Post by Deleted on Sept 24, 2023 18:48:43 GMT -5
Don't Count me Out
It might seem like a downgrade for Zella to be put back on a roster meant for the rookies but for her it was an opportunity. Following and Justice for Brawl Zella asked Eric Drake if she could be moved to the Rise roster for now until she felt ready to come back to the main roster and Thursday night Anarchy. The talent was impressive and Zella knew she didn't belong there, at least not yet. She wanted to get back to the top and knew she needed to work for it. She didn’t want to take the cheap way there however and chose this path in order to prove a point.
As soon as and Justice for Brawl ended Zella was on her way to Trenton, New Jersey with a goal. She was going to get back into her training and hit it hard as soon as she could. Nothing was going to hold her back from getting better in a business that she loved so much. She didn't need to prove to anyone that she belonged here or that she would do great things but she did have something to prove to herself.
Flash back
Jada (Zelda's older sister) leaned forward and helped Zelda lace up her wrestling boots for the first time. She was always a strong competitor in the ring and Zelda looked up to her in every aspect. The two were like light and dark but part of the reason for that was they were raised differently. Jada had to be tough and since their parents had her for so young she had grown up with them. Zelda on the other hand was the baby and needed to be protected so she knew a different version of their parents.
You need to remember something if you're going to really try to make something of yourself in this business Zel. People are going to try to tell you who you are. They will rip you to shreds if you let them. You need to know who you are and what you want and never let that fade out of sight. Jada finished lacing up Zelda's boots and looked up at her. You'll change over time, we all do, but do it on your terms and become the person you want to be. I know wrestling is something you've always wanted to do but it is a cut throat business. I don't want you to let it change you the way it does most people.
Zelda knew this speech was related to the change Jada witnessed in their father. She was there to watch him go from a man who was in the business for fun to a man who cared too much about winning. She also watched him retire and turn to fatherhood to get back to the man he once was after Zelda had been born.
Zelda nodded in Jada's direction. I won't change but I will get better. I'm going to work my fingers to the bone to accomplish my goals and won't let anything stop me! Zelda had been full of enthusiasm then. She really was grateful just to be in a wrestling ring but then things changed. The ring was her home away from home and she knew she belonged there. While she kept her promise not to let others change her she did change and went from just wanting to be in the ring to actually wanting to accomplish something. It seemed history was repeating itself.
Present day
Zelda set a goal for herself as soon as she was approved to take time off Anarchy and move to Rise. She wanted the Rise World Championship and she was going to work hard to get it. She used to say that as long as she was having fun that's all that mattered. That mindset was starting to change and now she wanted more; she wanted to be a champion and stay one.
Swet poured down her forehead as she lifted the weights in either hand again. She had to push herself if she was going to get anywhere. She also needed to let go of that fear she still had in the ring after getting hurt. That fear was the real thing holding her back.
She dropped the weights to the ground and picked up her water bottle and took a sip before speaking to her phone. This week will be my debut on Rise and I'm pumped to begin working toward my former glory. I've never been afraid of a little hard work so that's why I'm here on Rise, to work harder. Rise wasn't made to downgrade anyone, it was made to lift up the ones who need a little push before they get onto the main roster. I hate how everyone keeps bashing this show like it means nothing, it means something! Zella spoke with excitement. This show is a wonderful opportunity to compete with the superstars of tomorrow and I take pride in being on the roster even if some of the roster sees themselves as undeveloped talent. Zelda takes a slight jab and smiles after. I for one see the talent on this roster which is why I took the liberty to jump at the opportunity to be drafted to this show. If people honestly see Rise as some low grade nothing show then dang it I'm here to make it more!
Some people forget that part of this 'job' and I use the word loosely is to entertain not just beat people up. We aren't just a big group of mindless meatheads who only know violence and lifting weights. Every week since signing onto OCW I've put my body on the line not just to win but to put on a show because no one remembers the person who's just here to talk smack and get bloody. There's a million wrestlers in this business who are just here because they have anger issues or big egos. Rarely have I seen someone with enough talent to not just win but also put on a show and make things interesting.
That's what I'm here for, to make things interesting. I'm going to make it to the top not just because I can kick some butt but also because wrestling fans want to see what I do next. They don't want the same old smack and hit smack and hit they want someone they remember, someone like me.
Zella takes another sip of her water then sits it down and crosses her arms. The fact I want to make fans happy doesn't make me weak. The fact I don't need to cuss and act tough doesn't make me a loser in fact my current record speaks to that. If anything, the gimmick everyone puts on to be the meanest person they can be is what makes you weak. In fact, the fact Toxicita takes pride in being Toxic means she's scared to be anything but Toxic because it’s easy.
You take pride in being perfect but no one is perfect. You have to be Toxic because you found out the hard way you aren't perfect and there is always someone better than you in this business. You talk down to others to make yourself feel better because you can't handle the fact that you are human and that Toxicita makes you weak. Instead of learning from a loss you take it as a personal hit and you break down and lose it. Instead of rooting yourself in reality you live in a fantasy and that's why you're weak.
I’ll admit I haven’t been my best lately but that doesn’t mean I won’t be my best again. I have the guts to stand here unapologetically and openly admit that I can be better. I don’t see that as weakness, I see that as strength because most people care what other people think. I’m not a sheep who follows the herd I’m a wolf who feeds on those who follow the trends and stay in the
Safe zone. I admit when I know I could be better because it also means that if you can’t beat me when I’m at my low then maybe you should work on being better as well.
I’ve been wrestling for almost four years and I know I still have a lot to learn. I listen to others when they give me constructive criticism and use it to my benefit. If someone puts me down and I see some truth in what they say I take it and work on it. That doesn’t make me weak, it makes me stronger in the end. Toxicita on the other hand can’t even take it when someone says she did something wrong. She doesn’t work on herself and in the end it means she’ll never advance, she’ll only ever be what she is now. So while I’m climbing the ranks and becoming a better version of myself, always progressing and busting my butt you Toxicita can stay right where you are and watch as I surpass you.
I know I’m not where I was before I hurt my neck, I’m not stupid or in denial. I was a champion and at the top of my game when I had to leave wrestling. I was where I wanted to be. But you know something? The fact I’m open about it, about it all, it means I’m not afraid of it. Instead of using it as an excuse I’m going to use it as a stepping stone to be better this time around and RISE again like a phoenix.
So use my neck injury as a weapon or even the fact I’m too nice or that I’m on Rise. Throw them all in my face and watch me throw it back at you with a win. Watch me take these disabilities and turn them into motivation because that’s what strong people do. The fact I’m back here, that I returned to wrestling when I could have been in a wheelchair is a true testament of my strength. The fact I went through the rehab and all the pain that came along with it and decided I’d return to the business that caused all that pain makes me strong. I’m willing to take the criticism, the jokes, the attempts at assassinating my character and turn them all into proof that nothing will hold me down and THAT makes me strong.
So Toxicita, spew your toxic in my direction because I can take it. I don’t need to pretend to be strong like you and I don’t need to stoop to your level in order to win this week. I’m going to show you what true strength is so watch and learn.