your motivation. You want to avenge that loss to Kallie right? Well you made her a promise, you have to beat Alexis now. You owe Kallie a title shot, and that’s where you get your win back as they’ve been known to say.”
Cleo let it sink in. A promise to fulfill and the only way to do it is by defeating Alexis at Demons Run. If she lost, she couldn’t offer the promised championship match and even during her time behind bars, she was never the type to break a promise.
“You’re right.” she nodded, “I need that rematch with Kallie, I have to give her what she deserves. I have a huge obstacle in my way with Alexis, but it’s nothing I can’t overcome.”
“That’s the spirit.” Kaiser said proudly, “C’mon let’s go find Coach McKinney, he’s been training some of the new kids.”
Cleo nodded, and followed Kaiser deeper into the training center. Z-Money had wandered off to the snackbar somewhere. Cleo's next few hours were spent talking to some of the new talent, before her and Z headed back to the airport to catch their flight to Phoenix.
—-----
The scene fades open on a parking lot, Cleo Phillips sits alone on the trunk of a car, United Championship on her shoulder, her feet dangling just in front of the bumper, her Phoenix Suns hat in clear view she looks face down, Till I Collapse by Nate Dogg kicks in.
#'Cause sometimes you just feel tired You feel weak And when you feel weak You feel like you wanna just give up But you gotta search within you You gotta find that inner strength And just pull that shit out of you And get that motivation to not give up And not be a quitter No matter how bad you wanna just fall flat on your face and collapse#
As the music fades out, Cleo looks up and into the camera for the first time, wearing her usual gameface, looking ready to go at Demons Run.
“At Riot, you said that your victory over Sierra made you feel invincible.” she began,”I too felt invincible after defeating Sierra, and that led to me losing to Kallie Reznik. All im saying is, don’t let such a victory let you get ahead of yourself. But I admire the confidence.”
Cleo readjusts her hat, and takes a breath of air.
“I do have some concerns about the circles you keep.” Cleo said, “Now, far be it from me to be anybody's judge of character. But just as a word of advice, be careful with someone like Heather Haze. Maybe it’s not my business, but I just don’t trust her. Maybe it’s because I’ve been betrayed by someone I thought a friend before, I don't know..I just feel like you should watch yourself around her.”
Cleo shrugs, maybe she was speaking out of turn here but she truly did have respect for Alexis, respect that still had some growing to do where Heather Haze was concerned.
“The Lopez family however, they seem alright.” she said. “But that’s the thing Alexis, you worry too much about keeping all of them happy. You need to focus on Alexis, and just Alexis. Especially if you’re to get past someone like myself.”
Cleo continues to keep her competitive face on.
“I get wanting to make sure your crew is good, but you gotta look after yourself first.” Cleo said, ”But hey, what do I know? I’m not your therapist, and I should heed my own advice and let Cleo worry about Cleo, especially if she’s going to get past someone like you.”
She grinned.
“So we get 30 minutes to see who comes out the better woman. To see if we can go the distance. I know I can, and honestly I know you can too. Whoever wins isn’t going to be BETTER, they’re just going to be better on that one particular night.” Cleo said.
“I must say.” she continued, “It’s good to hear you’re improving in your mental health. I don’t think I need to explain that I’ve had demons of my own my entire life. Wrestling has become my therapy, and being a champion has helped me with mine.”
She sighs heavily, and her eyes shift downward some.
“But there is one demon that I can’t shake.” she admits, “And it’s the horror I caused others. All the gang fights are one thing, but we robbed innocent people. Now we never hurt them, not physically. However having a bunch of people storm the place with guns, screaming for you to GET THE FUCK DOWN!!!, has to leave some mental scars that could remain for years, perhaps the rest of their lives.”
She takes a deeper breath this time, and exhales heavily before looking back up into the camera.
“But I can’t let that shit get to me.” she said, “I made the choices I did and I have to live with them. All I can hope is those people see me now, and see that I’m doing positive things in my life and can find it within them to forgive me.”
She looks proudly at the belt slung over her shoulder.
“You know it was last July at Rise 2 Glory when I won this, and it still feels like yesterday.”, said Cleo, “I’m just a weeks away from surpassing Alannah O’Connell as the longest reigning champion, and a few months away from being champion for an entire year. So I’m happy you chose an Ironwoman match, because if I am to add those accomplishments to my resume, I intend to make sure I earn them.”
With a smile, she laughs slightly to herself.
“Damn, to think. My reign as Collateral Damage champion was one of the shortest, and then I got my shit together and now have one of the longest United Championship reigns.” she smiles, “But If I want to be the longest, I need to get past you. Then I suppose Kallie would stand as my next obstacle. I did make a promise, and a woman of her word never breaks a promise.“
She has her gameface back on, as she addresses the camera.
“So, I HAVE to make sure I beat you. You understand. I have a promise to keep, and what stands in my way of keeping it is you.” Cleo says, “You said your head was clear and proved that, at least in my mind with your victory over Sierra. I know you're ready, I know I’m ready. You picked the perfect match to make sure there’s no excuses. You’re going to have to beat ME more than once if you want this championship and while a few have pinned my shoulders to the mat, even fewer have done it more than once.”
With a grin, she slightly readjusts her hat again.
“I have fought too long for it to end here, I see our match as another obstacle for me to overcome, and that’s what I’ve always been best at. Overcoming obstacles.” Cleo continued, “You put my back against the wall, and I come out swinging. You want a fight and you’re going to get a fight, but remember…there will be be excuses to what happens when the smoke settles after I go out there and……SET IT OFF.”
She looks seriously into the camera, a champion ready to defend her championship and ready to go the distance with one of the best PWS has to offer. She’s ready to win, knows Alexis is on her A-Game right now, but still the confidence shows in her eyes as she tilts her hat downward, letting Till I Collapse close out the scene, where for a moment we catch that Z-Money had been operating the radio.
#'Til the roof comes off, 'til the lights go out 'Til my legs give out, can't shut my mouth 'Til the smoke clears out, am I high? Perhaps I'ma rip this shit 'til my bone collapse 'Til the roof comes off, 'til the lights go out 'Til my legs give out, can't shut my mouth 'Til the smoke clears out, am I high? Perhaps I'ma rip this shit 'til my bone collapse#
-end-
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Post by Alexis Makarios on Mar 13, 2022 22:56:01 GMT -5
Scene 1: The Next Day When: Sunday, 3/13, roughly noon Where: Backstage at the Arena
(The scene fades up in the back of the arena, in the catering area to be exact. Alexis was sitting at a table, nibbling on a ham and cheese sub. Sitting across from her was Audrey Russow, enjoying an order of french fries.)
Alexis Makarios: I just can’t get over the fact that you got ARRESTED last night.
Audrey Russow: I know I know…
Alexis Makarios: I’m not saying it’s a bad thing. I’ve been arrested for bar fights and the like a few times. I recall spending a night behind bars because me, Marcus, and David refused to leave the ring in… that awful place where I was World Champion before PWS:APEX… and we set a bonfire and camped out as the Uprising. Theeeeeeeey were not fond of that.
Audrey Russow: I forgot about that!
Alexis Makarios: Yeah… it was… SO worth it.
Audrey Russow: Well, once more I really appreciate you bailing me out… even if my pain in the ass of a husband DID set it up.
Alexis Makarios: He had good intentions.
Audrey Russow: I know…
(She dipped a french fry in her ketchup and took a bite.)
Audrey Russow: It just feels so…
Alexis Makarios: Weird?
Audrey Russow: EXACTLY! I’ve always been such a…
Alexis Makarios: Goody goody?
(Audrey raised and eyebrow and tilted her head a little bit. Alexis grinned.)
Audrey Russow: Shut up. So… have you and Jenn talked to your folks about those papers yet? I mean I know it’s gotta be bothering you.
(Alexis’s grin disappeared as she let out a slight sigh. The PAPERS that Jenn found. Sure, they have been weighing heavy on her mind but… she couldn’t really focus on that just now.)
Alexis Makarios: Gracie said Jenn asked em and they didn’t really say much. They said something about wanting to talk to both of us but, with Demon’s Run coming up I’ve just been so busy. Photo shoots, autograph signings, keeping people from killing each other, promotional things, bailing people out of jail…
(Audrey shook her head slightly at the last one.)
Alexis Makarios: I just haven’t really made time. I know it’s important but… This is Demon’s Run… this is a huge show. Scheduling a video call across 3 people’s schedules is not that easy. We’ll figure it out, tho.
Audrey Russow: I don’t doubt that. But at least travel restrictions are lightening up… maybe you could make a trip “Down Unda” and have a nice sit down.
Alexis Makarios: That WOULD be nice… I mean… going home as the United Champion, seeing my folks. First time since my wedding a year and a half ago.
(Audrey grinned as she looked behind Alexis and saw 2 people who, despite never meeting them in person, she recognized as Alexis’s parents.)
Audrey Russow: Or… maybe they could hop a flight here to see you?
Alexis Makarios: Oh if only… I’d love to have gotten them stateside to see my big victory. But there just isn’t time…
Audrey Russow: Or IS there?
(Alexis looked at her, confused.)
Alexis Makarios: Time behind bars has made you crazy… you know that?
(Her parents got right behind her and her mom tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around to see who it was, and saw that it was her parents! Her jaw dropped straight to the floor!)
Alexis Makarios: MOM? DAD?
(She jumps up out of her chair and hugs them both tightly.)
Mom: SURPRISE!!!
Alexis Makarios: What are you guys doing here?
Dad: Well, we talked to Jenn, and we wanted to talk to both of you face to face. And we wanted to see your big match. We are so proud of you, we had Jenn secure us front row seats and everything. Told her not to tell you we were coming. We wanted to surprise you.
Alexis Makarios: Well… mission accomplished! I'm so glad you guys are here. OH! How rude of me… have you guys met Audrey?
Mom: Not in person, we haven’t!
(Alexis turned around towards Audrey.)
Alexis Makarios: Audrey… this is my mom and dad. Mom and dad… this is Audrey Russow. She’s…
Dad: We know who she is. Who HASN'T heard of her?
(Her dad smiled at Audrey, who stood up. She shook hands with both of them before they all sat back down.)
Mom: I’m so glad you guys have become friends again. You’ve been such a good influence on her the last 6 months. Thank you.
(Alexis’s face starts to turn red… almost matching her hair!)
Alexis Makarios: MOM!
(Audrey chuckled.)
Dad: We mean it… that Heather girl she hung out with last year really did a number on our sweet little girl.
Alexis Makarios: DAD!
(Audrey was getting a kick out of this. Absolutely loving every second.)
Audrey Russow: Don’t even get me STARTED on that bi…
Mom: It’s ok you can say it. Bitch.
Audrey Russow: That’s putting it nicely. It was great to meet you guys and I don’t want to just rush off but I better go meet up with Dan and Aurora before he decides it will be a great idea to give her an ice cream sundae for lunch.
(Audrey stood up and grabbed her basket of fries.)
Dad: It was great to meet you to. Can’t wait to see you beat that Heather skank and take that title.
(Alexis’s eyes grew wide, Audrey chuckled)
Audrey Russow: Well, that’s the plan. See you guys later.
Alexis Makarios: Tell BARTY to behave himself.
(Audrey raised an eyebrow as she walked off. Alexis turned to her mom.)
Alexis Makarios: So… you guys are gonna sit down with me and Jenn to talk about those papers?
Mom: Yes, sweetheart. It’s time.
Alexis Makarios: I have so many questions…
Dad: We know. Jenn does too. And you guys deserve answers.
Alexis Makarios: When?
Mom: Soon, I promise.
(She hugs Alexis, as the scene fades to black)
Scene 2: I want…no NEED… this. When: Monday, 3/14, time of day unknown Where: on the streets, in a run down neighborhood. Exact location unknown.
(The cameras fade up outside in a run down neighbor. The exact location is unknown. The streets have random pieces of trash on the ground. Many of the buildings appear to be abandoned with graffiti on the walls. A few stray kids are playing on the sidewalk nearby as Alexis kind of strolled past and stopped in front of the camera. She was wearing blue jeans and the newest Alexis shirt that read “#TripleCrownChampion” on the front. Her hair was pulled up into a high ponytail with some red curls flowing down near her face. She looked straight into the camera and began speaking.)
Alexis Makarios: See, I figured that if Cleo is from the streets- and makes it known all the time- that I should stop by a neighborhood and see what it’s all about. I mean, I had a picture perfect childhood you could say. Beautiful home, loving parents, amazing neighborhood… whatever you wanna call it I could say. But if the streets are good enough for the reigning United Champion, they would be good enough for the NEXT United Champion, right?
(She shrugged)
Alexis Makarios: See, my journey to this match has been an insanely emotional journey. Cleo has earned every single ounce of respect she has, and I won’t ever take that away from her. But people are failing to realize that so have I. Did I have a crappy year? Yes. But as I have said before, I am on top of my game. I scratched and clawed my way out of the deepest, darkest, pit I could have ever imagined. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. I came back from hell. Battered, beaten, and bruised. Broken. And look at me now? I had a show stealing match against Gracie at Crusade… which I am so proud of for SO MANY reasons. I lost some one very near and dear to me. I almost lost myself… I’ve had to deal with 2 of my closest friends wanting to murder each other… speaking of which…
(She took in a deep breath and let it out slowly.)
Alexis Makarios: Heather and Audrey… have both been great through this all in different ways. I know they hate each other and there is a very high likelihood that one of them won’t walk out of the Elimination Chamber of their own accord. That’s… well unavoidable. I know what everyone is thinking, and I haven’t exactly been very vocal about this situation because frankly… they are driving me BANANAS! But they both have helped me in very very different ways. You need some one to listen and help you process something? To help you make sense of it and see all the different sides? You need you an Audrey. You need some one to help you cut a bitch? To bring the lemons and salt to go with your razor blades? You need you a Heather. I am not taking sides in their crap cuz frankly… anything that happens is a long time coming. Both have helped me in different ways… and let’s be frank… if I want to win this match against Cleo I need to take the best from both of them as inspiration.I need Audrey’s logical side, and Heather’s unpredictable nature. So with that said…
(She took a few steps, looking around the neighborhood)
Alexis Makarios: I mean… this doesn’t seem so bad? I can see why Cleo likes spending so much time in areas like this. It’s… quiet. Kinda calm. Almost like the calm before the storm? Cleo… you are in for a hell of a fight at Demon’s Run. I hope you realize that. I know what you were trying to do a few weeks ago by putting me up against Sierra. You were hoping that I would fall and fail. You wanted to see Sierra do me in and kick my ass, right? Soften me up? I mean, it’s a solid plan. But sadly, it backfired on ya a bit, didn’t it? I, despite the odds being against me, walked out with my hand held high. I won, I beat the World Champion. Which was a HUGE momentum shift in my favor! And that led to me being able to pick what kind of match we were gonna have. I thought about that for a while. And I decided that to walk out with that United Title I had to do something a little… crazy. Unheard of! I had to go to the extreme. And that’s exactly what I did. I knew that I wanted to not only beat you once… that wasn’t enough. Because I knew what was going to come of it.
(She held up her hands in air quotes)
Alexis Makarios: “You got lucky” or “What a fluke!” … yeah that wasn’t going to happen. Not on my watch. I want to pin you or make you submit… but I need to do it more than once. To prove that I deserve that belt. And in the unfortunate incident that you retain… you gotta beat me more than once. You gotta EARN walking out of this match with that belt. 30 minutes Iron WOMAN match. Just you and me, Cleo. Most wins… walks out with the title. It’s a PWS:APEX first! The first Iron Woman match in PWS:APEX history. That’s something that you and I can take pride in. We are pioneers in this industry. We are alike in many ways, Cleo. We both are fighters. We don’t give up. But above all, we like to earn what we have. And that is exactly what is going to happen.
(She kicked a pebble on the ground a bit)
Alexis Makarios: See, Cleo, not only do I WANT this… I NEED THIS. I need this belt. I haven’t fought my ass off to get back to where I was just to fail. I didn’t beat Gracie just to go into Demon’s Run and not walk out with the belt. I’m determined. I don't give up. Ever. This is about more than just a title to me. I need to prove to myself that I still got it. That this Hall of Fame ring of mine wasn’t a pity induction. That I’m back and better than ever. And that I am just as relevant now as I was 2 years ago. It’s personal, Cleo. not just business. It just kinda sucks that it has to be YOU that I dethrone to do what I need to do. I kinda like you, no lie. I respect you. You got heart and you got talent. I respect the hell out of that. But… wrong place wrong time.
(She shrugged again)
Alexis Makarios: I know that you probably are thinking that I’m gonna be distracted. By those papers and Jenn. Or by Audrey and Heather. No, you have my full 100% focus come Demon’s Run. This is my year. I have stated that several times. And, I have been backing it up every time I step in that ring. When I represented us in the PWE rumble? I got to murder little fuckwad Sanders. That was fun. But I was in that match for almost an hour. I was ALMOST the Ironman of that match. Impressive, right? If I can last almost an hour in a match with a bunch of people I don’t know… I sure as hell can survive 30 minutes against you. And I will. Because this is my comeback. And I won’t… no I CAN'T… let anything or anyone tarnish that. So, Cleo, I hope you are ready for the hell I am going to be unleashing on you. I will be walking out of Demon’s Run the FIRST PWS:APEX Triple Crown Champion. World… Tag… United. Just another first. Break that glass ceiling… right?
(She took a few steps towards the camera)
Alexis Makarios: So keep that in mind. I’m determined. I need this. I want this. I will have this. Demon’s Run is my night. No one can save you know, Cleo. Nothing is going to stop me. And I say this with all the respect in my heart… good luck. Because you are going to need it. 2022… is the Year of Makarios. And I WILL have this. I will have that title. And there’s NOTHING you can do about it. And the best part… when I beat you multiple times… not a single soul can say I don’t deserve it. Anyone who does… will answer to me… your NEXT United Champion.
(With that, the camera cut to black and showed the words:)
ALEXIS MAKARIOS HALL OF FAMER WORLD CHAMPION TAG CHAMPION UNITED CHAMPION
TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPION[/i]
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