The Hardcore Demon

Golden Crown Wrestling has been a beacon for women's wrestling for 46 years, and one woman who has thrived in the promotion for five years is Tiffani Ross. Nicknamed the "Golden Princess," Tiffani has been one of GCW's top stars for a good bit, as she had held GCW's World Championship on two occasions, and had her sights set on holding the title for a third time. She has had a major obstacle, and no, it is not the reigning champion, Danika Ray.

The looming threat came in the form of a mysterious masked villainess known as the "Hardcore Demon." She was relentless with her taunts, her distractions, and even using a kendo stick against Tiffani on numerous occasions. Despite this, Tiffani still maintained her positive demeanor, and that was mainly because out of all of her fans, she had one big one living at home with her: her husband, Tyler Maxwell, who is also a wrestler. That adoration and support saw Tiffani eventually rise to occasion when she needed it, and she would win a three-way match against Lady Jasmine and "Duchess" Dianna Price, to become the #1 Contender to the GCW World Championship.

A day later, Tiffani was all smiles as she was training at a gym with Tyler, still beaming over her upcoming opportunity.

"I'm close, Tyler," said Tiffani. "I'm going to be a three-time champ!"

"You are a shining star, babe," said Tyler. "Danika doesn't stand a chance." Tyler and Tiffani kissed each other affectionately, with Tiffani being elated over her upcoming chance at the title, but even more joyful that she had a great support system in the form of her husband of four years.

"So, is this what passes for training nowadays?"

Tiffani and Tyler's celebration was interrupted by a voice that was very familiar to the both of them: Clara Maxwell, a women's wrestling legend whose career spanned four decades, and is also Tyler's mother, as well as the owner of the gym. "Wrestling sure has changed, hasn't it?" Clara said with a disapproving tone. "I mean, it used to be that we actually fought for opportunities."

"I won a three way match to get my shot," said Tiffani.

"My point exactly," said Clara. "When I competed, we actually had to fight and win as much as possible to even get a shot at a shot. And we really did fight out there, we weren't all about being acrobatic and whatnot."

"Come on, Mom," said Tyler. "You know that Tiffani works her ass off in the ring just as much as either of us did. She's an absolute superstar and I'm very proud of her." Clara let her son's words sink in, and then she turned her attention to her daughter-in-law.

"Trust me," said Clara, "you still have a lot to learn about this profession. Remember that."

"Yes, ma'am," Tiffani replied before Clara walked off. It wasn't the first time Clara had displayed such a demeanor towards Tiffani. Clara often appeared to be quite stern and a bit critical towards Tiffani throughout the entire time that Tiffani and Tyler were even together, and at home, the encounter was among many things that served as a topic of conversation.

"You know," said Tyler, "you don't have to listen to what Mom says. You are amazing as hell out there."

"Thanks, hon," said Tiffani. "And I know. But she's your mom, and she's done this for years."

"I've told her not to be so critical of you because of how sweet you are," said Tyler. "I love your sweetness. It's what makes you you."

Tyler's words were Tiffani's strength, and Tiffani continued to follow her own path as she pursued her third World Championship. Clara's constant criticism continued to be on her mind, but in Tiffani's mind, Clara was speaking from a past era, and all Tiffani did was turn the other cheek, especially when Tiffani had other pressing issues on her mind: not only the title, but the mysterious Hardcore Demon on her back. Tiffani entered the ring to a wave of cheers and applause, and as she basked in the reaction, she finally decided to speak her piece.

"Thank you so much for the support," said Tiffani. "It's been a tough road for me, but I am focused and set on becoming GCW World Champion for the third time. The road has been tough for me, but I've made it this far, and I promise you, I'll survive it all, including the Hardcore Demon!"

The very mention of the name resulted in the lights going out, with the only brightness being a pair of red eyes glowing in the video screen. Those same red eyes had been following Tiffani for two months, and they belonged to the very dark presence who had been targeting the young star.

"Tough? Survive?" the Hardcore Demon taunted, "you don't know the meaning of those words, little princess. But trust me, I'll be happy to teach you. I've destroyed women who are much tougher than you, and I've enjoyed every second of it!"

"I'm not afraid of you," said Tiffani, though her words were met with laughter from her villainous foe.

"You're so cute!" the Demon exclaimed. "Look at you, pretending to be strong. I know fear when I see it, little princess. You're not ready for me. Not even close." The Demon's wicked laughter ended the promo, and it left Tiffani losing her strong resolve bit by bit. The Hardcore Demon had been a black cloud hovering over Tiffani for two months, placing doubts in her mind, and leaving her fearful despite her resolve.

Several days passed since that encounter, and it was all Tiffani thought about. She even had nightmares where the Hardcore Demon taunts her and throws everything she has at her, but in spite of this, Tiffani kept her ordeal to herself and didn't tell Tyler. However, one morning changed that.

"I know about your nightmares, hon," said Tyler. "It's about that Hardcore Demon, isn't it?" Tiffani closed her eyes and let out a deep breath, doing so out of both worry and relief. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't want to worry you," said Tiffani. "You have your own aspirations going. I had figured you'd know, but I still didn't want to worry you."

"Let me worry, Tiff," said Tyler. "That's my job: being there for you."

"I just know Clara will use this to claim that I'm not tough enough," said Tiffani.

"Hey, I'll handle Mom," said Tyler. "I know she's done a lot in her career, and she's definitely known for the hardcore matches, but she should still give your drive and your determination some well-deserved respect." The mention of Clara's hardcore matches jogged Tiffani's memory, as images of her ordeal with the Demon were replaying in her mind.

"Remind me," said Tiffani, "what was your mother's weapon of choice in her matches?"

"Mom got her hands on everything but the kitchen sink," chuckled Tyler. "But she always did love swinging that kendo stick. Why do you ask?" Tiffani simply gave Tyler a kiss on the cheek, and told him that she would be headed to the gym, which was closed on that day. That would not stop Tiffani, as she made the drive to the gym, and rushed to the door just as Clara was about to close up--making a beeline past her as she entered.

"What the hell are you doing, Tiffani?" asked Clara.

"We need to talk," Tiffani said firmly, after which Clara closed and locked the front door.

"Well?" asked Clara, who noticed Tiffani's nerves increasing. Despite this, Tiffani got right to it.

"It's you. I know you're the Hardcore Demon."

Tiffani knew what she had just done. She had accused Clara, the mother of Tiffani's husband, of being the very villainess who had been taunting and even attacking her for the last two months. In addition, Tiffani made this accusation without any evidence, just pieces put together that could easily be deemed as coincidental, and as she watched Clara walk past her, Tiffani expected to be laughed at for her statement. She did receive laughter, but it wasn't out of ridicule. The laughter that came from Clara was low and wicked, basically an outright confession.

"Took you long enough... little princess," Clara said with a sinister smile on her face.

"Why have you been doing this?" asked Tiffani. "What is it? Am I not good enough for Tyler, or something?"

"Oh, don't get me wrong," said Clara. "You make my Tyler so happy. You are so good to him, and he's good to you, and I am happy that you put a smile on my son's face." Once the warmth was done, Clara's demeanor shifted back to her sinister expression.

"However, while being the nice girl is good in a marriage," said Clara, "it's absolutely bad for wrestling. I've battled in that ring for 40 years in environments that are way above your pay grade, dear girl. You're known as the "Golden Princess"? I was the "Hardcore Queen"; still am, by the way. The Demon, well, that's just me turned up to 100."

"I know all of this, and I respect everything about you," said Tiffani.

"See? Right there!" exclaimed Clara. "I just told you all of the horrible things I've done, yet you're talking about respecting me. I love when Tyler defends you to me. He should. A husband should stand up for his wife. But he's not the one I've been targeting. You are. You should be defending yourself to me. Hell, you should be kicking my ass right now! But you're not. You're too much of a princess." As Clara walked away from Tiffani, she couldn't help but add this retort:

"And that tells me all I need to know."

"I challenge you!" Tiffani shouted.

"Excuse me?" asked Clara.

"Whatever match you want, whatever rules you want to make," said Tiffani. "You name it, I accept." Clara chuckled at her daughter-in-law's challenge; a laugh that came from a place of disbelief and some jest, as she was fathoming what Tiffani was saying.

"You're serious?" asked Clara. "You really want to face me? And I get to decide the rules? Tiffani, I love you, I do. So I'm going to do you this favor. No. Your challenge is denied. Look at you. You are not ready for what I am capable of dishing out. Just focus on your title aspirations, and play with the other little girls."

"Is that really it?" asked Tiffani. "Or are you scared that this 'princess' will give you a long overdue ass-kicking?" That statement changed Clara's demeanor, as she saw that Tiffani was deadly serious about this grudge match.

"You want this?" asked Clara. "Fine. GCW's next event is Chaos Rules in two weeks. That's when we'll go at it. And you don't have to worry about the rules, because there won't be any. This match will be one I've mastered for years: Full Warfare. Plain and simple, you use your weapons, and I'll use mine--including one you know very well: the kendo stick."

"Like I said before, I accept," said Tiffani. Clara turned her back to Tiffani again, and with every bit of venom in her voice, Clara gave a warning to her daughter-in-law.

"You really shouldn't have accepted, Tiffani," Clara said ominously. "You thought I was just nasty as just your mother-in-law. In the ring, in that environment... I'm an absolute monster." At that moment, Clara turns around and displays her demonic red eyes, wearing special contacts for the effect. Tiffani runs off in a panic, leaving Clara to cackle maniacally.

The two weeks that followed saw quite a bit go down. First off, the Hardcore Demon unmasked in a video promo and revealed herself to the world as Clara Maxwell, the infamous Hardcore Queen. The promo saw Clara praise Tiffani's "little efforts," but she was unapologetic in true heel fashion, adding that Tiffani is a spoiled princess who needs to be taught a hard lesson. Tiffani gave a response to Clara's promo, stating that she does respect everything that Clara's done in her career, but she will gladly throw that respect out the window and throw everything she can get her hands on at her opponent.

At the house, it was even more interesting. Tiffani and Clara played up the tension leading up to the match, while Tyler remained supportive of both of the main women in his life. He did have some worries about Tiffani, as this was her first time competing in an environment that Clara had mastered. Tiffani's response:

"All I have to do is survive. I can do that."

Chaos Rules finally arrived, and the Full Warfare match served as the main event, because it was GCW's top contender against a bonafide legend. First off, the ominous music of the "Hardcore Queen," Clara Maxwell hit, and out came Clara, donning the mask of the Hardcore Demon, which she had been wearing in her taunts to Tiffani. Once she removed her mask, Clara revealed an ominous look: red and blue face paint resembling a face mask, and her red eye contacts. That and her all black gear (a tanktop and tights) served Clara's purpose: to be scary, intimidating, and villainous.

Up next, Tiffani Ross, the "Golden Princess," came out to massive cheers, but her expression changed once she saw Clara, face paint and all, brandishing an evil and sadistic sneer and taunting Tiffani to enter. Tiffani's emotions were all over the place. Underneath the paint and the sinister facade was her mother-in-law, but she knew that for a brief while, Tiffani had to forget that. Tiffani rushed into the ring and posed for the cheering crowd, but that allowed Clara to attack Tiffani from behind and start whaling on her with punches. Tiffani fought back, but Clara cornered Tiffani and continued her onslaught, which was within the rules in the match. Clara, with a fiendish gleam in her eyes, picked up Tiffani by her hair and started taunting her.

"You asked for this, daughter-in-law!" snarled Clara. "No rules! The ref can't save you. These fans can't save you!" After her loud ranting, Clara later brought herself closer to Tiffani and whispered:

"My son, my Tyler... he can't save you either. You're the only one who can stop me from doing whatever I want to you, and we both know you can't... princess."

Clara laughed fiendishly at Tiffani, who delivered elbows to her opponent and broke free from Clara's hold. However, Tiffani suddenly stopped herself from taking a swing at Clara, and that allowed Clara to slap Tiffani at that moment. Clara rolled out of the ring and pulled out various objects from underneath--chairs, a chain, steel pipes, before finally taking out her weapon of choice: the kendo stick. Clara entered with the weapon, but interestingly, she tossed the weapon to Tiffani.

"Come on, princess!" shouted Clara. "I'll give you one free shot at me! Think about all I've done to you! Think about what I'm going to do! Take your shot! Do it!" Tiffani had the weapon in her hands and clutched it, but her swing was caught by Clara, who snatched the stick from her possession and delivered her own swing. Tiffani ducked, and then came back with a hard slap to Clara, who actually grinned in amusement.

"It's a start," teased Clara, who attempted to swing at Tiffani, only for Tiffani to duck, pick up the kendo stick, and strike Clara's back. Followed by a second time. And a third. And a fourth. She eventually lost count, but by the time she was, Clara was out of the ring licking her wounds, while Tiffani basked in the violence she unleashed, as well as showing a side she never thought she had. What followed was Tiffani chasing Clara around until finally, the action returned to the ring, and Clara clotheslined Tiffani. Only a two-count was the result, but Clara was relentless in the assault, as she later picked up a chain and whipped Tiffani's back with the weapon.

After a few lashes, Tiffani grabbed her end of the chain and clocked Clara with it, but that resulted in a two count in Tiffani's favor. Tiffani later grabbed a chair and placed it down in the ring, and dragged Clara in position to deliver a DDT on the chair. Even that resulted in a two count for Tiffani, but the crowd was absolutely into it. As for Tiffani, she was all in on this extreme, hardcore style match, and she wanted to turn up the heat. This became less about getting payback against Clara, and more about proving to Clara and to the fans how she could embrace the violent, hardcore style. Tiffani took out a table, much to the immense delight of the fans in attendance, who were drinking in the mayhem in this match.

"Is this what you wanted, Clara?!" shrieked Tiffani. "Be careful what you asked for, mother-in-law dear!" Tiffani was set on putting Clara through a table, only for Clara to escape and rake Tiffani's before delivering her famous Death From Above finisher (a modified fireman's carry) to Tiffani, sending her through the table. Three seconds later, and the sinister "Hardcore Queen" was victorious, but once her hand was raised, Clara couldn't help but look at the defeated Tiffani with the utmost admiration. She extended her hand to her daughter-in-law, who accepted, but still looked down over losing.

"Hey! Look at me!" said Clara. "You didn't lose anything. You gained something tonight. I definitely see what you're capable of. And... I'm sorry... for everything." Clara extended her hand again, only for a tearful Tiffani to hug Clara instead, with the crowd cheering both women loudly.

"Thank you," Tiffani said, "for everything."

The capacity crowd cheered both women, but one fan in particular was immensely thrilled: Tyler Maxwell himself. He watched the whole thing backstage, and as both Clara and Tiffani staggered their way out of the ring, they were encountered by Tyler, who hugged both women.

"I'm so proud of both of you!" exclaimed Tyler. "You both showed out in the main event!"

"Thank you so much, Tyler," said Clara. "You were right about this one. Tiffani, I meant what I said in that ring. You showed me what you could do, what you're capable of. I only regret that it took getting beaten up and hit with objects for me to see that."

"Don't regret anything," said Tiffani. "You're the Hardcore Queen."

"Still being a sweet little princess," chuckled Clara. "Don't change that, either. You have the heart, but you also have that little demon in you just like I have. Danika Ray doesn't have a chance against you."

Three weeks passed, and Tiffani made her challenge for the GCW World Championship. She wanted Tyler and especially Clara to watch, because she had a surprise for them, and it came after Danika Ray made her entrance. The crowd reacted to a masked woman making an ominous entrance into the ring, resembling the Hardcore Demon, but once the mask was removed, the crowd erupted when they saw Tiffani under the mask, donning red and gold eye-mask face paint, and displaying demonic lenses. Tyler was in awe over his wife's new look, and even Clara, who often displayed a hardened demeanor, couldn't help but be touched by her daughter-in-law's homage.

The title match saw Tiffani and Danika fight tooth and nail, though Tiffani did manage to intimidate Danika with her new look. A 15 minute match ended with Tiffani countering Danika's attempt at a DDT by delivering a superkick, followed by a new submission finisher known as the Royal Crossface. Danika tapped out, and just like that, Tiffani became the new champion. After regaining the GCW World Championship, Tiffani took the mic and addressed the crowd in a bit more of an aggressive manner than usual.

"Thank you for being there during my quest to regain this belt! And as they say, the third reign is the charm, and I've brought a new edge to this run at the top. I'm not just the Golden Princess. From now on, I'm the Golden Hardcore Princess!"

The crowd cheered Tiffani's new intense transformation, and as she headed backstage, she was picked up and kissed by Tyler.

"Congrats, babe, you did it!" exclaimed Tyler. "And you're now the Golden Hardcore Princess? Nice!" Tiffani kissed Tyler again, but Clara decided to interject and get her thoughts in on her daughter-in-law's new persona.

"All right, lovebirds, let me talk to the champ," said Clara, who walked around Tiffani and inspected her. "Not bad. I still think all of this could be molded into a heel gimmick, especially with you as my evil protégé. But honestly, if anyone can pull this off as a babyface, you can. I'm very proud of you."

"Thank you, Clara, for making all of this happen," said Tiffani.

Tiffani's road back to the top saw her deal with her own doubts and fears, and also saw her unleash a side of her that she didn't expect. Her memorable match with Clara gets talked about a lot, and even though Tiffani didn't win that match, she received a lot of credit for working against type, and as a result, she even ended up leading a group of hardcore type wrestlers known as the Metal Mavens. Clara remained proud of her daughter-in-law, but she couldn't resist wanting to face her again, as she formed a heel faction known as the Iron Maidens to battle against the Mavens. A rematch between Clara and Tiffani took place a month later, another Full Warfare match, but this time, Tiffani won, and was congratulated by Clara afterwards. Tiffani had it all; the confidence, the title, the edge, and most of all, the support of many fans. This included her two biggest fans, the ones who meant the most to her: her husband and her mother-in-law.