Learning From Experience (Gina Neon RP v Danielle Bradley)

[Gina, THE WINNAH!]

I 

Spring 2007 

2300 Arena, Trenton, New Jersey

Logan Wetherspoon IV did not make it five words into his speech before the boos started. He halted himself, huffing impatiently, then readied for another try, bringing the microphone to his lips yet again. 

'Over the past year...' 

The wrestler stamped his foot irritably as a chorus of jeers once again drowned out his voice. He glowered around at the hundred or so fans in attendance, making a point of engaging a few more vocal ones directly as he paced around the ring. 

'Let him speak', a teenage boy yelled from one corner of the room. This remark, while audible enough, was itself engulfed by boos a moment later, causing the boy to huff, just as his idol head. 

'They ain't lettin' him speak', he mumbled. 'It ain't fair...!' 

'What's he need to speak for?' The young girl standing by the boy's side sneered up at him. 'He's a total butthead! Nobody wants to listen to him!' 

'I wanna listen to him', the boy grumbled. His companion seemed poised to reply, but before she could string her thoughts together, Logan finally found a window of opportunity to put a word in. 

'Over the past year', he began, his tone rising to combat the instantly-rising boos, 'I have defeated everyone here at Pacific Northwest Wrestling.' 

'That's not true!' The chestnut-haired girl sprang forward, her finger stretched out accusingly. 'He didn't beat Jake!' 

This comment actually caused Logan to whip round, looking for the person who had dared challenge him. It did not take more than a moment for the Wall Street Wonder to lock eyes with the fiery-looking pre-teen girl in the front row, and it was directly to her that he next spoke, in a high, reedy tone meant to emulate her own: 

'I didn't beat Jaaaake!'  

His tone grew more agitated as he continued: 

'That's right, I didn't. That is the one great omission in my otherwise flawless track record. I did not beat the PNW Pacific Northwest Champion.'  

He paused a moment to preen, this time soaking in the boos that immediately emerged from the audience.  

'Sadly', he continued, a mocking pout on his features, 'management believes I must work my way back up to Amazing Fluke Mason. Earn another shot, if you will.' 

'Dang right, you do', the girl shouted, causing the wrestler to glower at her yet again. This time, however, Logan did not engage her directly, simply continuing: 

'That does not bother me, though. I know, as the Wall Street Wonder...' He opened his arms again, smirking, welcoming the boos. '...I am good enough to take on anybody, at any time. Which is why...' 

The wrestler turned towards the entrance ramp. 

'...which is why I will be issuing an open challenge, right here tonight. To anyone in the back who would like to come out here and be taught a lesson. I am here, and I am waiting.' 

Logan once again opened his arms, waiting for his challenge to be answered. When no opponent was forthcoming, he once again brought the microphone to his lips: 

'I'm waiting...I'm not a patient man, you know...' 

This time, there was a reply – but, to judge by Logan's face, not the one he had been expecting. Instead, it was the crowd's turn to be smug, as PNW's Chief of Operations, Michael Harrison, stepped out from behind the curtain. Logan glowered at his superior as Michael brought a microphone to his lips and began an address of his own. 

'You know, Logan...you're right. You have beaten everyone here at PNW except for the Champ himself.' 

'You're damn right I have', Logan yelled off the mic. Michael simply grinned. 

'Which is why it's pointless for anyone but Jake to come out here. After all, you've already proven you can defeat them, am I right?' 

Michael's eyes twinkled as he studied his employee in the ring. When Logan offered no reply other than a shrug, the PNW boss took it upon himself to continue: 

'Which is why we at PNW Head Office have seen it fit to find you a new challenger. One you have never beaten before. One you have never even faced before.' 

The brown-haired girl tugged at the older boy's sleeve.  

'Who d'you think it is, Vin?' 

'Dunno, don't care', the boy replied, sulkily.  

The girl turned to the grizzly man on her other side. 'Who d'you think it is, Dad?' 

'I don't know, Gina', the man said. 'Guess we're about to find out...' 

Indeed, at that exact moment, Michael Harrison was turning back to the curtain, announcing, with a hand flourish: 

'Logan Wetherspoon IV...tonight...you will face...this man!' 

The next few moments were a haze to the brown-haired girl. First, a somewhat familiar hard rock riff began blaring across the arena, one she had only ever heard coming through the tinny speakers of her old television; a moment later, a larger-than-life figure rushed out, high-fiving every hand in sight as it made its way to the ring in a blur of brightly-colored tassels. It was not until PNW's ring announcer spoke up, announcing the new arrival, that the little girl came to grips with reality. 

'Approaching the ring, from the furthest reaches of the galaxy, weighing 270 pounds....the NEOOOON KNIIIIIIGHT!' 

'DAD!' Gina Carelli shook her father just as, in the ring, the new arrival shook the top rope. 'DAD! IT'S THE NEON KNIGHT!' 

The young girl's voice was choked with excitement, her eyes rimmed with tears, as she turned back towards the ring to cheer on her all-time favorite wrestler. She noted the Knight looked significantly older than he did on her father's old video tapes, but no less imposing, his muscles still rippling in a way that would make many younger men envious. He straightened himself up to full height, a genuine grin taking over his features as he looked around at a hundred chanting, mind-blown fans. 

'HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!'

So awestruck were Gina and her family that her father made no effort to shield her or her brothers' ears from the surrounding profanity. Instead, the four of them just continued to stare at the ring, mouths agape, as the most legendary ICWA Champion of all time did a lap of honor. 

'This is so rad', the girl whispered in awe, as her ultimate idol engaged a still-shocked Logan Wetherspoon in the center of the ring. 

From there, it did not take long for Logan to be put in his place. The self-styled Wall Street Wonder was still smirking and jerking an incredulous thumb at the older wrestler when the Neon Knight engaged him, pulling him into a headlock. Over the next few minutes, and with the element of surprise in his favor, the former ICWA Champion showed just why he was still a force to be reckoned with, and – despite a surge of resistance from the younger wrestler, mostly through underhanded tactics – made short work of his opposition. Soon, he was having his arm raised by the referee, as the ring announcer declared: 

'Ladies and gentlemen, the winner of this contest...the NEOOOON KNIIIIGHT!' 

As her idol stood tall over Logan's inert body, his arms raised up in celebration and a primal scream escaping his lips, Gina found herself pinching her own arm, to make sure what she had just witnessed was not a dream. Having felt the telltale burn on her skin, she turned her attention back to cheering at the top of her lungs, alongside the other lucky attendants of this relatively unremarkable PNW show. Her already impossibly joyous mood only increased as the Knight requested a microphone and prepared to address the audience. 

'Ugh', Vinny Carelli groaned, still clearly stung by the summary dispatching of his idol. 'Now we gotta hear him talk, too?' 

Gina, however, was already telling him in no uncertain fashion to 'hush', and a glower from his father convinced the boy that he had better refrain from any further comment. He therefore begrudgingly turned his attention to the ring, where the Neon Knight had only just begun talking. 

'This fella right here...' He prodded the unconscious Logan with the tip of a bright orange boot, drawing a chuckle fromthe fans in attendance. '...thought I would be easy pickin's just 'cause I'm an old man. I guess we showed him, huh?' 

The grin returned to the veteran's face as the audience graced him with a chant of 'WE SURE DID.' Gina took part gleefully, then continued to cheer as the Neon Knight concluded: 

'So remember...don't judge a book by its cover. Age is only a number, and that old guy you're making fun of might be able to teach you a thing or two. So respect your elders, and kids, if you wanna be good little Neon Knights...always listen to your parents. They know best.' 

With this, and after handing the microphone back to the nearest stage technician, the Knight turned and made his way behind the curtain, to a deafening roar from the crowd. On the far side of the ring, one little girl waited until the last joyous whoop was out of her system, then pinched herself again. 

Yup. 

Still not dreaming. 

All that had just transpired had been absolutely real. 

She still had not stopped grinning when, half an hour later, her family began to make their way back to the car. 

II 

Thirty Minutes Later 

Outside the 2300 Arena, Trenton, New Jersey

'Dad! Look!'

Gina Carelli tugged at her father's sleeve as they and Gina's two brothers negotiated the streets around the 2300 Arena, looking for their old Fiesta. Angelo looked down at his daughter, then followed her outstretched finger into a dark alley, where two shadowy figures surrounded a third, far beefier one. 

'What's goin' on over there?'

Gina's whisper died in her throat as the relatively still night air carried one of the slender figures' voice across to them. 

'Don't do nothin' stupid, pops. Just gimme ya phone an' ya watch an' that fly chain you wearin'.' 

'Paisans', Angelo growled. 'They ought'a be ashamed a' themselves!' He took a step forward, ready to intervene, but the hulking silhouette a few feet ahead did not seem too concerned. 

'Don't you boys do nothin' stupid', said a familiar voice. 'You don't want no trouble...' 

'Tha's right', the second slim shadow barked. 'We don't. An' that's why you gonna give us ya shit, so's you can get home in one piece! Capisce?' 

To the Carellis' surprise, the mugging victim chuckled. 'For real? Youse guys got eyes on ya face. You can see I'm twice the size a' youse, can't ya?' 

'Yeah, well, there's two a' us an' one a'youse', the first mugger retorted. 'An' we armed!' 

'Yeah', his accomplice added. 'An' we ain't a hundred years old neither! Now give us ya shit!' 

'All right', the hulk said. 'You boys asked for it...' 

The Carelli family looked on in awe as the figure made to reach into his pocket, only for his elbow to suddenly fly backwards, hitting one of the muggers in the stomach. The muscular man then promptly threw his assailant overhead, as he landed a kick to the second youth's gut, doubling him over. One swift motion later, the boy was trapped in a painful submission hold, his screams of agony clearly audible in the evening air. 

'Ow, ow, a'rite, a'rite, let go!' 

'You ain't gonna try an' take nothin' of mine?' 

'Naw, man! We gonna go away! Just lemme go!' 

'Okay.' The boy fell to the ground with a thud as his would-be target released the submission. A moment later, he was scrambling down the street, as the 'victim' towered over his fallen partner. 

'What's he doin'?' Vinny's voice was little more than a whisper. 'Is he gonna wait around 'till the other dude wakes up?' 

'No.' Angelo touched his son's arm. 'Watch this.' 

A few feet away, the figure had produced a cellphone – the very same one the muggers had been after – and was talking into it. 

'Hello? Yeah, there's a young fella lyin' on the floor, out cold. What...? Yeah, I know how it happened. I did it.' The Carelli family gasped at the admission, but the man did not seem fazed. 'He was tryin'a mug me, miss. It was self-defence. But that don't mean I don't want him to get help. Can you send someone?' He waited for a moment, then nodded. 'Thanks.' 

So stunned were the four onlookers that they were not quick enough on the uptake; when the man stepped out of the shadows of the alley, he found a grown man and three children gawking at him. 

'Sorry ya had to see that, folks', he said. 'Those idiots had it comin'.' 

Nobody was composed enough to reply one way or the other, so the man simply turned to the children, flashing them an oddly familiar smile. 

'Stay in school, kids. Do ya homework. Listen to ya dad. Remember, grown-ups know best.' 

Then, to Angelo: 

'Have a good night. Stay safe.' 

With that, and with the Carelli family still unable to so much as utter a word, the man turned and made his way to his own car – a battered Oldsmobile parked a few hundred yards away. 

'Dad', Gina ventured, as realization slowly dawned inside her brain. 'Was that...?' 

'Yes, Gina', her father said, casting one last look towards the vehicle now speeding down the road towards the motorway. 'Yes it was.' 

III 

Nine Years Later 

Gina Carelli's Apartment, Trenton, New Jersey

'Geeg?' 

Amanda Fratelli peered over the edge of the laptop at her best friend, slouched on the couch a few feet away. Gina, however, gave no sign of having heard her room-mate, simply continuing to listlessly shoot at cartoon ducks on the TV screen in front of her. 

'Geeg', Mandy repeated, louder this time. 

Gina paused the game and turned just enough to be able to see her friend. 

'What?' 

'The new VWS card is out. You wanna come see who you're facin'?' 

'No.' Gina turned her back to her best friend once again, and sought to resume her prior activity. Her concentration had been affected, however, and she missed a series of ducks as a result. She threw her Nintendo Zapper down, groaning, and stalked over to switch off the console. As she turned to leave the room, however, she found her way blocked by her best friend. 

'Geeg...what's eatin' you, honey? Talk to me!' 

At first, Gina resisted, merely asking her friend to move out of the way. Faced with Mandy's unwavering insistence, however, she relented. 

'RC's surgery is on the same day as that show', she confessed. 'I should'a been there with him, an' instead I'm gonna be halfway across the country wrestlin', 'cause I didn't realize it was on the same day! I'm such a butthead!' Mandy tried to ease her friend's concerns, but Gina was not done. 'On the one day a' his life when he's gonna need his girlfriend tthere, I ain't gonna be there! Ugh, Mandy, why am I so dumb?' 

'You're not dumb', Mandy retorted. 'You just didn't get that it was on the same day. It happens! He knows it doesn't mean you like him less or anythin'. It was an accident. 'Kay, hon?' 

'...I guess...' Gina still did not sound too convinced – and the thought that seemed to suddenly spring to her mind did not help, either. 'But Mandy, what if something happens?!?!?' 

Mandy gripped her best friend by the shoulders, looking her in the eye. 

'Gigi', she said, 'listen to me. Nothing's gonna happen. Okay? It's gonna be fine. He's gonna have his surgery, you're gonna go win your match, an' a couple of days from now, you're both gonna be sittin' right over there watchin' the show back an' talkin' about how amazing you did. Okay?' She hugged her friend. 'Don't let it get to ya, hon. Neon Power, remember?' She smiled. 'Besides, he wouldn't'a wanted you to sit around mopin' 'cause a' him. He would'a wanted you to go out there an' kick butt for him.' 

Gina nodded, a look of determination coming over her face.  

'You're right, baby'', she said. 'He would'a wanted that. So that's what I'm gonna do!' 

'That's my girl!' Mandy slapped Gina on the shoulder, smiling. 'Now...you wanna know who you're facin', or don't ya?' 

'Yeah.' Gina followed her friend over to the laptop, leaning over Mandy's chair as she retrieved the card for the second episode of VWS Tuesday Night Tenacity. 

'Here we go', she said, after a moment. 'Danielle Bradley. You heard a' her?' 

'Yeah', Gina said. 'She's new. She's in a team with...I think it's her brother or somethin'.' 

'Yeah, Mike Bradley. But wait...' Mandy squinted at the screen in disbelief. 'She's thirty-six?! Man...that's real old for a wrestler, ain't it?' 

She barely had time to finish before her best friend was rounding up on her. 

'Now, you listen here, baby! Just 'cause Ms Bradley's thirty-six, it don't mean nothin'!' 

'Gina', she tried to intercede, but to no avail. 

'In fact, lemme tell you somethin' else! Sometimes, older people know a heckuva lot more'n younger people do! 'Cause they got experience! An'---' 

'Gina!' This time, the call was loud enough to make Gina halt herself. 

'Spare me the soapbox.' Mandy smiled. 'I know all that, you keep tellin' me all the time!' Her grin widened. 'You know who doesn't, though?' 

'Who?' Gina frowned slightly. 

'...VWS fans...' The glint in Mandy's eye told Gina all she needed to know. 

'Get the camera', she said, taking off towards her bedroom. 'I'm gonna go get ready.' 

IV 

Fifteen Minutes Later 

Gina Carelli's Apartment, Trenton, New Jersey

'You ready?' 

Gina checked her high ponytail one last time, then nodded. Her best friend smiled. 

'Knock 'em dead, hon.' 

Up went the hand, down came the fingers, and on went the camera. 

'What's up, Valentine Wrestlin'? You know who this is. Gina, the WINNAH!' 

Despite the fist pump, Gina retained a notably more subdued attitude than usual as she continued: 

'I gotta be honest with ya, though. I didn't feel like much of a winnah today. The Neon Power was runnin' a li'l low, y'know? Somebody I care for is havin' an operation an' stuff, an' not bein' there for him was kind'a sappin' it away a li'l...' 

The rookie's grin suddenly widens. 

'But then my best friend reminded me that there's no use mopin' over somethin' you can't do nothin' about no more! It's best to just keep goin' an' try to keep your Neon Power runnin' high, for yourself and for the people you care about! So shoutout to my friend Mandy, the bestest best friend EVER!' 

Gina pointed beyond the camera, then grinned as Mandy sent a thumbs up by way of response.
 

'Now...enough mopin'. We gotta match to talk about, baby!' 

The rookie removed her brightly-colored shutter shades to gaze into the camera. 

'At TNT #2, Gina, THE WINNAH faces Danielle Bradley. A woman who's new to the company, but not new to wrestlin'! A woman who's thirty-six years old! An' if Gina, THE WINNAH was anyone else, she'd be sittin' here makin' fun of Ms Bradley for bein' an old lady an' stuff. But that's not how li'l Gina rolls, baby! Li'l Gina knows older people can kick just as much butt as young ones! So I'm not gonna sit here an' pretend I'm better'n Ms Bradley just 'cause I'm younger. I always heard you should respect your elders, an' that's what I'm gonna do! In fact...' 

Gina leaned forward slightly. 

'...in fact, lemme tell you somethin'. Bein' older don't make Ms Bradley a chump. Bein' older makes Ms Bradley the favorite in this match. Know why? 'Cause she's got a lot more experience'n I do. She knows a whole lot more tricks'n I do. She's been in a lot more fights'n' I have. An' she probably knows how to counter anythin' li'l Gina tries to throw at her. Which means, when we get in that ring on Tuesday, I'm gonna have to be at my best. I'm gonna have to bring everythin' I got. An' I'm gonna have to find a way to catch Ms Bradley out. Somethin' she hasn't scouted. Somethin' she's not expectin'. 

Good thing I know how to do that...' 

Gina's expression suddenly became more serious. 

'See, people think just 'cause I try to be positive an' stuff, that that makes me dumb. They think I got nothin' in here.' She tapped her temple with one finger. 'An' that's why they end up on their backs. They underestimate the li'l rookie. They think she's just a dumb li'l girl. They don't know she's real good at adaptin'. Real good at reactin'. Real good at thinkin' on her feet. They don't think she's gonna be able to come up with a way to get around their tricks. But then she does, an' it throws 'em off, an' they lose. 

I know Ms Bradley ain't gonna do that. She's smart. She has experience. She's not a butthead. I know she's probably been watchin' my matches, tryin' to figure out how she can throw me off. Tryin' to figure out my weak spots. An' comin' up with a game plan to explore 'em. An' that's why, on April 19, I'm gonna have to be on my toes if I wanna end the night still callin' myself Gina, THE WINNAH, an' not Gina, the Chump. 

But you know what? That's why I'm hyped for it, baby!' 

This time, the familiar glint of excitement did appear on the young wrestler's eye. 

'That's why I'm hyped for it! 'Cause it's not gonna be easy! 'Cause it's gonna be a challenge! An' that means I can learn. You don't learn nothin' from easy stuff! Hard stuff is what teaches you things. Especially if you're learnin' from a veteran! An' I know, on Tuesday, win or lose, I'm gonna walk outta that ring a heckuva lot smarter'n I walked in, baby!' 

The trademark finger came bursting forward as the now suitably excited Gina continued: 

'Ms Bradley...on Tuesday...I hope you ain't gonna hold back. I hope you ain't thinkin' of goin' easy on me. 'Cause I ain't gonna go easy on you! I wanna learn, an' the only way to learn is to try your best! To give your all! An' at TNT #2, that's what I'm gonna do! 

So bring your best, Ms Bradley. Show me the ropes. Show me how a veteran does it. An' don't worry – if you end up winnin', I'll still raise your hand an' give you a hug. 'Cause you probably deserve it. But Ms Bradley...' 

Gina leant forward again. 

'...I hope, if I end up winnin', you're willin' to do the same. 'Cause I may be a rookie, but anyone who's seen me wrestle knows I ain't no pushover. When I go out there, I give my all. I overcome odds. I make people pay attention. When I go out there, I show everyone my Neon Power. On Tuesday...I'm gonna do the same. 

The rookie grinned wider and winked as she concluded: 

'An' RC...this one's gonna be for you, dude!' 

'…aaaaand cut!' Mandy came around from behind the camera, grinning broadly, and hugged her friend. 'Great job, hon!' 

'Thanks, Mandz...!' Gina was sweating as she hugged her friend back, her cheeks flustered, but she seemed as happy with how the video had turned out as Mandy was. 

'So', Mandy said. 'now that that's done, we gotta few hours to kill. What do you wanna do?' 

The answer came promptly and decisively.  

'Let's go call RC. See how he's doin' down in LA.' 

And, a few moments later, that was precisely what they did.