The video begins and we see a close up of an LA Kings baseball cap. The video slowly zooms out and we see the cap disappearing from the screen to reveal blonde hair underneath. As we zoom out further we see the blonde hair belongs to Zoe Sperling, better known amongst wrestling fans by her stage name of Syren. We zoom out enough to see that she’s dressed in a black t-shirt with the words ‘CITY OF LA KINGS’ across the front, along with the crown logo and a Los Angeles, California logo. She holds the cap in her hand, looking at it for a moment before smirking at the camera. “Did I ever tell you guys let that I love LA?” she asks with a laugh before putting the cap down and turning back to the camera. “Hey everyone! Ok, so it didn’t quite happen the way I hoped it would but it still happened, the LA Kings became the Stanley Cup Champions once again and for those closest to me there was a pretty wild party we were involved in on Friday night. It kind of made it difficult to get up on Saturday, but you know, it deserved celebrating and it was a fun celebration. But as fun as that celebration was, it was nothing compared to the celebrations that are upcoming. In less than two months SCW celebrates its eleven year anniversary with the biggest party atmosphere imaginable and in Miami, Florida we all get to take part in that crazy party that we call Rise to Greatness. It’s the one night of the year that EVERYONE wants to be a part of, and it seems like this year is no different. This year, if certain masks left around the place are any indication, people will be squirming out of the woodwork to be a part of this show. Old faces have already returned, more seem to be returning every week as everyone scratches and claws to book their place, to book their ticket to the biggest stage where the brightest lights shine down. And you want to know the only problem I have with that right now? I don’t have my ticket yet.”

She shakes her head slowly and lets out a sigh. “Oh, I thought I would have it by now without doubt. I thought for sure that following Taking Hold of the Flame I’d have the opportunity I wanted more than anything else, but I couldn’t make it. I couldn’t win when it mattered the most. And yet I’m here right now with a smile on my face and still believing, still hoping, still looking to book my place at the biggest show of the year, and that right now is the difference between me and all those who are returning, all those who are coming back for that one great moment in the spotlight – I don’t need to return for that moment because I never left,” she says proudly and confidently. “For five years I’ve been here doing what I love, fighting to prove myself, fighting for my spot and fighting for everything I believe in. For five years I’ve been here and for five more years I’ll continue to be here, because that’s who I am. I understand commitment. I understand loyalty. And for the fifth straight year at Rise to Greatness this year I intend to go out there in front of the world and make memories! But I don’t just intend to make memories on pay per view, I don’t only up my game when the cameras are filming and the lights are on bright, for five years I’ve competed at every opportunity, for five years I’ve come up against every challenge and overcome it and I know there is a challenge waiting for me at Rise to Greatness and when I get there I fully intend to reach out and grab hold of it. On the road to Rise to Greatness though it’s all about momentum, it’s all about building momentum and showing the world what you can do, and that’s what I did last week when I went one on one with the former number one contender and one of the most accomplished competitors on the SCW roster, Simon Lyman.”

“In recent weeks there have been plenty of people running their mouths about Simon, there have been plenty of people talking down to him, there have been plenty of people who’ve been trying to use him to springboard their own careers, and if anyone can appreciate how it feels to be in that position then it’s me. Hell, one of the very same guys who tried to get a boost to his own career by going after Simon just a few weeks ago at Supreme Saturday, William Mason, is one of the very same guys who’ve jumped me from behind in recent months as well, who’ve attacked me when my back was turned to try and build momentum of his own only to get dropped on his face when he had to try the same thing to my face. And that’s only the start of everything that Simon has been through, because he’s got drama galore in his life at the moment, from revelations involving his father to rumours of infidelity that have all but ended his marriage. Simon has been through so much lately, and of all people on the roster I truly sympathise because I’ve been through so much shit as well. That’s what made it so incredible last week though, that’s what made it so amazing when in my home town, in the Staples Center, in front of my family, my friends, my people, I went one on one with Simon Lyman not in a battle to try to hurt him or knock him off course but to find out which one of us was truly better, and he put me through a HELL of a workout,” she says before nodding her head and smiling appreciatively. “Simon, honestly, you are a hell of a competitor, you’ve proven why you’ve held all the championships you’ve held and why you’ve gotten the opportunities you’ve gotten, and in Los Angeles last week you gave me one of the toughest challenges I’ve had all year. It was an honour to fight you. I’d do it again in a heartbeat. But the lasting memory I have of that match is having my hand raised.”

“Now I don’t mean to sound like a bitch by saying that but I went in to that match with a lot of pressure on my shoulders. I knew I had to perform, I knew I had to go big in my home town and I did exactly that. And it wasn’t the outside world putting that pressure on me, there was no pressure from SCW management or from the fans, they all just wanted to see a good match. The person putting the pressure on me, the person telling me that I had to win against Simon and prove something, was me! I’m the one who put the pressure on myself last week, and I did everything I promised I’d do. I beat one of the best in the company, and I racked up yet another victory in 2014, and I know deep down inside that all of this is building toward something big. I know deep down inside that all of this is building to my opportunity, and thanks to matches like last week I know when it comes I’ll be ready for it. But not every week can be in your home town. Not every opponent can be one of the big matches on the show. And I know there are plenty of people out there who phone it in when they don’t have that big pressure match. I know there are a whole bunch of people who take it easy when they don’t have a championship on the line or some kind of opportunity to fight for. And when they’re not even competing in a televised match, when they’re set to fight without the cameras even rolling, I know there are a whole bunch of people who whine. I know this because this week in Phoenix, Arizona, the SCW World Heavyweight Champion Shaun Cruze takes on Dylan Howell in a match that’s just for those people in Phoenix. They paid good money to watch the best show that SCW can deliver, they paid to watch the SCW World Heavyweight Champion compete, and what does Shaun Cruze do when he finds out about his match? He bitches about it.”

She rolls her eyes and shakes her head slowly. “Not surprising really, is it? Because that’s the same reaction he had when Jake Starr interrupted his contract signing for the main event at Rise to Greatness as well. Mr D brings them both out to the ring, he makes them sign a contract, he practically GUARANTEES Shaun an eight week period where he won’t even have to defend the SCW World Heavyweight Championship a single time so that he can go in to the main event at the biggest show of the year and do exactly that, and Jake Starr interrupts, makes the announcement that he’s using his earned contract to add himself to that match, and the first thing we hear is bitching,” she says, letting out another sigh. “I mean really? Last year, when I had that championship, I had two people breathing down my neck screaming and demanding a title shot at me. Last year, when I had that championship, I was forced to DEFEND that championship on the road to Rise to Greatness against a former World Heavyweight Champion. Last year, when I had that championship, I got attacked from behind, humiliated at every opportunity and left in pain in the ring week after week. All I EVER did in that situation was get BACK to my feet and keep FIGHTING! But not our Shaun, oh no! He’s had what some consider the easiest championship reign of any champion for a long time, and now that Jake decides to cash in, Shaun wants to whine about it, and whine about his match this week, and complain that none of it is good enough. Does it not concern anyone else that right now in SCW we have popcorn vendors with bigger balls than our World Champion? It concerns me! In fact it’s become such a concern to me that I’ve decided to do something about it. I’m not going to take it to Twitter though; I did that already and told Shaun the way it really is. Now I intend to SHOW him!”

“You see this week in Arizona Shaun Cruze isn’t the only one competing in a non-televised match. This week the people of Phoenix get to watch as our spineless World Champion cries his way to the ring complaining that nothing in his life is fair, while surrounding himself with equally egotistical and ungrateful jackasses who do the very same thing. But this week in Phoenix the people get to see how a real competitor behaves, because this week in my non-televised match I’m facing Dylan Cent, and I promise everyone in attendance is going to want to get out their cell phones and film a little video to post on YouTube and show the world that the best match this week in Arizona isn’t even one they’re putting on TV,” she says with a confident smile before looking down at her shirt and shrugging her shoulders a little. “I may be wearing a crown on my shirt this week but I’m not wearing one on my head. I’m not carrying a championship but I am a champion, and this week I aim to show the world why. Because this week is another opportunity for me, this week is another chance to build momentum, this week is another chance to prove myself, and my opponent this week is another competitor that I can prove myself against. Dylan Cent isn’t just any old wrestler; this is a guy with incredible athleticism. This is a guy who can leap from the top rope and execute moves that take your breath away, and then get back to his feet and do it all over again. Last week I went up against a guy who was powerful, a guy who was technically gifted, and a guy who they call ‘Simply Sensational’ for a reason! That was a challenge I was excited by, but this one this week I know will be no less of a challenge. Last week I found a way to overcome the technical ability and power game, this week I show the world that I’m not intimidated by speed and athleticism either.”

“Now I’ve sang the praises of Simon Lyman for everything he’s accomplished in his career but you’re not exactly lacking in accomplishments either, are you Dylan? A former multi-time World Champion outside of SCW, you’ve proven you can compete on the global stage and you’ve proven you can take on the very best in the world before. This week though you get the opportunity to compete against the Best Female Wrestler in the World, and I intend to show you that that nickname is more than earned! And just like me Dylan – well, just like all of us really – you’ve got a lot to prove at the moment as well, haven’t you? You’re on the same road I’m on, you’re fighting for the same chances I’m fighting for, and you’re looking to secure your place at Rise to Greatness just the same way that so many others are looking to secure theirs. Now I don’t know where your mind is at right now, I don’t know what your intentions are, I don’t know if you’ve got plans of your own or a dream you’re aiming to pursue on the grandest stage, but I know that if you’re a part of this company then you want to be on that show just like the rest of us. And Rise to Greatness can help change lives Dylan. As much as you’ve already done in this business I know damn well that you want more. It’s in your blood, just like it’s in mine. You want to show the world why you’re the Center Piece, right? And you can do that at Rise to Greatness. I speak from experience when I say that. You see Rise to Greatness helped shape my career. I won my first SCW World Tag Team Championship at that event. I defended the Women’s and World Tag Team Championships at that event. And I tried my very best to defend the SCW World Championship at that event as well. That show is the one we ALL want to be a part of, it can change careers, it can catapult stars in to megastars, and that’s why THIS match is so important this week.”

“Other people look at this match and they see a match for the live crowd. They think nothing of it. I mean, why should they, right? It’s not on TV. It’s not going to be seen by the world. So why does it even matter? Hell, why are we having the match at all? Why risk injury? Just to entertain a few locals? The answer to that is YES! Because that’s what this match is about. It’s about an opportunity to prove ourselves, it’s about an opportunity to show which one of us is better, but just as much it’s about those people who’ve paid to see the BEST WRESTLING IN THE WORLD! It’s about the FANS! And that’s something that the Shaun Cruze’s, the Jake Starr’s and the Silas Mason’s of this world don’t appreciate. It’s not all about them. It’s not all about their egos. It’s about getting in that ring and competing in front of those fans and hearing them chant your name. It’s about watching them rise to their feet with their hands in the air cheering as loud as they can. This business is built on those people. Those people pay for everything that the ungrateful assholes of the business take for granted, and even in my darkest moments I’ve never forgotten that. Even at my most selfish I’ve always wanted to put on a show,” she says with a grin. “That’s what I do. It’s why I do this. I go out to that ring to show off, to compete, to prove I’m the best and it doesn’t matter if you show you’re the best in front of twenty five thousand people in an arena and millions more watching on pay per view if you can’t show you’re the best the next week when the crowd are still getting warmed up.  And that’s the point I’ve been trying to drive home. I don’t just fight when I think ‘it matters’ because in this business EVERY MOMENT MATTERS, whether it’s in Madison Square Garden in front of thousands of people or in a bingo hall in front of a hundred.”

She smiles again, looking in to the camera confidently. “There is a huge opportunity ahead of us this week Dylan and it’s an opportunity I intend to grab a hold of with both hands,” she promises before smiling again. “There’s one thing that I don’t understand about you though Dylan. Maybe you can help clear it up for me, because it’s the same thing that I don’t understand about so many others who’ve all come squirming out of the woodwork lately. You were gone from this business for two years, right? From what I’ve been told there was no injury, there was nothing stopping you from competing, there was no life-changing event that you had to take time away to deal with. You simply decided to step back, to step away, to take a break. Why? That’s what I’m trying to understand here. Why would you do that? Why would you step away? Why would you walk away from all of this? Why would ANYONE walk away from all of this? I’ve had a lot of reasons to lose hope. I’ve had a lot of reasons to feel down on myself. I haven’t accomplished all the things that I want to accomplish yet, not by a long shot, and sometimes I sit and I wonder if I ever will. But I haven’t stepped away. I haven’t given up. I signed my contract in 2009; I made my debut not long after Rise to Greatness five years ago, and I’ve gone hard EVERY SINGLE MONTH since. I’ve fought through injuries, I’ve battled through so many huge events in my life, and I’ve never stopped. I don’t plan to EVER stop! So maybe you can explain that to me, maybe you can help me make sense of it because maybe you had your reasons – I don’t doubt that you think you did – but I could never find a reason big enough to leave this for two years. For five years I’ve been going hard no matter what, for five years I’ve been doing all I can to prove myself and this week is another chance to do just that. Shaun, it’s time for you to watch how it’s done. Dylan, you and me are going to put on a show, but in the end I intend to STEAL the show and win this match. I intend to STAND TALL in front of the people of Phoenix, Arizona, and if you’re not ok with that there’s only one thing I suggest: JUST BE JEALOUS!”

She steps toward the camera before kissing the lens and twirling around again afterwards before taking a little bow and laughing to herself again as the video fades out and comes to an end and the replay button flashes up on the screen.