Silver Starlet Shutdown

(The camera opens to Wrestleworld interviewer Bobby Bishop and Stephanie Matsuda sitting in a Wrestleworld Studio as some introduction music is playing.)

Bobby Bishop: Hi, I’m Bobby Bishop and in this Wrestleworld Exclusive, I’m sitting here with the inaugural American Dream Champion, the Queen of Fighters herself, Stephanie “Cloud” Matsuda!

(Cloud nods to the camera and looks at Bishop.)

Stephanie Matsuda: Hey, Bobby. Thanks for having me.

Bobby Bishop: Of course. So in several days, you will go one-on-one with The Silver Starlet herself, Emmanuelle at Violent Ends. Some would say this is from you putting your nose in business that has nothing to do with you. when you saved Christopher Sabertooth from being assaulted by Emmanuelle and her bodyguard Sonya. In your own words, can you provide a reason why?

Stephanie Matsuda: Well if you were to think that I did it as a way to get Chris into World’s Finest, you’d be half right. Despite his dark past, Chris has turned around since his days as Havoc. Hell, when the daughter of my mentor tried to walk the dark side, he talked her into atoning for her sins and now she and I are slowly rebuilding our relationship.

Bobby Bishop: You’re referring to Serenity Scorpio?

Stephanie Matsuda: Yeah. Either way, I wanted to show my appreciation. Also, I’m tired of people like Emmanuelle thinking they can run around and do whatever they want in this business. In many ways, she’s just as childish as Allessandro Devastation. They’re both egomaniacs who think they’re entitled to everything they lay their eyes on. I don’t want Chris to go through the same bullshit as I did. To have something you worked your ass off for taken away so easily...it’s soul-wrecking.

Bobby Bishop: So would you say that things haven’t been the same since your loss at ARCADIA?

(Stephanie chuckles and shakes her head before sighing. There’s a moment of silence before she answers his question.)

Stephanie Matsuda: I haven’t been myself since losing the title at War of the Worlds! It’s like a domino effect, ya know? 2020 was the Year of Matsuda. I held five titles from four different companies, three of those belts being world championships. Sure I’m still; walking around with two, but I feel at some point I’m going to lose those. Hell, even my track record during Book Two has been a little spotty. I mean Cynthia Rose got the best of me in our last match together. No disrespect to her of course, but I haven’t been “Cloud Matsuda” for months, Bobby. I don’t know if I’m psyching myself out or I’m not the same physically.

(Bobby Bishop rubs his chin as he considers his next question.)

Bobby Bishop: So would you say that the rumors about your physical condition are true?

(Stephanie leaned back and crossed her arms, looking irritated.)

Stephanie Matsuda: I can go for as long as I need to, Bobby. If I have to keep fighting, then so be it. We all have our ups and downs in our wellness. Pro wrestling is a dangerous sport, but regardless of what Emmanuelle thinks she knows, I always bounce back. If anything, she’s the one who revealed her true colors. When she first came on the scene, she had a rocket strapped to her back as she won the Thunderdome Match to earn herself a shot at a title of her choosing. She was able to secure the Shogun Championship. Hell, she’s won titles in other places. But a great start doesn’t mean you’re going to finish in the first place. And we’re seeing evidence of that as the cracks begin to show, Bobby. Emmanuelle isn’t the standout she thinks she is and quite honestly, I don’t know if she ever was. Sometimes there’s beginner luck. I can’t even begin to fathom how many rookies were hailed to be the next big thing one minute only to see them fall from grace the next. The hype for her was real; Carlos Rosso went out of his way to show off his latest pupil to the world. But when you give someone that much leeway, it gets to their head. I know what Emmanuelle wants - to make an example out of me and use my legacy as a platform to reach higher. But here’s the thing, sweets. My story isn’t over yet. There’s still a lot of work to do and quite frankly this is just a roadblock before I get back into title contention. If there’s anything about me is that I’m never far from my next opportunity.

Bobby Bishop: Just like your upcoming match for the OWA Women’s World Championship.

Stephanie Matsuda: Exactly! I overcame three of OWA’s most dominant former champions to earn that chance. So if I’m a shadow of my former self, then show me how, boo-boo? I’m not the one coming on live television making false statements! I’m not the one whining about how I’m not a champion after getting my ass handed to me at ARCADIA. Emmanuelle and I both took Ls, but yet she’s the one who can’t deal with defeat. She claims that the Shogun title is hers but yet she hasn’t done JACK to convince us why that is. There’s been like four champions since that title’s introduction in a two-year span while the American Dream only had two. As selfish of a man Allesandro is, at least he’s taking care of his reign.

(Stephanie leans forward as her eyes narrow.)

Stephanie Matsuda: So peep this: This hussy claims that nobody has a right to compete for the Shogun Championship except for her. She’s been walking around looking all satisfied like she actually did something with her life. She called me a relic of days gone by, a distant memory in the minds of the fans. Stephanie Matsuda… All I’ve seen out of you is how you feel like your time might be dwindling. She thinks there’s blood in the water just because I couldn’t get the American Dream Championship back. She thinks I’ve unraveled, that I’ve lost my edge for good!? Hmph, she’s got another thing coming. I am not the desperate woman she thinks I am. People like her are the reason why World’s Finest needs to exist. Cynthia Rose and Christopher Sabertooth are excellent candidates, two competitors who have more honor in their pinkies than Emmanuelle has in her whole body!  If anything, she’s the pathetic one! From what I've seen of Emmanuelle, she’s just a flash in the pan, nothing more than used grease meant to be frozen and thrown out with the rest of the garbage!! This ‘ol bitch still has a couple of tricks up her sleeve.

(Bobby sat back, surprised and impressed by Matsuda’s fervor. He adjusted his tie before moving on with the interview.)

Bobby Bishop: You’re thirty-two-years-old which is not considered too old in the business, but for female wrestlers, that’s usually the common age for when things start slowing down. Could we be witnessing the other side of your career?

(Stephanie was silent for a moment before answering.)

Stephanie Matsuda: Unless you're a career woman like Miss Manami or Claudia Michaels, usually my age is the time a woman decides whether or not she wants to continue on. This isn’t the kayfabe ballet type of pro wrestling. This is full-contact combat and in many ways more dangerous than MMA. It wears down the body over time and depending on the kind of matches you find yourself in, your career can end sooner or later. The smart ones know when to back away, but sometimes you have unfinished business you can’t leave on the table. Even if your life depended on it. For all intents and purposes, the Shogun Championship is considered a “Japanese” championship. While I was a recent SSW Intercontinental Champion, I haven’t held a Japanese world title since my time in JET. That was six years ago. I promised myself that before I leave this business I would not only win another Tokyo Sports Women's Wrestling Grand Prize but the coveted MVP Award. Azumi Goto and I received the Special Award in 2020 for making JET the biggest women's promotion in the world and reviving the Joshi scene in Japan. That's the thing, Bobby. Not everything is about winning a goddamn title. It's about establishing your legacy. When it's all said and done what are you going to leave behind?

(Stephanie shook her head and continued.)

Stephanie Matsuda: Emmanuelle has nothing. She has no culture, she has no soul. She's just a black hole of greed eager to swallow everything in her path. That's all she does, Bobby. She just consumes like some kind of goddamn zombie. Emmanuelle had so much promise. Hell, I had her back! When Carlos was training her I gave my support, but just like a leech, she wants to suck away my glory instead of earning some for herself. You know what? Fine. She's gonna fuck around and find out just how costly of a mistake that is. If there’s anything I learned in this business is that the world doesn’t owe you a goddamn thing. One minute you could be on top of the world and in the next, you’re down on your luck with nothing to show for it. I’ve been at the bottom, Bobby. I’ve had my name dragged through the mud. One of my previous promotions brought out a false version of me to get stomped out and buried in an effort to ruin my career. I’ve had people question my commitment to multiple promotions, citing it as a weakness. This industry has come at me from so many angles that I know when someone’s coming at me and where they’re coming from. The shit Emmanuelle’s saying? That’s nothing new. She’s not the first to doubt me and she won’t be the last. This is just another obstacle along my journey. It won’t take long for me to crash through her walls.

(Stephanie winks at the camera.)

Bobby Bishop: Those were some choice words there Matsuda. If you do win your match at Violent Ends, what's next?

Stephanie Matsuda: What else? Title contention. Be it the Shogun, European, or even American Dream. My story isn't over yet, Bobby. Emmanuelle doesn't get to define me, neither does Allesandro. I decide when I'm good and ready to call it quits. I'm the one in control of this narrative. Everyone slips now and then but what matters the most is getting back to your feet. I know what I bring to the table. Emmy's gonna need to figure out what happens when the Queen of Fighters catches her slipping. Know it, understand it, believe it!

Bobby Bishop: Beautiful Matsuda! I know you're a busy woman so I'll let you go. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for watching and see you at Violent Ends!

(Bobby and Stephanie wave to the camera as the scene fades out.)


(As Stephanie exited Wrestleworld Studios, she saw her OWA manager Samantha Garza waiting for her by Stephanie’s Tesla Roadster she drives whenever she’s on Wrestleworld Island. As the two got into the vehicle, Sam decided to start up some conversation.)

Samantha Garza: How did it go?

Stephanie Matsuda: As expected. I spoke my mind. I’m getting tired of the games people play, First Jonetta Stone’s bullshit, and now this.

(Samantha smiles as she leans back in her seat.)

Samantha Garza: You’ll deal with Jonetta and this Dollhouse reunion she’s got going on. And, you’ll beat Emanuelle with ease. What you need to be focusing on is the next title you’ll pursue here in Wrestleworld. They may not know it, but you and I know you only have so many matches left inside you. It’s up to you how that story ends. Will it be on your own two feet? On a stretcher?

(Samantha paused for a moment.)

Samantha Garza: Or a body bag?

(There was an uncomfortable silence as Stephanie focused her eyes on the road. She wasn’t ignoring her manager’s question, but rather letting her words seep into her mind. Nobody knew Matsuda’s secret - and if the wrong people found out, her last stand would end prematurely. There was still work to be done. And by any means, it needed to be done.)