The WWE's Performance Centre was quiet apart from its usual crowd of trainees, trainers and NXT and main roster superstars… 25 year old Amanda Cena was in the cafeteria that morning and looking through the script for the NXT Tapings tomorrow night.
Or she should've been… she had her earbuds in and found herself watching Eddie Guerrero's last match like she normally did when stressed or nervous… and NXT Champion Finn Balor saw it clearly as he walked over and put his hands over her eyes.
"Help me please?" Amanda responded after Finn lowered his hands and sat down next to her.
"I guess you know about the new wrestler they just signed that'll debut tomorrow night." Finn said.
"Part of it, they're keeping her identity a secret." Amanda replied after removing her earbuds and closing out YouTube, Amanda putting her phone and earbuds in the pocket of her Balor Club hoodie. "All I know is that her dad tried so hard to get noticed by WWE in the early 2000s but Vince didn't sign him. TNA and Ring Of Honor wouldn't sign him either. I'm gonna guess from the look on your face that New Japan didn't think he was Bullet Club material?" She said as Finn rested his right hand on her left one.
"I think the whole thing fell through in development before they approached me with the idea… wait, did you say early 2000s?" Finn responded.
"2001, I think, that was when John first joined… I remember hearing someone arguing with Vince one day about how he was missing out on a big opportunity by not signing him and instead signing John. And I didn't react too well to that from what the others said back then." Amanda replied.
"Well let's hope this person makes their father proud for making the opportunity." Finn said.
"I hope so too… Shawn might remember better than me, I should call him." Amanda responded, dialing Shawn's number.
"Heya, kiddo." Shawn answered.
"Hey Shawn, do you remember a signing falling through in March 2001 and who the person's name was?" Amanda asked.
"Yeah he was Terry Sang, good friend of mine. Why do you ask?" Shawn replied.
"His daughter's supposed to debut in NXT tomorrow night… no idea what her name is though or if Terry knows that she signed with the company." Amanda replied.
"Her name is Dakota and her father would know. He's gonna be so proud of her. He taught her mostly everything she knows. He's been training her since she was 12." Shawn explained.
"And NXT is a hell of a place to start for her and others… I'll call you back, okay?" Amanda said before they hung up. She and Finn stood up and went to find Aestrid to tell her this… and Amanda was recounting what she did remember. "Okay so I was about 10… I pushed the door open and walked in because Terry had said that Vince was just looking for someone to be the WWF's poster boy back then and that John wouldn't last long…" She said before revealing a chipped tooth in the right side of her mouth. "This is from what Hunter had said that when I stood up for John, Terry called me a disrespectful brat and smacked me. Vince went absolutely batshit at that!"
"Hopefully she's not like her father." Finn responded.
"I hope so too." Amanda replied before both saw Dakota, Terry and Aestrid.
"Sorry but Perry Saturn hasn't worked here in years… Amanda would know more about that than me." Aestrid explained, Amanda stiffening when Terry looked right at her… but luckily for her, he didn't recognise her as the 10 year old he saw that day.
"And where is this Amanda?" Terry asked.
"That would be me…" Amanda responded after they walked over, Amanda instinctively staying near Finn and his putting his arm around her back.
"You know where Perry Saturn is? I thought he should see my daughter." Terry explained.
"I haven't seen him since 2002, I used to hang out backstage… a lot of them have either left the company or are gone now, Eddie Guerrero passed in 2005 and Chris Benoit died in 2007…" Amanda said, Terry taking a deep breath after hearing that.
"I knew those guys. We haven't seen each other in years, not since I didn't get signed." Terry responded.
"They helped me out a lot… but they also became like family to me." Amanda said as Dakota observed her… and saw the steel chain around her neck that John used to wear to the ring.
"Dad let's get out of here." Dakota said.
"Something wrong?" Terry asked as Aestrid noticed the tense look on Amanda's face.
"I'll tell you later." Dakota muttered.
The two left, Aestrid turning to Amanda, who was muttering "I fucking blew it!" under her breath.
"How?" Aestrid asked.
"Her father hit me when I was 10 after I went into the office that day and defended my brother." Amanda explained, Aestrid turning to catch up with Terry.
"Hey, you may not have liked John but you had no right to slap his kid sister!" Aestrid growled, Terry looking back at Amanda as Dakota had headed to the main room of the Performance Centre.
"She was being disrespectful and as for her brother, he took my chance away from being here." Terry said.
"And he could've easily filed assault charges against you, she was only 10 and didn't like you disrespecting him!" Aestrid responded before taking a breath. "I hope your daughter does make it here… one blown opportunity shouldn't be the result of bitterness!" She said before leaving.
Amanda and Finn ended up in the ring and Amanda removed the hoodie and chain.
"I kept this to remember part of my childhood… John worked his ass off to get here, so did I and Dakota did too. And I don't want this to go on. I at least hope there'll be some civility." Amanda said as she and Finn hugged.
"I hope so too, lass." Finn whispered, kissing Amanda on the side of her forehead.
