Post by Astrid Hall on Mar 29, 2017 19:35:28 GMT
One Month Ago
Astrid was all smiles as she made her way through the crowd of wrestlers and staff for IDF Developmental. Everyone was still flying high after the show, and for good reason - this event had been the largest of the Developmental division's shows yet. The crowd had been absolutely electric, invested in every moment of every match. People were already saying that this was the best show that the developmental brand had put on so far, really displaying how far the division had come in the past few years. While it certainly didn't have the following - or the funding - of the IWF main roster, everyone involved in the developmental promotion had been pouring their hearts and souls into making it the best that it could be. Right now, with the cheers of the crowd still audible from the arena, they were all feeling the unparalleled thrill of seeing all of their hard work come to fruition.
"Hey Astrid!"
The voice rang out over the crowd, and Astrid turned to see Ozzy Miller, beaming with pride as a group of friends congratulated him on another vitory. Ozzy was a really good guy and a great performer, and was still shining with sweat after successfully retaining the title in the main event that evening. Well, as much of a title as it was. The developmental promotion wasn't televised, and there were no official titles sanctioned by the IWF... but that didn't stop the performers from making mockup belts out of cardboard to pass around and compete for backstage. It was entirely informal, but it was enough to give the developmental talent the feeling of what being in the main roster might be like.
She felt her smile broaden as she made her way through the crowd over to the man, meeting him with a fist-bump. She was a couple inches taller than he was, but he was one of the few men who that didn't seem to really bother. "That was a hell of a match tonight, girl," he continued.
Astrid beamed. "Thanks, Oz. You too! That finish was slick as all hell, my friend. Just wish my match had the same result, you know?" She grinned with a wink to show that it was all in good humor, and Ozzy laughed in return.
"You know what they say, Valk, can't win 'em all! I'm sure you'll get a chance to shine again soon enough."
It was a big moment, and a big night... though it was a bittersweet one for Astrid herself. After holding the Women's Developmental Championship (again, entirely unofficial, but important to her) for eight months - the longest "title reign" of anyone in the developmental division to date, regardless of gender - she had lost it in the penultimate battle of the evening against Victoria Parris. It's not that she was mad about the loss, of course. Ozzy was right in what he had said, after all, and Victoria had more than earned her own championship reign. Even still, she'd miss being the women's champion, and it was a little sad to see her long reign and winning streak come to an end.
Of course, no amount of disappointment or nostalgia would let her miss out on the celebrations tonight. It was, after all, a night that would be remembered for years to come, and she'd already heard that there'd be plenty of after-parties to attend. Win or lose, it simply wasn't in Astrid's nature to miss the chance to revel with feast and song after such a successful night.
"Astrid!"
Astrid turned around to see her manager and trainer, Emma Danielson, coming up behind her. "Emma!" she exclaimed in relief and welcome. "Haven't seen you since the end of the match. You alright?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" the shorter women replied with a grin, and the two of them shared a brief hug before they continued. Astrid and Emma were very good friends on top of being a professional pair, and as such they almost never engaged in much formality off camera. "I know tonight's been a bit of a downer, but I have something that you might appreciate. A little surprise just for you that I've been working on on the side. Didn't want to mention anything in case it didn't work out, but..." she trailed off with a sly grin.
Astrid raised an eyebrow, though her smile didn't falter. "Surprise? What's going on, Emma? You already flew my family in tonight from Norway, I can't imagine what else..."
Emma laughed. "Just come and see, Valkyrie," she insisted, taking Astrid by the hand and leading her through the hallways of the backstage area. It wasn't as crowded as she had expected, so the two of them were able to maneuver their way through fairly easily. Even though Emma wasn't as physically imposing as Astrid was, her grip was implacable as she guided her to an area of the arena Astrid hadn't seen, finally arriving at a set of double-doors.
"Go on in," Emma urged gently, nodding to the doorway. Astrid gave her a grinning, sideways glance one last time before opening the doors and stepping through
For a moment, Astrid was confused as she stepped into a dark room. The moment was snapped away when the lights suddenly turned on, revealing a large room filled with dozens of smiling people, all of them immediately familiar. Most of the Developmental Women's division was here, and even Ozzy had managed to slip in without her noticing once she'd turned her back on him to talk to Emma. They were all gathered around several tables laden with snacks and drinks, at the center of which was a large cake. Victoria Parris stood behind that, offering Astrid the largest smile in the room as the crowd burst into cheers and applause.
Astrid was bewildered, feeling surprise shape her face. "What is... what? I don't... A party? A surprise party. For me. Why? What's going on?"
Emma stepped up next to her, beaming with pride. "It's a party alright," she confirmed. "That's what you do to congratulate someone, right? And to say goodbye to a dear friend?"
Astrid's head was spinning. "Goodbye? What do you mean 'Goodbye'? Emma, what the hell are you talking about?"
Victoria laughed and called over the crowd. "Isn't it obvious, Valkyrie? You're moving up to the main roster is what she's talking about."
Astrid was stunned. Speechless. Emma beamed at her, and it was all the confirmation she needed.
"I... what? You're serious? This is...?"
Emma nodded. "You're making your main roster debut on Sacrifice a week after High Stakes. Got the confirmation right after your match. They were just waiting for the right moment, and apparently this is it with Viewer's Choice right around the corner. You made it, Astrid."
Shock turned into a fire lighting her heart and soul. She felt that fire start, small but intense deep within her gut before spreading to fill her entirely. She Felt the excitement surging through every muscle as she stepped toward the cake, shaking hands and bumping fists with everyone she saw.
"Thank you," she shouted heartily so that everyone could hear. "Thank every single one of you. You are all my brothers and sisters, and no matter where I go that's never going to change. We made this together! We've been here in the trenches together making the developmental division something great. Something to be proud of! Most folks who only ever watch IWF matches on TV might not know us, but I am damn proud to be able to call each and every one of you my brothers, my sisters, my friends. We're a family, now and always. I might be going up to the main roster now, but don't even dare think that this is goodbye. I'm going to see each and every one of you fine people following me there!"
Someone handed her a glass, and she raised it high in toast as she stepped up onto one of the tables. "TO THE DEVELOPMENTAL DIVISION!" she cried out, and everyone in the room joined her in cheering celebration.
Astrid smiles warmly as she begins to speak, joy clear in her eyes as she practically vibrates with excitement. "I gotta say, it's such a tremendous honor to be here. To have all of those dreams, to have it all come true... Making it here after working and fighting for it is one of the most rewarding things I could imagine. Before anything else I want to thank everyone in the IWF who made this happen. I'm not going to let you all down.
Kate Steele. Wow. I know I must have impressed some people up top if they're pitting me against The Siren in my first match here in the main roster. Just because there's a size difference in my favor here doesn't mean that I'm not going to take Kate seriously as an opponent. Kate's one of those girls that the fans really look up to, and she has one of those 'never say die' attitudes that really inspires people to be their best and give their all. I'm sure she'd be the first to admit that she's taken some bad beatings over the years, but there's a fire in her heart that nobody's been able to extinguish. She's come close, of course. Everyone battles with their inner demons for a while, and nobody emerges from that completely unscathed. A lot of people might deride her for her behavior in the last year or so. None of that matters to me. What matters to me is that she emerged from that darkness with the fire of a warrior burning in her heart and eyes, brighter than it ever had been before.
She proved that in her amazing match against Eternity back on the 20th. She was fighting like a true warrior in that match, and I could see the drive and ferocity in her. I respect that, and I respect her. She's going to be a tremendous opponent, and it will be a true honor to face her on Sacrifice. It's going to be an important proving ground, and I know that I'm going to have to give it my all.
But I think a lot of people here in the main roster underestimate what it means when I say that I'm giving it my all. A lot of the women in the Diamonds division are going to see me as the newcomer, think of me as a rookie. Maybe there are a few of them who haven't even seen me wrestle. A lot of them don't know what to expect when they get into the ring with me. Well... they might not know what to expect, but I know that a lot of IWF fans do! They know the moves, they know the power, they know the passion and the heart that I bring to every match I fight. But more important than that, to me, is that one thing that nobody else in the IWF has in their corner. The edge that drove me to hold the Women's Developmental Championship for eight months."
She points to the camera. "You! The hundreds, the THOUSANDS of hearts beating with me! Every fan who has stood with me since I started in this company! My friends. My family. My Shield Wall!
With you at my side, I've vanquished some of the biggest names in Developmental. With you at my side, I could stand fearless against armies, monsters, demons and dragons. And while fans will cheer for both Kate and myself at Sacrifice, I will have the shield wall. And with those brothers and sisters at my back, there is nothing that I cannot do!
It's great to be here, Diamonds Division. This is going to be one amazing party, and its high time to show the world just what us kids down from Developmental are really made of."
"Hey Astrid!"
The voice rang out over the crowd, and Astrid turned to see Ozzy Miller, beaming with pride as a group of friends congratulated him on another vitory. Ozzy was a really good guy and a great performer, and was still shining with sweat after successfully retaining the title in the main event that evening. Well, as much of a title as it was. The developmental promotion wasn't televised, and there were no official titles sanctioned by the IWF... but that didn't stop the performers from making mockup belts out of cardboard to pass around and compete for backstage. It was entirely informal, but it was enough to give the developmental talent the feeling of what being in the main roster might be like.
She felt her smile broaden as she made her way through the crowd over to the man, meeting him with a fist-bump. She was a couple inches taller than he was, but he was one of the few men who that didn't seem to really bother. "That was a hell of a match tonight, girl," he continued.
Astrid beamed. "Thanks, Oz. You too! That finish was slick as all hell, my friend. Just wish my match had the same result, you know?" She grinned with a wink to show that it was all in good humor, and Ozzy laughed in return.
"You know what they say, Valk, can't win 'em all! I'm sure you'll get a chance to shine again soon enough."
It was a big moment, and a big night... though it was a bittersweet one for Astrid herself. After holding the Women's Developmental Championship (again, entirely unofficial, but important to her) for eight months - the longest "title reign" of anyone in the developmental division to date, regardless of gender - she had lost it in the penultimate battle of the evening against Victoria Parris. It's not that she was mad about the loss, of course. Ozzy was right in what he had said, after all, and Victoria had more than earned her own championship reign. Even still, she'd miss being the women's champion, and it was a little sad to see her long reign and winning streak come to an end.
Of course, no amount of disappointment or nostalgia would let her miss out on the celebrations tonight. It was, after all, a night that would be remembered for years to come, and she'd already heard that there'd be plenty of after-parties to attend. Win or lose, it simply wasn't in Astrid's nature to miss the chance to revel with feast and song after such a successful night.
"Astrid!"
Astrid turned around to see her manager and trainer, Emma Danielson, coming up behind her. "Emma!" she exclaimed in relief and welcome. "Haven't seen you since the end of the match. You alright?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?" the shorter women replied with a grin, and the two of them shared a brief hug before they continued. Astrid and Emma were very good friends on top of being a professional pair, and as such they almost never engaged in much formality off camera. "I know tonight's been a bit of a downer, but I have something that you might appreciate. A little surprise just for you that I've been working on on the side. Didn't want to mention anything in case it didn't work out, but..." she trailed off with a sly grin.
Astrid raised an eyebrow, though her smile didn't falter. "Surprise? What's going on, Emma? You already flew my family in tonight from Norway, I can't imagine what else..."
Emma laughed. "Just come and see, Valkyrie," she insisted, taking Astrid by the hand and leading her through the hallways of the backstage area. It wasn't as crowded as she had expected, so the two of them were able to maneuver their way through fairly easily. Even though Emma wasn't as physically imposing as Astrid was, her grip was implacable as she guided her to an area of the arena Astrid hadn't seen, finally arriving at a set of double-doors.
"Go on in," Emma urged gently, nodding to the doorway. Astrid gave her a grinning, sideways glance one last time before opening the doors and stepping through
For a moment, Astrid was confused as she stepped into a dark room. The moment was snapped away when the lights suddenly turned on, revealing a large room filled with dozens of smiling people, all of them immediately familiar. Most of the Developmental Women's division was here, and even Ozzy had managed to slip in without her noticing once she'd turned her back on him to talk to Emma. They were all gathered around several tables laden with snacks and drinks, at the center of which was a large cake. Victoria Parris stood behind that, offering Astrid the largest smile in the room as the crowd burst into cheers and applause.
Astrid was bewildered, feeling surprise shape her face. "What is... what? I don't... A party? A surprise party. For me. Why? What's going on?"
Emma stepped up next to her, beaming with pride. "It's a party alright," she confirmed. "That's what you do to congratulate someone, right? And to say goodbye to a dear friend?"
Astrid's head was spinning. "Goodbye? What do you mean 'Goodbye'? Emma, what the hell are you talking about?"
Victoria laughed and called over the crowd. "Isn't it obvious, Valkyrie? You're moving up to the main roster is what she's talking about."
Astrid was stunned. Speechless. Emma beamed at her, and it was all the confirmation she needed.
"I... what? You're serious? This is...?"
Emma nodded. "You're making your main roster debut on Sacrifice a week after High Stakes. Got the confirmation right after your match. They were just waiting for the right moment, and apparently this is it with Viewer's Choice right around the corner. You made it, Astrid."
Shock turned into a fire lighting her heart and soul. She felt that fire start, small but intense deep within her gut before spreading to fill her entirely. She Felt the excitement surging through every muscle as she stepped toward the cake, shaking hands and bumping fists with everyone she saw.
"Thank you," she shouted heartily so that everyone could hear. "Thank every single one of you. You are all my brothers and sisters, and no matter where I go that's never going to change. We made this together! We've been here in the trenches together making the developmental division something great. Something to be proud of! Most folks who only ever watch IWF matches on TV might not know us, but I am damn proud to be able to call each and every one of you my brothers, my sisters, my friends. We're a family, now and always. I might be going up to the main roster now, but don't even dare think that this is goodbye. I'm going to see each and every one of you fine people following me there!"
Someone handed her a glass, and she raised it high in toast as she stepped up onto one of the tables. "TO THE DEVELOPMENTAL DIVISION!" she cried out, and everyone in the room joined her in cheering celebration.
Astrid smiles warmly as she begins to speak, joy clear in her eyes as she practically vibrates with excitement. "I gotta say, it's such a tremendous honor to be here. To have all of those dreams, to have it all come true... Making it here after working and fighting for it is one of the most rewarding things I could imagine. Before anything else I want to thank everyone in the IWF who made this happen. I'm not going to let you all down.
Kate Steele. Wow. I know I must have impressed some people up top if they're pitting me against The Siren in my first match here in the main roster. Just because there's a size difference in my favor here doesn't mean that I'm not going to take Kate seriously as an opponent. Kate's one of those girls that the fans really look up to, and she has one of those 'never say die' attitudes that really inspires people to be their best and give their all. I'm sure she'd be the first to admit that she's taken some bad beatings over the years, but there's a fire in her heart that nobody's been able to extinguish. She's come close, of course. Everyone battles with their inner demons for a while, and nobody emerges from that completely unscathed. A lot of people might deride her for her behavior in the last year or so. None of that matters to me. What matters to me is that she emerged from that darkness with the fire of a warrior burning in her heart and eyes, brighter than it ever had been before.
She proved that in her amazing match against Eternity back on the 20th. She was fighting like a true warrior in that match, and I could see the drive and ferocity in her. I respect that, and I respect her. She's going to be a tremendous opponent, and it will be a true honor to face her on Sacrifice. It's going to be an important proving ground, and I know that I'm going to have to give it my all.
But I think a lot of people here in the main roster underestimate what it means when I say that I'm giving it my all. A lot of the women in the Diamonds division are going to see me as the newcomer, think of me as a rookie. Maybe there are a few of them who haven't even seen me wrestle. A lot of them don't know what to expect when they get into the ring with me. Well... they might not know what to expect, but I know that a lot of IWF fans do! They know the moves, they know the power, they know the passion and the heart that I bring to every match I fight. But more important than that, to me, is that one thing that nobody else in the IWF has in their corner. The edge that drove me to hold the Women's Developmental Championship for eight months."
She points to the camera. "You! The hundreds, the THOUSANDS of hearts beating with me! Every fan who has stood with me since I started in this company! My friends. My family. My Shield Wall!
With you at my side, I've vanquished some of the biggest names in Developmental. With you at my side, I could stand fearless against armies, monsters, demons and dragons. And while fans will cheer for both Kate and myself at Sacrifice, I will have the shield wall. And with those brothers and sisters at my back, there is nothing that I cannot do!
It's great to be here, Diamonds Division. This is going to be one amazing party, and its high time to show the world just what us kids down from Developmental are really made of."
Well howdy there pardner.