ONE SHOT ROULETTE: GAUNTLET MATCH

{We open at the sun setting across the skyline of downtown, Tampa, Florida. We are along the Ybor channel, the tall buildings and bustling nightlife about to begin. Roxi leans on the railing, looking at the skyline and the water. We get closer and Roxi keeps looking out, beginning to speak.}



Roxi – As I look out at this city, my home, I feel a great sense of pride. These are my people. The people I protect. The people I fight for. But they aren’t the only ones. I have, over time, given myself a responsibility.



{Roxi pulls out her phone, and begins going through a slideshow with various wrestlers she is friends with. Happy times with good friends.}



Roxi – I have chosen to fight for them as well. That fills me with an overwhelming sense of pride. That these people know who I am, and trust me. Some admire, some love, some are inspired, some keep going, all because of me, and that that fills me with pride. And in turn, they motivate me, to continue to do the things I’ve always done: play it straight, and lead by example.



{Roxi put her phone away and continues.}



Roxi – When I signed the contract to wrestle for California Wrestling, I was motivated, but unfortunately, I did not walk away the Hollywood Heritage champion. And that bummed me out a bit. But it did teach me a valuable lesson. Motivation is one thing, putting it to good use, is a whole other story.



{Roxi eases off the rail, slowly walking down the channel path.}



Roxi – It’s easy to say you’re motivated to do something. It’s easy for me to get excited about wrestling. It’s what I love to do more than just about anything in the world. The only thing more important to me in the world than wrestling, is my family. And I have it pretty good, knowing my wife is also a wrestler, and a damn good one at that. But I misunderstood the point of motivation. I misunderstood what I was supposed to do with that motivation. You can get excited and hyped up for something all you want, but when it comes to the moment, how do you use that motivation.



I obviously didn’t use mine correctly.



{Roxi stops, nodding to the camera for a moment, then continuing down the path}



Roxi – I didn’t get the job done, and that’s on me. But I learned that it’s now time to put that motivation to good use, and help with something I’ve never really talked about until recently: Pride. Now, like I said, I take pride in being a hero, a role model, and example. That inflates my pride. People look up to me, and it’s up to me to make the right choices, and lead. I walked into a lot of unknowns a couple of weeks ago, and not being prepared is not something that a good leader does. In fact, even coming up short wounded my pride. I’ve always felt that crazy level of disappointment for not being able to live up to those expectation from not only myself, but from all of them.



{Roxi showcases the city skyline again.}



Roxi – Not to mention friends and family. And although they assure me I haven’t let anyone down, I will always feel like I did. But now, I’m eager to show not only my people here, not only my friends, and not only my family, that I am the best. Male or Female, I have proven over my time that I back down from no challenge, and I am capable and doing anything. Because it means that others that will believe as I do. That nothing, nothing is impossible, regardless of gender, size, anything. You can do anything you have set your mind to.



And my mind is now set, on walking away the Pride champion at Takeover on October 17th.



{Roxi looks sternly into the camera and continues.}



Roxi – And I know I have a tall task ahead of me, and that doesn’t bother me in the slightest. I know I’m facing some tough wrestlers, egomaniacs, demons, dolls, and the like. And I know that this is a gauntlet, so I may in effect be facing every single one of them, in a row, if I am to become champion. And if that is my road, then so be it. It has never mattered to me how many opponents, who or what they have beaten, or what they claim to have done. It has never mattered their race, gender, or creed. I have welcomed every single challenge, and this will be no different.



Maki would not be the first demon, Brittney would not be the first brat, West would not be the first person who is the strong silent type, and I’ll be damned if Mike Mason is the first douche bag I’ve faced down. That’s what lies ahead, and I am actually hoping that I go out there first, and that I do have to go through everyone. It will make the reward, the prize, all the more exciting at the end. I’ve been there, done that, will all these opponent types, the names and faces may change slightly, but I’ve dealt with them before. It’s been my legacy. It has defined my career.


{Roxi stops, looking back at the skyline as the sun has set lower and street lights are now turning on.}



Roxi – But’s it really simple to say all that. It’s another thing to do it. But that’s also been my career. Setting goals, and then accomplishing them. Everywhere I’ve gone, everywhere I’ve wrestled, I’ve left a mark. I made an impact. And my pride will not allow for California Wrestling to be the place where I don’t and wind up with nothing to show for my efforts. No, I am more than prepared to endure all the pain and hardships that this gauntlet match will bring. I’ve got to go through people who are used to success just like me. But the big difference, between all of them, and me? I am not afraid to work and fight and scratch and claw my way to the top of the mountain. I do not fear the work involved. It too motivates me. And I have learned, that one you commit to something, you see it through to the end.



And I will see this gauntlet through to its end, and walk away the Pride Champion.



{Roxi nods to herself, looking up at the skyline now light up in the near darkness, it’s bright, and neon splashed everywhere.}



Roxi – And I know these seemingly pure rules would be troublesome to some folks, but not me. You see, the nice little job Mike Mason did, totally explained how unprepared he is. When you prepared for one aspect of one person, you have set yourself up to fail. I don’t JUST fly around the ring. I have made aspects to my game, because of people like Mike here. Trust me, when he finds himself locked in one of my submissions, and there is no breaking the hold, he’ll understand the mistake he made. But Mike’s just like many others, they underestimate me, and overlook me, one reason or another, that part is irrelevant. And like so many others who made the same mistake, he will live to regret it.



{Roxi turns, facing the camera.}



Roxi – And I know the tricky part about pride, and how it comes before the fall. But I’ve never been afraid to fall. The old motto is “He who dares, wins.” And that’s how I feel here and now. I’m motivated to run the gauntlet, Thoughtful enough to know the task is great. Resourceful enough to study every single one of my opponents, and Prideful enough to know I can win.



I will be prepared for Maki, I have watched her long enough to understand how she wrestles, that reckless abandon and no regard for her, or her opponents safety. I will be prepared for West McFadden and how much of a fight it will be to take him down. I can see the same never-say-die attitude I possess, in him. I will be prepared for the antics of Brittney. Anyone who calls themselves a “Living Doll” will obviously go to many lengths to walk away with a victory. And I obviously will be prepared for Mike Mason. Big and strong, morally bankrupt. It’s a tale as old as time. But in my experience, the truck that makes the most noise driving over the speed bump, is the one that’s empty. And that’s what Mike, and everyone else will experience, at Takeover.



{Roxi climbs on the railing overlooking the channel looking out at the city one last time.}



Roxi – Now, the heroes journey…. Continues. I won't let you down.



{Roxi hops off the railing and disappears from frame as the scene fades out.}