(Erica): In light of recent events, I feel it’s best that you hear directly from me. I feel it’s best you don’t hear it second hand from TMZ, or on the back page of a paper or plastered across a website. These are my words, from the source, direct to you.
No turning back now, she thought.
(Erica): Who am I? Mi nombre es Erica Martinez. I am a wrestler, I am a sister, a daughter to a wonderful mother and late father. I am curious and easily fascinated by passionate or skilled people. I am obsessed with perfection.
I am tolerant and feel we all have the same rights to live no matter what we look like, where we come from and who we love.
I love being outside and love nature and its wonders. I’m stubborn and impatient. I can be really annoying.
I like to help people accomplish things they didn’t think they could do. I like chocolate and the smell of fresh bread. My favorite colour is green. I believe in change and progress, and that every little bit makes a difference. I am an optimist and I believe that people are good.
I have been on this earth long enough to understand that that is not always the case though. So here I am, sitting in this chair, looking at the camera in front of me and talking to you.
What I’ve told you so far is no lie. What I tell you now will be held to that same standard.
Erica takes a deep breath, running her fingers through her hair.
(Erica): I work in a profession that more often than not tells a story. I work in a profession where more often than not friends on camera are enemies off screen and vice versa. I work in a profession where the man embracing you in the ring could just as easily drive a knife into your back inside the locker room if given half a chance… but you wouldn’t know that. You, the person sitting at home, you wouldn’t know that.
I’m, ’fortunate’, you might say to work for a federation that doesn’t lean into such antics. I work for a federation where, well, what you see is what you get, si?
I can see how to you, sitting at home or sitting in the arena, sitting at your computer or sitting on the couch looking at your phone, to you, it might not be that clear cut. I get it.
She holds her hand to her chest with sincerity. She does get it, things these days get lost in the noise so easily.
(Erica): But I wrestle in the HWA, what you see is what you get. It’s unfiltered, you see us. Not some characters. You see us, warts y todo.
Sean Parker kissing me in the medial room in Little Rock. Si, that was real. Mi maestro being assaulted by that escorio Matt Miller in an arena bathroom, si, that was real. Vanessa spreading lies about me week after week, while I’m in the ring doing my job, and can’t hear it or reply to defend myself until after the fact? Si. That was real.
Who am I? Mi nombre es Erica Martinez. I am a wrestler, I am a sister, a daughter to a wonderful mother and late father. My father and older brothers passed away. I plucked up the courage to do things I was not proud of to see that my family survived. I’ve worked hard for this company going on 2 years and I met Hans shortly after the Reunion Show in April.
This next part is going to be difficult to say, the cat wasn’t out of the bag yet. What truly happened, the real revelations… It's still such a confusing time.
(Erica): Hans von Richtoven sexually assaulted me!
There it is. She’d said it now. No taking it back.
She could have had a much different career…people could have known the real her and not what they think they see on tv.
Her heart rate thunders as this thought ricochets around your head.
Following close behind but never quite managing to take the lead was the ‘was I even ready?’ line, followed in a pack by a herd of other thoughts. Together it was a cacophony of noise.
She told herself to Focus!
(Erica): What I’ve told you is no lie. What I’m about to say is the truth. Hans von Richtoven isn’t sick. He isn’t deluded. But he isn’t all of the man, I’ve said he is. He is not my fiancée, partner, spouse or whatever else you may call it. Every time I open my mouth to speak such things, I’m lying. I am lying to you, you, the person watching this. I am lying to you, the person who has been told that ‘we’re all friends’ and ‘work colleagues’ and that ‘it’s all make believe’. I’m lying to myself………No. I’m lying. Don’t fall for it. I don’t want to let my lies affect any more people than it has already.
She exhales slowly. It’s out now. It’s almost done, for now.
Erica remains seated staring into the camera, as the small red light besides the lens continues to blink.
(Erica): After my arrest in Los Angeles, I knew I needed help, professional help. I came straight here to New York to get that help. Antonio connected me with a former colleague of Dr. Melinda Ramirez who helped him in the past before she died in a horrible accident. I didn’t want to go behind mi maestro’s back, but I was desperate.
Tears stream her eyes. This was the final revelation. The words she had to find the courage to say.
(Erica): As a result of my sexual assault, my doctor proposes that I am suffering from Stockholm Syndrome.
Tears continue to fall as she wipes her eyes.
(Erica): I am not a criminal. I went to Hans’ home to bring him a housewarming gift, I just wanted to drop it off and catch my flight to Havoc, but I couldn’t help myself. When I walked into his house, I could smell him.
Erica wraps her arms around herself, tilts her head up with eyes closed and her nostrils flaring as if she can smell Hans this very moment, and smiles.
(Erica): I wanted to leave…I tried to leave, but his power over me is so strong, and pulled me further in. I lost all my senses. I am not the bitch that Vanessa, and Michelle and Alexis and Sarah all make me out to be. I’m the victim here, forced to fight for my job and my integrity. I don’t want to go into details about what happened, but it was in the ring, during a training session at the Academy, and yes…there were witnesses. That’s all I’ll say about it at this time.
Erica looks straight into the camera.
(Erica): I don’t blame you Hans…I love you. I know that if you just give me a chance, we can make something work between us. As for Vanessa…and the rest of them…
Her face grows dark as her head tilts just slightly downward where her eyes are looking up at the camera.
(Erica): This is all your fault. You’re all taking advantage of my mental condition, my disability. You force me to defend myself and so I shall, just like I did at Havoc against Vanessa. Don’t worry Hans, I’m going to make them all pay, and when I’m done…when all the noise is out of our way. We can be together…tu y yo! I’ll see you soon papi!
Erica smiles and blows a kiss to the camera as the scene fades to black.
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