Post by Ashley Mastrangelo on May 26, 2013 20:07:37 GMT
Cute story sweetie. Love it. It screams little girl growing up before our eyes.
I grew up just a tad bit diff if you know what I mean Tiff. I had the loving supportive family and all, but they always went off doing things that they probably shouldn’t have been doing. I didn’t know til I was about ten that the things they shouldn’t be doing, are things they weren’t allowed to do as dictated by the laws of society.
I won’t lie, I was then and still am now, though to a lesser extent, a Daddy’s Girl. Daddy will do anything to make me happy, even some things that he thinks I want that I really don’t. He was an influential member of the Cleveland Mob back in the day. You know, the one that “To Kill an Irishman” was about. Yup, that’s right, my daddy was one of those guys. As such, I quickly became his little Italian Princess from the day I was born. He gave me the world, and to be honest, I loved it.
Then came one faithful night. I was driving the car, and my brother and his friend were going to start something up with a rival gang. We didn’t’ like how they did business was the company line. I personally couldn’t care less, and was asked to do my big brother a favor. Being the loving sister that I am, I became the driver.
Stuff went down, things happened, and just like that, I saw my brother’s friend, gunned down before my eyes, lying in a pool of his own blood. I was traumatized and sped away as the blue and red lights of the police cars followed. I was in no condition to drive, and eventually like all criminals, we were caught in the end.
It was at my trial that I met my trainer, Michael Laszlo. He and my father knew each other through my cousin Kristy, and after some conversation, he came to my defense at the trial. He was a well-known member of society through his workout gyms and the news of his ownership of the Montecito Hotel and Resort. He made a deal with the judge and I was released into his custody rather than serve a year in prison as an accomplice to a bunch of charges.
Mike and I really didn’t get off to the best of starts. I came in as a young girl much like you, but girl did I have an attitude. I dressed like a hooker and took my Italian Princess attitude in thinking that I would be able to get away with anything.
WOW WAS I WRONG!
This is where I credit Mike with my turn around. I think it was this moment that changed my life for good.
I was in his parking spot at his gym and not only did he tell me to move, but also called me a whore, and told me if I ever showed up dressed like that again, he’d set my car on fire, show up at my home, and burn all of my clothes. After he yelled at me and whatnot, I walked into his gym, looked myself over, and saw nothing but a cheap hooker staring back in the mirror. I decided that that was the end of me dressing like this. We met in his office and for lack of better words, “Hit the Reset Button”. From then on we have been the best of friends and he has taken me under his wing. I haven’t wrestled in a little over three years as the organization in which I was first hired, treated me like trash and turned me off from the situation.
Mike convinced me that IWF would be different, and after a few years of modeling and acting, I’ve come back to what I love…professional wrestling. We’ll have this match and I hope you have fun. See you in the ring honey.
====================
Title: …Another One Opens
Location: Cleveland, Ohio (Mike’s Gym)
Time: 3:33 PM Local Time
My contract had been signed for a few days now and I was training for my return to the wrestling ring. As I laid into a heavy bag hanging from the ceiling, one of Mike’s friends, and an assistant trainer of sorts of mine, Ray Gross walks up causing me to take notice and remove the ear buds from my ears.
Ashley Mastrangelo: What is it?
Ray Gross: Nothing really. Just seeing if you needed any help.
Ashley Mastrangelo: Nah, I’m good. Just practicing my strikes. Working off all the rust I possibly can.
Ray Gross: How long has it been?
Ashley Mastrangelo: Eh, about three years now.
Ray Gross: That is a lapse.
Ashley Mastrangelo: Yeah, so I’m doing what I can.
Ray Gross: Let me give you some advice.
Ashley Mastrangelo: Always.
He walked over to the bench as I followed, removing my punching gloves as we each had a seat. Setting the gloves to my right, I grabbed my water bottle and took a sip before turning in his direction to pick his brain.
Ray Gross: Take it from me who has had a lot of retirement comebacks including one at the beginning of the year. Don’t treat it as your first match back.
Ashley Mastrangelo: No?
Ray Gross: Do the opposite. Think of the routine you had when you were doing this week in and week out. Match that routine. Continue it. Once you get in a groove you’re right back into things.
He always did have good advice. He should though. He’s been in this business for a decade now. So now I just had to take his advice and make it work. Before he could make another statement, my phone rang in my bag.
Ray Gross: Go ahead, answer it.
Doing as told, I turned and grabbed my phone from my bag. Answering it, I quickly learn it’s Mike on the other end.
Ashley Mastrangelo: Hello?
Mike Laszlo: So you heard about Monday right?
Ashley Mastrangelo: Yes sir. I can’t wait to team with you.
Mike Laszlo: Yeah, it should be fun. How’s your training going?
Ashley Mastrangelo: Good. Like you told me though, nothing compares to that in ring experience.
Mike Laszlo: This is true. Get here today and we’ll go over strategy.
Ashley Mastrangelo: My flight leaves in two hours.
Mike Laszlo: Alright, I’ll see you later.
Ashley Mastrangelo: Bye.
Hanging up the phone, I shove it back in my bag along with my gloves. I turn to Ray and give him a hug as he wishes me luck.
Ray Gross: Good luck.
Ashley Mastrangelo: You know me Ray. Luck is for losers.
The two of us chuckle a bit before I grab my bag and head for the door as the scene fades.
====================
Brad, like Mike, I too respect you. I haven’t been as involved as Mike obviously, but I still saw you in your last stint in NCW. Your career is long and storied with a few breaks in between. I can only hope to accomplish half as much and I would be satisfied with where I was in wrestling. I’ll see you and Tifa Monday night…good luck to the both of you.
I grew up just a tad bit diff if you know what I mean Tiff. I had the loving supportive family and all, but they always went off doing things that they probably shouldn’t have been doing. I didn’t know til I was about ten that the things they shouldn’t be doing, are things they weren’t allowed to do as dictated by the laws of society.
I won’t lie, I was then and still am now, though to a lesser extent, a Daddy’s Girl. Daddy will do anything to make me happy, even some things that he thinks I want that I really don’t. He was an influential member of the Cleveland Mob back in the day. You know, the one that “To Kill an Irishman” was about. Yup, that’s right, my daddy was one of those guys. As such, I quickly became his little Italian Princess from the day I was born. He gave me the world, and to be honest, I loved it.
Then came one faithful night. I was driving the car, and my brother and his friend were going to start something up with a rival gang. We didn’t’ like how they did business was the company line. I personally couldn’t care less, and was asked to do my big brother a favor. Being the loving sister that I am, I became the driver.
Stuff went down, things happened, and just like that, I saw my brother’s friend, gunned down before my eyes, lying in a pool of his own blood. I was traumatized and sped away as the blue and red lights of the police cars followed. I was in no condition to drive, and eventually like all criminals, we were caught in the end.
It was at my trial that I met my trainer, Michael Laszlo. He and my father knew each other through my cousin Kristy, and after some conversation, he came to my defense at the trial. He was a well-known member of society through his workout gyms and the news of his ownership of the Montecito Hotel and Resort. He made a deal with the judge and I was released into his custody rather than serve a year in prison as an accomplice to a bunch of charges.
Mike and I really didn’t get off to the best of starts. I came in as a young girl much like you, but girl did I have an attitude. I dressed like a hooker and took my Italian Princess attitude in thinking that I would be able to get away with anything.
WOW WAS I WRONG!
This is where I credit Mike with my turn around. I think it was this moment that changed my life for good.
I was in his parking spot at his gym and not only did he tell me to move, but also called me a whore, and told me if I ever showed up dressed like that again, he’d set my car on fire, show up at my home, and burn all of my clothes. After he yelled at me and whatnot, I walked into his gym, looked myself over, and saw nothing but a cheap hooker staring back in the mirror. I decided that that was the end of me dressing like this. We met in his office and for lack of better words, “Hit the Reset Button”. From then on we have been the best of friends and he has taken me under his wing. I haven’t wrestled in a little over three years as the organization in which I was first hired, treated me like trash and turned me off from the situation.
Mike convinced me that IWF would be different, and after a few years of modeling and acting, I’ve come back to what I love…professional wrestling. We’ll have this match and I hope you have fun. See you in the ring honey.
====================
Title: …Another One Opens
Location: Cleveland, Ohio (Mike’s Gym)
Time: 3:33 PM Local Time
My contract had been signed for a few days now and I was training for my return to the wrestling ring. As I laid into a heavy bag hanging from the ceiling, one of Mike’s friends, and an assistant trainer of sorts of mine, Ray Gross walks up causing me to take notice and remove the ear buds from my ears.
Ashley Mastrangelo: What is it?
Ray Gross: Nothing really. Just seeing if you needed any help.
Ashley Mastrangelo: Nah, I’m good. Just practicing my strikes. Working off all the rust I possibly can.
Ray Gross: How long has it been?
Ashley Mastrangelo: Eh, about three years now.
Ray Gross: That is a lapse.
Ashley Mastrangelo: Yeah, so I’m doing what I can.
Ray Gross: Let me give you some advice.
Ashley Mastrangelo: Always.
He walked over to the bench as I followed, removing my punching gloves as we each had a seat. Setting the gloves to my right, I grabbed my water bottle and took a sip before turning in his direction to pick his brain.
Ray Gross: Take it from me who has had a lot of retirement comebacks including one at the beginning of the year. Don’t treat it as your first match back.
Ashley Mastrangelo: No?
Ray Gross: Do the opposite. Think of the routine you had when you were doing this week in and week out. Match that routine. Continue it. Once you get in a groove you’re right back into things.
He always did have good advice. He should though. He’s been in this business for a decade now. So now I just had to take his advice and make it work. Before he could make another statement, my phone rang in my bag.
Ray Gross: Go ahead, answer it.
Doing as told, I turned and grabbed my phone from my bag. Answering it, I quickly learn it’s Mike on the other end.
Ashley Mastrangelo: Hello?
Mike Laszlo: So you heard about Monday right?
Ashley Mastrangelo: Yes sir. I can’t wait to team with you.
Mike Laszlo: Yeah, it should be fun. How’s your training going?
Ashley Mastrangelo: Good. Like you told me though, nothing compares to that in ring experience.
Mike Laszlo: This is true. Get here today and we’ll go over strategy.
Ashley Mastrangelo: My flight leaves in two hours.
Mike Laszlo: Alright, I’ll see you later.
Ashley Mastrangelo: Bye.
Hanging up the phone, I shove it back in my bag along with my gloves. I turn to Ray and give him a hug as he wishes me luck.
Ray Gross: Good luck.
Ashley Mastrangelo: You know me Ray. Luck is for losers.
The two of us chuckle a bit before I grab my bag and head for the door as the scene fades.
====================
Brad, like Mike, I too respect you. I haven’t been as involved as Mike obviously, but I still saw you in your last stint in NCW. Your career is long and storied with a few breaks in between. I can only hope to accomplish half as much and I would be satisfied with where I was in wrestling. I’ll see you and Tifa Monday night…good luck to the both of you.