When we're little kids, our teachers and parents read fairytales to us. We grow up believing in happily ever after. When I was a little girl, I used to pretend I was a fairy princess and that my bedroom was in a castle and that one day, a handsome prince would come and sweep me into his arms and carry me away. And one day, that is exactly how it happened. Almost…

2008

It was a warm day in late August, the weather in North Carolina still hanging on to the remnants that were known as long summer days. Fall had yet to fully begin and it was only a few days left before the cool autumn air would replace the muggy days. The WWE had made a stop in Charlotte and backstage at the Time Warner Cable Arena, the atmosphere was abuzz with talent and the usual excited chaos that pre-empted every show. Sometimes, my dad still traveled with the company. His affiliation allowed him to work at home but he wasn't about laptops and paperwork and stuffy meetings. Daddy lived and died in that ring. The sport meant everything to him. I know how much he loved me and my brothers and Mom but nothing could describe the sheer happiness that defined him when he was on the active roster.

He'd had a rash of health problems. His head, neck, and back had been injured twice in two years in the ring. He never took time off to heal. I'm sure he must have felt the pain…seen the warning signs but those guys are trained to deal with it. The show must go on. But in 1996, it stopped. He was forced to undergo surgery to correct his musculoskeletal and nerve problems. Then in 1997, he collapsed in our home. The absolute scariest moment of my life. He passed out and he looked…well, he looked dead. They said his symptoms were like those of cardiac arrest or pulmonary failure. He was in the hospital forever and we were so scared for him. My father had always been my hero…he still is. I am a Daddy's girl. Sometimes in life, we reach a crossroads where a decision must be made. That day, my father made his. He did not want my mother to become a widow. He didn't want three little kids to grow up fatherless. So he retired.

I made my way through the backstage area. I had spent time with the WWE here and there over the years. I had studied communications in college and my father had pulled some strings to talk to Vince McMahon about hiring me to become a ring announcer. I was excited. It was a tremendous opportunity. I felt pangs of guilt because I got a dream job simply through my father's connections, but I was a hard worker and I would do well. I'd fit right in. Wrestling was in my blood…it was a part of my DNA. Somehow I knew I would always be associated with it. To my mother's relief, at least it wasn't grappling inside the squared circle with a bunch of the Divas.

The crew had already started to set up the ring and my dad and Michael Hayes were standing in the middle of it chatting. He looked so at home there. All that was missing was the wrestling trunks. I was so proud to be his daughter. And as I looked around, I smiled. It was like I had found a new home. I now had a legacy of my own to fulfill.

"There she is, Michael," my dad stopped mid-sentence.

His drawl was heavy, unmistakable. And he smiled with the pride only a father could have for the apple of his eye.

"Well, well," Michael held open the ropes for me. "Good to see you again, darlin'. I swear you get prettier and prettier each time I see you."

He gave me a kiss on the cheek.

"Hello, Michael," I said before turning to my dad and lingering in his big bear hug of an embrace. "Hi Daddy."

"Hi Princess," he practically beamed.

He had called me that nickname since I was born.

"Am I interrupting?"

"Not at all," Michael shook his head. "Just catching up. We miss the Old Man on the road."

He gave my father a playful slap on the back.

"Well, we miss him when he's not at home," I smiled. "Besides, Daddy, you remember what the doctors say. You have to take it easy."

When you come that close to losing a parent like that so young, you become a worrywart when it comes to their health.

"I take it plenty easy," he shoved his hands inside his pants pockets. "Your mama makes sure of that. But uh, come pretty soon, looks like I'll have to join the fellas on the road just to keep up with you."

I grinned, slightly embarrassed.

"Nothing is set in stone yet…"

"Don't be so modest," Michael looked right at me. "The announcer job is practically yours. Start out on house shows and such to work your way up to TV. I am sure you will be great."

"Well, thank you. I promise to give it my best."

"I'm sure you will, honey," Daddy kissed my cheek. "Are your brothers on their way?"

I nodded.

"Yes sir. They will be here before the show starts."

"Good. Listen, Vince is backstage and I am sure he is going to want to speak with you. I'll see if I can grab him."

"Okay. Thanks Daddy."

He and Michael Hayes continued their conversation and headed out of the ring back up the ramp, presumably to eventually find the Chairman himself. The arena was empty but the layout used for wrestling events had already been set up. In fact, there was a big spotlight beaming down in the center of the ring. I realized where I was standing. One day soon, that was going to be my spot. I would stand there in front of a bunch of cameras and thousands of fans, wearing some sexy dress and introduce to the WWE Universe, some of the most talented athletes in the world. Just the thought gave me chills.

I savored the moment, grinning all over myself. Then I turned to exit the ring. I looked up and at the same time, so did he. He was the most beautiful man I had ever laid eyes on. Our eyes met and it was this electrifying, literal magical moment that is hard to explain. Moments like that only happen in the movies usually. I guess aside from all those fairytales I used to read, in reality, I had never really believed in love at first sight. Was such a thing even possible? Could two human beings really fall madly into true love just by looking at one another? That theory was tested. It may sound silly, but I looked at him and I knew. I just knew. You know? I knew he was the man for me. It was like time stood still. It went beyond lust, beyond love even. We were soul mates. I saw my life, our entire future together. He was the man that was going to be the father of my children.

I swallowed hard and smiled. He was beautiful. Tall. Tan. He had long dark hair that had been pulled back into a ponytail. He was dressed in gym attire. Though I had never seen him before, I knew right away that he was the talent. It wasn't uncommon for some of the more promising guys in the developmental territories to be brought up to travel on the main roster. He was lean but muscular, seemingly towering over, Matt Korklan aka Evan Bourne.

"Daveny, how are you?" Matt grinned and extended his hand as he helped me exit the ring. "It's great to see you again."

He smiled widely. Matt was one of the friendlier guys, a real sweetheart.

"Hi, how's it going?"

"I saw your dad backstage. He looks great."

I nodded.

"He's feeling great. Happy to be back, happy to see you guys."

"So," Matt took a swig of water from his bottle. "Any truth to those rumors floating around?"

I bit my lip and gave him a knowing look.

"And those rumors might be…" I tried my best to play coy.

"You'll be joining us."

Word sure did travel fast.

"Um, we'll see. They are going to give it a trial run, you know, see what happens. I'm excited."

"You wrestle?" the other guy asked.

It was the first time I had heard him speak and his voice literally paralyzed me.

"No," I licked my lips nervously. "I announce, I mean, I am going to be hopefully trying out for that."

"If she wanted to, she could," Matt added. "Wrestling is in her blood and um, please forgive my manners or lack thereof, guys. Colby, this is Daveny Lunde, Arn Anderson's daughter. And Daveny, this is Colby Lopez. He's a good friend of mine and a hell of a wrestler. Goes by the name of Tyler Black."

Colby. I liked that name. It was different. It was cute. It fit him.

"Nice to meet you, Daveny," Colby shook my hand and let his thumb roll over my fingers for a few lingering seconds. "That's a beautiful name."

"Thank you."

We were standing there holding onto each other in our own little world, completely oblivious to everyone and everything around us.

"Hey, can you guys excuse me for a second?" Matt asked before walking off and leaving us alone to go talk to one of the other guys.

"Hi," I said, the butterflies churning in my stomach literally about to carry me away.

He chuckled.

"Hi."

"I, um…I think we got introductions out of the way already," I laughed nervously.

"So…are you gonna be traveling with the company?"

"Yes. Soon. Probably a couple of weeks. I have a meeting with Vince McMahon later today. What about you?"

"Not soon enough but uh…hopefully soon."

"Good."

"Your dad…he is a living legend. I mean nothing but respect. I idolized him growing up."

I smiled.

"He is my hero, too. He is a wonderful man, in and out of the ring."

"Well, it is an honor to shake his daughter's hand."

We stood there for I don't know how long. Then, speak of the devil, my father emerged from the back.

"There you are, honey. Got a minute?" he asked.

I turned. Now I had another reason to be nervous.

"Sure," I took a deep breath.

"Now, no reason to be scared. Just be yourself and everything will go fine."

"I hope so," I turned to Colby. "It was uh, really great meeting you. If all goes well in the next few minutes, I guess I'll be seeing you around."

My dad turned to him and I saw something. My dad is a good judge of character. He had a certain way with people. He also had a nose for talent. He always said it was pointless to go out hunting for the "next big thing". He said sometimes opportunities just fell in your lap and when you saw it…well, you just knew. That day, I finally understood what he was talking about.

"I don't believe we've met, son."

Colby gulped hard.

"Mr. Anderson, it is an honor…"

"What's your name?"

"Colby Lopez."

"Well, Colby Lopez, you gonna be on the road?"

"For the next few weeks and then after that…well, who knows but that is the plan. I just got signed to some developmental stuff."

Dad looked him up and down.

"You got a great look. Got any Indy tapes?"

"Yeah. Yes sir."

"I'd love to take a look, see what you got."

They started up a conversation on the spot and Colby was in awe speaking with a man he had so long respected within their chosen career field. But there was something else about that glint in his dark eyes…

I'll never forget that day. It was the day my life changed forever. It was the day I became a full fledged member of the WWE. It was the day I met Colby. It was the day I fell in love with Colby. And it was the day I started believing in fairytales again.