The cameras pickup backstage where we see one of OCWs newest rookies and women’s division members, Serena La Diosa.
Serena is standing in front of a monitor rewatching her debut match a couple weeks ago with Skadi, the part of the match on screen is Serena fighting to get to her feet as she slides in the ring at the very last second but wasn’t quick enough as the ref called the match off. Serena shakes her head and clenches her fists with disappointment but sighs and relaxes her fists.
While she watches again as Skadi celebrates her victory and is headed to Certified Greatness to compete in the Future Investment ladder match, Serena drops her head disappointed, an opportunity of a lifetime for a debutant that slipped through her fingers.
As she’s moping there is a clang of coming off the ground like boots are hitting the ground approaching her. She turns around and is greeted by none other than JJ Smooth, JJ flashes his smile as he bows to Serena.
JJ: Hold up, hold up, now! Ain't no time for hangin' your head low, sis! You hear me? You didn't even really take an L tonight! C'mon now, ole girl, peep this: first time out the gate, throwin' down with the mighty Skadi?
JJ: That's somethin' to hold your head high about! You were out there shinin'! So shake it off, baby, you did good! Real good!
JJ: Whoa there, now! Ole JJ ain't 'bout to let his main lady, this future champ right here, be feelin' all blue and down. Uh-uh, no sir, not on my watch! 'Cause like I was layin' down, a countout?
JJ: Man, please! A Viking queen tearin' it up like that? Come on now!
JJ: Well, I ain't preachin' or nothin', but I'm pretty sure up in that... Valhalla place, right? They ain't gonna be stampin' her ticket anytime soon after a win like that! She got way more battles to conquer, you dig?
Serena giggles and picks her head up, looking at JJ with a warm smile as she pulls out his business card and looks at it again.
Serena: I never told you, I was really impressed with the actual card. I feel like real business cards and proper things like that are becoming so out of date and no longer used, it was a real nice surprise.
Serena: But I don’t know JJ… I know I shouldn’t have so many hard expectations of myself but I just thought “Man, imagine if I could debut and maybe win a championship within my first three months!” Well… that is down the drain because I messed up. Gosh, how could I be so dumb and stupid! I shouldn’t have played with fire on the outside!
JJ: Whoa there, Serena girl, you right on time with that fire in your eyes. Yeah, JJ Smooth, that's me, and professional is my middle name, baby. That card I gave you? That ain't just paper, that's a promise. The start of somethin' real good, you dig?
JJ: Look, this climb to the top, that championship mountain? It ain't no cakewalk. I've seen cats and kittens with all the talent in the world stumble and fall. But I've also guided some stone-cold champions, you hear?
JJ: They didn't wake up one morning wearin' that crown. Nah, it was the daily grind, the sweat, the times they wanted to throw in the towel but didn't. That's persistence, that's patience, and that's that good ol' hard work.
JJ: I got the eyes, the know-how, to help you get there. Picture this, Serena: your name blazin' in the lights, face-to-face with a champ like Dragana Cesar. That's the vision, baby!
JJ: Now, don't you get down if you ain't holdin' that belt in a couple of months. That ain't the rhythm of this game. You gotta build, you gotta grow, you gotta let the world see what you got.
JJ: Just keep that belief burnin' bright inside you, Serena. 'Cause if JJ Smooth believes in you like this, you gotta believe in yourself ten times more. You got that somethin' special, girl. Let's make some magic happen.
Serena chuckles as she’s about to respond JJ’s phone starts going off as he takes his phone out of his jacket pocket his eyes widen and he mouths to Serena “Sorry about this” and begins to walk away.
Serena gives him a thumbs up with a smile as he also cracks her a smile back as he turns away answering his phone.
As JJ walks away and Serena begins walking to the locker room area, a figure starts walking behind her as she doesn’t notice them at first. From out of the corner of her eye, Serena notices the person walking behind her as they start to get closer.
She whips around with her hands up in a not-so-intimidating fashion, as the person behind her laughs obnoxiously as the cameras turn to reveal it’s OCW women’s division veteran, Shianne Lovelace.
Serena: What are you doing!? Why would you just start creeping up on somebody like that, are you crazy!?
Shianne: Crazy? Nah, girl, crazy is sittin’ there mopin’ ‘bout losin’. So, we should put ya ass in a ward.
Shianne: Ya kinda squirrely lookin’, too.
Serena looks confused not really understanding what Shianne is getting at.
Serena: Squirrely? Does it look like we’re playing Marvel Rivals? You still didn’t answer my question either, why are you creeping up on me?
Shianne shrugs.
Shianne: Keep that nerd shit outta my sphere.
She motions around herself in a circular fashion.
Shianne: I ain’t creep on nobody. I just seent a loser whinin’ ‘bout losin’.
Serena frowns at Shianne while shaking her head with disappointment.
Serena: You’d think for someone who has been here for a decent time… you’d have changed up that attitude. How does someone so talented like yourself always end up being so mean?
Shianne glances over and cocks her head to the side with a smirk.
Shianne: The truth ain’t ever nice.
Serena: Just like the truth on how you got smushed between Double Wide Dreams? Or- I guess it isn’t very nice to mention her weight like that.. Then again she does say it herself..
Serena gives a confused facial expression but giggles late after her witty retort to Shianne.
Shianne shrugs again.
Shianne: My track record against plus size ain’t the greatest. Ain’t make a dent in my overall record, though, doll-face.
Serena: Well yea. You aren’t one of the most talented women on the roster for nothing, girls like us? We don’t typically fare well against the plus size girlies.
Serena: Thankfully though, I didn’t really get crushed… no offense, and lost by.. Count out.
Shianne snickers.
Shianne: I’d sooner be out for three than out for ten, know’wha’I’m sayin’?
Shianne: I ain’t ever really seen’er before. Wasn’t really prepared. That’s on me, an’ if there’s ever a next time I’ll put her down.
Serena rapidly claps her hands with glee. Smiling at Shianne and then suddenly pats her shoulder.
Serena: Hell yeah! And I’ll make sure to work even harder on cardio so I don’t gas out next time! Hey maybe you’re not half bad after all!
Serena pats Shianne’s shoulder again as she turns around and skips away leaving Shianne by herself.
Shianne watches the other woman leave and furrows her brow.
Shianne: I ain’t say you could touch me.
She snickers again, and reaches for her earbuds from within her jacket pocket, putting them in as the camera fades.
GRUDGY
PETIE WHEAT-STRAW
vs.
NOVA ROSELLO
Previously recorded.
We are set right after the incident that occurred last week at Riot when Christine’s grandma was brutally assaulted by TOG’s Kameyo Hada.
Christine and her grandma are being taken to the closest medical facility in an ambulance.
Christine: Please, please! Don’t leave me Grandma! not like this!
Christine: You always taught me to be strong, now I need you to be strong, resilient, please! I need you.
Christine: Do that, and I promise I will avenge you. Messing with me is one thing, but hurting my loved ones? I won’t tolerate that.
Grandma grabs Christine’s hand
Grandma: Vengeance is not the way sweetie, always remember that.
Grandma: I’ll be fine, and I’m sure there’s an explanation to all of this.
Christine: I’ll get to the end of this, no matter what.
Scene fades as we get a shot of Kameyo watching the ambulance leave.
