Beyond the Horizon #20
March 13
Kansas City
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Its Retribution time! I know that Rise to Greatness is the biggest show of the year, but Retribution has always been my favorite SCW Program. It's the show where I became World Champion back in 2016, and I had other successful matches in other years. There's always something big going on for this show, and this year is no different. Double Jeopardy. A match filled with animosity and desire for payback in the United States Championship match. Tag Team Titles on the line in a strange triple threat. And so much more.
I've gotten a lot of emails, DM's, etc from my Dear Readers, all wanting to know my thoughts on the situation with my client Spencer Pryce, and Simon Lyman. I haven't replied to any, because I don't feel comfortable commenting publicly. All I will say is this – I believe Spencer is correct about Simon being his biological father. Other than that... it's between them. Spencer is still my client, and I'm respecting his wishes for me to refrain from further comment. I agree that is not my place.
In other new, Marie Caedes is still recovering from the neck stinger. Her doctors think she may be fully healed in two or three weeks. She's taking physical therapy, and it' really a day by day situation. She is cleared to travel and appear with us on TV, but she is still not cleared for action. We're hopeful though that it won't be too much longer before she can get back in the ring.
As always SCW has a stacked card for Retribution, so let's get to the rundown.
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Diamond Steele vs. Beard
It's good to see Beard getting back into the ring, he's a great producer but his passion is wresting, and I'm looking forward to seeing him in action on a larger stage. Diamond Steele is a great opponent for him, they're both looking to raise their star, and this will be a great showcase for their talents. I'm picking Beard for the win, because I know how motivated he is.
Crystal Zdunich vs. Tommy Valentine
I'm not sure what Crystal Zdunich was thinking, getting into Tommy Valentine's face and throwing a challenge out, based on something that happened months ago. At Under Attack, Crystal was facing Drake Hemingway, an ally of Tommy and Kandis under the Jackals banner. The entire group attacked her to make a statement, and Crystal was away for a while recovering, In most cases I can understand wanting revenge on someone who wronged you, but when that person is Tommy Valentine, I would suggest thinking twice. He has not been in a good mood for a while now, and chasing Cid Turner to make him pay for ruining Trios for their team. Cid escaped the cage in their cage match, taking away Tommy's ability to further harm Cid for his transgressions. Tommy is in revenge mode, and Crystal stuck herself in his path. I have a feeling we'll see a repeat of Under Attack, only with Tommy doing all the work.
SCW Underground Championship
Justin Davis vs. Konrad Raab
I'll start out this one with my pick – Konrad Raab. Nothing against Justin Davis at all, he's been showing up well since his return at End of the Year Special. But Konrad has been on another level since defeating Lucas Knight for the Underground Championship, and I don't think he's going to let anyone take it from him anytime soon.
Dawn Lohan vs. Deanna Frost vs. Marie Jones vs. Polly Playtime
This match, to me, seems like a great talent showcase. Dawn Lohan, the new Television Champion, faces three other women who are looking to get ahead. Deanna Frost, Selena Frost's wife, joins the ranks of in-ring competition and so far, she's been looking really well. Marie Jones, Kim Williams' twin sister, no doubt wants to showcase herself while Kim is busy chasing the Underground Championship and fighting for the World Championship (whether she wants it or not). Polly Playtime has slowly been moving up the ranks, picking wins and getting attention. A win here for any of these women would be a big boost to their stock. I think most people would expect Dawn to get the win here since she recently won a title, but I'm gonna call for the upset with Deanna Frost. I think the other three women will underestimate her ability and she'll surprise everyone with the win.
Owen Lee vs. Alexis Quinne
This bout features two former World Champion, both working on a comeback. Owen Lee suffered a loss at Body, Heart, and Soul to Kandis, but it hasn't seemed to slow him down too much. Alexis Quinne was recently upset by newcomer Amelia Stone, but like Owen, the loss hasn't seemed to affect her too much. Both need a win here to gain momentum in their comebacks. I feel like Owen has a lot more to prove, as he's trying to make up for his past mistakes, and he'll have bigger motivation here. That's not to shortchange Alexis at all, she has the experience advantage. But I think Owen will compensate for that with pure will.
Glory Braddock vs. Amelia Stone
Amelia Stone came in as a new star, and a fan of Glory Braddock. Glory took Amelia under her wing for a time, but Amelia was a little overzealous. In her attempts to support and help Glory, she became a liability instead. Glory grew more and more frustrated with the young woman, and now they're facing off. Amelia has talent, as I mentioned above, she recently defeated Alexis Quinne. However she then suffered a loss to US Champion Spencer Pryce. She isn't consistent. Glory however, is. She's well experienced, well decorated, and after failing to become World Champion against Selena Frost recently, will need a big win to keep her position. Glory is a wrestling teacher as well, with her academy in London. I have a feeling she is going to school Amelia here and teach her how not to represent herself in SCW.
Giovanni Aries vs. Josh Hudson
This here is a clash of styles and should be very interesting to see how it goes down. Giovanni Aries is a master of mind games, manipulation, and trickery, Josh Hudson meanwhile, has always been an advocate for keeping the wrestling business pure, traditional, some might say old school. He's a technician, he can brawl, and get brutal with the worst of them. He's taken offense to the way Giovanni has targeted Sammy Thomas Davies, using him as a pawn to promote his way of thinking, his program or whatever he want to call it, to achieve success and 'nirvana.' Hudson may have settled his more brutal ways lately in favor of a more grounded and technical style, but I feel Giovanni will push him to his old ways, to make a statement that the way Giovanni is treating Sammmy needs to stop. Giovanni has never seemed to care about wins and losses, only causing as much chaos as he can. Hudson should get the win here, after some mind games from Giovanni and Hudson snapping to make it stop.
SCW World Tag Team Championship
Ravyn Taylor & Nicole Kinneck vs. Gavin Taylor & Nicole Kinneck vs Happy Farmstead Friends
I am honestly not sure what's going on here, why Nicole Kinneck is on two teams. Happy Farmstead Friends were added to the match after picking up a win on last Breakdown. Ravyn Taylor has been manipulating Nicole into thinking she and Gavin Taylor are related... and that's about as much as I understand here. I expect a lot of shenanigans and trickery, but for the champions to retain in the end.
SCW United States Championship
Spencer Pryce vs. Tsunami
Spencer Pryce made this challenge to Tsunami against my counsel. It's not that I don't think he can beat him, I just feel like Tsunami, or moreso Martin Howe, has controlled the narrative this whole time and manipulated everything about this ever since Spencer came to SCW. They've attacked Spencer, they've attacked my other client Marie Caedes, and my daughter Jaina Lancaster, all to get under Spencer's skin, knowing how he is protective of women. I don't like being manipulated into something... but Spencer has a mind of his own and chose to challenge Tsunami, with his championship on the line. Tsunami has never been pinned or submitted, and Spencer has only been pinned once... thanks to a distraction by Tsunami. Both men have big motivating factors here – Martin Howe wants his son to become a champion. Spencer feels he needs to retain here, to keep his credibility.. especially after his revelation at Breakdown – the fact that he is Simon Lyman's biological son. I promise this isn't manager bias when I say I believe Spencer will come out victorious. I have never seen him this motivated, or this focused. At his request, I will not be ringside, he wants to limit all distractions. He has a lot of frustration to work out and a big desire to be a huge star. Being the first person to beat the monster without a DQ or count-out would be a big moment for him and I really believe he can do it.
Syren & Christy Matthews vs. Ace Marshall & Matt Hodges
This match I think is flying under the radar as a possible show stealer. The Double Jeopardy main event and the US Title match is taking most of the attention, but here we have four former World Champions facing off in a tag match. We could see possible Tag Team Championship contenders coming out of this one. Matt Hodges has been sort of recruiting Ace Marshall, trying to steer him away from the services of Lexy Chapel. Lexy has her hands full with Autumn Valentine and Matt believes Ace deserves better. Meanwhile, Syren and Christy Matthews are both looking to regain some footing after falling down the ranks a bit. Glory Braddock defeated Syren at Body, Heart, and Soul, while Christy Matthews recently lost both the Tag Team Championships and the United States Championship. They are no strangers to tag team wrestling, and if they continue to team up, this could be a resurgence for them both. Given tSyren and Christy are much more familiar with each other than Matt and Ace are, I am picking them for the win.
SCW Adrenaline Championship
Asher Hayes vs. Cid Turner
This one has been a long time coming. The former A/C Unit battling each other after Asher Hayes grew tired of being second to Cid Turner. Asher recently had some legal troubles due to drugs, and he paid his price. Served his time. Entered rehab. He's doing everything he can to turn his life around, and turn his career around as well. No doubt Asher had hoped to battle Cid for the World Championship, but Cid lost that to Selena Frost. He is now the Adrenaline Champion, and for Asher? Taking that from him will be good enough to get back at him for his arrogance. Cid Turner has lately shown his cowardice, by practically demanding an escape clause be added to his cage match versus Tommy Valentine. He then used that clause to scamper out of the cage, escaping further fighting with Tommy. Asher has seen all of this. He knows Cid's strengths and weaknesses, from their time teaming. Cid has placed a lot of worth on the teachings of some entity called Gleebnorb, and spends a lot of time promoting the Positive State. I think he is deluding himself, and Asher will use all of his knowledge of how Cid's brain works against him and become Adrenaline Champion tonight.
SCW World Championship
Double Jeopardy Match
Holly Adams vs. Brittany Lohan vs. Kandis
Autumn Valentine vs. Kimberly Williams vs. Selena Frost
This is a historic match. Never before has a Double Jeopardy match featured two triple threats before the final bout. Shaun Cruze came up with this idea to clear the deck, so to speak. Selena Frost had so many people claiming a shot at the World Championship, that Cruze thought this was the best way to determine the World Champion. There's a lot to unpack here, as far as why each woman was added to the match. Holly Adams believes she was wronged twice when facing Selena. Brittany Lohan was give the shot that Kennedy Street was demanding. Kandis has big wins under her belt lately, and love her or hate her, there's no question she's overdue for a larger opportunity. Autumn Valentine was very close to winning the End of the Year title shot thanks to Lexy Chapel's promotion. Kim Williams got herself involved in the second Selena Frost versus Holly Adams match and was added here, as she's picked up a few big wins recently as well. And of course the current World Champion Selena Frost, with the target on her head.
For the triple threats, I'm calling for Selena to win her ring. Kim has made it clear this isn't the championship she wants, and Autumn Valentine seems to have lost a step since losing the Television Championship.
In the other triple threat, I think it will be a battle between Kandis and Holly Adams. Holly recently pinned Kandis in a triple threat also involving Autumn. Kandis doesn't like being shown up and she'll want a receipt. The addition of Brittany Lohan will make it difficult with her power, but in the I see Kandis with the triple threat win.
That leaves the finals as Kandis versus Selena Frost. We've seen them battle before, as part of Tag Team Championship matches, Frozen Hell versus The Connection. But we've never seen Kandis and Selena one on one. Kandis has a lot of motivation, she's been displeased for a long time now, tired of being seen as second to her tag partner and boyfriend Tommy Valentine. She wants her own moment, her own spotlight. However, she doesn't have the experience in going the distance that Selena does. Kandis did once nearly win a Chamber match after starting it off with Peyton Rice, where Peyton got the win. But Selena has been in Iron Woman matches, she's won Best of the Best a few years ago, she's often fought more than one match in one night and come out on top. I feel that Selena's experience in endurance will be the deciding factor here, and she will just outlast Kandis, retaining the World Championship.
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There you have it, Dear Readers, my rundown and predictions for tonight's SCW Retribution. I'm looking forward to many of these matches, and I know all of you are, as well. You don't want to miss this, it's always one of the best shows of the year for SCW, and I have no doubt that this one will be an instant classic. Thanks for reading, and I'd love to hear your comments. As always, be brave.
~ Amy Chastaine