We begin with the sound of slow, and somewhat sarcastic, clapping. The video fades in only after the sound of clapping has begun, and as it continues we focus in on the SCW World Heavyweight Champion who looks less than amused. “Bravo! I mean really, I need to congratulate you Tommy. I really do. You’re a genius. You got revenge on me. You took me out, twice. Bra-fucking-vo. And all it cost you was… everything,” she says sarcastically and angrily. The video clearly isn’t being filmed on Sunday night. There’s daylight outside, implying that the filming is taking place at least the following day, but evidently in the time that’s occurred between the Trios Tournament opening round match and now, Syren has far from forgotten what happened. “So, tell me, are you happy now? Did you teach me a lesson? Did screwing the team – and yourself – prove something to me? I mean damn, you laid me out twice in a row, after attacking me when I was unprepared. That taught me, right? Because nobody’s ever done that to me before. Oh, wait, that shit happens twice a week. If you thought somebody else attacking me from behind was going to teach me a lesson and make me re-evaluate everything I’ve done and every decision I’ve made over the past few weeks then you’re so very wrong. In fact, Sunday night only proved two things to me. For one, it proved you’re even STUPIDER than I thought, which I actually didn’t think it was possible to be, so congratulations on surprising me there. And two, it taught me that every decision I’ve made the past few weeks was absolutely right, because what you did on Sunday night weren’t the heroic actions of a warrior… they were cowardly acts of a little bitch!”

She scoffs and shakes her head in obvious disgust. “I don’t know why that surprises me though, I mean, you’re besties with Jake Starr again, right? And when it comes to cheap shots from behind is there a bigger bitch in this entire company than him? Hell, he’s famous for them. And you? Well, you used to style yourself on being better than that. You used to style yourself on being a warrior. You used to style yourself on being something special, but you’re not. You’re just like all the others. But you want to know the funniest part about Sunday night, Tommy? I hope you got your satisfaction from what you did. I hope you feel all warm inside, because attacking me when I was prepared to be your partner is the ONLY time in your life you’ve ever been able to stand over me… and it’ll be the only time you will,” she says before rolling her eyes and scooping up the SCW World Championship, holding it up to the camera and smiling. “You see this, Tommy? You remember this, don’t you? Well you could have had a shot at this. You could have fought me in that ring. You could have had a chance I know you wanted. Now, though, I wouldn’t fight you for all the money in the world. So, like I said, bravo! You cost yourself – and me – a chance at one of those Trios contracts, putting them in the hands of two of the worst people in the world, and one on a pedestal so high I’m shocked he didn’t break every bone in his body when I knocked him off of it. And you cost yourself any chance of a match with me. Great choice for your career, dipshit.”

She rolls her eyes, takes the World Championship and places it purposefully over her shoulder before smirking at the camera. “And what did you actually accomplish on Sunday, Tommy? Nothing. Besides costing me a chance to hold a Trios Contract and a chance to actually get some JUSTICE around here, you accomplished absolutely nothing, because I still have this,” she says, still smirking as she pats the belt proudly. “Attacking me from behind didn’t change that. And it won’t change that. And that won’t be changing on Wednesday night either. What, you think I’m wrong? You think your bestie is going to take this back from me? No. It wasn’t going to happen before the Trios Tournament. It wasn’t going to happen even if I had to fight three matches in one night. And if you were smart, Tommy, then that’s what you would have made sure happened. I mean, if you REALLY wanted to teach me a lesson then THAT’S what you could have done. You could have worked with me to the final. You could have made me do all the work. You could have left me in the ring time after time, made sure I had to fight every match by myself, made sure that I got my ass kicked as much as possible so that I was nice and worked over… but no, you’re not smart enough for that, are you? Instead you gave me an easy night. You kept me fresh. And you gave me added motivation. I mean, it wasn’t like I wasn’t motivated to face Jake Starr already, but you just added to that, because now after I DO beat him on Wednesday, I’m going to know that wherever you are watching in the back you’ll see that and you’ll know just how little you did accomplish in Philadelphia.”

She sighs and rolls her eyes again. “But let’s move on, shall we? Oh wait, actually, before we move on, I’ve got a quick message for the winners. Selena Frost, Josh Hudson and Donovan Kayl… three big names with three golden tickets. Well guys, you may have won the right to fight any fight you want, but we all know the fight you want, don’t we?” she asks before looking at the title and then looking back at the camera and smiling. “Josh, you want to take this from me? Bring it on. Any match you want… right? If I were you I’d make it one with Regan there to help you, since we all know that you can’t beat me without her help, then again, she can’t beat me without yours. And what about Donovan Kayl? What do you want, Donovan? Back on your pedestal again? Want to tell me how disappointed you are in me? Go ahead. Cash in your golden ticket for another shot at me, and it’ll be even less successful than the last time you challenged me. And as for Selena Frost, well we all know that she’s only thinking about this, don’t we? So, go ahead, Selena. Pick your date. Tell the world when you want it. And I’ll be waiting. Doesn’t matter if it’s on a random episode of Breakdown, in April in Tampa Bay, in June while we’re in St Louis, you can wait all the way to Toronto if you want. I don’t care. But know that wherever you choose, whenever you choose, there’s only going to be one person waiting for you on the other side of that ring, because after everything it took me to get this belt back it is not going anywhere. I don’t care if it’s Jake Starr coming after me in Atlanta or Bree Lancaster and Kennedy Street desperately clawing after this in San Antonio, I guarantee you Selena that whenever you want to cash in that ticket it’ll be ME who’s waiting for you, and when you do I’ll finally get to find out what happens when you make a Snow Queen cry.”

She takes a deep breath and props the title back up on her shoulders before nodding her head slowly. “Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking I’m getting ahead of myself. You’re thinking that I’m busy thinking about the future when I have Breakdown coming up, and you don’t think I should look any further than Jake Starr, do you? You think that I’d be a fool to do that. You think that right now Jake Starr is angry. He’s just had this title ripped from his grasp, and he’s longing to get it back. And you all know his history as well as I do. You know how hard he fights when it comes to this title. You all know the things he’s accomplished when this belt has been on the line. So, you’re sitting there right now shaking your heads and laughing at the mere thought that Syren is already talking about the Trios Tournament winners when, if Jake Starr does what Jake Starr is capable of doing on Wednesday night, it won’t matter anyway. But you’re wrong. See, I know how good Jake can be. Unlike most around here, who’ve got their heads so far up their own asses the only thing they know for certain is what they last ate at catering, I actually pay attention to what happens. And I’ve been here almost nine damn years. I’ve known Jake his whole SCW career. I’ve watched his greatest moments in that ring, and I’ve seen his greatest failures. So, if you think I’d look past him, that I’d dismiss him, then you’re a bigger idiot than he is…” she says before scoffing, “…which is saying something, because if there’s one thing I can say about Jake after knowing him all that time it’s that he might just be the biggest fucking idiot I’ve ever met in my life.”

She rolls her eyes again. “Let me tell you a little story. See, Ravyn and I have this little joke when it comes to Jake. We like to say he lives in his own special little world, because see Jake thinks he knows what goes on around here, and when he opens his mouth he tells you these stories about how well he knows his opponents, he tells you these fables about each one of them, their good points and their bad, and sure, it sounds like Jake knows what he’s talking about… until you actually listen to what he’s got to say. When you do, you quickly realise that the things Jake thinks he knows must have happened entirely in his own head, because the stories he tells people have absolutely no grounding in reality. But the thing is, he stands there with complete commitment and just makes shit up, but he’s so committed to the delusions that you actually end up looking at each other and wondering if you’re the crazy one for not being a completely delusional asshole,” she says before laughing and shaking her head. “And his absolute favourite fantasy is the idea that he’s this great warrior, that he’s this respect filled legend with wisdom to share, and that I’m... well, what is it he said about me? Oh, right, that I’ve NEVER been able to get the job done without having people in my corner. And this isn’t the first time I’ve heard this particular fable either, but see the thing about it is that it’s NEVER been true. It’s actually just as dumb as the other favourite story he’s got about me, about how Ravyn and I tried to end his career. Yah, he’s told that story a whole bunch of times… but the thing is, THAT never happened either.”

She sighs and just shakes her head slowly. “Doesn’t stop him telling the story though. And he’s told it all over the world. Blah, blah, blah, tried to take me out, blah, blah, blah… when we had absolutely nothing to do with what happened to him. It was The Order of Chaos who took him out. It was The Order of Chaos who dropped him on his head. I guess they did a pretty good job of it though because here we are, eight years later, and he STILL blames Dark Fantasy for it. I mean honestly, did we not HAVE concussion protocols in 2010? Were they not a thing back then? Did no doctor ever check him out and realise he’s so out of his mind he doesn’t even know what country he’s in? Apparently not. And I’m guessing the same is true of 2018 as well, huh? You’d think with the NFL being so wary of concussions now that SCW management would be extra careful about that, but all I can say is that Ravyn must have hit him harder than I thought with that steel chair, because last I checked Jake was on another delusional rant about his opinions on me… you know, how I ‘tarnished my legacy’ by beating him like I did… despite the fact that I’ve never been able to win without help,” she says before stopping for a moment, putting finger to her lips in mock contemplation, and making an over exaggerated ‘hmm’ noise. “Hmm, let’s think about that. I’ve tarnished my legacy… a legacy of only ever cheating to begin with. And seriously, we’re sure he’s not suffering post-concussion syndrome? Because I’ve already seen Will Smith in one film about concussions and I’ve got to admit I was bored… I really don’t want to have to sit through him playing Jake Starr in another one.”

She smirks and winks at the camera. “No, I’m kidding. I know Jake isn’t actually suffering from a concussion. Truth is, SCW have incredible medical staff. And I should know, I mean, they’ve had to treat me enough over the years when I’ve been attacked from behind by Jake, haven’t they? They’ve had to treat me for the numerous chair shots I’ve suffered at his hands. And you’d think, for a guy who’s famous for being the ‘chair man of SCW’, that he’d appreciate the comedic irony of what happened to him better than anyone, wouldn’t you? I mean, I do. Truth is, I think it’s fucking hilarious. What’s the old saying? ‘You live by the chair, and you die by the chair’. Something like that, right? But with Jake, no, he doesn’t see the funny side. Just thinks that I robbed him of something. Just thinks that I tarnished my entire legacy by doing what I did. And now thinks that I’m incapable of competing against him without help. You know, because it’s not like I’ve ever beaten him without people helping me before, right?” she asks before mockingly thinking about it again for a moment and then acting shocked. “Wait, I’ve just remembered, that has happened before. But don’t tell Jake, ok? It’d ruin his stories. And if he loses his stories about how much better than me he is, and what a dirty rotten cheat I am, then what’s he going to fill all the time with on Wednesday night while Ravyn, Alex and I are off celebrating with my SCW World Championship? And I couldn’t do that to him. I couldn’t take that away from him. He’s Jake fucking Starr. He’s a legend around here. He’s a four-time World Champion. A Supreme Champion. A future Hall of Famer. He’s one of the best of the best… but I’m just better than he is. And I don’t say that out of arrogance… I say it because I’m going to prove it in Atlanta.”

She props up the World title on her shoulder again before nodding her head with sincerity. “You think I’m wrong? You think he’ll prove he’s better than I am? Well, you’re entitled to your opinion, even if it is the wrong one. That’s what makes this country great. And that’s what makes SCW so damn entertaining to come to. Every week there’s thousands who fill the arenas with their own opinions of their favourites. They pay their money and they take their seats and they scream at the top of their lungs, showing their support for their heroes, cheering them as loudly as they can, and booing the hell out of those who upset them. That’s what’s going to happen in the main event on Breakdown as well. Jake Starr is going to come out and eighteen thousand strong are going to be chanting his name and cheering at the top of their lungs. They’re going to roar in appreciation of the legendary figure. And then they’re going to wait. And he’s going to wait. And they’re going to wait as long as I damn well want them to, because I’m not going to be in any rush on Wednesday night, and I already know that they’re not going to be thrilled to see me,” she says before smirking. “You’d think that would upset me, wouldn’t you? You’d think, after four years of hearing them chant my name, that I’d be saddened by the idea of them turning on me. And that’s the thing as well. They turned on me. Not the other way around. I didn’t turn on them. I didn’t do a damn thing to them. Hell, I’ve spent the past four years of my fucking life bending over backwards for them! And then, for once in my life, I look out for my best interests and they start booing me? Then they can wait this Wednesday night until I’m ready.”

She shakes her head again. “And you know when you say I tarnished my legacy, Jake… is that what you’re thinking about? Is it their opinions of me you’re thinking I’ve ruined? Is it yours? Is it everyone else in the locker rooms? Well, let’s go through these one by one. First off, why do you think I give a fuck about your opinion of me? I’ve known you NINE FUCKING YEARS and in that time I’ve become a SIX-TIME World Champion, and do you know how much respect you’ve shown me in that time? None. Every time you’ve even addressed me it’s only to warn me that you’re coming after me, or tell me how undeserving I am, or tell me how much better than me you are, so why do you suddenly think I give even the SMALLEST OF FUCKS what you think about me? If it’s everyone else’s opinions of me, then why do I suddenly care what THEY think about me? They’re the same people who praised Kelcey Wallace for STEALING the World title from my wife, and trying again and again to end her fucking life. They’re the ones who’ll go to bat for KENNEDY STREET of all people, after EVERYTHING she’s done to the entire roster, and claim SHE deserves a shot at me – you know, despite the fact that I didn’t even know the plan to frame her, let alone was involved in it – but when I’m screwed over by armies of people they never said a word. So, I care about their opinions of me, when they don’t give a damn about me? Or maybe it’s the fans opinions that I should care about, the same fans who turned on me for enjoying the karmic justice Ravyn and Alex handed out to you at Learning From History. Yah, I don’t care about their opinions of me either.”

She shakes her head slowly. “Shall I tell you what I do care about, Jake? Well, I mean besides this beautiful, shiny golden title on my shoulder? I care about Alex’s opinion of me. I asked him to stand in my corner last year because of who he is, and what he means to this industry. Now you’re a big name, you’ve done a lot, you’ll be remembered long after you’re gone… but you’re not even close to the same league as CHBK. He’s not just a legend, he’s THE legend. His name is synonymous with this company’s past… and mine is synonymous with this company’s present. And at Learning From History, CHBK didn’t just help me… he endorsed me. Do you know what it’s like to have the respect of a man like him? No, you don’t, because you’ve never been able to earn it. I have. And his opinion means more to me than that of a thousand people like you. Alex doesn’t see me like you see me, Jake. He doesn’t see me through tinted glasses. He doesn’t see me with his ego clouding every accomplishment of mine to the point that he can’t admit to himself just what I’ve done and how hard I’ve worked to get to where I am. He sees me for who I am, what I’ve done, and what I’m truly capable of. He promised me last year that if I believed in him he’d get me to where I wanted to be…” she says before proudly looking at the title on her shoulder again, “…and he was right. He helped me back to where I belong. And yet, in spite of everything I’ve done, you’re under this incredible belief that I need him, or I need Ravyn, to win this Wednesday night, aren’t you? Tell me, Jake, when have I ever needed either one of them to get the job done?”

She smirks. “Was it back in 2012 when I beat three former World Champions in one night on my way to claiming my first World Championship? No. Was it inside a steel cage, when I beat the woman who’d beaten you, to regain that title? No. Was it one year later, at Rise to Greatness, when I won a Fatal Four-Way match over three of the best ever – including you – to walk out with the gold, and go on to break the record for the longest reign with this title? Hell no! What about two years ago when I took this belt from Amy Chastaine? Nope. What about when I took it from James Evans in one of the hardest fought matches of my life? Wrong again! I’ve never needed anyone to lay claim to this belt.  I’m a six-time World Champion and I didn’t get there because of Infamous, I didn’t get there because of David Helms, I didn’t get there because of Dark Fantasy, I got to the top of the mountain by being the BEST WRESTLER HERE.  For nine years I have been the Best Female Wrestler In The World, and this Wednesday I’ll prove I still am. Drachewych can ban CHBK from ringside if he wants. He can ban Ravyn from ringside. He can ban them from the arena. Hell, he can round up everyone I know and drive them out of the state if he wants to, and I’ll STILL walk out to that ring, drop you on your face, and walk out with this title held high over my head,” she threatens proudly, sliding the belt off her shoulder and holding it up proudly in demonstration. “I have nothing to prove this Wednesday night because I did nothing at Learning From History that you yourself wouldn’t have done in the exact same situation… but because it was me it was horrible, sinful and wrong, right?”

She starts laughing, putting the belt back on her shoulder before letting out a sigh in disgust. “Sure. Keep telling yourself that. Keep holding me to a different standard than you hold yourself. I’m used to it. And I’m sick of it. But you feel free to keep doing it, just like you can feel free to keep deluding yourself into thinking that I need help this Wednesday night. But let’s be real for a moment, shall we? Do you want to know what I did need help with? I needed help getting the opportunity to fight you. That’s the part I needed help with, and do you know why that is? Because the night you won this belt I stood in the back and I issued a challenge to the winner. Do you remember that, Jake? Don’t pretend you don’t. I said your name on television, I know you ate that shit up because you love when people say your name. It’s the only time you pay attention. Hey, you have that in common with the President. Incidentally, being a despicable human being and a lying sack of crap are two more things you have in common, but I digress. You remember me standing back there and issuing the challenge, don’t you? Just like I remember you being conveniently deaf at the time so as not to hear it,” she says before motioning to her groin and running her hand over the front of her pants. “Smooth like a Ken Doll down there, aren’t you Jakey? Because you didn’t have the balls to fight me. You act like you’re this respectable warrior… but you’re not, and you’ve never been. You’re a coward, Jake. And because of that, and because of the broken promises by SCW management, I needed CHBK to get me this shot. And now I have this title, I’m walking out to that ring on Wednesday and proving conclusively, in front of the world, why I should have had my opportunity a year ago.”

She holds the title out in front of herself with pride. “I did the ‘waiting in line’ thing. I did the ‘respectful challenge’ thing. I did the ‘paying my dues’ thing. I twisted myself in knots for this company. I went on press tours for them. I sang their praises at the top of my lungs. I stepped up to the plate for them everywhere they needed me. I spent more than four years being the most loyal, hardest working competitor in that locker room, showing up early to every show, staying late every night, hell, I learned Spanish so I could appear in the Mexican commercials for SCW. I’ve lost time with my family, with my friends, because I gave it up to bust my ass and work harder than anyone else has worked for this company… and yet it wasn’t Oleksa Drachewych who gave me what I wanted, it was CHBK. Then I’m champion for just two weeks and Mr D is on the microphone praising YOU, telling the world that you DESERVE this match… and is that how it is? A year I wait… and nothing. Two fucking weeks and Jake Starr has his rematch? And you honestly think I made the wrong choice, Mr D?” she asks before shaking her head slowly in disgust. “Well that’s fine. You want Jake to have the rematch you wouldn’t give me? You can watch as I beat him. Then you want to throw Kennedy Street AND Bree Lancaster at me? Fine. You can watch as I beat them as well. But every time you, or Jake Starr, or anyone else blame me for my choices recently I’m going to remind you that if you want someone to blame for the fact that I finally had enough, that I finally wised up after four years of twisting myself in knots for you, then look in a mirror.”

She steps forward, closer to the camera, lowering her voice but speaking more intensely. “You did this, Oleksa. You could have given me what I wanted at any time, but you refused. You hold a hoop out in front of me, you tell me to jump through it, I jump through only to find another hoop waiting for me… and you must have known that eventually I’d get sick of being your performing monkey. But you’d prefer Jake Starr as your champion? Is he going to fly to Toronto on Saturday night, after we’re done in Augusta, to do promo shoots for you? Is he even going to be in Augusta on Saturday night, or is he just another one of those who do half the work and expect twice the reward? But it’s just business with you, right? ‘It’s not personal Zoe, it’s just business’. Fuck your business. We didn’t break a single rule at Learning From History, and you know it. You just can’t handle the fact that you were played. You just can’t handle the fact that Alex and Ravyn outsmarted you. And now you want to stack the deck against me, give me a bigger challenge than you’ve given anyone else in this same situation, not because ‘I did something wrong’ but because they played YOU and you can’t handle that,” she says before laughing and rolling her eyes. “Boys and their egos… you’re all the same. Jake’s no different to you. He can’t handle the fact that I beat him at his own game, and Ravyn used a chair to do it, and he’s constructed this fantasy where he’s going to take this title away from me. But he’s not. I said it before, he’s good. He’s damn good. But I’m better. I’ll prove it on Wednesday night. And Tommy Valentine can watch. Kennedy Street can watch. Bree Lancaster can watch. And you, Mr D. You can watch as well. And when Breakdown is over, when I’m standing in the middle of that ring and Jason Phillips announces Syren as STILL your SCW World Heavyweight Champion then every one of you can BE. TOTALLY. JEALOUS!”

She takes the World title in both hands, raises the face plate up and kisses it gently in the middle with pride before holding it up to the camera again. “Six-time SCW World Heavyweight Champion. I’m one away from tying the record, and I will… but that can wait. Before I get to say the words ‘seven-time’ SCW World Heavyweight Champion I’m far more interested in using the word ‘still’. ‘Still’ your World Champion,” she says proudly before nodding to the camera. “‘Still’ the Best Female Wrestler in the World… See you Wednesday.”

She walks off screen as the scene fades out slowly and the video comes to an end with the replay button flashing up on the screen.