Post by PH RECORDS on Nov 29, 2020 11:55:44 GMT -5
To say that my wrestling career has been a rollercoaster ride is...a bit of an understatement. It definitely has had its share of ups and downs over the years.
Well, to be honest, it’s been more downs than ups recently. Kinda like the one I was currently in. Ever since my departure from a few different places, it’s been hard to get my feet under me, so to speak. Nothing seems to stick for more than a few months. I’ve been bartending to keep the income flowing as I peruse the scene, looking for a new place to call home.
I will say that bartending has been quite a fun distraction in the meantime. Working at a nerd-themed bar in downtown Tampa has been a blast, and through it I met my awesome new roommate Darrell. He’s been my rock through this whole ordeal, keeping me sane and being my biggest cheerleader while I continue my seemingly never ending search to find a wrestling company that either A) doesn’t shut down after only a few months or B) isn’t run by some shady-ass people.
At first, it seemed like only a temporary setback, but the longer the drought went on, the more and more I began to lose hope. But just as it looked like I was resigned to a life of slinging drinks for creepy weirdos, fate decided to throw me a frickin’ bone…
--------
July 5
Tampa, Florida
“Well...that came out of nowhere.”
Staring at her phone with wide brown eyes, Kasey Winterborn blinked a few times, shaking her head, and then returning her wide-eyed gaze back to the device in her hand. But still, the same bold words stared back at her, an email message whose bold subject line had immediately grabbed her curiosity through the slew of spam messages and random fan messages with attachments (that she promptly swiped straight into the trash folder without opening).
Subject: WE WANT YOU!
Dear Ms. Winterborn,
Project: Honor is an up-and-coming wrestling federation based out of Stockton, California, and we are interested in having you on our roster. We have researched your body of work and are thoroughly impressed with your skills in the ring. We feel that you would be a valuable asset to our company, and would like to offer you a generous contract (attached).
We eagerly await your reply, and hope that we will get the opportunity to work with you in the future.
Regards,
Rock Johnson
Chairman/Founder
Project: Honor Wrestling
From the kitchen, she heard the blender powering down, and her roommate Darrell Devine stick his head out from the doorway. “What’d you say? Couldn’t hear you.”
“Uh….nothing. Just...this email I got.” Kasey was still staring down at her phone, her knuckles practically white with the death grip she had on it.
Darrell walked out to the living room, holding two margaritas in his hands. After setting them down on the coffee table, he pried the phone from Kasey’s hand and scanned over the email, his face immediately lighting up in a smile. “Well damn girl! This is awesome news!” He glanced up at her, his exuberant expression immediately tempered into a look of concern for his friend. “Uh, it is awesome news, isn’t it? I mean, you’ve been wanting to get back into this for months, and all of a sudden the opportunity practically falls into your lap.”
“Yeah...pretty damn convenient, isn’t it?” Kasey said, twirling a lock of her bright red hair around her finger.
Darrell raised an eyebrow. “Uh-oh, I know that look. You thinking scam city?”
Kasey let out a sigh, untwirling her hair from her finger before running her hand through the tangled locks. “I dunno. I mean, it is extremely convenient timing. Not to mention I’ve been burned so many times before. But still...what if it’s legit? I can’t pass up on an opportunity like this.”
“Well, nothing a little Google investigation can’t solve.” Darrell tapped a few times on the screen, swiping with a look of concentration on his face. “Hmmm….From what I can see, it seems on the up and up. Looks like they got quite the assembly of talent already.”
He turned the phone towards her, and she nodded as she looked it over with a thoughtful expression. “Certainly looks legit. Oh hey, I know that guy!” A small, somewhat hopeful smile crept onto her face. “What the hell? Might as well go for it. I’ll look over the contract in the morning and send it off.” She gave a shrug of her shoulders. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?”
“You damn right girl! You grab that opportunity and make it your biyatch!” Darrell grinned at her, handing her back the phone and picking up the two margaritas, handing one over to Kasey. “A toast! To getting back into the game and finally becoming the superstar you were born to be!”
They shared a laugh as they clinked their glasses together, taking a long drink as they settled back onto the couch to continue their Netflix marathon.
--------
July 29
Tampa, Florida
The sunset lit up the evening sky over McKay Bay in vivid shades of orange, red and yellow, as boats of all sizes and descriptions cruised the calm waters below. Sitting on the balcony of her apartment with a relaxed, serene expression on her face, Kasey Winterborn tucked a lock of her equally vibrant crimson hair behind her ear as she gazed out across the landscape before her gaze fell to the camera set up in front of her. Dressed in a loose, flowing white tank top and distressed denim cutoff shorts with her feet bare, she gave a bright smile and a jaunty salute, her brown eyes sparkling in the light and the sunset bathing her tattooed skin in a golden glow.
“Well, hey there internet land. Been a spell since ya girl decided to grace you all with her fabulous presence. I’ll spare you the long and drawn-out sob story, but the important part is….IIIIIIIIII’m baaaaaack!” She giggled slightly, tucking her feet up underneath her body. “Though now, the thought occurs to me that perhaps some of the people out there who may be watching this ain’t got the faintest idea just who in the hell this candy-apple-lookin’ weirdo is gracing their screen. Well, then, allow me to make the introductions.” She extended her hand towards the camera lens, shaking it up and down in an imaginary handshake. “How do you do? Nice to meetcha! The name is Kasey Winterborn. Now, my last name may be kinda familiar to some of you, and that would be on account of my older brother, who’s kinda a big deal in the wild world of pro wrestling. BUT! We are not here to talk about him! Nuh-uh, no way! I’m not exactly a vain person, but for right now, it’s all about me, baby! So, to give you the Cliff’s Notes version, my career’s been...well, I guess the best way to describe it is a slow burn. Been doing this for damn near a decade now, maybe longer. Been all over North America. Even did a brief tour of Japan. And yet, I have never held a title belt. Oh, I’ve come so very close on so many occasions, believe me. But that’s my white whale, to borrow a phrase. Call me Ishmael, and all that jazz.” She paused a moment, her face contorting into a thoughtful look. “Wait, Ishmael was the narrator...that’d make me Ahab, right?” She gave a slight shake of her head. “Distraction! We are not here to discuss the literary classics! We are here to discuss my latest foray into this crazy circus we lovingly refer to as professional wrestling. Hopefully, this one lasts longer than a few months this time.”
She pulled an unimpressed face. “Believe me, it’s a bit discouraging to finally get some momentum going, only to have the company shut its doors after a few months. Or to find out that the powers that be end up being shady as eff. Almost enough to make a girl up and quit the whole business altogether. But if I am anything, it is persistent. Almost to the point of irritating, or so I’ve been told. Wrestling has been my dream since I was a kid, and I damn sure ain’t ready to give up on it just yet, even if I am getting on in years. Not to say that I’m putting in for old age pension or anything, but I’m not naive enough to believe that I’ve still got a huge long career ahead of me. I realize that perhaps I’m coming up on the twilight years of my career. And if Project: Honor is going to be my last hurrah in this industry, then you can be damn sure that I’m going out with the biggest bang this world has ever seen. And what better way than by becoming the first ever Project: Honor Grand Champion?”
She smirked slightly, leaning back in her chair and lacing her fingers together behind her head. “Now, I know I’m jumping the gun ever so slightly. After all, there’s a whole roster of hungry young talent chomping at the bit to get their hands on that title. So much so, in fact, that a whole tournament was created to crown that first ever Grand Champion. The Trials of Time - which, by the way, sounds like a dope Tomb Raider level - will pit ten of Project: Honor’s brightest stars against one another to see which two can score the fastest win, and those two will go on to the first pay-per-view and battle it out to become the first ever Grand Champion.” She let out a little whistle. “Damn, I should be an announcer or something. Came up with that all on the fly too.” She blew on her fingernails and buffed them on her shirt, looking slightly smug. “Anyways, it’s an interesting little setup, and some interesting competition in this little shindig. A couple of names I recognize.” She wiggled her fingers at the camera in a wave. “Heya, Dickie! Long time, no see! Here’s hoping you and I are the two left standing at the end. I think you and I could put on one hell of a title match and make it the must-see event of the entire century. But first things first, I’ve got a certain Mister Ryan Young to thrash my way through if I’m gonna get to Hell On Earth.”
Unfolding her legs from underneath her, she planted them on the ground and leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees and letting her hands dangle down between them. “Now, from my research on you and what I’ve heard through the grapevine, the scuttlebutt seems to say that you’re known for being a particularly vicious striker, especially with your lil’ ol’ knees there. And I gotta admit, that’s a solid game plan. The knees are a pretty solid area, and if you hit just right on your opponent, it’s good night Irene for sure. It’s also something that can come straight out of nowhere. You’re in the ring, thinking you’ve got the upper hand, and then BAM! Knee to the face, blood everywhere, and you’re staring up at the lights spitting teeth and wondering why you can’t remember anything from third grade anymore.” She grimaced slightly. “Gotta admit, that’s got me more than a little concerned there, friendo. Not exactly relishing the thought of getting knocked loop-de-loopy. Had my fair share of near-concussions, and I’m not exactly looking to add to the collection. No siree Bob! So, how exactly do you solve a problem like Ryan Young?”
Perhaps it was just the quickly fading light playing tricks, but it seemed like there was something a little more...sinister in the smile that Kasey flashed towards the camera lens. “Well, I don’t want to give away all my secrets now, do I? Let’s just say that I’ve reached out and enlisted a bit of...help. Someone that can help me gain that edge I’ve been lacking in my career. Someone that’s going to help push me to the limits of what I can endure...and then push me past them. Someone who is going to ensure that not only will I take out Ryan Young in record time this week, but that I will go on and become the first ever Project: Honor Grand Champion, no matter who I have to face to achieve it.”
Just as quickly as it had appeared, the dramatic overtone fell away and she flashed another bright, sunny smile towards the camera. “So, in conclusion, I guess that all that’s left to say is...let’s get this mutha-effin’ bread, yo!”
And on that somewhat contradictory epilogue, the scene closed out with a shot of the young woman tucking her feet back up underneath her as she returned her gaze back out over the bay, the camera panning out to a blurry shot of the sunset before fading away to black.
Well, to be honest, it’s been more downs than ups recently. Kinda like the one I was currently in. Ever since my departure from a few different places, it’s been hard to get my feet under me, so to speak. Nothing seems to stick for more than a few months. I’ve been bartending to keep the income flowing as I peruse the scene, looking for a new place to call home.
I will say that bartending has been quite a fun distraction in the meantime. Working at a nerd-themed bar in downtown Tampa has been a blast, and through it I met my awesome new roommate Darrell. He’s been my rock through this whole ordeal, keeping me sane and being my biggest cheerleader while I continue my seemingly never ending search to find a wrestling company that either A) doesn’t shut down after only a few months or B) isn’t run by some shady-ass people.
At first, it seemed like only a temporary setback, but the longer the drought went on, the more and more I began to lose hope. But just as it looked like I was resigned to a life of slinging drinks for creepy weirdos, fate decided to throw me a frickin’ bone…
--------
July 5
Tampa, Florida
“Well...that came out of nowhere.”
Staring at her phone with wide brown eyes, Kasey Winterborn blinked a few times, shaking her head, and then returning her wide-eyed gaze back to the device in her hand. But still, the same bold words stared back at her, an email message whose bold subject line had immediately grabbed her curiosity through the slew of spam messages and random fan messages with attachments (that she promptly swiped straight into the trash folder without opening).
Subject: WE WANT YOU!
Dear Ms. Winterborn,
Project: Honor is an up-and-coming wrestling federation based out of Stockton, California, and we are interested in having you on our roster. We have researched your body of work and are thoroughly impressed with your skills in the ring. We feel that you would be a valuable asset to our company, and would like to offer you a generous contract (attached).
We eagerly await your reply, and hope that we will get the opportunity to work with you in the future.
Regards,
Rock Johnson
Chairman/Founder
Project: Honor Wrestling
From the kitchen, she heard the blender powering down, and her roommate Darrell Devine stick his head out from the doorway. “What’d you say? Couldn’t hear you.”
“Uh….nothing. Just...this email I got.” Kasey was still staring down at her phone, her knuckles practically white with the death grip she had on it.
Darrell walked out to the living room, holding two margaritas in his hands. After setting them down on the coffee table, he pried the phone from Kasey’s hand and scanned over the email, his face immediately lighting up in a smile. “Well damn girl! This is awesome news!” He glanced up at her, his exuberant expression immediately tempered into a look of concern for his friend. “Uh, it is awesome news, isn’t it? I mean, you’ve been wanting to get back into this for months, and all of a sudden the opportunity practically falls into your lap.”
“Yeah...pretty damn convenient, isn’t it?” Kasey said, twirling a lock of her bright red hair around her finger.
Darrell raised an eyebrow. “Uh-oh, I know that look. You thinking scam city?”
Kasey let out a sigh, untwirling her hair from her finger before running her hand through the tangled locks. “I dunno. I mean, it is extremely convenient timing. Not to mention I’ve been burned so many times before. But still...what if it’s legit? I can’t pass up on an opportunity like this.”
“Well, nothing a little Google investigation can’t solve.” Darrell tapped a few times on the screen, swiping with a look of concentration on his face. “Hmmm….From what I can see, it seems on the up and up. Looks like they got quite the assembly of talent already.”
He turned the phone towards her, and she nodded as she looked it over with a thoughtful expression. “Certainly looks legit. Oh hey, I know that guy!” A small, somewhat hopeful smile crept onto her face. “What the hell? Might as well go for it. I’ll look over the contract in the morning and send it off.” She gave a shrug of her shoulders. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?”
“You damn right girl! You grab that opportunity and make it your biyatch!” Darrell grinned at her, handing her back the phone and picking up the two margaritas, handing one over to Kasey. “A toast! To getting back into the game and finally becoming the superstar you were born to be!”
They shared a laugh as they clinked their glasses together, taking a long drink as they settled back onto the couch to continue their Netflix marathon.
--------
July 29
Tampa, Florida
The sunset lit up the evening sky over McKay Bay in vivid shades of orange, red and yellow, as boats of all sizes and descriptions cruised the calm waters below. Sitting on the balcony of her apartment with a relaxed, serene expression on her face, Kasey Winterborn tucked a lock of her equally vibrant crimson hair behind her ear as she gazed out across the landscape before her gaze fell to the camera set up in front of her. Dressed in a loose, flowing white tank top and distressed denim cutoff shorts with her feet bare, she gave a bright smile and a jaunty salute, her brown eyes sparkling in the light and the sunset bathing her tattooed skin in a golden glow.
“Well, hey there internet land. Been a spell since ya girl decided to grace you all with her fabulous presence. I’ll spare you the long and drawn-out sob story, but the important part is….IIIIIIIIII’m baaaaaack!” She giggled slightly, tucking her feet up underneath her body. “Though now, the thought occurs to me that perhaps some of the people out there who may be watching this ain’t got the faintest idea just who in the hell this candy-apple-lookin’ weirdo is gracing their screen. Well, then, allow me to make the introductions.” She extended her hand towards the camera lens, shaking it up and down in an imaginary handshake. “How do you do? Nice to meetcha! The name is Kasey Winterborn. Now, my last name may be kinda familiar to some of you, and that would be on account of my older brother, who’s kinda a big deal in the wild world of pro wrestling. BUT! We are not here to talk about him! Nuh-uh, no way! I’m not exactly a vain person, but for right now, it’s all about me, baby! So, to give you the Cliff’s Notes version, my career’s been...well, I guess the best way to describe it is a slow burn. Been doing this for damn near a decade now, maybe longer. Been all over North America. Even did a brief tour of Japan. And yet, I have never held a title belt. Oh, I’ve come so very close on so many occasions, believe me. But that’s my white whale, to borrow a phrase. Call me Ishmael, and all that jazz.” She paused a moment, her face contorting into a thoughtful look. “Wait, Ishmael was the narrator...that’d make me Ahab, right?” She gave a slight shake of her head. “Distraction! We are not here to discuss the literary classics! We are here to discuss my latest foray into this crazy circus we lovingly refer to as professional wrestling. Hopefully, this one lasts longer than a few months this time.”
She pulled an unimpressed face. “Believe me, it’s a bit discouraging to finally get some momentum going, only to have the company shut its doors after a few months. Or to find out that the powers that be end up being shady as eff. Almost enough to make a girl up and quit the whole business altogether. But if I am anything, it is persistent. Almost to the point of irritating, or so I’ve been told. Wrestling has been my dream since I was a kid, and I damn sure ain’t ready to give up on it just yet, even if I am getting on in years. Not to say that I’m putting in for old age pension or anything, but I’m not naive enough to believe that I’ve still got a huge long career ahead of me. I realize that perhaps I’m coming up on the twilight years of my career. And if Project: Honor is going to be my last hurrah in this industry, then you can be damn sure that I’m going out with the biggest bang this world has ever seen. And what better way than by becoming the first ever Project: Honor Grand Champion?”
She smirked slightly, leaning back in her chair and lacing her fingers together behind her head. “Now, I know I’m jumping the gun ever so slightly. After all, there’s a whole roster of hungry young talent chomping at the bit to get their hands on that title. So much so, in fact, that a whole tournament was created to crown that first ever Grand Champion. The Trials of Time - which, by the way, sounds like a dope Tomb Raider level - will pit ten of Project: Honor’s brightest stars against one another to see which two can score the fastest win, and those two will go on to the first pay-per-view and battle it out to become the first ever Grand Champion.” She let out a little whistle. “Damn, I should be an announcer or something. Came up with that all on the fly too.” She blew on her fingernails and buffed them on her shirt, looking slightly smug. “Anyways, it’s an interesting little setup, and some interesting competition in this little shindig. A couple of names I recognize.” She wiggled her fingers at the camera in a wave. “Heya, Dickie! Long time, no see! Here’s hoping you and I are the two left standing at the end. I think you and I could put on one hell of a title match and make it the must-see event of the entire century. But first things first, I’ve got a certain Mister Ryan Young to thrash my way through if I’m gonna get to Hell On Earth.”
Unfolding her legs from underneath her, she planted them on the ground and leaned forward slightly, resting her elbows on her knees and letting her hands dangle down between them. “Now, from my research on you and what I’ve heard through the grapevine, the scuttlebutt seems to say that you’re known for being a particularly vicious striker, especially with your lil’ ol’ knees there. And I gotta admit, that’s a solid game plan. The knees are a pretty solid area, and if you hit just right on your opponent, it’s good night Irene for sure. It’s also something that can come straight out of nowhere. You’re in the ring, thinking you’ve got the upper hand, and then BAM! Knee to the face, blood everywhere, and you’re staring up at the lights spitting teeth and wondering why you can’t remember anything from third grade anymore.” She grimaced slightly. “Gotta admit, that’s got me more than a little concerned there, friendo. Not exactly relishing the thought of getting knocked loop-de-loopy. Had my fair share of near-concussions, and I’m not exactly looking to add to the collection. No siree Bob! So, how exactly do you solve a problem like Ryan Young?”
Perhaps it was just the quickly fading light playing tricks, but it seemed like there was something a little more...sinister in the smile that Kasey flashed towards the camera lens. “Well, I don’t want to give away all my secrets now, do I? Let’s just say that I’ve reached out and enlisted a bit of...help. Someone that can help me gain that edge I’ve been lacking in my career. Someone that’s going to help push me to the limits of what I can endure...and then push me past them. Someone who is going to ensure that not only will I take out Ryan Young in record time this week, but that I will go on and become the first ever Project: Honor Grand Champion, no matter who I have to face to achieve it.”
Just as quickly as it had appeared, the dramatic overtone fell away and she flashed another bright, sunny smile towards the camera. “So, in conclusion, I guess that all that’s left to say is...let’s get this mutha-effin’ bread, yo!”
And on that somewhat contradictory epilogue, the scene closed out with a shot of the young woman tucking her feet back up underneath her as she returned her gaze back out over the bay, the camera panning out to a blurry shot of the sunset before fading away to black.