The video begins, and we see a plain white wall in the background of our shot. After a few moments the former six-time SCW World Champion, Syren, walks into the shot and pauses in the middle of it. She turns to the camera and sighs. “I know what you’re all thinking. You’re thinking that last week didn’t mean anything, aren’t you?” she asks, nodding her head slowly. “Yah, totally. You’re thinking that just because the team of Thirteen and Donovan Kayl couldn’t get the job done against two women who couldn’t stop fighting each other doesn’t mean that Thirteen won’t prove why he’s a former World Champion and get the job done at Rise to Greatness, right? Or that Kayl won’t win when the lights are on bright and he’s got a chance to earn an opportunity of his own, rather than stepping in where he should never have been in the first place. Of course! And you’re also thinking that just because Sienna pinned Kayl last week doesn’t mean she’ll do that again in a week and a half’s time, right? Well… I guess you’re right about one thing. Because she won’t. You all already know how I feel about this match at Rise to Greatness. You know that I think it’s bullshit. You know that I have no interest in justifying Sienna Swann’s already overinflated ego by stepping in the ring with her, and that I’m fighting for something that should already be mine by right in the form of the number one contendership. You know that, and you know that after last week I am NOT in a good mood when it comes to thinking about this match. But I have a week and a half to do that, don’t I?”

She takes a breath and sighs. “What I only have just a day to think about is a match one on one on Breakdown, in the build-up to Rise to Greatness, against Justin Davis. And that’s something I should be thinking about. It’s something I should be focused on. And the truth is that I’d be a fool not to be, because everyone and their mother knows about Justin Davis, right? The guy was a star around here before I was, and there’s not TOO many people left around here who can say that. And do you know what I remember about Justin Davis? I remember people talking about his potential. I remember people talking about his talent. I remember people talking about how far he’d go, how much he’d do, and how huge he could be. I remember people talking about him like the ‘next big star’, the guy who just needed one little push to reach superstardom, and the guy they all thought would break out any moment. Only he didn’t,” she says before shaking her head slowly. “Yah, I remember Justin Davis. I remember him headlining shows when I was getting started. I remember people talking about his matches with Thorn and Starr and Cherry. Hey, do you remember when those guys were the talk of the town as well? Ok, so, Starr’s still got some miles left in him. Thorn is… well, Tommy Valentine, and we all know what I think about him, right? And Greg Cherry is… gone. Until his next comeback. And then he’ll be gone again. Yah. I remember those days, and I remember Justin Davis’ potential. It was like a different time in wrestling, wasn’t it? Are your memories of it all in black and white?”

She laughs. “Do you know what I remember most about those days? I remember being looked down on. See, while guys like Justin Davis were praised as the ‘next big star’ and told they were going to rocket to success, I was looked down on and called a slut, a whore, a cheat and a nothing. I had women like Marina Trent forever telling me that nothing I did was ever good enough, even when I was beating her ass week in and week out. I had guys like Shilo Valiant telling me I’d NEVER beat them, no matter how many times I beat them in the middle of the ring. And you’d think, after all this time, that that would be something I’d barely even think about anymore, wouldn’t you? But you’re wrong. I think about that time a lot, actually. I think about it because it’s where I came from. I think about it because it’s who I was, where I started, and it’s what made me who I am today. Because while guys like Justin Davis had the doors held open for them and the hype train behind them, I had to struggle for even the slightest bit of recognition no matter how many records I broke. I had to have my reputation questioned, my commitment forever tested, and every part of my relationship insulted all across television. And while Justin Davis had that door held open for him and he achieved absolutely nothing, I kicked that fucking door in, I snatched away everything from inside it, and I stand here today the greatest female wrestler in the world and the BEST IN HER GENERATION,” she snaps at the camera angrily before taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly and calmly. “So, tell me again, how’d it work out for you with that guy who was going to be the next big thing?”

She laughs again before shaking her head. “Yah, not so good, right? Still, you can’t get them all right I suppose. And there were plenty of other names from around that time who did live up to the hype, right? I mean, Marina Trent! She was set to be the biggest name in wrestling. Just ask her. And today she’s… oh, right. Ok, well, Shilo Valiant! Think about all the chances he got given. And today he’s… oh yeah, he’s gone too. Masque—nope, he left. David H—nope, retired. Shawn Win—oh, right, retired as well. Lucas Kn—did he get fired, or did he just take his ball and go home again? He was really good at that, it turned out. Probably the one thing he was good at. And you can see where I’m going with all of this, can’t you? Because these are the kind of guys who had that door opened for them. Well, not so much Masquerade, but even so you hyped him as the next big thing, didn’t you? And here we are, nine years later, and they’ve ALL gone away. But not me. And now Justin Davis has found his way back here, promising to live up to that potential he had before, telling anyone who’ll listen that he’s back to make a real go of things and that he’s going to prove himself against everyone and… well, when it’s all said and done who do you think will still be standing here this time next year? Give you a hint, it’s not Justin Davis,” she says before rolling her eyes. “Guess I shouldn’t criticise him too much though, right? He could prove me wrong. I know that. Thing about ALL those names I just listed is that they all COULD have proven me wrong. They all COULD have achieved greatness. They all COULD have headlined year after year. But they didn’t.”

She takes in a deep breath before looking around for a moment and then looking back into the camera. “Justin, can I be honest with you? I always thought you were a fool. That’s not because I didn’t respect you. I did. It’s not because I didn’t think you had talent. You obviously did. I mean, I’ve talked about them holding the door open for you, but you don’t get the door held open unless you’ve got the talent and the ability in the ring, along with that special extra something to get people believing in you. And you had those things. You were on the verge of superstardom. You could have broken out as the biggest name in this business. And you blew it. Now I don’t know your story. I don’t know the full deep, dark story of Justin Davis, and quite frankly I don’t CARE about it either. You want to tell me some sob story about why you couldn’t achieve on that potential? Big fucking deal! You think we don’t ALL have sob stories? You think we don’t ALL suffer injuries? You think we don’t ALL have to fight for every little opportunity we get? A year ago, I got jumped from behind by a douche-bag you used to know. He put my whole career in doubt. I spent months on the side-lines wondering if I’d ever compete again. I came back to fanfare and with a determination to prove him wrong about everything he said about me, but do you know what I ultimately got for all of that?” she asks before looking around. “Nothing. SCW didn’t celebrate my return, they just lined up the people who wanted me back on the shelf and let them loose. And yet here you are, on the comeback trail, and expecting people like me to give even the slightest fuck about it.”

She shakes her head again. “I don’t, Justin. I don’t care about you. I don’t care about your story. I don’t care about your comeback. I don’t care about you making a go of it after all these years, or the people you want to face, or the things you want to achieve, or the things you’ve still got left to prove, because I’ve busted my ass over the last nine years, I’ve achieved the things I wanted to achieve, I’ve proven the things I wanted to prove, and I will be damned if I’m going to let someone like you come back and try to make your name off of me,” she states angrily. “No. It’s not going to happen. I’ve worked too damn hard for too damn long to let even the slightest little bit of my reputation be used by someone like you. So, this week, Justin, you can tell the world that you’re thrilled for this match and it’s something you long to prove yourself in, or you can make the same lame ass threats that everyone else makes about me and tell me that you’re going to take my spot, and the result in the end is going to be the same. I’ve got places to go. I’ve got a fucking point to prove on July 22nd. I’ve got a legacy to keep setting, a Hall of Fame spot to polish up for myself – and yah, just FYI, I WILL be in the Hall of Fame, even if it is tarnished by the time I get there – and far, far too much still to do to let you slow me down. So, this week, this is going to be fun. You and me, one on one. The ‘could have been’ versus the one who made it. And in truth I hope you bring it and bring it hard, Justin. I really do. Because I want to see what all the fuss was about all those years ago… and I want to say I dropped the ‘Star of Tomorrow’ on his face and pinned his shoulders to the mat in the middle of the ring. But hey, at least you’ll get to say that happened from the ‘Star of Today’, right?”

She lets out a sigh. “Right then, now before I go there’s something else I want to talk about, and that’s something else that happened last week. That’s Oleksa Drachewych continuing his games. That’s Oleksa Drachewych making matches for next Sunday. That’s Oleksa Drachewych putting a retired former wrestler in the ring again. Am I upset about that? Am I upset about the return of CHBK? No. What I’m upset about is what Oleksa is trying to do. And he’s not even being subtle about it. We all know what you think is going to happen, don’t we? I mean we all saw what happened last time. CHBK got hurt and hurt bad. He was gone for a long time. And now he’s back. He’s back with Dark Fantasy. He’s back helping us achieve our potential. And you think we don’t see what you’re trying to do? If this were a match based on respect, then I’d be all for it. If this were a match based on CHBK being a legend of this industry and the ONE TRUE ICON of this business, then I’d love it. You’d see me in his corner. You’d see me cheering him on. Hell, who knows, maybe I could teach him something for a change. But it’s not. And I know what you’re hoping. You want to see him gone again, Oleksa? What, you think he can’t still be just as much of an influence from home? You think he can’t fuck with your head from half way around the world, if necessary? He can, and he will… if necessary. But I know Alex. I know Ravyn. And I know that Alex in this match next Sunday hoping for one thing… and who knows what you might get instead,” she warns coldly. “I mean, you really should start heeding their warnings, Oleksa. You’ve already lost a timekeeper to your bad decisions.”

She laughs before shaking her head again. “That wasn’t the only match you made though, right? Also out there was Ravyn Taylor versus Xander Valentine. What’s the plan there? You feeding Ravyn to your monster? You thinking he’ll get the job done? Didn’t work so well against Alexis Quinne, I’d like to point out, but whatever, right? Big stage, bright lights, little Ravyn against big Xander… it’s BOUND to work out how you want,” she says before chuckling and shaking her head again. “Yah, totally, what could go wrong? Oh, right, the bit where Ravyn drops Xander in the middle of the ring and Davida beats Goliath. Yah, it’s a bit like the classic story, except the hero is way better looking and has boobs. And what could go wrong with either plan, right? I mean, they’ve both achieved what you hoped they would. You’ve practically guaranteed, even if Alex and Ravyn come away from both matches with victories, that neither are going to be in good condition afterwards. And that’s achieved exactly what you want. That’s levelled the playing field for the Fatal Four-Way. That’s meant that I’m not going to have any kind of advantage because I don’t have two fucking GENIUSES in my corner to give me guidance and help me out, right? And without them there’s no way I could possibly win… except for all the times I’ve won without them before that get conveniently forgotten. But without them I’m on my own. Without them I have nobody. Without them there’s no chance that I can pull anything in a match like a Fatal Four-Way, right?”

She looks sad, even pouts for a moment, before the pout becomes a smirk. “Oh c’mon, really? You think it’s that easy? What, you think putting Ravyn against Xander stops her brain from working? You think putting CHBK against Trinity means he can’t still plan? You think that I’m going to walk into Rise to Greatness quaking in my boots because I’m all out of options and there’s no chance that I can pull of the win? Wrong. I’m walking into Rise to Greatness more prepared than ever, and more determined than ever. I don’t need Alex in my corner for his influence over my career to be felt. I don’t need Ravyn out there to have her with me in my head and in every move I take. If you thought this strategy to try to BREAK the three of us at Rise to Greatness was going to bring us down, Oleksa, then you’re so fucking wrong that it’s laughable. And this week we’re together. Alex and Ravyn are back. And I don’t even know what they’ve got planned for you, but something tells me I might enjoy it,” she says before laughing again. “So, Oleksa, I want to send this final message of this video to you. I want to remind you that it never had to be this way. You could have just been a decent boss. You could have just been a good person. You could have done the right thing last year, when you promised you would. But you didn’t. You could have nodded your head, laughed and admitted they got you. You could have seen the flaws in your own plans and put them right in other ways. You could have used the entire experience as a chance to improve yourself… but instead you’ve manipulated, lied and sunk lower than the people you’re trying to oppose. You could have just done the right thing, Oleksa, but you had to get Gord hurt, and… well, who knows what’s next. And still you don’t learn. I’m not surprised Katya would rather have Alex as a role model than you. Oh, and don’t be surprised at Rise to Greatness when I walk out winner, or this week when I do the same thing, ok? Because it’s been nine years and every time you’ve held me back I’ve stepped up and got what I want anyway, because you’re you, Oleksa, and I’m UNSTOPPABLE!”

She shrugs her shoulders before walking off to her right. The camera keeps rolling for a moment before fading out and the scene fades to black with the replay button flashing up on the screen.