Part 1
"Thank you and congratulations again on another successful Takeover," Triple H beams with pride as he looks out at the entire NXT roster. They has just completed their highest viewed Network event yet. "Before I let everyone go I have just one more thing." He pauses as he shuffles through some paperwork at the podium. "Ravyn and JJ are being called up to the main roster," he announces. "Good luck on Smackdown ladies!"
Ravyn Storm turns to her best friend and pulls her into a tight hug as their fellow competitors clap loudly. The two girls are peppered with congratulatory words from their coworkers as the room begins to empty out. Soon enough it's just the two of them left. They stare down at the front of the room where Triple H had made the announcement a few minutes earlier.
"I can't believe this is real," JJ grins as she starts to stand up.
Ravyn runs a hand through her long black and turquoise hair with a tattooed arm, "Dude, we worked so hard for this."
"We did!" JJ confirms, "Lets not stop now!"
The two girls grab their phones and head through the door of the auditorium style room. They stop in the locker room to grab their gear bags before getting into their rental car and heading back to the hotel.
Three days later the girls arrive at their first official Smackdown Live. Ravyn leads the way into the Smackdown women's locker room. They're greeted by Becky Lynch with a huge bear hug.
"Congrats on the call up you guys,"she says with her thick Irish accent. "I knew you'd be here soon enough!"
"After you guys left us we were worried that we'd never see you again!" Ravyn squeals.
JJ adds, "And we managed to hang on to Bayley for so long too!"
The girls chit chat for a bit before Becky has to go to hair and makeup. They decide to go down to the ring and roll around for while. Stepping between the ropes they get into the ring for the first time in a big arena. After gawking at the sheer size of the building they settle down and get to work. After an hour of working out together they walk back through the curtain. A few steps into gorilla they're met by Mark Carrano.
"Ladies," he says with a smile. "Why don't you two get cleaned up and meet me in my office in a bit so we can discuss the plan for you guys on Smackdown Live."
"We'll be there in twenty minutes ," JJ assures him.
The girls scamper off towards the locker room. They're caught up in a conversation between the two of them. As they round a corner lost in thought Ravyn slams headfirst into a muscular chest. She looks up to see the clear blue eyes of AJ Styles glaring back at her.
"Sorry," she quickly stammers out.
He looks her up and down before sneering, "Watch where you're going." He stalks off leaving Ravyn with her jaw hanging in shock.
"Whoa," JJ whispers. "What did you ever do to him?"
Ravyn shakes her head in confusion, "I.. have no idea."
The girls continue to the locker room to get cleaned up before meeting with Carrano. They shower and put some makeup on, then knock on the frame of his office door. He explains to them the characters that creative has thought up for them. Ravyn will play a grungy punk rock goth heel while JJ will take on the underdog baby face character. He runs a few storylines past them before letting them know that they each have a match on tonight's show. JJ will have her debut match against Carmella while Ravyn will face off against Naomi. On their way back to the locker room they hear someone making a siren noise behind them.
"Pull over," a gruff voice demands. Ravyn spins on her heel to see Tyler Breeze and Fandango coming up behind them. Fandango slips his reflective shades down his nose and scribbles something onto his notepad. He rips two slips of paper off and hands them to the girls. "Consider this a warming," he smirks as he walks off. Tyler follows but spins around a few steps away to smile and wink at them over his lowered sunglasses. They turn a corner and the girls look at each other in stunned silence.
"Great.." Ravyn huffs. "Fashion Police."
JJ peers down at her slip of paper, "I got a ticket. Too much pink." She snorts. "As if that were even possible."
Ravyn holds up her slip, "Crazy hair."
"Well they aren't wrong," JJ smirks ruffling her best friends multicolored locks. Ravyn shoots her a playful glare and wrestles her into a headlock. The girls play fight in the hallway until they hear clapping coming from a doorway.
They look up sheepishly to find Dolph Ziggler smirking at them. "Good to see you two on the main roster," he states.
JJ blushes, "Thanks."
Ravyn nods, "It feels good to finally be here!" JJ grabs her hand and practically drags her down the hallway. "Slow down, crazy," Ravyn laughs. JJ just looks at her with flushed cheeks. "Oh, I think someone has a crush!"
"Do not!" JJ insists as she tries to hide the color rushing to her face. "Okay, maybe a little," she finally admits.
"You're adorable," Ravyn teases.
The first night on Smackdown surprisingly goes off without a hitch. The girls become fast friends with the majority of the roster. But with the two of them working against each other on TV they soon realize that their days of traveling together are limited.
"JJ," Ravyn starts sadly. "I think with me working heel they're probably going to make us stop riding together."
JJ nods, "You're probably right." The red haired girl says as she props her boot up on a chair to start lacing it. "So I guess we should find new travel buddies then."
"I guess so," Ravyn sulks. "God why does it feel like we're breaking up!? We're still going to see each other ALL the time. It just won't be the same traveling without you!"
"I feel like you just gave me a 'it's not you, it's me' speech. And bought me coffee at a diner so I wouldn't make a scene," JJ giggles.
Ravyn laughs, "That's definitely something I would do!"
"Hey JJ, you're welcome to ride with me and Becky if you want to," Nattie pipes in.
JJ smiles at the veteran woman, "That would be amazing! I don't get to see enough of you guys anyways."
"You rebounded quickly," Ravyn scoffs playfully.
JJ teases her friend, "I actually just couldn't wait to get away from you."
She sticks her younger out for emphasis. Ravyn flings her boot at her friend, which JJ ducks. It goes sailing out the locker room door and skitters to a stop at the feet of AJ Styles.
"Shit! Sorry!" Ravyn calls out apologetically. He shoots her a dirty look before continuing down the hallway. Ravyn turns to the other girls who share her confusion. "I seriously don't know why he hates me."
The weeks go by with JJ traveling with Nattie. Ravyn has yet to find a new riding partner. She travels by herself mostly but occasionally catches a ride with Breezango or Alexa Bliss. Upon arriving at the arena she takes some time to work out with JJ. On their way back through the curtain they check the nights schedule. JJ has the night off and Ravyn has a match with Nikki Bella. Ravyn goes back to get changed for her match leaving JJ to scrutinize the card.
Once she's fully dressed in her gear Ravyn goes over to hair and makeup where she lets the stylist perfect a goth punk look to match her leather jacket and plaid tights. As she stands up from the chair to admire their handiwork she catches a glimpse of AJ's scowling reflection in the mirror. She shakes her head and heads to gorilla to wait for her music.
Nikki goes out first and the crowd explodes with cheers. Ravyn lets her music pulse through the arena for a few moments before emerging through the curtain. The crowd welcomes her with a chorus of boos. She revels in their hatred, sauntering down the ramp flipping her hair over her shoulder. She really takes her time getting into the ring, making the fans wait for her, riling them up even further. Finally she steps between the ropes. She slips her leather jacket off of her shoulder and sets it down under the turnbuckle. Her and Nikki lock up in the center of the ring as soon as the bell chimes. Ravyn takes every opportunity to cheat when the referee isn't looking, causing the fans to boo her even louder. Coming up on the six minute mark of their match Nikki whips Ravyn into the corner. She kicks Ravyn in the gut and gives her a quick snap suplex. There's a pop from Ravyn's shoulder loud enough for the referee to hear. Nikki goes for the pin as soon as she realizes what happened. She celebrates her victory as Ravyn is helped to the back by the ringside medical staff.
