Seth
It was another sleepless night. The red numbers on the digital clock flashing 2:34 am. I had a couple of hours to kill before I had to catch a flight to Philadelphia for Monday Night Raw. Giving up on rest, I got out of bed to and threw on a pair of shorts and my sneakers to head towards the performance center at the arena.
D.C. was my favorite to work out in. The performance area was huge. It had a one large gym and 6 individual workout rooms, one of them having a wrestling ring in it.
The security let me in and I walked through the large open gym to go towards the back. The low humming of music filled the room and the song got louder and clearer the closer I got towards the individual rooms.
“And your heart is broken ’cause I walked away. Show me your scars and I won’t walk away”
Was that…?
My heart started beating faster despite the slow rhythm of the song.
“And I know I promised that I couldn’t stay, baby.”
That was Beyonce.
“Every promise don’t work out that way, no no no no no. Every promise don’t work out that way.”
Beyonce.
At the performance center.
At this time of night.
Was she…?
I followed the music to the last room, peeking through the glass paned doors. It was her.
I watched as she performed a gymnastics routine in the ring. Dressed in a black sports bra and spandex shorts, you could see every muscle in her body working together to perform. The routine itself matched the tempo of the slow song. She would land her aerials on beat and her leaps with the pick up in rhythm, almost as if she was a ballerina performing on stage.
There was something so mystifying about watching her in the ring. It was always one of my favorite things to do and yet I felt like I hadn’t done it enough. Her entire being moved with a purposeful clarity as she jumped from the top rope, rotating twice before catching herself in a handstand. She spread her legs into a horizontal split then arched her back into a bridge, following by coming down in another split. Her training allowed her to maintain control. She was quick and agile or slow and steady. Her form was always perfect and she flowed with a grace that you couldn’t miss. With each movement she made, it became more and more painfully obvious how much heart she put into her routine and how punishing it was for her.
I’d always asked why she chose slower songs when she was practicing her aerials. I could never forget how she explained it. She said when she was in the air, she felt weightless. She was powerful and powerless all at once. Everything moved in slow motion and hyper speed at the same time. In that split second, it was as if gravity didn’t exist and her mind was clear of anything and everything else.
It was beautiful when she explained it, but I’d never understood it until I watched her tonight. She was vulnerable and it showed in her movements. Her jumps, the flips, the landings, weren’t for the purpose of training or causing pain. They were for her to let out everything she’d been holding inside.
She grabbed what looked like a pack of ice from the mat and sat cross legged in the center, holding it to her shoulder. Sweat glistened off of her exposed skin. Her muscles flexed and released with her heavy breaths and the sound of music was replaced by the sound of her sniffling.
She was crying. I wasn’t part of her life anymore to know why.
Maybe she was in pain. Maybe she was tired. Maybe she got in a fight with Dean.
I didn’t know. All I wanted to do was go in there and wrap my arms around her. I wanted to hold her against me and tell her that everything would be okay. That no matter what it was she could handle it and I would be by her side.
I tugged at the handle to do just that but the door was locked.
I didn’t believe in god. I didn’t believe in destiny, but I did believe in signs. I wasn’t meant to go in there. I wasn’t meant to see this side of her anymore. I wasn’t meant to feel this way anymore.
I could still feel the ache in my cheek from her kick earlier, but it was nothing compared to ache I felt seeing her like this.
…
Monday Night Raw came to a close. At Summerslam I would be facing Finn Balor for the new Universal Championship title. I’d watched the little fucker pretty closely and he was good, there was no doubt about it, but if anyone deserved that title it was me. I don’t know why I even had to fight for it. I’d never actually lose the WWE World Championship. I had to let it go due to my knee injury. It was bullshit but I’d play along. No matter how good Balor was, I was the man.
By Tuesday night, I was finally back in Davenport. I took Sarah out for dinner before we paid a visit to my mom’s house. My step dad brought me a beer while Sarah had wine with my mom in the kitchen.
“When do you leave again?” He asked as I relaxed into the couch with Kevin jumping into my lap.
I pulled out my phone, taking a sip of my beer. “Looks like I don’t have to fly out until Sunday night so I get to hang out for a few days.”
“Okay good. I’m fixing the deck so I’ll need some help.”
“Why are you doing it yourself? Just hire someone.” I replied.
He opened his mouth to reply to me before catching the time.
“Holly, Smackdown’s on.” He yelled back towards the kitchen before changing the channels.
My mom came back into the living room with Sarah following behind her. I knew she still maintained a relationship with Hazel, I don’t think anything could break their bond, but I was just glad she had accepted Sarah as well.
The two took a seat on the other couch as the show started with Daniel Bryan and Shane McMahon. Shane said that Smackdown is all about opportunity and that Smackdown was going to be getting it’s own pay-per-view called Backlash. He brought up how Smackdown was now home to the one and only WWE Champion and they needed to find an opponent for Dean at SummerSlam.
I scoffed and everyone turned to look at me but nobody said a word.
Shane went on to introduce Dean and his music played as he walked out to a big crowd reaction but Hazel wasn’t with him this time. He walked up on stage to say that he would fight anyone at anytime, challenging the rest of the roster to step up.
“Dean’s doing good as a singles competitor.” My stepdad said speaking up.
I shot him a look and shook my head. “Fuck him. If it wasn’t for Hazel he would’ve lost that title by now.”
“You could say the same about you and those little security minions you have.” He retorted.
“Besides, if it wasn’t for Hazel your career never would’ve taken off either so who are you to talk?” Mom said sharply, looking over at me.
I crossed my arms leaning back into the couch. Whatever.
“What Smackdown doesn’t have is a Women’s champion.” Daniel Bryan’s voice came through the TV. “With that being said, Shane and I are proud to unveil the all new SmackDown Women’s Championship title.”
“Can we please have Hazel come out to the ring?” Shane said into the mic and the fans went wild.
My blood boiled watching Dean clap for her as she walked out to her intro music. She stepped into the ring, waving at the crowd with a smile on her face before hugging the three men.
Dean threw his arm over her shoulder keeping her tucked into his side while Shane spoke with a smile. “Hazel, many people, including Daniel and myself feel that you were cheated out of your championship two years ago.”
The crowd cheered their agreement and Shane continued. “Now that you’re back, we want to give you the opportunity to once again become Champion. With Hazel being our number one draft pick, tonight we will have a Six Pack match between Nikki Bella, Natalya, Becky Lynch, Naomi, Alexis Bliss and Carmela. The winner will face Hazel at SummerSlam for the brand new championship title.”
The crowd clapped again and so did my mom and stepdad.
“No no no no!” Natalya protested coming down the ramp to the ring. “Are you guys serious? Last week Hazel gets a welcome fit for a Queen now you’re giving her a chance at the new Smackdown Women’s title? The only woman that deserves to be champion is me, what don’t you understand?”
“Woah woah woah.” Daniel Bryan stopped her.
“Yeah! Show some goddamn respect.” Dean yelled with a smirk.
Hazel and him laughed behind them with Hazel whispering something in his ear.
“Nataylia, if you wanted a chance at a woman’s championship, you would’ve taken it from Charlotte before the draft. You’ve had plenty of opportunities and you let them slip through your fingers.” Daniel reminded her.
“Those were not opportunities!” She screeched. “I’m wrestling Royalty around here and while Hazel was taking a two year vacation, I was busting my ass carrying the WWE Women’s division!”
Hazel cleared her throat, taking the mic out of Dean’s hands with an amused smirk. “You know, the old Hazel would’ve knocked your teeth out or even suggesting my absence was a vacation but lucky for you I was able to do a lot of soul searching and the new and improved Hazel is anything if now fair.”
Natalya made a face and Hazel stepped closer to her.
“Now I know if I was in your shoes, I’d be pretty upset too so, Shane – Daniel, with your approval, how we do a elimination match for the title between me and the rest of the women, besides, the only person I want at Smackdown is Charlotte.”
Both of their eyebrows flew up and they exchanged a look.
“I would say that’s a little more fair.” Natalya agreed. “That way, when I wipe the floor with you, to win that title, everyone will know once and for all who the Queen of Smackdown live will be.”
The crowd booed and Hazel laughed, looking back at Dean who also laughed before she looked at Natalya again.
“Sweetheart, I’m not worried. If you were paying any kind of attention back then, you’ll know that that’ll never happen and I have no problem showing you first hand just what I’m capable of. You see, what I noticed is that you people are so focused on calling yourselves royalty. Queen this. Princess that. Blah blah blah.” She stepped forward so their noses were practically touching. “Well that’s dandy and all but in the ring, I am a (bleeeep) God.”
Natalya scrunched her face in anger but you could see it in her face that she was intimidated. The crowd applauded and cheered out her name. Shane and Daniel stepped forward.
“Alright, alright. Is that what everyone wants to see?” Shane asked the crowd who proceeded to yell out their agreements. “Well then, it looks we’ll have an all new Smackdown Live Women’s Champion by the end of the night!”
Hazel
“You ready to do this all over again?” Renee asked as I slipped on a pair of spandex booty shorts under my leather skirt.
I looked at myself in the mirror wearing my old attire again and I nodded. I was more than ready. This was long overdue. This was fucking owed to me.
“All of these bitches are lucky I was feeling generous enough to even give them the shot. You have no idea how long I’ve been looking forward to this.”
“Uhm, yes I do.” She laughed. “Everytime we came to stay with you we only saw you a total of 3 hours a day. You were at the gym like five times a day.”
I laughed, taping down my bra top and nodding. “Whatever Renee you two were two busy having sex in my guest bed to even notice I was gone.”
She shrugged her shoulders with a guilty smile. “Speaking of Dean, do you want him to come out to the ring with you?”
“Nah.” I shook my head. “I got this.”
She nodded, helping me tape the back. “Oh and by the way, I’m totally jealous that everyone loves you and Dean as a couple.”
I shook my head. “They only love it because of what Seth did. Once I get into regular matches we won’t be accompanying each other, we’ll just assist as needed.”
“Hazel. Two minute warning.” The PA said after knocking on the door.
“Alright, wish me luck.” I said, giving her a hug and walking out towards the curtain.
Dean caught up with me as I waited for my music and gave me a hug. “Bring it home, Champ.”
“Oh I will.” I smirked hugging him back and walking out on que.
The arena went dark with pyrotechnics going off to the beat of my song. The crowd all stood and clapped as I walked down the ramp. I waved and looked out at the sea of faces before setting my sights on the seven women in the ring and the title belt resting on the announcer’s table. Each of them were incredible competitors on their own but that wasn’t my problem. I was too focused. I too angry. I was to hungry to let this go.
The bell rang and we circled the ring each looking at the other to start. Becky made the first move with an exploder to Carmella. Naomi ran across the ring to hit Alexis with a clothesline, both falling over the ropes to the floor. I went at Nikki with a running dropkick to the face knocking her into the corner where I used the ropes to jump into a stomp on her stomach. Natalya grabbed me from the back into a roll for a one count. I kicked out and jumped up from a bridge with a kick to her face before getting up to my feet.
I grabbed her by the neck and springboarded off of the bottom rope into a backflip throwing myself over her shoulder to slam her head first onto the mat. Carmella tried to go in for a pin on her but I grabbed her by her hair throwing her face first into the turnbuckle. I was knocked into the corner on top of her by a crossbody from Naomi. Alexis tried to take advantage and roll me into a submission but I kicked out at two. I elbowed her in the face, throwing her off of me and she rolled away giving me a chance to back into a corner hoping up into the ropes to take a deep breath.
I had this. I had to get back control. I had to show them why I was the longest reigning WWE champion. I could fucking do this.
I looked at my surroundings. Alexis was on the ground with Becky on top of her. Nikki and Natalia were across from me with Nikki kicking Natalya in the corner. Carmella and Naomi were in the center trying to get the other on the ground.
Okay. Here goes nothing.
I jumped from the ropes into a summersault, grabbing both Carmella and Naomi by the neck and smashing them face first into the ground.
Two down.
Nikki came at me with a clothesline but I ducked and back kicked her with her own momentum for a hard hit into the steel pole.
Three down.
Becky had Alexis for a submission and I bounced myself off the ropes to hit both of them in a single curbstomp.
Five down.
Natalya charged at me with a clothesline followed by lifting me over her shoulders to excute a fireman’s carry takeover.
Goddamn that shit hurt.
She through her body over mine for a count but I wrapped my legs around her neck, rolling her over so her shoulders were on the ground and held her for the count.
1…2…3…
The bell rang and I let go, my arm raised high over my head in victory.
I did it. I fucking did it.
Tears filled my eyes and Dean came out of nowhere lifting me up into a spinning hug holding me tightly while Shane’s music started playing. Shane and Daniel came down the ramp clapping their hands along with the fans.
They came and shook my hand congratulating me before the ref handed me the title belt. The feel of the leather in my hands let me know all of this was real. That it wasn’t just a dream.
I collapsed to my knees overcome with the emotion as I clutched the belt against my chest. Two years I waited for this chance again. Two years I worked my ass off for this. Two years I watched as others had a run at MY title. But now I was back and everything would fall in line.
Charlotte might have the Raw women’s championship, but I’d take care of that too.