Behind the Scenes

Aftermath

Nashville, TN

 

Fiona almost felt bad getting into the shower after her match.  Malibu Mike Swanson  had barely counted as a tune up match.  On one hand some observers would try to dismiss the win as it came against enhancement talent, more commonly known as jobbers.  On the other hand, a dominant victory was a dominant victory, even against enhancement talent.  She showered and threw on civilian clothes and then left her locker room to meet up with the rest of the Upstarts and watch the rest of the show,

 

On Camera

Interview with James Collins

Backstage Warzone S5 E5

Nashville, TN

 

As Fiona left her locker room and made her way to where the other Upstarts were hanging out, she ran into James Collins.  “Fiona!  Got time for a few questions?”

 

Fiona shrugged and nodded.  “Aye, ‘suppose I can do that.  What’s on yer mind tonight?”  

 

“For starters tonight.  Your match almost doesn’t even count as a good tune up match.  I’m sure such a dominant win felt good, though, yes?  How are you feeling coming off that win?”

 

Fiona shrugged.  “I feel good.  I stay fresh for Civil Warfare and a dominant win is always good for morale.”

 

“Speaking of Civil Warfare, your teammates in the Upstarts and 2 of your opponents at Civil Warfare, Abby and Akame, suffered an upset against Kara.  Any thoughts on the upset and a look ahead to Civil Warfare?”

 

Fiona shook her head.  “Not talking about Civil Warfare tonight, Jimmy.  As for the upset, It was a tornado match under hardcore rules.  If It had been a normal tag match, Abby and Akame would have been able to wear Kara down while giving one of them a break.  Also, the hardcore stipulation added in an equalizer in that Kara could use weapons.  It was a good match, Kara definitely took a beating as well.”

 

Behind the Scenes

Aftermath

Boston, MA

 

After Warzone, Fiona had headed to her apartment in Boston.  Normally, she would have headed on to the next city CWF would be broadcasting from, but she wasn’t looking forward to the trip to the Carolinas and thus decided to spend a few days at her ‘American home.’  She got a headstart on her training for Civil Warfare, and watched as Abby won the FWA TV Title and Akame also won her match at FWA Back in Business XX.  She was happy for her friends and was optimistic that the extra match her friends had to fight might give her an edge..

 

Then she got the text message that said she was flying to Australia to defend the 4 Winds Tempest title.  So much for the advantage of not having extra matches.  She would deal with Australia when the time came.  For the moment, she was going to continue to focus on CWF.  Under normal circumstances, she would be studying her opponent, looking for weaknesses in her opponents and for one of her opponents, she would do that.  However, she had three opponents.  Two of whom she trained with, hung out with on a daily basis.

 

She knew their routines.  Abby would still be on cloud nine from winning the FWA TV title in Wembley stadium in London.  As that phase passed, Abby would begin her workout and training routine for the next match.  Fiona considered Abby the main threat.  She was a former Conquest champion.  Moreover, she had just won a multi-competitor match, outlasting and beating 10 other fighters in a match with random match stipulations.  Fiona was convinced that Abby’s biggest weakness was that she didn’t seem to truly grasp just how great an athlete she was.

 

Akame was also experienced in multi-fighter matches.  She had taken part in Championship scramble matches in CWF and had been in other multi-fighter matches in CWF and other feds.  Akame was another great example of the Upstarts view on second gen wrestlers or second gen squared as Akame and Abby used to describe themselves as both Abby and Akame had both parents being former wrestlers.  Akame, like Fiona and Rayven, had literally grown up in and around pro wrestling.  That was one of the key things she provided to the Upstarts.  Helping the others to train and prepare for matches.  Helping them understand how the business side of pro wrestling worked.

 

Then there was Kat Hale.  Kat Hale was another fighter with loads of potential and she was currently on the rollercoaster of good performances followed by bad luck or an off night bringing her back down.  If anything, though, she had the resilience edge of the final four as Kat Hale knew what it felt like to be eliminated and fought her way through a multi-fighter match to get back into things.

 

Those were her three opponents and then there was the wild card.  Valora Salinas as the ref.  Fiona decided that was where she would start.  It took some time and some help from Abby, but Fiona got a hold of other matches where Valora was the special guest ref.  Obviously the easiest was when she reffed the fight between Kronin and Frank Windsor as that was a CWF fight.  From the matches she could dig up, Fiona began to put together an idea of how Valora approached the job of ref.  She tended to let fighters fight.  She’d enforce the big things like rope breaks and the like, but she wasn’t likely to yell at a fighter for using a closed fist.  She tended to have a count that was faster than most CWF refs, but still consistent.  Mostly.

 

That brought Fiona back to her fellow competitors.  While thinking of them, she went for a run.  Getting outside proved to be good, the young druidess being outdoors and able to connect with nature helped to focus her mind on the task at hand.  

 

On Camera Promo:

A Skirmish Title Final

Greensboro, North Carolina

 

Fiona appears as the camera comes into focus, this time standing in what seems to be a state or county fair of some kind, music playing on the stage in the background.  Fiona is standing in a spot where the noise is in the background but she can still be heard.

 

“Hello there.  By now everyone knows the story.  Newly made title.  Four competitors in a ring and elimination rules dictate that there can be only one.  3 of the competitors are friends and allies.  So how does this all go down?  How can I possibly address my opponents?  Well, we start here.”  

 

Fiona gestures to the stage.  “Kat Hale, the rock star of CWF.  Loads of potential and like a musician, she ebbs and flows.  I would have said like the tides but her crests and valleys are as timely as the tides.  Personally, I respect Kat Hale.  I think she probably deserves more than she’s getting.  Unfortunately, our chosen profession is full of it.  Deserving talent is frequently pushed aside for various reasons.  Moving on from what she deserves.. Kat Hale has proven my metaphor right in this very tournament.  She got knocked out of the tournament, fought her way back into it via the wild card.  Under normal circumstances, I’d pick Kat to come out on top.  I’ve a history with her.  I’ve seen what she can do but in this match, not only does she have to contend with a former Valor Champion, former Conquest Champion, current 4 Winds Albion champion.  Current half of the 4 Winds Dyad champions, FWA TV Champion, Abigail Dresden.  But she has to deal with Akame who is a former Valor Champion.  One half of the 4 Winds Dyad champions, and a number of titles in other feds.  Then there’s me.”

 

Fiona smiles.  “I like ya, Kat.  I wish you all the luck in the world.. Just not at Civil Warfare.  I’m the current 4 Winds champion.  I’m tired of being the bridesmaid, never the bride.  I almost win CWF titles.  I’m tired of almost.  I made a promise.. A vow written in blood.  My own and the earth itself, that I would come out with the Skirmish title.  I already have the 4 Winds equivalent.  Might as well make the Skirmish title my first CWF title.  I’m comin’ for this belt,Kat Hale and you won’t stop me.”

 

The camera cuts to the next scene and Fiona stands on a soccer pitch.  “Abigail.  This was the career she thought she would have.  Football.  I played it growing up, but I was always more of a Hurling girl myself.  I was wicked with my Hurley stick and ball.  Anyways, you already have more titles than most of us in this match put together.  But you’re a goalkeeper.  Defensive.  Reactive.  You also train with Akame and i every day so we all know each other's strengths and weaknesses.  I won’t advertise them here, but I know.  And I hunger.  I want, no I need to get this damned monkey off my back.  Civil Warfare is my night, Abby.  I won’t step aside this time. I just cannae do it..”

 

The camera cuts once more and we see Fiona standing in a ring.  “Akame.  You and I are in the same boat.  Struggling to win and hold CWF titles.  You went and found https://store.steampowered.com/app/3714800/Warlock_Dungeons__Dragons/success in other feds.  I’ve considered that but thus far have focused on CWF.  You’re a good friend and while we spar together often, it will be fun and interesting to compete against you and Abby, measure my progress and see where I am as opposed to where I need to be.  If I lose, I sincerely hope you win.  There are three of us in this fight, so the Upstarts winning is almost guaranteed and seriously.. Abby has enough titles..”

 

Fiona pauses and looks at the camera and winks.  “Love ya Abby but Akame and I need this more.”

 

She then nods going back to her talk.  “All in all, we have 4 of the top lightweight fighters in the world in this match.  All women.  3 of the 4 second gen.  1 Woman whose fought for everything she has now.  Mark my words, fans.. This match right here.. This is gonna be the match of the night for Vanguard for sure.. And maybe even Civil Warfare in general.  I cannae wait and will see you all then.”

 

Fiona walks and the camera cuts as she goes through a door and into a bar, making her way over to the bar and taking a pint of Guinness and raising it to the camera.”Sláinte.”