Chapter 51: NXT Takeover: New Orleans

The next day was NXT Takeover and Drew & Michelle arrived at the Smoothie King Center pulling into the parking lot.

Michelle had a lot of butterflies all day leading up tonight as she was going to have her championship match in front of her mom and brothers who were going to sit in the front row along with Chad and Autumn.

Michelle's family arrived late last night as they were staying at a hotel and had already met up with Michelle earlier for breakfast.

Drew and Michelle got out of the car as they grabbed their luggage and headed backstage of the area.

Drew held onto Michelle's hand as she was still nervous for the NXT Women's Championship and Drew assured her that he was going to be at her side.

The two were about to head their separate ways when…

"Hey, Michelle," Ricochet greeted.

"Hey, how are you?" Michelle said as she walked over to Ricochet and hugged her.

"Doing good, ready for tonight."

"Well, it's a big night for both of us; you're making your debut and I'm in the triple threat match for the NXT Women's Championship. I think this will be a good night for us."

"It sure will. Drew, it's good to see you again."

"It's good to see you again, too," Drew said as he and Ricochet hugged each other. "It's been a long time."

"Yeah, a long time. I'm guessing you're her to support Michelle and root for her in the triple threat match."

"I sure am. I'm also going to be part of the pre-show, so you'll probably hear me brag a thing or two about my girlfriend here."

"Hey, I was first surprised when I heard about you and Michelle. She told me that people on the roster wouldn't shut up about you two."

"Well, it was a little annoying," Michelle quipped, "but I'm used to just being the supportive girlfriend of Drew McIntyre while working my ass off."

"Well, I told Drew that hopefully if he returns, we'll probably have a together soon."

"That's if you make it out alive tonight though."

"Well, I don't wanna keep you two long, so I'll catch up with later, Drew."

"You bet," Drew agreed.

"See ya," Michelle said.

Then the three went their separate ways.

A little later, NXT: Takeover was on and it was time for the triple threat match for the NXT Women's Championship which was Michelle versus Ember Moon versus Shayna Baszler.

Michelle was backstage in the women's locker room as she had her wrestling gear and she had butterflies in her stomach as she was minutes away from the Triple Threat match NXT Women's Championship match.

This was the moment she had waited a year for, and it was finally happening.

When it was time, Michelle walked out of the women's locker room and made her way to the Gorilla Position where Drew was standing in his blue suit that made Michelle weak in the knees. Drew's expression became pleasant as he noticed the wrestling gear that Michelle was wearing.

"Wow," Drew said.

"You like it?" Michelle asked as she did a little twirl.

"I love it."

"I wanted to surprise you with this because I remembered that you wore the kilt with the chains on it at NXT Takeover in Houston."

"I did and it looks like you took my idea to give to Natasha for her to design this outfit."

"Well, I decided to wear this as my dedication to you."

"I feel very honored. You're ready?"

"I was born ready."

"Good luck out there."

Then Drew and Michelle kissed each other as Michelle went through the Gorilla Position.

Michelle took a deep breath as she was pacing back and forth as well as Ember made her way to the ring with Lzzy Hale of the band Halestorm playing her entrance theme as well as Shayna making her way to the ring.

Then it was time for Michelle to make her entrance as she came out from the curtain and stood at the top at the ramp before she took off her ski mask hoodie. Michelle stared at Ember and Shayna as she walked down the ramp and went around the ring as she posed on the ring apron. Michelle did a split, and turned her legs to the side to get into the ring and climbed on the turnbuckle and raised her arms in the air before turning her head to look at Shayna, who stared at Michelle dead in the eye.

Michelle got back down as she looked at Ember before Mike made the introductions

"The following contest is scheduled for one fall and it is for the NXT Women's Championship," Mike announced. "Introducing the challengers, first from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Shayna Baszler."

Shayna continued to give death stares at both Michelle and Ember.

"Next from Oakland, California, Michelle Edmondson," Mike announced.

Michelle smirked at both opponents before she gave Shayna a stare of her own.

"And from Dallas, Texas, she is the NXT Women's Champion, Ember Moon," Mike announced.

Ember continued to talk smack to Shayna and looked at Michelle as Ember gave the title belt to the referee and the referee raised it up in the air before calling for the bell.

All three women were looking to make the first move as Ember and Michelle were talking and nodded their heads as they landed a double dropkick sending Shayna out of the ring as Michelle landed a hard right hand sending Ember out of the ring and Michelle went after Ember as Ember landed to a kick to head and Michelle was stumbling as Ember got back in the ring and Ember hit another dropkick sending Michelle to the corner. Shayna snuck back into the ring as she went for a right hand but Ember ducked as she leaped onto the top rope and hit a flying codebreaker for the cover but Michelle broke the count as the two was hitting right hands and Shayna shoved Michelle into Ember and went for a roll-up but Michelle got Shayna into a submission hold but Shayna got out of the ring to break the hold.

Michelle went for a kick but Shayna grabbed her leg and took her down face first on the ring apron and Ember went for a suicide dive but Shayna held on as she rammed her onto the barricade and Shayna tossed Ember back into the ring as she covered for a two count and Shayna grabbed Ember's arm but Ember kicked her off as she stumbled to the corner. Shayna charged into a knee to the face and grabbed Ember as she landed a gutwrench suplex and a kick to the back for a two count and applied a bow and arrow hold as Ember got to her feet and as she hit a couple of right hands and got a hurricurrana sending Shayna to the corner.

Then Ember got a leaping palm strike as she went to whip to the corner but Shayna countered with a high knee strike to the face and as she bounced off the ropes but Michelle grabbed Shayna's legs and pulled her out of the ring as Michelle got in and Ember rolled her up for a two count and Michelle missed a clothesline and she landed a leaping kick to the face for a two count. Shayna snuck behind Michelle as she applied a sleeper hold but Michelle rolled out of it as she landed a leaping kick to the face for a two count and Shayna rolled around as she applied the Kirifuda clutch and Michelle rammed Shayna into the corner as Ember climbed the top rope and landed a sunset flip powerbomb and all three women were down.

Michelle rolled to the corner as Ember stumbled to the opposite corner and Shayna went for a high knee strike but Ember ducked out of the way as she landed high kicks to Shayna and Michelle joined along with kicks of her own and the two bounced off the ropes as they landed a double dropkick to Shayna and then a double suplex. Then Michelle hit a roundhouse kick to Ember as she bounced off the ropes and drove Ember face first for a two count and Michelle grabbed Ember by her arm and hit a right hand and went to whip Ember to the ropes but Ember reversed and Michelle went for a cross bodydrop but Shayna pulled the ropes sending Michelle out of the ring.

Ember went after Shayna but Shayna landed a hard right hand and got into the ring as she stepped on Ember's hand and tried to stomp her elbow, only to miss and Ember tripped and Shayna ended up on the end of the same maneuver and Ember went after Shayna as the referee held her back and then Ember twisted the injured arm flipping Shayna onto the mat for a two count. Ember kicked Shayna in the back as she climbed up the top rope and Shayna crotched her and was kicking Ember before hitting a corner dropkick and Shayna took a breather as she got on the ring apron and popped her own shoulder into place using the ring post.

Shayna was about to go after Ember but Michelle went around the ring and landed a drive-by sending Shayna shoulderfirst onto the ring apron and delivered the Eclipse from the top rope and to the arena floor and both women were down as the referee did the count and Michelle & Ember got back in the ring at nine and Ember grabbed Michelle but Michelle trapped Ember in a triangle choke hold, but Ember powerbombed her way out for a two count. Ember climbed the top rope as she went for the Eclipse but Shayna kicked Ember off the ropes and got back to the center of the ring as she applied the Kirifuda clutch on Michelle and Michelle was fighting out of it as she grabbed Shayna's arm and jammed it and stomped on it as Shayna grabbed Michelle's leg with her good arm for an ankle lock.

Shayna applied the ankle lock as Michelle was fighting and struggling as she kicked Shayna off to break the hold and Michelle landed a jawbreaker sending Shayna to the ropes then the Crimson Veil for the win.

"The winner of this match and new NXT Women's Champion, Michelle Edmondson," Mike announced.

Michelle was in disbelief as the referee gave her the NXT Women's Championship belt and Michelle was shedding tears as she cradled the belt. Then Michelle got to her feet as the referee raised her arm in the air and Michelle was jumping up and down in excitement before she climbed on the turnbuckles and raised her newly won championship belt in the air.

Then Michelle got back down as she got out of the ring and hugged her mom Joanne, her brothers Malachi and Dmitri, Chad and Autumn who were sitting at ringside cheering her on. Then Michelle walked around the ring and went up the ramp as she saw Drew coming down the ramp and hugged Michelle as Michelle embraced him tightly as she was still emotional from winning the championship.

The two pulled away as Drew raised Michelle's arm in the air and Drew wrapped his arm around Michelle as the couple walked to the back.

As Drew and Michelle walked back into gorilla position, the crew including Triple H applauded Michelle and congratulated her on becoming the new NXT Women's Champion.

"Congratulations, kid," Triple H congratulated as he had his hands on Michelle's shoulders. "I knew you had that potential to become NXT Women's Champion."

"Thank you, I really appreciate it," Michelle said as she tried to regain her composure.

Then Triple H and Michelle posed for a picture as Drew and Michelle walked out of the Gorilla Position before being approached by Ember Moon.

"Hey, girl, congratulations," Ember beamed as she hugged Michelle.

"Thank you," Michelle said. "I've waited a whole year for this and…sorry I had to take it away from you."

"Well, I don't think you'll be feeling sorry for me for long."

"Why is that?"

"Because I got the call that I'll be drafted to Monday Night RAW after WrestleMania."

"What?! Oh, my god, I can't believe this!"

"Yep!"

Ember and Michelle hugged each other as Drew smiled.

"Well, congratulations, Ember," Drew said. "You made it to the big leagues."

"Thank you," Ember said. "I'm really ecstatic right now."

"Well, then now you may compete for the RAW Women's Championship when you get the chance."

"I'll definitely keep that in mind. I'll catch you later."

"See ya." Then Ember walked away. "Wow, I'm so happy for Ember; she is gonna be on Monday Night RAW!"

"It's amazing, isn't it?" Drew smiled.

"Yeah."

"What is even more amazing is that you're finally NXT Women's Champion. I knew could do it."

"Thank you, Drew. Thank you for sticking by me this entire time. I couldn't have done it without you."

Then Drew and Michelle kissed each other as they continued to walk backstage before being greeted by fellow superstars.

After NXT Takeover was over, Michelle, Drew and her family gathered at Commander's Palace to celebrate Michelle's victory.

Drew and Michelle met up with Michelle's family as they were joined by Chad, Autumn, Mike and Katrina along with Aunt Selena.

There were some laughter and joyfulness as Michelle was lucky to have her friends and family here to see her match and celebrate her first major championship win.

But in the back of her mind, she was still bummed that her dad wasn't there to see her championship match and win it. It was his loss, or course.

A few minutes later, Drew was pre-occupied with everyone as he noticed that Michelle hasn't came back from the bathroom. He decided to go look for her and after looking around for a while, Drew found Michelle outside the patio as he approached her

"Hey, I thought you were gone," Drew wondered.

"There's nowhere I'd rather be right now," Michelle replied. "I just had something on my mind."

"Which is?"

"My absent dad who decided to bail on me and not see me win my first major championship, especially on the weekend of WrestleMania."

"You still wish he was here, right?"

"Yeah, I mean, I know I'm supposed to be happy that I won the NXT Women's championship but part of me just feels like it's not the same without my dad being here. I mean, I can't be completely happy unless he's here with me. I know what you're gonna say: this has been bottled up inside me since my parents' divorce and I shouldn't let this cloud my judgment."

"To be honest, you took the words right out of my mouth."

"Well, you're good at reading minds; I already know you long enough that you're always giving me advice and you always know what to say."

"Yeah; are you still thinking about talking to him?"

"Yeah, I have to let him know how I feel. I have to let him know that…I just can't handle him bailing on me so much. I just want to squash all this so we can…we can be cordial with each other and move on. I just…I just don't wanna end up losing my mind over this and…I just can't handle the distance and the absence…that could easily make me feel like I'm not his priority anymore."

"Michelle, you can't think that. I'm sure your dad thinks of you as his priority; you just have to let them know that. You're stronger than that, it's not too late to fix this."

Then Michelle let out a big sigh as she took Drew's words to heart.

"Yeah, I have to stay strong," Michelle agreed. "I have to. Okay, this is supposed to be a good night and I'm pouring out my heart in a not so good. We better get back before my family sends out a search party for me."

"That's a pretty good idea," Drew agreed with Michelle.

"I love you and thank you."

Then Drew and Michelle kissed each other sweetly as they headed back inside.