A/N: Welcome back, readers! To be honest this note is only here so that the silly formatting rules on this site will allow me to centre the title properly below.
PART 2 – HOT PROSPECTS
Introduction
There was an electric atmosphere in the sold out arena. Caught up in it, Sonya Deville felt like goosebumps were going to come up on her arms at any moment. Looking to her right, she saw her fiancée looking back at her with an excited look on her face.
"This is going to be epic!" Mandy Rose said.
They were sitting in the front row at a UFC pay-per-view event, which was a first for both of them. The main event of the night would soon be getting underway. Indeed, one of the competitors was already in the cage. Juliana Trevino was a Mexican fighter with a boxing background. She had a perfect record in her eight fights to date, winning six of them by knockout and two by decision.
Juliana was not the reason Sonya and Mandy were at the event, though. The electric atmosphere in the arena was also largely not down to Trevino either, despite her impressive credentials. The atmosphere was caused by anticipation of the entrance of Juliana's opponent.
When the distinctive music for the defending champion hit, everyone in the arena roared their approval. Sonya and Mandy joined them, rising to their feet to cheer.
The theme was distinctive and widely-known around the world thanks to belonging to one of UFC's most famous stars. It had a driving, industrial-sounding beat that got louder and more prominent as the theme progressed. It was no doubt intimidating for the opponent.
From where Sonya and Mandy were sitting it was hard for them to see much of the entrance. Sonya knew that it wouldn't take long anyway, as the champion marched towards the ring in a fast, aggressive way. The left half of her face would be painted silver, to make it look like she was in fact a machine that had lost part of the skin covering its exoskeleton. Further enhancing that effect would be a red contact lens in her left eye. Much like the theme music, it was a look that had been made famous over the past few years.
"Can you imagine being the one in there about to fight her?" Mandy asked Sonya.
Even though Sonya had competed in a few MMA fights herself before signing for WWE, she was looking now at a woman she would not have wanted to fight at all. When she wasn't in the face paint, the woman was actually very attractive, not that anyone fighting her would consider that while she brutalised them. Eighteen fights, all wins, all by either stoppage or knockout, Sonya recalled. Only four of them had gone beyond the first round. It was a remarkable record, and the fights were won in such a convincing way that pay-per-view buys were sky high every time she fought. Sonya and Mandy's ringside seats were worth a small fortune, all the more because win, lose, or draw, this nineteenth fight was going to be the champion's last. Come what may, she was retiring from UFC on this very night.
After the music stopped, the MC began his announcements. Sonya took the opportunity to lean closer to Mandy, talking into her ear over the raucous crowd. "I'm buzzing right now, Mand!" To prove it, she held out her right arm. As she was wearing a sleeveless black dress, her goosebumps were clearly visible.
Mandy gave her the kind of smile that said she was feeling the same way.
"Introducing the challenger," the MC announced, "fighting out of Mexico City, Mexico, The Lethal Weapon, Juliana Trevino!"
There was a cheer as Juliana limbered up, looking ready for the fight. Sonya glanced around the arena. She couldn't see an ass in a seat anywhere.
"And her opponent, the reigning and defending UFC Bantamweight Champion, fighting out of Charlotte, North Carolina, The Terminator, Tessa Blanchard!"
A roar filled the arena. Sonya watched Tessa. Even from ringside, she looked seriously intimidating, standing there motionless, her cold brown eye was locked on her opponent, as was the red robotic-looking one.
The referee called the two fighters together, gave them some final instructions, and ordered them to touch gloves as a sign of respect. With that done, they were told to back up before the fight could start.
Ordinarily, the crowd would be sitting down by now, but no one was. Having already announced that this was to be her final fight ahead of time, Tessa Blanchard would be looking to go out in style, which in her terms meant a swift, emphatic, devastating knockout. But could she do it? Sonya couldn't wait to find out.
As the fight began, Trevino, who had vowed to knock out Blanchard in her final fight, hurried forward. It was apparent from her stance and the way she moved that her intention was to go toe to toe with Tessa. Sonya considered it a bold strategy, although possibly not a smart one.
Trevino actually got the first punch in, connecting with a left jab that would have staggered most women. It barely rocked Blanchard, who unleashed a right hand of her own which thundered into the side of Juliana's head. The blow knocked her off balance. A second right blasted her in the face, sending her reeling against the cage. The noise in the arena rose to fever pitch.
Going in for the kill, Blanchard stepped forward, throwing a left hand that rocked Trevino again. She didn't even have her hands up when the final blow came in – a right uppercut that damn near turned her lights out. The referee was stepping in to end the fight before the semi-conscious challenger hit the canvas.
"Holy shit!" Sonya yelled, awed by what she had just witnessed.
Beside her, Mandy was cheering wildly, along with the rest of the crowd. "Sonya, she's incredible!" she cried. "No wonder she calls herself the Terminator!"
Two weeks earlier
At the WWE Performance Centre, Sonya and Mandy were having a practice match in one of the training rings, taking on Zelina Vega and Bianca Belair.
Having been a part of NXT for more than two years now, Zelina and the Golden Gloves were now experienced and important members of the women's roster. It was for that reason that they were expected to work with relative newcomers like Bianca and help them to learn and develop.
Although she was focused on the match, Sonya was keeping half an eye on the door near to the ring they were using that lead to the building's offices. Earlier, coming back from a bathroom visit, she had happened to see Ms Bliss, the member of Lucy Thorne's inner circle who seemed to show up in Orlando whenever main roster call-ups were to be discussed, entering Hunter Helmsley's office.
The first thing Sonya had done was hurry back to Mandy and Zelina to report what she had seen. "Ms Bliss is here!" she had informed them.
"Oh! Someone's getting a move to the main roster," Zelina had immediately replied.
There would be a hint as to whether the lucky person or people in question were male or female when Hunter came to ask one of the coaches to join him in his office. That was always how it went. If he fetched Coach Bloom, it was a guy who was getting a call-up. If he went to Coach Purrazzo, it was a woman who would be making the jump to Raw or Smackdown.
When Hunter came through the door, the match in the ring Sonya was using stopped. They were the only people in the main hall who knew what was on the cards, thanks to her fortunate sighting of Ms Bliss.
Under the cover of taking a break from training, the group of four covertly observed Hunter as he walked across the hall. Both of the coaches he might want were currently over on the far side. If he started heading left, he was going towards Bloom. If he went right, he was going for Purrazzo.
Hunter walked to the right of one of the rings.
"Oh shit, it's one of us," Mandy said, meaning the women's division.
"At least one," Sonya said. "But who?"
"Probably me," Bianca said arrogantly. The other three all knew she was joking, even though she had sounded deadly serious.
"Bitch, your ass just got here," Zelina said, and they all laughed.
Having interrupted the lesson Coach Purrazzo had been giving, Hunter walked with her back across the hall and through the door to the offices. It wouldn't be long before the coach came back to fetch whoever's lucky number had come up.
"Right, let's get back to it," Zelina said. As by far the most experienced member of the group, although she had started with WWE on the same day as Sonya and Mandy, she was viewed as something of a leader.
Another practice match started up. Sonya tried to focus as she stood on the apron, but her heart wasn't in it, nor would it be until she found out who Purrazzo was going to come back for. Although it was unlikely, there was a possibility that it might be her, Mandy and Zelina. After all, they had been in NXT for more than two years, and there had been faster call-ups before. She dared to dream.
About five minutes later, Sonya was in the ring with Zelina, sitting with her back against the bottom turnbuckle in a corner, ready to take Zelina's running double knee attack. Coach Purrazzo's voice put a stop to that before Zelina could launch into her run.
"Ladies! Sonya, Mandy, Zelina, you're needed in Triple H's office. Bianca, come with me. We'll find you someone else to work with."
"Holy shit! It's us? We're getting a call-up!" Mandy cried.
"Right now, you're going to Triple H's office," the coach said. She was tough and strict, but she was a damn good teacher. Sonya greatly respected and appreciated her for everything she had done for her and Mandy. Even so, she thought it would be nice if the coach cracked a smile from time to time.
"Wow. This is it," Zelina said, offering a hand to help Sonya up.
Accepting the hand up, Sonya could feel her heart pounding in her chest. This was indeed it. Just like that, a call-up was seemingly coming their way.
Bianca congratulated them and left the ring with Coach Purrazzo.
Sonya stepped onto the apron and jumped down to the floor next to Mandy, who excitedly grabbed her hand. "Son, I can't believe it!"
"I know!" Sonya said, squeezing her hand. "But let's go and see what he has to say before we start losing our minds."
"Can we lose our minds if it is a call-up for us?" Mandy asked.
"Yes," Zelina said definitively.
Chuckling, the trio headed through the door into the office area. It was only a short walk to Hunter's office, and Sonya saw that the door was standing open. She found herself feeling glad that they hadn't been going too hard in the practice matches, or they would have ended up dripping sweat all over the carpet. Then she wondered why the hell she was having such irrelevant thoughts at a time like this.
Zelina led the group into the office. When she entered, Sonya saw Hunter sitting behind his desk. There were only two chairs for visitors, so they were not invited to sit.
"Close the door, Mandy," Hunter said once they were all inside. His tone and facial expression gave nothing away. After Mandy shut the door, he continued. "Ladies, I have some news for all three of you. Some of it is good, some of it you might think is not so good."
Sonya looked at Mandy, seeing a slightly confused, slightly anxious look on her face.
"Ms Thorne and I have been discussing you guys for a while now," Hunter revealed. "The decisions that have been made are as follows: Zelina, you've made no secret of your desire to wrestle more. You're going to get that opportunity, as you'll become a member of the NXT women's division in your own right. Meanwhile, Sonya and Mandy, I'm delighted to inform you that you'll be heading to Smackdown."
Christ, that's a double-edged sword, Sonya thought. Making the main roster was obviously awesome news, but she certainly wasn't happy about her and Mandy being separated from Zelina. They had been together their whole time in NXT. It felt like they were losing a family member.
"Oh, Z," Mandy said, embracing her, sounding like she was about to burst into tears.
"Hey, don't you cry on me," Zelina scolded, as only a close friend could. "You guys deserve this so much. And Hunter's right, I have been asking to wrestle more. I didn't mean at the expense of our team, though."
"We realised that," Hunter said while Sonya and Zelina hugged each other. Sonya felt tears stinging her eyes. "The fact is, Zelina, we can use your experience on the NXT roster right now. There have been a lot of women called up over the past year, now including Sonya and Mandy. As for you two, we have a big plan for you also."
"What plan?" Sonya asked, trying to sound more upbeat than she actually felt. She was sure that when the news of the call-up sunk in, she would be delighted. Right now, she was reeling from losing Zelina. It hurt big time.
"You're going to be off TV for at least a couple of months before you debut on Smackdown. During that time you'll be working with us to help train your new teammate."
"New teammate?" Mandy asked, glancing at Sonya before looking back at Hunter. "What new teammate?"
"We're signing Tessa Blanchard," Hunter said casually, despite the enormity of the news.
"Holy shit!" Sonya cried.
"Woah!" Zelina said simultaneously.
"Tessa Blanchard is signing with WWE? And we're teaming with her?" Mandy asked. She sounded like she was practically accusing Hunter of ribbing them.
Hunter smiled broadly at their reactions. "Yes, you are. But as I said, you'll be helping her to train for a few months first. She needs to transition her skills to the wrestling ring. Ms Thorne also wanted me to let you know that when she finalised these plans with Tessa, Tessa decided she would get you tickets for her final UFC fight, which is coming up in a couple of weeks. You'll be cageside for the fight, and afterwards you'll be going backstage to meet her."
"Oh my god!" Sonya cried, the melancholy moment behind her already.
"I'm going to need a new dress," Mandy said, drawing laughter from everyone in the room.
A/N: Welcome to the second part of this story. I decided it would be simpler to keep it in the same 'story' as far as the site is concerned, to avoid readers who wanted a sequel to New Recruits possibly not finding it.
I've had an idea sitting on the back burner for some time for a story where Ronda Rousey had a Terminator gimmick in WWE. Lately, I've come to the opinion that it would be great for Tessa instead, so here we are.
In this world, the Terminator movie franchise obviously doesn't exist, it is something Tessa came up with to intimidate her UFC opponents, which can in turn now be used by WWE.
Although this introductory chapter was told from Sonya's POV, next time we're going to be with Tessa's POV as she starts her new career journey with WWE by meeting her new teammates.