Post by Crowne on May 10, 2016 18:50:26 GMT -6
FOUR YEARS AGO
Play By Play: Pryce hits the Crossbody from the top rope on Melina, Alison meanwhile just sent Melissa flying across the outside and right into the barricade after a failed attempt to use the belts as a weapon to get disqualified. We're on the verge of crowning new Tag Team Champions here tonight in Tallahassee!
Color: This outrageous! M&M have been classy as the champs! Melissa was only looking out for her partner! Pryce and Crowne are a pair of thieves, thieves I tell you!
Alison gets back to her corner as Pryce tags her in, Melina appearing to have the wind knocked out of her. With the swift tag Pryce goes to quickly ascend to the top rope as Alison scoopes Melina up off the mat over her shoulder, dropping her down with her head pointing down, her arms wrapped around her waist. As Alison goes for the sit-out tombstone piledriver, Lexi Pryce comes flying off the top rope, spiking Melina straight into the mat for added impact, the signature finish of this duo.
Play By Play: You want to talk about your Crowning Moment? There it is right there! We got new Tag Team Champs!
Alison immediately hooks the leg as Pryce keeps her eyes on the outside like a hawk, circling around to make sure nobody ran in to break up this pin.
1!
Color: Dammit, no, no! Not this way!
2!
Color: KICK OUT!
3!
Color: DAMMIT!
Announcer: Here are your winners and the... NEW Southern Wrestling Alliance Women's Tag Team Champions... The Swan Lexi Pryce and Alison Crowne!
As the referee quickly grabs the belts from the time keeper Alison and Lexi look to one another, one part shock with two parts jubilation as they're handed the belts. They were the team that always put on a good show but could never win the big one. Considered reliable hands they were always the bridesmaids but never the bride. SWA was a very small promotion but one that was reputable with its home base located in Florida, with shows occasionally crossing into Georgia and Alabama. SWA used to encompass the most of the South in general but since the 90s underwent a sharp contraction due to the changing landscape. However a title win here would put you on the map of bigger promotions, the regionals, the small but loyal cult promotions that had a sizable presence on the net, and even national promotions would have you on their radar if you were good enough. They were far from breaking through that glass ceiling but this right here would finally take them off the floor level; they were about to get noticed.
After a sisterly embrace in the middle of the ring they raised their belts high in the air as the crowd of 200 people were giving them a standing ovation. After having their time in the ring they walked to the back as they were congratulated by the roster, about 8 other people that were on hand and stayed to watch the main event. It was a moment the two would remember for a long time to come; but this wasn't meant to be the start to a happy ending as they both thought that night, fate would take a cruel turn.
ONE WEEK LATER
Alison Crowne had just gotten her ring gear on, her elbow pads, wrist tape, boots, the whole nine. Normally Lexi would have met up with her an hour before the show at their favorite diner but she hadn't heard from her which was very unusual. Something felt wrong but she had no way of getting in contact with her; she wasn't answering her calls or texts even though they had a long conversation the night before planning their future together in the wrestling business. They planned to take these titles and go to neighboring promotions, defending them while pursuing the promotions tag titles as well. They wanted to do this until they were weighed down with so much gold a national promotion would have no choice but to start a bidding war with them; it was ambitious but they felt they could pull it off after finally dethroning M&M the week before, an overwhelming favorite by management. They were going to make it to the top together; that was their pact.
Promoter: Alison, you're on in five minutes. Where the hell is Lexi?
Alison Crowne: I don't know, I haven't heard from her all day.
The promoter seemed rather irritated. It looked bad on him and the promotion in general with his tag team champions being advertised to appear but only having half of the real deal.
Promoter: Well you better find out where she is. I've been fair to the two of you and I wouldn't be comfortable with you two being my champions if I didn't think you could deliver. But you're really busting my balls here. You know I have half a mind to strip the two of you of the belts if she doesn't walk in here within the next... three minutes or so -
The Promoter checked his watch as Alison's phone started ringing. As she pulled it out of her pocket the number showed up as Lexi Pryce, her portrait showing on the screen. As she swiped to answer she pulled it up to her ear.
Alison Crowne: Lexi? Where the hell are you? We got a match in -
She was cut off by a voice that she didn't recognized. It was stern, stoic and gravelly; this wasn't Lexi but a man that sounded like he was in his mid to late 60s.
Physician: Hello this is Dr. Emanuel Jones, I am calling you from North Florida Regional Medical Center. Am I speaking with Alison?
Alison Crowne: Yes, sir.
Her heart sank as she sat back down on the bench. The promoter. who only a minute ago was about jump down her throat seemed to considerably softened his stance, the phone volume high enough for the residual volume to echo in the room. His facial expression seemed to have a mix of genuine worry with a few splashes of irritation; he was about to lose money if this went where he thought it was going.
Dr. Emanuel Jones: Well I'm calling you because you're listed as an emergency contact. Lexi Pryce... well she was involved in a major accident earlier this afternoon. Her motorcycle hydroplaned and her tibia is absolutely shattered from our early diagnosis. It looks like a jigsaw puzzle; I don't know if I've ever seen an injury this bad.
This was the day neither Lexi nor Alsion ever wanted to come to pass. As close friends and tag team partners they decided it would be good form to list eachother as emergency contacts should an accident or otherwise ever surface. It was unorthodox to say the least but it helped foster chemistry between the two. Lexi was always just a little more adventurous of the two but back then she always practiced safety; she didn't go on joyrides or put herself intentionally at major risk but she loved her bikes. To convince her to not ride would be like denying a surfer their heritage, their past time. The risk was always there but it was controlled in some fashion but sometimes it was the 5% risk factor that takes you to the bank the hardest.
Alison Crowne: I... is she going to be ok?
There was a crack in her voice as she answered back. Her mind was racing at a million miles per hour. Their future just disappeared before her eyes, the tag titles they worked so hard for; the bargaining chip they were going to use to get noticed had just slipped out of their grasps only a week after capturing it. Lexi just lost her job essentially and her passion, her purpose in life was robbed from her in a freak accident; it just wasn't fair.
Dr. Emanuel Jones: Well I've got some good news and bad news about your friend. The good news is that her injuries are not life threatening at this time; the bad news is that I would strongly recommend that she never wrestle again. The risk is too great and it will be quite a while before she's able to walk again and the odds are significant that she may need to learn how to walk all over again.
Alison Crowne: That's... terrible to hear. Are you sure you're not just exaggerating? Maybe it's just a break vs a shatter?
She started to nervously laugh, not because she found this funny but because a part of her was hoping this was just one big elaborate prank by Lexi.
Alison Crowne: Ok, ok Lexi. You got me, you can stop now. You really had me going there for a minute. We got a match in a few minutes; tell me you're in the parking lot.
It wouldn't be the first time Lexi pulled one good over her but deep down Alison knew that the doctor was being dead serious.
Dr. Emanuel Jones: I'm afraid this is no laughing matter. She's going to be staying here for at least a few nights for observation as we help her with pain management. You're welcome to come by during visiting hours and I hope you have a pleasant evening.
With that the call dropped. Alison tossed her phone to the side as she buried her face in her hands. It was over, everything was over in an instant. The Promoter kept a straight face, his mind already working overtime to find a way to salvage this situation; he had to keep things strictly businesslike right now.
Promoter: I'm sorry to hear that Alison; I know Lexi is a good friend of yours and she was also your tag team partner. In the SWA we all hurt when one of our own has fallen. I'm afraid I'm going to have to strip the two of you of those tag team championships if the diagnosis is confirmed but for tonight just go out there and relieve your grief and leave it all in the ring. While I can't in good faith let you continue to hold those tag titles by yourself after tonight I just want to reassure you that you will not be losing the spot that you worked so hard to earn just because of a freak accident.
Alison looked up as the Promoter put a hand on her shoulder.
Promoter: I'm going to make you a star.
