Post by Jazmyn Rain on Jun 10, 2018 21:03:34 GMT -5
“Chapter Seven”
The following is an excerpt from “Guardian Angel Chronicles: Growing My Wings in the World of Professional Wrestling”, Jazmyn Rain’s first autobiography that is due to be released in October 2018…
“As the summer of 2011 continued, Myra Lynwood and I continued to reign as the PRW Tag Team Champions. We got in a couple of more defenses, which was definitely a great feeling being able to retain those titles but sadly, those would be the only two appearances in the ring that I would make as summer became autumn. Myra’s singles career wasn’t exactly peachy as we went into September and it didn’t seem likely that she was going to have a singles match at Oblivion, the company’s Pay-Per-View event that month. Her Hall of Fame career wasn’t declining, it’s just that the upper echelon of the company was so stacked at the time that the tag team titles we held were essentially her main focus. She didn’t like it much because she wanted to be a world champion again, but she reluctantly trudged on, continuing to teach me and train me.
I was hopeful that at the end of the month, at the Oblivion show, Myra and I were going to defend the tag team titles against someone. Against who? Nobody in the company really knew, but for gosh darn’s sake, I wanted to wrestle on a Pay-Per-View for once, even if we were defending the titles in a dark match against the two worst wrestlers on the roster! September 13 in particular, was a typical night for me. Myra got to wrestle a singles match and I had to sit and watch as she took on Douglas Adams. What I saw… horrified me! Myra injured her ankle during the match and Adams exploited it… and he snapped! He assaulted her and shattered her ankle when the match, which had no winner, came to a close! I recall feeling scared, shocked and confused! I never thought someone of Myra’s caliber would be the victim of such an atrocity!
Myra underwent emergency surgery immediately. It was thought that her career was over at that time because of how severe her injury was. It wasn’t just a serious injury, it was one that was recurring, and it was thought that it had caught up to her. Little did I know that her severe injury would have a trickle down effect… namely on me! I was unaware that her injury would be what opened the door of opportunity for me. No longer was going to sit on the sidelines. At last… I was going to be competing mainstream… on my own…
When I realized it?
I was scared…
I was petrified…
It was my turn to shine… and I was stage fright’s bitch!
FLASHBACK
Date: September 24, 2011
Jazmyn Rain only had one mainstream singles match to her name… a joke of a squash match against Amanda Maxwell (who?) that took place months prior to that. It’s understandable that the future three-time GCW Global Champion was completely afraid as she walked into the hospital room that housed her mentor, Myra Lynwood. Myra was awake and alert, but her face was bordering on catatonic, something that Jazmyn picked up on quickly. She cautiously approached Myra and sat down next to her and she obviously knew that Myra wasn’t well neither physically or psychologically.
Jazmyn: M… Myra???
Myra turns her head toward her without reacting.
Myra: Hey…
Jazmyn: Um… the surgery… did it… um…
Myra: It went fine…
Jazmyn: That’s good. Um… so… what’s going to happen… you know… with the tag titles?
Myra: Vacating…
Jazmyn groans, obviously not liking the news.
Jazmyn: Is it true? Is your career really over?
Myra: That’s what they say…
Myra says this without expressing anything, an indication of her catatonic state.
Myra: I was hoping… that should something like this have happened… that you’d be ready to take on the world by yourself. But… I guess not. You’re all alone now, Jazmyn. You’re not ready…
Jazmyn: Well… I mean… I’ve only wrestled one singles match in PRW…
Myra: You’re not ready, Jazmyn. Did you not learn anything from what just happened to me? Wrestling is a cruel, lonely business sometimes and what happened to me is an example of that! If someone can take out someone of my caliber, someone like you… they don’t stand a chance! Consider this a final lesson from me… this business is going to eat you up. You’re not ready to be a singles wrestler. The wrestling world is going to eat you the fuck up! You’ve shown you can wrestle the tag team matches, but who is going to want to team with you? You’re the weak link! I was the only one in PRW that even saw anything in you and now you suddenly think that you can last on your own? I’m not saying you can’t… but someone with your level of experience… in that kind of environment? It’s… it’s going to be an uphill battle, Jazmyn!
Jazmyn’s eyes start to fill up with tears as it’s obviously difficult for her to see Myra in this sort of brutal shape.
Jazmyn: So… what… what should I do? If I’m not ready to be on my own in PRW… I… if something like THIS can happen to YOU? I’m scared… what do I do? How do I go forward with my wrestling career?
Myra: If I were you?
Myra pauses and sighs while tears stroll down Jazmyn’s face.
Myra: I’d… I’d go to the Indies and get some seasoning. Wrestle against easier competition, Jazmyn. Build up your confidence. You’ll be come ready. Then, and only then… are you going to be ready to last in PRW as a singles wrestler. I’m afraid there’s nothing else I can do for you… especially in the shape that I’m in. I gave it my best, I really did. And I’m proud of you for growing leaps and bounds but… you’ve got to be on your own now.
Jazmyn, taking everything Myra said to her up at this point as gospel, nods and goes along with her suggestion.
Jazmyn: So… I ask for my release or???
Myra: No no… find Phil… request permission to wrestle in the Indies while I’m gone. He’ll be glad to give it to you. If I come back… we can get those tag titles back… I promise!
Jazmyn: O… okay…
Jazmyn wipes away tears.
Jazmyn: Thank you… for everything you’ve done for me…
Jazmyn sighs as she stands up and leaves Myra alone in her hospital room. She’s clearly unsure of herself, finding herself in completely unfamiliar territory. Walking down the hall, she goes toward the waiting room where she knows some of her peers, some being Myra’s friends, are waiting word on her condition. All that’s on her mind is giving those peers said update, but as she gets closer to the waiting room, Myra’s final piece of advice swarms her mind. This becomes even more prevalent when she spots the “Phil” that Myra was referring to, speaking to a doctor.
Jazmyn (thinking): Okay… I hope he goes along with this…
Phil stops talking to the doctor and happens to be walking in Jazmyn’s direction, spotting her almost instantly.
Jazmyn: Mr. Kingston…
Kingston: Jazmyn…
The then-PRW General Manager straightens his collar some before they begin their conversation.
Jazmyn: I… I have something to talk to you about.
Kingston: Jazmyn, there’s no way out of this one. Myra is injured and it’s going to be a LONG time before she comes back, if she ever does and thus, there’s no choice but to vacate the tag team championships. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is.
Jazmyn: No no… it’s not that.
Kingston: Oh? What? Did you find a new tag team partner?
Jazmyn: Not exactly… Mr. Kingston… I wanted to talk to you about… my career…
Kingston: Yes…
Jazmyn: And… you know… now that Myra’s injured, I’m at a crossroads. I’ve only ever wrestled ONE singles match and I know how tough things can be in PRW. Even with the Indies and my training, I don’t have THAT many matches under my belt. So… I’m requesting permission to take Independent bookings for a while to build up my confidence and to hone my skills. When I feel like I’m ready, I can come back to PRW and… well… get going…
Kingston: I’m afraid I am going to deny you that permission, Ms. Cabrera.
Jazmyn: WHAT? But… I’m hardly experienced and… Myra doesn’t think I am ready…
Kingston: Nor will she ever think that!
Jazmyn: Huh?
Kingston: Jazmyn, let me fill you in on a little secret. Myra… doesn’t WANT you to be a singles wrestler.
Jazmyn raises her eyebrows.
Jazmyn: That can’t be right! She’s done so much for me!
Kingston: That may be true…
Jazmyn: She really DOESN’T believe in me, does she?
Kingston: Quite the contrary! She DOES believe in you! She believes in you a lot! In fact, she believes in you so much she’s INTIMIDATED! I’ve seen your training tapes, I’ve seen your Independent matches, I’ve seen how you work as a tag team champion and I just want you to know that as a professional wrestler coming up through the situation she’s had to come up through, I think VERY highly of you, Miss Cabrera and you are MORE than ready to take on PRW on your own. You’ve been ready for MONTHS… but Myra kept telling you that you weren’t because… let’s be honest here… she realizes she’s training and teaching a potential successor and someone succeeding her and becoming even BETTER than her… that scares her! It’s nothing personal, Jazmyn. Anyone would be in your shoes right now! Let me put it to you this way… she’s Brett Favre… you’re Aaron Rodgers! Get where I’m going with this?
Jazmyn doesn’t respond right away as she feels incredibly stunned by the revelations that she just heard. It takes a little while for it to sink in that Myra had essentially lied to her about her readiness to be a singles competitor in the mainstream scene of professional wrestling and she’s shaken up by it some as the tears flowing down her face indicate…
Jazmyn: I do but… she… she lied to me…
Jazmyn wipes her tears away.
Jazmyn: She lied to me to hold me down…
Kingston: She’s not holding you down anymore! Does it make sense as to why I’m not letting any other promotion get your hands on you? I NEED to have you here, in PRW, as a SINGLES PERFORMER! Don’t listen to Myra anymore! You’ve outgrown her! It’s time for you to shine on your own now! This is YOUR stage, Jazmyn! THIS is what Myra has been preparing you for… albeit… she imagined the circumstances being far different than this, as did you… but still… it’s time for you to rise up and be a champion… all on your own!
Jazmyn: But… but… the roster… they’re not going to take me seriously!
Kingston: MAKE THEM take you seriously! So, what’s it going to be? Are you launching your singles career and reaching for the brass ring? Or are you just going to listen to Myra and sit on the sidelines waiting for her to return when she just may not?
Jazmyn nods, wiping the tears away one last time.
Jazmyn: Okay…
She pauses to take a deep breath.
Jazmyn: I’m… I’m going to do this on my own now…
Kingston: Good! It’s time for you to step out of Myra’s shadow and show the wrestling world what Jazmyn can do on her own! I’ll see you at Oblivion, alright?
Phil Kingston walks away from Jazmyn as she nods in response to the last thing that he said. Jazmyn then leans against the wall, a realization hitting her.
Jazmyn: It’s… it’s happening…
Jazmyn gives a nervous smile.
Jazmyn: I’m really going to… to do this on my own now…
“Myra’s injury was a devastating gut punch for me, but after my conversation with Kingston, I was ready… ready but nervous… but ready… to take on the mainstream wrestling world on my own. Myra wasn’t happy about it, confirming what Kingston told me and my trust in her began to erode… and erode slowly but surely over the next few years. But for the moment? I was taking on the world! I desperately wanted Douglas Adams in the ring for some revenge for what he did to Myra, but he didn’t take me seriously. In fact, very few of the PRW roster did because all they knew me as, was Myra’s understudy. I wrestled some singles matches, largely against also-rans, but at least I was winning those matches. As great as they felt, my peers still weren’t taking me seriously during that autumn.
But autumn was about to give way to winter…
And with the change in season?
The non-championship match that would change my career forever…”
The following is an excerpt from “Guardian Angel Chronicles: Growing My Wings in the World of Professional Wrestling”, Jazmyn Rain’s first autobiography that is due to be released in October 2018…
“As the summer of 2011 continued, Myra Lynwood and I continued to reign as the PRW Tag Team Champions. We got in a couple of more defenses, which was definitely a great feeling being able to retain those titles but sadly, those would be the only two appearances in the ring that I would make as summer became autumn. Myra’s singles career wasn’t exactly peachy as we went into September and it didn’t seem likely that she was going to have a singles match at Oblivion, the company’s Pay-Per-View event that month. Her Hall of Fame career wasn’t declining, it’s just that the upper echelon of the company was so stacked at the time that the tag team titles we held were essentially her main focus. She didn’t like it much because she wanted to be a world champion again, but she reluctantly trudged on, continuing to teach me and train me.
I was hopeful that at the end of the month, at the Oblivion show, Myra and I were going to defend the tag team titles against someone. Against who? Nobody in the company really knew, but for gosh darn’s sake, I wanted to wrestle on a Pay-Per-View for once, even if we were defending the titles in a dark match against the two worst wrestlers on the roster! September 13 in particular, was a typical night for me. Myra got to wrestle a singles match and I had to sit and watch as she took on Douglas Adams. What I saw… horrified me! Myra injured her ankle during the match and Adams exploited it… and he snapped! He assaulted her and shattered her ankle when the match, which had no winner, came to a close! I recall feeling scared, shocked and confused! I never thought someone of Myra’s caliber would be the victim of such an atrocity!
Myra underwent emergency surgery immediately. It was thought that her career was over at that time because of how severe her injury was. It wasn’t just a serious injury, it was one that was recurring, and it was thought that it had caught up to her. Little did I know that her severe injury would have a trickle down effect… namely on me! I was unaware that her injury would be what opened the door of opportunity for me. No longer was going to sit on the sidelines. At last… I was going to be competing mainstream… on my own…
When I realized it?
I was scared…
I was petrified…
It was my turn to shine… and I was stage fright’s bitch!
FLASHBACK
Date: September 24, 2011
Jazmyn Rain only had one mainstream singles match to her name… a joke of a squash match against Amanda Maxwell (who?) that took place months prior to that. It’s understandable that the future three-time GCW Global Champion was completely afraid as she walked into the hospital room that housed her mentor, Myra Lynwood. Myra was awake and alert, but her face was bordering on catatonic, something that Jazmyn picked up on quickly. She cautiously approached Myra and sat down next to her and she obviously knew that Myra wasn’t well neither physically or psychologically.
Jazmyn: M… Myra???
Myra turns her head toward her without reacting.
Myra: Hey…
Jazmyn: Um… the surgery… did it… um…
Myra: It went fine…
Jazmyn: That’s good. Um… so… what’s going to happen… you know… with the tag titles?
Myra: Vacating…
Jazmyn groans, obviously not liking the news.
Jazmyn: Is it true? Is your career really over?
Myra: That’s what they say…
Myra says this without expressing anything, an indication of her catatonic state.
Myra: I was hoping… that should something like this have happened… that you’d be ready to take on the world by yourself. But… I guess not. You’re all alone now, Jazmyn. You’re not ready…
Jazmyn: Well… I mean… I’ve only wrestled one singles match in PRW…
Myra: You’re not ready, Jazmyn. Did you not learn anything from what just happened to me? Wrestling is a cruel, lonely business sometimes and what happened to me is an example of that! If someone can take out someone of my caliber, someone like you… they don’t stand a chance! Consider this a final lesson from me… this business is going to eat you up. You’re not ready to be a singles wrestler. The wrestling world is going to eat you the fuck up! You’ve shown you can wrestle the tag team matches, but who is going to want to team with you? You’re the weak link! I was the only one in PRW that even saw anything in you and now you suddenly think that you can last on your own? I’m not saying you can’t… but someone with your level of experience… in that kind of environment? It’s… it’s going to be an uphill battle, Jazmyn!
Jazmyn’s eyes start to fill up with tears as it’s obviously difficult for her to see Myra in this sort of brutal shape.
Jazmyn: So… what… what should I do? If I’m not ready to be on my own in PRW… I… if something like THIS can happen to YOU? I’m scared… what do I do? How do I go forward with my wrestling career?
Myra: If I were you?
Myra pauses and sighs while tears stroll down Jazmyn’s face.
Myra: I’d… I’d go to the Indies and get some seasoning. Wrestle against easier competition, Jazmyn. Build up your confidence. You’ll be come ready. Then, and only then… are you going to be ready to last in PRW as a singles wrestler. I’m afraid there’s nothing else I can do for you… especially in the shape that I’m in. I gave it my best, I really did. And I’m proud of you for growing leaps and bounds but… you’ve got to be on your own now.
Jazmyn, taking everything Myra said to her up at this point as gospel, nods and goes along with her suggestion.
Jazmyn: So… I ask for my release or???
Myra: No no… find Phil… request permission to wrestle in the Indies while I’m gone. He’ll be glad to give it to you. If I come back… we can get those tag titles back… I promise!
Jazmyn: O… okay…
Jazmyn wipes away tears.
Jazmyn: Thank you… for everything you’ve done for me…
Jazmyn sighs as she stands up and leaves Myra alone in her hospital room. She’s clearly unsure of herself, finding herself in completely unfamiliar territory. Walking down the hall, she goes toward the waiting room where she knows some of her peers, some being Myra’s friends, are waiting word on her condition. All that’s on her mind is giving those peers said update, but as she gets closer to the waiting room, Myra’s final piece of advice swarms her mind. This becomes even more prevalent when she spots the “Phil” that Myra was referring to, speaking to a doctor.
Jazmyn (thinking): Okay… I hope he goes along with this…
Phil stops talking to the doctor and happens to be walking in Jazmyn’s direction, spotting her almost instantly.
Jazmyn: Mr. Kingston…
Kingston: Jazmyn…
The then-PRW General Manager straightens his collar some before they begin their conversation.
Jazmyn: I… I have something to talk to you about.
Kingston: Jazmyn, there’s no way out of this one. Myra is injured and it’s going to be a LONG time before she comes back, if she ever does and thus, there’s no choice but to vacate the tag team championships. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is.
Jazmyn: No no… it’s not that.
Kingston: Oh? What? Did you find a new tag team partner?
Jazmyn: Not exactly… Mr. Kingston… I wanted to talk to you about… my career…
Kingston: Yes…
Jazmyn: And… you know… now that Myra’s injured, I’m at a crossroads. I’ve only ever wrestled ONE singles match and I know how tough things can be in PRW. Even with the Indies and my training, I don’t have THAT many matches under my belt. So… I’m requesting permission to take Independent bookings for a while to build up my confidence and to hone my skills. When I feel like I’m ready, I can come back to PRW and… well… get going…
Kingston: I’m afraid I am going to deny you that permission, Ms. Cabrera.
Jazmyn: WHAT? But… I’m hardly experienced and… Myra doesn’t think I am ready…
Kingston: Nor will she ever think that!
Jazmyn: Huh?
Kingston: Jazmyn, let me fill you in on a little secret. Myra… doesn’t WANT you to be a singles wrestler.
Jazmyn raises her eyebrows.
Jazmyn: That can’t be right! She’s done so much for me!
Kingston: That may be true…
Jazmyn: She really DOESN’T believe in me, does she?
Kingston: Quite the contrary! She DOES believe in you! She believes in you a lot! In fact, she believes in you so much she’s INTIMIDATED! I’ve seen your training tapes, I’ve seen your Independent matches, I’ve seen how you work as a tag team champion and I just want you to know that as a professional wrestler coming up through the situation she’s had to come up through, I think VERY highly of you, Miss Cabrera and you are MORE than ready to take on PRW on your own. You’ve been ready for MONTHS… but Myra kept telling you that you weren’t because… let’s be honest here… she realizes she’s training and teaching a potential successor and someone succeeding her and becoming even BETTER than her… that scares her! It’s nothing personal, Jazmyn. Anyone would be in your shoes right now! Let me put it to you this way… she’s Brett Favre… you’re Aaron Rodgers! Get where I’m going with this?
Jazmyn doesn’t respond right away as she feels incredibly stunned by the revelations that she just heard. It takes a little while for it to sink in that Myra had essentially lied to her about her readiness to be a singles competitor in the mainstream scene of professional wrestling and she’s shaken up by it some as the tears flowing down her face indicate…
Jazmyn: I do but… she… she lied to me…
Jazmyn wipes her tears away.
Jazmyn: She lied to me to hold me down…
Kingston: She’s not holding you down anymore! Does it make sense as to why I’m not letting any other promotion get your hands on you? I NEED to have you here, in PRW, as a SINGLES PERFORMER! Don’t listen to Myra anymore! You’ve outgrown her! It’s time for you to shine on your own now! This is YOUR stage, Jazmyn! THIS is what Myra has been preparing you for… albeit… she imagined the circumstances being far different than this, as did you… but still… it’s time for you to rise up and be a champion… all on your own!
Jazmyn: But… but… the roster… they’re not going to take me seriously!
Kingston: MAKE THEM take you seriously! So, what’s it going to be? Are you launching your singles career and reaching for the brass ring? Or are you just going to listen to Myra and sit on the sidelines waiting for her to return when she just may not?
Jazmyn nods, wiping the tears away one last time.
Jazmyn: Okay…
She pauses to take a deep breath.
Jazmyn: I’m… I’m going to do this on my own now…
Kingston: Good! It’s time for you to step out of Myra’s shadow and show the wrestling world what Jazmyn can do on her own! I’ll see you at Oblivion, alright?
Phil Kingston walks away from Jazmyn as she nods in response to the last thing that he said. Jazmyn then leans against the wall, a realization hitting her.
Jazmyn: It’s… it’s happening…
Jazmyn gives a nervous smile.
Jazmyn: I’m really going to… to do this on my own now…
“Myra’s injury was a devastating gut punch for me, but after my conversation with Kingston, I was ready… ready but nervous… but ready… to take on the mainstream wrestling world on my own. Myra wasn’t happy about it, confirming what Kingston told me and my trust in her began to erode… and erode slowly but surely over the next few years. But for the moment? I was taking on the world! I desperately wanted Douglas Adams in the ring for some revenge for what he did to Myra, but he didn’t take me seriously. In fact, very few of the PRW roster did because all they knew me as, was Myra’s understudy. I wrestled some singles matches, largely against also-rans, but at least I was winning those matches. As great as they felt, my peers still weren’t taking me seriously during that autumn.
But autumn was about to give way to winter…
And with the change in season?
The non-championship match that would change my career forever…”
