Name:Christina
Age:22
Born/Resides in: Brooklyn, NY/Long Island, NY
Ring Name:Brooke
Appearance:5'6", 120lbs, athletic build, long black hair, dark brown eyes
I arrived to the place where they held today's PWG show. It's my first day in Independent wrestling. I went to wrestling school while going to college. During the middle of my sophomore year I left my two year relationship with my high school boyfriend to focus on wrestling. I did some small tournaments back home in Brooklyn New York. My goal was to graduate college and get my degree in journalism. I reached that goal a few months ago. The chance came up from my trainer to join Independent wrestling. This is my true passion. I've been watching wrestling since I was 12; now I am 22. I started watching WWE towards the end of the attitude era and the start of the ruthless aggression era. I discovered Independent wrestling a couple of years after and absolutely fell in love with it. It was very different from the big stage of the WWE. It was more personal in the way that it was a small group of people watching and the wrestlers got a chance to interact more with their fans during shows. Whether it's a small group or a huge group of 100,000 I will do my job to entertain the fans.
The thing I really need to work on is my promo skills. I'm a naturally shy and reserved person. I was the girl that sat in back of the class and just did what she had to do to make it through. I had plenty of friends even though I'm socially awkward. Anyway I'm really excited to introduce myself to the fans. I didn't have a match, but this promo would lead to what will happen the next show I'll be in.
I walked down the hall but got confused where to go. It's a small place and I couldn't find anything; just me. "Lost?" I heard a man's voice. I turned around and saw Joey Ryan. He happens to be one of my favorites. I watched him also on TNA and was shocked when he was let go.
"Uh yeah" I said slightly embarrassed.
"Well walk with me then. What's your name by the way?"
"Christina" I looked at him and smiled as we walked. "Well I'm Joey" he smiled.
"I'm actually a fan of yours."
"Oh that's good, thanks."
"No problem."
"You look really young like 17" he laughed. I laughed because everyone thought I was 17 or 18, not far off though.
"No I'm 22."
"I feel old thanks" he joked.
"Funny" I smiled. "I try hard on that thanks" he put his arm around me and shook me slightly then put his arm back to his side. "I'm assuming you'll be talking tonight."
"Yep, I'm excited but nervous."
"Well you're 1 of 2 women here. Have you ever wrestled men?"
"Dozens of times in tournaments."
"Where were the tournaments?"
"Brooklyn, where I'm from. I wanted to start in the Indies earlier but I was in college so my trainer had the idea of me doing local wrestling tournaments."
"Sounds like fun" he smiled.
"It was. Oh and to be honest I like wrestling guys better it gives me a sense of accomplishment." I started to get more comfortable with him. It always took me a while to joke around with someone I just met. It actually took me a shorter time to get comfortable with him which was rare.
He laughed, "I totally get it."
We walked to where men were setting up the ring for tonight. "This is where we'll be tonight. Like it?"
"Yeah I haven't been to a show like this before. The tournament rings were smaller."
"Do you know what to say?"
"Yep I got it all up here" I tapped my head with my pointer finger. "I just want some tips I never did a promo, I've written some, but never had the chance to use them."
"What aspect of it are you worried about? Is it the crowd or delivery or nervousness?"
"Delivery. I don't know how to be in your face."
"It's all about commanding attention in your voice and the movements you do. It takes a few times to get used to it."
"Thanks so much" I smiled. "No problem, hey, I want you to succeed. I can imagine what kind of skill you have because you wouldn't be here if you were bad or mediocre. Plus you're beautiful so it's a bonus."
I blushed, "thank you."
"Just telling the truth. Let me um take you to the back to meet everyone who's here" he tapped my arm. We walked to the back room where it was pretty quiet.
"Doesn't seem like anyone's here?" I looked up at him. "It was noisy like an hour ago."
Trent walked up to us. I met him a few years ago back when I was training, he was a guest trainer a few times. I wonder if he remembers me.
"Hey, who's…"
"I know you" he hugged me. "I still remember the conversation we had back all those years ago. You were the hardest worker."
"Thanks, I didn't think you'd know who I was."
"I don't remember your name, but I remember your face. I'm pretty good with that stuff."
I laughed, "I'm Christina."
"Ah, well it's nice to see you again Christina. Are you still living in Brooklyn?"
"No, I recently move with my friend to Long Island."
"I fully support the move" he laughed. "I knew you would" I smiled. My family is going to live in Florida now that my little sister graduated high school. I didn't want to make the move so my friend Jessica said I could live with her in her apartment.
"See you later" he said and walked away.
"He trained you?"
"No he made a few appearances in the school. He did one on one conversation with the students and to observe."
"Who trained you?"
"I trained at House of Glory under The Amazing Red."
"I know who he is, TNA alum just like myself. I'm actually a fan of him."
"He's great as a person and a wrestler, especially as a mentor. I learned a lot."
"We should go around and meet everybody." I agreed and the rest of the time was spent talking to the roster. Everyone was super nice which I was hoping for, but not expecting. I as well as everyone else had a big personality when it came to our personas. I go by the name Brooke and am a cunning, stereotypical Italian from Brooklyn. I do an exaggerated Brooklyn accent to top it all off. The cunning part is that I'm the girl that plays mind games with my opponent. A conversation with Matt Striker helped me develop my character. He did an appearance at the school and I got a chance to speak to him. I owe it all to him.
He kept in touch with me because he saw something in me that he didn't see with every other student there. I gave him my ideas and he polished them up for me. I just hope that I could make him proud of my character and to have something to show for the confidence I had.
I felt so much more confident as Brooke then I do as myself.
I didn't have the personality I wanted and I didn't think I was pretty. I looked at every flaw and now that I'm older I've learned that people don't see what I see when looking at me. I'm starting to work on my self-confidence but it's coming around slowly.
It was my turn to go out there and cut my first promo in the ring. "Do you know who will interrupt?" Candace LaRae said to me. I got to know her the most because of Joey. "Nope."
"Well good luck" she smiled. "Thanks."
"Yeah good luck and remember what I said" Joey gave me a high five.
I walked out to a crowd of maybe 45.
"My name is Brooke and I am going to make a name for myself" I said as I walked up the stairs and into the ring. "I'm used to being the strongest mentally and physically. You see my opponents have strengths and weaknesses; I break them down mentally so all their strengths become weaknesses.
I am the best at what I do and what I do is wrestle. I'm like the uncrowned champion. There is no"- I was cut off and looked to see Johnny Gargano walk in the ring.
"It's really brave of a girl to come out here in a male dominated company and say that you're the best. Well guess what you're not the best. You call yourself an uncrowned champion. That's cute real cute."
"First of all" I put my finger up to his face. "I am not cute I am one cunning bitch and I can break you. I'm not scared because you're a man. I've made men cry when they stepped in a ring with me." I slowly got in his face.
"You're hot when you're mad" he smiled. I smiled then slapped him across the face.
"That was, that was good" he pointed in my face the dropped his microphone. He picked me up over his shoulders then body slammed me onto the mat.
"Hey beautiful I'll see you in the ring two weeks" he put up two fingers. I laid on the mat moving around a little until I could get up.
I walked into the back. Joey picked me up and spun me, "Amazing and you sold the body slam perfectly" he put me down as he said it.
"Thanks" he looked me in my eyes and we both got lost in looking at each other. We both snapped out of it, "you, um didn't look nervous."
"It's crazy how once I get into character I'm confident and don't get nervous."
"That's a good thing though."
Johnny Gargano walked up to us as we were talking. "I didn't hurt you right" he smiled.
"No you didn't I'm fine."
"Oh so you don't sound like pure New York."
"No I adapted it a long time ago."
"Are you from there at least?"
"Yeah I've met many people that sound like that."
"Sorry I interrupted you're conversation" he turned to Joey. "No I'm going to change anyway, bye Chris" he waved and walked away.
"Where'd you train?"
"House of Glory under The Amazing Red."
"Nice, he's a good guy. How old are you by the way?"
"22" I smiled.
"Wow youngest one in the company. I like your Brooke from Brooklyn thing is that all from your brain?"
"Actually Matt Striker came up with it. He was a guest trainer and we came up with it."
"Again a good guy. I'm excited to see you wrestle."
"Well next time you will but I will be kicking your ass" I smiled.
He laughed, "You talk a big game. I like it" he winked.
-Joey-
I left as Johnny started talking to Christina. When I first saw her she just shone. She made me lose my words, which never happens. Talking to her made her even more beautiful. She is a person that you just want to talk to and get to know. There was just something about her that drove me crazy…in a good way.
After getting ready I decided to go back to see her. She was still talking to Johnny it looked like they were flirting and having a grand old time. I kind of felt like a lovesick teenager which was not like me.
I overheard them talking.
"Would you like to go out sometime?" he asked. I was probably more nervous for her response then he was. "I'd like that" she smiled. It felt like someone punched me in the balls. I lost my opportunity and Johnny picked it up. I couldn't blame him for being so forward with her so quick. I'm normally not afraid to ask a girl out, but not her. It was weird.
I started walking again after I stopped dead in my tracks. "Hey Joey" she saw me and smiled.
"Hi."
"See you tomorrow night" Johnny left.
"What was that about?" I acted like I didn't know anything.
"I'm going out with him tomorrow."
"Oh" I nodded.
"Are you alright?" she said concerned. "Yeah…fine."
"Okay."
"I have a match and you better watch" I smiled and pointed at her. "I will not miss it" she laughed.
-Christina-
When Johnny asked me out I was kind of hesitant to but there is no chance in hell that Joey likes me. Johnny is a great guy, but I wasn't attracted to him physically. He's a great guy and he is a good looking guy, but I don't know.
I was excited to get to know him though.
When I actually talked to Joey I felt something in the pit of my stomach. I just wanted to talk to him forever. He's funny, lively, and very attractive. I just wish that I had the courage to ask him out. If only…