Reestablishing Myself

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Family Feud

Off Camera

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Once upon a time there was a family living in San Antonio, Texas.  The mother’s name was Gwendolyn and she had three children; two sons, Gregory and Samuel, and a daughter named Karen.  Nothing can be said about the father, as he abandoned them early on after the three children were born.  They were the Leonard Family.  This left the family of four poor, destitute, and to make matters worse they lived in a rough part of San Antonio, a place so dangerous that it was hardly a good place to raise a family.  It was all that family could afford, though, and to be perfectly frank, it was more than Gwendolyn could afford.  Gwendolyn’s meager earnings was not enough to keep herself and her children above water.   Under normal circumstances, they would have starved.  They only survived due to the actions of Karen.  Unbeknownst to Gwendolyn, Karen went out most nights to work as a prostitute, making extra money to help with the bills.  The Leonard Family would not have survived had it not been for the sacrifice of Karen.

Karen’s nightly practice came to a screeching halt one terrible night when she came home to find her brothers missing and her mother shot to death.  Karen Leonard, alone in the world with nowhere else to turn, was adopted by an entrepreneurial , civic minded, charitable family known as The McBride Family.  Stan Lee and Diane McBride already had three children, a son named Stan Lee Jr. and two daughters Blaire and Melanie, before bringing in Karen. 

Young Karen was sixteen when she was brought into the McBride home and for years she grew up around the conniving, deceitfulness of Stan Lee Jr. and Blaire, the loving, tender-heartedness of Melanie, and the charitableness and kindness of Stan Lee Sr. and Diane.  Karen soaked it all up like a sponge.  She learned the cutthroat, conniving ways of Blaire and Stan Lee Jr., she also learned about how to be kind and charitable through her adoptive parents and Melanie, but she also retained a great deal of the street smarts and bad  ass toughness from having to walk the streets on a nightly basis, fighting to survive.  All of this helped her become the unique individual that she is today.  It helped her become Karen McBride.

Despite her tough exterior, she always had a heart of gold and a soul full of kindness.  That is the primary reason Karen and Melanie were always so close.  Throughout her wrestling career Karen remained a tough cutthroat but, as the days went on, more and more she tried to be like her adoptive parents.  More and more she tried to follow their example of charitableness.  Although she did help Desmond Drake take control of IWC by buying out twenty-five percent of it, she grew to eventually use her twenty-five percent ownership for good.

That is until Blaire McBride came in cost her everything.

Blaire McBride, always the manipulator, made Karen believe that she had changed.  Blaire had Karen convinced that she only wanted to assist Karen in her quest to make things better within the IWC.   As it turned out, all Blaire wanted was power.  Blaire wanted to get her foot in the door so she could steal the IWC principle ownership away from Karen and use it for herself.

Blaire would not keep it for long.  Silas Mason proved to be more cunning than Blaire and he managed to take the twenty-five percent ownership from Blaire.  Now Karen is without the principle ownership of IWC, she is wrestling on the RIOT brand, ran by Silas Mason, but she believes that she is wiser because of all that has happened.

Karen believes that being with the McBride Family, primarily the influence of her adoptive parents and Melanie, have softened her.  This is why Karen has chosen a new track for herself.  This is why Karen has opted to go back to her roots, to return to the street smart ways that brought her to the dance in the first place.  For it was on the streets that Karen learned you cannot trust anyone.  It was on the streets that Karen learned you had to be cutthroat in order to survive.  Her street smarts gave Karen the tools necessary to steal Stan Lee Jr. and Blaire’s entire portion of McBride Incorporated away from them, making her half-owner of the family company and leaving them with no inheritance.  Now she intends to use that street smart attitude to put her back on the map in the Independent Wrestling Cartel.

Her first test to see if she truly has returned to form will be a four way match to qualify her for an IWC World Tag Team Championship opportunity.  Karen competes against Scott Cannon, Jeffrey Starxxxx, and Cassidy Haze.

Karen knows Cassidy quite well.  Cassidy is one of only two individuals in the business outside of family who knows about Karen’s history as a prostitute.  Starxxxx, on the other hand, is a wildcard, an unknown to Karen, and, honestly, she wonders at times if he’s even serious about this at all.  He seems more interested in entertaining than with winning.

Finally there’s Scott Cannon.

This is a man who already has a world championship opportunity promised to him.  This is also a man who, with the current reigning champions Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly, have deep connections to Monarchy.  Knowing these facts, Karen also has to wonder if Cannon is really in it for the title opportunity or if he’s just in it to protect Chapel and Kelly?

In any event, Karen knows what she must do.  World Tag Team Title opportunity or not, she needs to win this match, or at least perform well, in order to prove to the world that the cutthroat Karen McBride of old is back and that no one is safe.

And yet, even though she promises that the cutthroat Karen of old has indeed returned, you would not know it by the looks of her right now.  She looks ever so elegant in a sparkly black dress and heels as she glides effortlessly across the floor, as if she were floating on air, down the hall towards the living room area.  Well, ONE living room area at least.  In the McBride Estate there are several living areas in which the family can all take a rest and relax.   This particular living area in which Karen is heading is one that she and her younger sibling Melanie McBride have often made their hideaway from the likes of Blaire and Stan Lee Jr.

In each hand she carries a glass of champagne. The beautiful brunette is grinning from ear to ear as she enters the living room and walks over to the sofa near the center of the room.  Karen spots Melanie curled up on the sofa.  She is wearing jeans, flip flops, and a black IWC t-shirt.

“Melanie…”

Melanie turns her head towards the sound of her sister’s voice.

“Huh?” Melanie smiles. “Oh…hi, Kare-Bear.”

Karen walks over to the sofa and sits down, handing one of the glasses to Melanie. “I hope you like champagne.”

Melanie takes one look at the glass and turns her nose up at it. “No thanks, Kare-Bear.  You know I don’t drink alcohol.”

Karen shrugs her shoulders, taking Melanie’s glass back and setting on a nearby coffee table. “Your loss and more for me.”

“You’re honestly gonna drink both?” Melanie asks, with wide-eyed awe.

“Of course.” Karen winks. “I would hate to see such a fabulous drink go to waste.”

Melanie laughs light-heartedly. “You are one of a kind, Kare-Bear.”

The sisters share a laugh before Karen takes a sip of her champagne.  These two have always been close.  They are truly best of friends and, even though they are not related by blood, even though Karen was adopted, Karen would still die for Melanie McBride and she knows that Melanie would do the same for her if need be.  William Mason and Karen McBride have had their ups and their downs.  Blaire stabbed Karen in the back.  But Karen knows that she will never be betrayed by Melanie McBride.

The elder McBride notices that the television is turned on.  She takes a quick glimpse to see what Melanie has been watching; it is a rerun of Invictus II.  Karen cannot help but sigh with a note of disappointment and regret.  This is a harsh reminder of what her trust, too much trust in certain people, has earned her.  And yet, at the same time, it is also an encouragement.  It is also motivation; motivation for Karen to fight back and take back what was lost.

“Are you ok, Kare-Bear?” Melanie asks, as she notices her sister staring at the television set. “You look a little…”

“Upset?” Karen suggests.  Melanie nods her head and then the elder McBride scoffs, laughing it off. “I’m perfectly fine, Melanie.  In fact, I am even better than fine.  I am wonderful.”

“You are?”

Karen nods her head. “Things are about to change, Melanie.” She motions to the television screen. “And that event right there is just a reminder of WHY things are about to change.”

“Oh…” Melanie sighs as she realizes what is wrong “…I was just re-watching the pay-per-view, that’s all.  If I knew you were coming I wouldn’t have put it on.  I know how it must be for you to be reminded of that night.”

“Do not worry, Mel.” Karen says, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Honestly, this is fine and I am fine.”

Karen grins knowingly. “This is just further motivation for me.  I was fooled once by my own sister Blaire and others who claimed to be my friends and allies.  Not anymore.  Things have changed now, Melanie, and I will not be fooled again.”

Melanie is honestly quite worried as she hears those words come out of her sister’s mouth.  Even though she speaks and acts as if nothing is bothering her, there is still an intensity and fire in the eyes of Karen McBride that Melanie has never quite seen before.  Melanie isn’t sure what it will do to Karen in the future.  Melanie is also not sure how this betrayal has changed Karen.  Will she still be good, kind-hearted Karen of before or will she become more spiteful, mean, and conniving, much like Blaire and Stan Lee Jr. are?  Has this act of betrayal turned Karen into a monster?  That is what Melanie is worried about.

“Karen!”

This loud, booming voice interrupts Melanie before she can get any further words out.  Melanie and Karen both turn their heads to see that their private space and time have been interrupted by the arrival of none other than their eldest brother, Stan Lee Jr., all decked out in khakis and a polo, and looking as mean as ever.

“Ah, Junior,” Karen says, knowing that Stan hates being called ‘Junior’, “to what do we owe this pleasure?”

“Cut the crap, Karen!” Stan exclaims. “You have some damn nerve coming back here!”

Karen feigns innocence. “And what did I do, Junior?”

“You know damn well what you did!”

Melanie stands up. “Stan, please, leave her alone.  She’s been through a lot.”

“Shut up, Melanie!” Stan snaps. “This doesn’t involve you!”

Melanie meekly nods and sits back down.  Karen, being very protective of Melanie, stands up to face Stan Lee Jr., nose to nose.

“That wasn’t a good idea, Junior.”

“Oh, and the way you treated Blaire WAS a good idea?” He remarks. “I don’t much like her either, but you beat her half to death and you took everything she owned!  She has nothing now!”

Karen grins knowingly. “I believe I took most of what you own as well.”

“And THAT wasn’t a good idea on YOUR part!” He growls.

Melanie can feel the tension building.  She quickly stands back up to try and settle things between the two feuding siblings.

“Please, guys, can’t we settle this another way?”

Stan Lee Jr. shoves the adorable Melanie back down onto the sofa. “I told you to stay out of this, Melanie!”

“But, Stan…”

“You ALWAYS take her side!” He shouts. “Well if you’re on her side, then you’re NOT a McBride!”

Tears are now forming in Melanie’s eyes, real tears.  And as Karen watches her sister break down she grows angrier and angrier.  She has managed to control herself up until this point but seeing her sister Melanie get shoved like this was her own breaking point.

“I told you already, Stan…” Karen begins “…going after Melanie was NOT a bright idea…”

With that Karen throws a mighty right hand that connects with the side of Stan’s head.  The old stereotype of men and women do not apply here.  Despite her being a female and he being a male, Stan Lee Jr. hits the floor like a ton of bricks.  Karen kneels down next to Stan Lee Jr. so that she is eye level with him.  Melanie watches in shock.

“I took everything from Blaire AND I beat her half to death.  I just took everything from you but if you EVER touch Melanie again, I’ll beat you half to death as well.  I am sick and tired of your games and Blaire’s games.  Now get out of my sight.”

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Melanie McBride

On Camera

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Hi there, IWC!  You may know me from my few IWC RIOT and New Age appearances…although I guess that’s Uprising now, huh?...and you may also know me from CartelNxtGen!  I’m Melanie McBride, Karen’s sister!

Everyone has a breaking point.  Or at least that’s what they say.  Supposedly you can stretch someone only so far before they break, before they snap.  Now certain IWC superstars may be experiencing some of that right now.  I call it Post-Traumatic Draft Stress Syndrome.  Cool name, huh?

Anyway, a lot of IWC wrestlers are experiencing this syndrome.  Karen is experiencing it as well but for different reasons.  She isn’t pissed off and throwing a hissy fit about being on RIOT.  She could be on either show and she’d be happy.  She just wants to come here and do her job.  She just wants to compete and do what she can for IWC.  That’s what she’s always wanted to do since day one in this company.

Unfortunately there have been some conspiring against her.  Silas Mason and Blaire McBride among them.  Well our sister has been taken care of and I’ll be very surprised if we see Blaire running around backstage anymore.  But as for Silas?  He now has something that belongs to Karen.  He has the twenty-five percent ownership.

Like I said, you can stretch someone only so far before they break.  Between the Sinistry, Blaire, and now Silas Mason, Karen has been stretched beyond her limits.  Karen has broken, ladies and gentlemen, and she is beyond pissed off.

You have no idea what kind of angry grizzly bear you have awoken.  You have no idea who you pissed off and how dangerous she is, because she is focused, she is ready, and she is out for blood; the blood of those who screwed her over.

The IWC World Tag Team Championship belt is inconsequential, really.  A shot at those titles, as cool as that will be, would be just icing on the cake for her.  What Karen wants most of all out of this is the chance to exercise some of that anger and frustration that has been building up over the past several weeks.

Scott Cannon, Jeff Starxxxx, and Cassidy Haze just so happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

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Karen McBride

On Camera

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What Melanie failed to mention is that I am not innocent.  Melanie thinks too highly of me most of the time and that causes her to sometimes miss the obvious instances where I have had my own personal shortcomings.

I never should have went into league with Desmond Drake to try and take IWC from Orlando Cruze in the first place.  I never should have trusted Silas Mason to assist me in dropping my nuclear bomb, revealing to the world that I am a partial owner of the company.   And I never EVER should have trusted my sister Blaire McBride.  That conniving, manipulation bitch had screwed with so many lives and cost so many people in the business world and I watched it happen.  I just never assumed she would do it to me in the wrestling world.  The world of pro-wrestling, after all, was my domain, not hers.  Surely she would have known better?

Clearly I was mistaken.  I was naïve and ignorant.  I was a fool.  Blaire played me for a fool in order to take my twenty-five percent ownership away from me.  Now she lost it as well and it’s in the hands of Silas Mason.  All because I was too trusting…too foolish…

Believe me, I have learned my lesson.  I will never again be that trusting and I will never again be played for a fool.  The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.  You must change and adapt.  That’s what evolution is all about and just as IWC evolved, changed with the times, so shall I, because I am not insane.  I will not do the same thing and make the same mistakes over and over again only to expect different results.

Intelligence, true intelligence, is the ability to learn from your mistakes.  I know I have made many mistakes since my arrival in the Independent Wrestling Cartel.  But I learn from my mistakes.  I grow as a human being and through every misstep I become even better than I was before.  I may have been as naïve as a child before, but now things are different.  After the betrayal of my own sister Blaire, after Silas Mason cost me my twenty-five percent ownership, after all of that I know now what I must do.  I realize that I must return to my roots and become the Karen McBride of old.

Cutthroat, take no prisoners, no mercy…that’s who I needed to become and that is who I am.  I will get my twenty-five percent ownership back by hook or by crook but first I must reassert myself inside of the wrestling ring.

Cannon, Starxxxx, and Haze, you three are in the wrong place and wrong time.  A shot at the world tag team titles?  I’m not completely certain any of you even want it.  But whether you do or you don’t, that’s irrelevant, because either way you can forget about that title shot and you can forget about winning that match on RIOT.  Your purpose on RIOT will be to make me look good as I run right through you like a knife through hot butter.

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Advice

Off Camera

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Karen McBride has had many allies during her wrestling tenure.  She introduced Madame Santos to Global Championship Wrestling as her bodyguard, although now Santos has become a glorified jobber.  She was briefly allies with Desmond Drake when she first signed with the Independent Wrestling Cartel and later on in that same company she would side with William Mason, forming Prestige.  Karen even formed a very brief alliance with Silas Mason in order to drop the nuclear bomb and cement herself as twenty-five percent owner of IWC.

None of these alliances would last.  They would all move on to what they thought was greener pastures or they would simply stab her in the back, betray her, and leave her for dead.  It has truly been a roller coaster ride for Karen McBrdie, leaving her in a state of distrust and lack of faith.  How can she trust anyone when she has had a history of people walking away from her or just simply walking all over her?

Few individuals in her life have proven to be truly trustworthy and loyal.  Among them, of course, is Melanie McBride, Karen’s younger sister.  It’s already been established how close they are.  But Melanie isn’t the only one with whom Karen has an intense trust.  There is also Karen’s husband, Eric Chambers.

It is a little known fact that Karen is married to fellow professional wrestler Eric Chambers, a man she met while competing for Global Division of Wrestling.  What started out as a professional alliance quickly grew into a friendship and later on into a romance as they discovered how much they truly had in common with one another.  They were both wrestlers, they both came from wealthy families, and they both believed in being ruthless when it came to business and wrestling.  It seemed as if they were the perfect fit for one another.  Thus Eric Chambers is one of the few people left in this business, hell in her entire life, whom Karen actually trusts.

Chambers, in a black and white suit combo, leads his lovely wife Karen, wearing a fancy sparkly tight black dress and high heels, deep into the main dining area of an upscale restaurant.  Eric is pulling out all of the stops, as usual, pulling out the chair for Karen so she can be seated and then pushing her under before seating himself.  Eric always treats Karen like a queen and that’s another aspect of him that she appreciates.  Karen, having been treated like an object, having been a whore for a solid year of her teenage life, being treated like royalty is something she truly values, as she knows what it is like to be treated like garbage.

After being settled in the waiter approaches their table.  “What may I get you to drink?”

“Cabernet sauvignon.” Eric answers.

“Right away, sir.”

The waiter nods, scribbling on his notepad before walking off to fill the order.  This leaves Karen and Eric by themselves to their own devices.  Alone to have their private time and to discuss matters at hand.

“So, what do you think?” Eric asks with a knowing grin.

“I think that perhaps this is a bit too much considering there is no occasion such as your birthday or mine, or an anniversary of any sort.  But then again…” her voice trails off, a smirk forms on her own facial features “…you and I deserve all of this and then some, Eric.”

Chambers nods his head. “Yes, yes we do.”

He takes her right hand, brings it up to his mouth and kisses it. “Anytime you and I are together is a celebration, because we are better than everyone else.”

“Indeed we are and I believe I need to be reminded of that sometimes.”

Karen looks around at her surroundings, the fancy glassware and silverware at the table, the fancy tables themselves, the romantic lighting, the luxurious décor, all of it screams wealth and elitism.  This is the kind of lifestyle Eric Chambers is used to.  Karen can play this role really well but, due to living the first sixteen years of her life in abject poverty she isn’t as used to as he is.  In fact, she would be just as comfortable going to a Burger King and getting a whopper.  But Karen can play the game with the best of them.  If she needs to pretend to be an upscale snobby bitch in order to rub elbows with the elite, she’ll do it.  But she also knows when to turn it off.  She knows when the time for play is over and the time to be real has come.

The problem is, if you pretend for too long that you are something you are not, you might start believing it yourself.  It’s called ‘going native.’  To go native means to take on some, or all, of the culture traits of the people around you.  These traits may include dress, language, accent, etiquette or other such characteristics.  This is what Karen is concerned about.  She is worried that perhaps her time with the McBride Family has caused her to go native.  She forgot her roots.  She needs to be reminded of who she is.  Karen McBride may have access to limitless wealth but that snobby bitch isn’t who she is.  That’s Blaire and she saw what being the snobby power hungry bitch did to her.  Karen is a street smarts, cunning, fighter.  And it is the fighter that must succeed in the end.

The waiter returns with wine bottle in hand and two glasses, one he sets in front of Eric and the other in front of Karen.  The waiter pours some wine into Eric’s glass and then he turns and pours wine into Karen’s glass.  He smiles as he sets the wine bottle down on the table.

“I will return in a moment for your orders.”

“Thank you.” Eric says, watching the waiter turn and walk off.

“This is very good, Eric.” Karen says with a sigh. “It’s good to get away from the stress and pressures of work.”

Eric nods his head. “I take it you mean wrestling?”

Karen sighs, nodding her head. “Yeah…”

“Don’t think about them, babe.” Eric remarks, shaking his head. “It’s all mind over matter.  You don’t mind and they don’t matter.   If they’re going to screw you like the way they have been, especially the way Independent Wrestling Cartel has been doing you, I’d say to hell with them.”

Karen would like to say to hell with the IWC but she just can’t.  True, those events of betrayal have indeed changed her, but they have not driven her to abandoning the IWC.  A strong part of Karen still wants to stick around and fight the good fight.  Betrayal at the hands of Silas Mason and Blaire McBride does not mean she has lost the good fight.  It just means she needs to fight the good fight differently.  It just means she needs to use different tactics.

This coming RIOT is a perfect time for her to show off her newfound tactics.  Scott Cannon, Jeffrey Starxxxx, and Cassidy Haze are all accomplished athletes.  Getting past them will be a huge accomplishment and a huge feather in her cap, and that’s not to mention the tag title opportunity Karen will receive if she wins the match.

“I can’t do that, Eric.” Karen says as she takes a sip of her wine. “It’s just not possible.”

“Babe, I’m not saying you should quit wrestling.” Eric retorts. “You still have GCW…”

“Oh I know you didn’t mean I should just quit.” Karen shakes her head. “I know you too well to think you’d ever suggest that.  What I mean is that I cannot leave IWC.”

“Why not?”

“I have unfinished business.”

Eric sighs with some slight frustration. “Unfinished business?  What is so important that you have to keep giving them the time of day?”

Chambers reaches out and takes her hand into his, clasping it tightly.  Eric gazes deep into her eyes lovingly.

“I love you, Karen.  I have loved you ever since I met you.  You are one of a kind and I know you have a heart of gold.  That’s part of what attracted me to you.  But Karen, you tried to do what’s right for IWC.  You tried to do good.  They didn’t care for it.  So like I said, to hell with them.”

Karen nods her head in agreement. “I know and I agree with you, there is no point in doing what is good, what is best, for the IWC.”

“Right…”

“But…” Karen cuts him off “…I am not doing this because it is right or because it is what is best for IWC.  I am doing it because I have something to prove, I am doing this because I have a reputation to uphold.  These people think that they can walk all over me?”

She shakes her head. “They can’t.  They cannot walk all over me.  I am Karen McBride and it is time that the wrestling world be reminded of what happens when you cross me.”

The waiter returns, notepad in hand and pen ready to write. “What may interest you in, today?”

“I would like a filet mignon with a side of scalloped potatoes.” Eric responds.  He points to Karen.  “The lady would like the same.”

“Excellent choice.” The waiter scribbles the order on his notepad. “I shall be back momentarily.”

And once again, the waiter makes his exit.  Eric turns back to face Karen. “Well if you must stay in IWC, then you have my full support, babe.  I know you’ll do great.”

Karen smiles. “Thank you, sweetie.  But I do just have one piece of advice to ask of you…”

“What’s that?”

“What should I do about Desmond Drake?”

Eric frowns.  He knows all about Desmond Drake.  Chambers had initially warned Karen about dealing with him the first time and it turned out he was right as he saw, time and time again, Karen was blindsided by Desmond.  Desmond Drake eventually lost his power, but so did Karen.  Now Desmond has returned to the hallowed halls of IWC and is seemingly looking for redemption.  It seems as if Desmond Drake wants to make things right, make things up to Karen McBride, by helping her regain her twenty-five percent ownership.

But Karen isn’t certain she can trust him.  He is one of many who betrayed her trust.  When you betray Karen’s t rust once, you’ve lost it and it is hard to earn it back.  Drake tried to earn it back at Invictus II but failed miserably.  Yet he still tries and is still trying.  Karen does indeed want her principle ownership back and she is willing to do anything to get it but is she willing to trust Desmond Drake even though her gut instincts tell her not to?

“Honestly?”

Honestly.” Karen nods her head.

“Honestly, I do not trust that guy.” Eric answers. “And I wouldn’t trust him either, if I were you.”

Karen sighs. “Therein lies the rub, if I want my principle ownership back, I may have to trust him.”

A look of intensity grows across her face. “And I will do anything to get my principle ownership back.”

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Eric Chambers

On Camera

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I just want to say to the braintrust operating the Independent Wrestling Cartel that you idiots really have no damn clue what you’ve done.  Seriously, I would normally pity you but I don’t pity morons like you.  You fools went and pissed off one badass bitch and now you’re gonna have to deal with the consequences.

Granted, lately she may not have been acting like the badass bitch I just described, but everyone has a breaking point and so does my wife Karen McBride.  You people pulled at her, stretched her, poked, and prodded her, you screwed her over too many times and now she’s broke.  She snapped.  And she is ready to kick some ass and take some names.

No mercy, no remorse, take no prisoners.

You may think it won’t matter and you may scoff at this now but when you see how much more ruthless she has become, how much more violent she is because of what you people did, you will look back on me as a damn prophet of doom.  You will realize I was trying to warn you and here you are, the baboons running this place, ignoring my warnings.

But that’s fine.  Don’t heed my warnings.  You will all find out soon enough that you made a huge mistake in pissing off Karen McBride.  Scott Cannon, Jeffrey Starxxxx, and Cassidy Haze will be the first three to find out.

Sorry, guys, about your damn luck.

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Karen McBride

On Camera

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Our camera begins to roll.  We see the lovely Karen McBride standing there in black pants, black high heeled pumps, and a matching silky black blouse.  Her long dark hair hangs unrestrained to shoulder length and her nails, both finger and toe, are painted a dark red.

“Opportunity, now there’s a funny word that seems to be thrown around a great deal lately.  Drew Bryant is using it on Uprising in the Ultimate Opportunity Match and Silas Mason is using it in the Uncommon Opportunity Matches.”

She holds up two fingers.  “Two matches, one triple threat and one four way.  The winners team up to compete for the world tag team championship.”

A laugh escapes her beautiful lips. “Now imagine that?  A random pairing of superstars who have never teamed before going after the world tag team titles?  It seems as if Silas Mason were protecting Lexy Chapel and Kat Kelly, but then again, what wrestling company DOESN’T throw random pairings together nowadays?  At least in this way the two challengers will have to earn their way into the match.”

“Opportunity is a real ironic term here in the case of this four way match I am competing in because I wonder if any of my three opponents really care much for the tag team title opportunity that is being offered to them if they win?  I mean, let’s run down the list one by one…”

She holds up one finger. “First there’s Cassidy Haze.  Cassidy, you know me probably better than anyone else on this roster and definitely better than anyone else in this match.  You know that I am a student of the game.  I study my opposition.  I pay very close attention to what is happening and I have noticed how the entire wrestling world seems to doubt you.  They doubt you because you want to go and take on the world, Silas World to be precise, you want to take on Cindy Todd, you want to take on anyone and everyone, and the entire world from Taylor Chase to Brittany Lohan thinks you will fail, they think you will fall flat on your face.”

“Not me.” She shakes her head. “I do not doubt you because I know you and I know what you are capable of when you are determined.  But what I am wondering is this…are you too focused on Cindy Todd and Silas Mason to be bothered with this four way match?  Let’s be honest, Cassidy, you cannot do both.  Taking on empires like the one Cindy is attempting to build and the one Silas has built is a daunting t ask to say the least.  You need ultimate focus and you will either be focused on that or be focused on our match on RIOT.  Which is it, dear Cassidy?  Which is it?  As intense as you have sounded in recent weeks…I think I know the answer to that question…”

She holds up a second finger. “Jeffrey Starxxxx is a unique specimen in that I am not sure he can be called a wrestler and yet he is competing in a wrestling ring.  I wouldn’t call him a wrestler.  I would call him a sports entertainer because his primary focus is entertaining the fans.  Am I right, Jeffrey?  Your bottom line involves entertainment.  That’s why I will succeed whereas you will fail, Starxxxx.  My bottom line involves winning and I will do whatever it takes to win, the fans be damned.”

Karen holds up a third finger. “Finally we have Scott Cannon.  Now even I will admit he is probably the favorite to win.  If Vegas were playing the odds in this match, they would probably put all their money riding on Scott Cannon picking up the win.  Why not?  He is the number one contender to the world championship after all.”

“Congratulations on that, by the way.” Karen applauds slowly. “You earned that title shot and everyone who thinks you will win, I can’t blame them for thinking that.  There’s just one tiny problem with that logic.”

She points to herself. “Me.  I have an intangible that you don’t have and that is a desire to win.  I have a burning desire to win this match.  How could you possibly have the same kind of desire I have right now?  You have a shot at a title promised to you.  You have a shot at the world championship in your back pocket.  The tag titles would be a step down for you.  And then there’s your connection with Monarchy.  Would you really go after those belts if you happened to earn the title shot or would you role be to help Kat Kelly and Lexy Chapel retain the titles?”

“That doesn’t sound like desire to me, Cannon, and I think you know that.  I think you know that you don’t have the desire necessary to push you forward, to help you finish and go through this match.  But I do.  Why?  Because I have been pushed around and walked over week in and week out by people I thought I could trust, including my own damn sister.  This match isn’t just about the world tag team titles for me, those are just icing on the cake.  For me this is about something even more important than the world tag team titles.”

“This is about regaining and recapturing a respect that I let slip through my fingers.  This isn’t about proving to Silas Mason and Cindy Todd that I’m tough, this isn’t about entertaining the fans, and whatever motivation you have Scott, this is more important than that as well.  This is about me, reestablishing myself, and reminding the Independent Wrestling Cartel that I am a force to be reckoned with.”

She shakes her head. “No, I’m not expected to win, and I may not win, but by God even if I do go down in defeat, I will make damn sure to bring some of you assholes with me and I will make damn sure that all three of you know you have been through a war with Karen McBride.”