A/N: I randomly wanted to start AJ and Natalie's path before Entitled To Overcome. I really miss the 2016-2017 brand split, so I wanted to work with some of that time frame too. I know that I gave some backstory in Entitled To Overcome, but I wanted write about Natalie's experience before the ETO era. I'm really bad for starting another story, but sometimes your urges take over. This story won't be too terribly long.
Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN ANY WWE SUPERSTAR THAT IS MENTIONED THROUGHOUT THIS STORY!
AIN'T IT FUN
Chapter 1: Enchanted To Meet You
Natalie Michaels arrived in the Canadian Air Tire Center in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Tonight she would be making her main roster debut. There was a lot of speculation on her main roster debut being imminent, but Natalie was going to keep everyone speculating. Everyone would get their answer tonight.
She rolled her light blue rolling suitcase behind her and smiled and greeted everyone she passed. She seemed all calm on the exterior, but on the interior; her nerves were shot to pieces. This would be the time for her to prove if she could hang with best and if she was worthy for a spot on the main roster among some of the most talented guys and girls in the world.
She wanted to look as professional as possible while dressing appropriate for the cool fall weather in Canada. She was wearing a long sleeved cream metallic pintucked peasant top with floral print on it that would remind someone of fall, a mustard yellow faux-suede skirt paired with a pair of caramel sheer tights and brown ankle boots. Her medium long blonde hair was down in natural waves and her makeup was done to give her a natural look.
She entered the women's locker room, stuck her suitcase in a cubby and was greeted instantly by Carmella, who was one of her colleagues in during their tenure in NXT. Natalie thought Carmella could be considered a good friend, but everybody knew that Bayley was Carmella's best friend. After all, they had the best friend couple name: Bay-Mella. "Hey, Natalie! Welcome to the main roster."
"Thanks, Mella," Natalie smiled. "It's kind of surreal being on the main roster."
"It was kind of inevitable that you were going to be promoted. You were undoubtedly one of the best wrestlers."
"I appreciate that. It's going to be great working alongside you again."
"So, how nervous are you right now?" Carmella wondered.
"On a scale of one to ten, I'm a one-hundred," Natalie chuckled. "I'm scared that I'm not going to be good enough for the main roster. It's a little harder to get accepted by the WWE Universe on the main roster as opposed to the NXT faithful."
Carmella placed a comforting hand on Natalie's shoulder. "You're Natalie Michaels. Show people that."
"That's my worst fear," Natalie sighed and ran a hand through her wavy blonde locks. "I am afraid that people are going to judge me on the fact that I'm Shawn Michaels' daughter and won't give me the time of day."
"You're Natalie Michaels. You are the complete package," Carmella assured. "You're beautiful, passionate, and talented. You're a freaking triple threat."
Natalie giggled. "Thank you, Mella."
"NATALIE!" Natalie heard her name being yelled out and turned around to see Alexa Bliss running towards her. "You're joining us on Smackdown?" Alexa enveloped Natalie in a hug.
"I sure am," Natalie answered.
"That's great. It's going to be awesome sharing a locker room with you again."
"Thanks, Lex," Natalie smiled. "I have missed sharing a locker room with you. I'm excited to be one of your co-workers on the main roster now."
"Me too. I hope we'll be able to wrestle each other at some point."
Natalie nodded. "Same here."
"Well if isn't my worst enemy?" Nattie teased. Natalie and Nattie would be feuding for the next two weeks heading into Tables, Ladders, and Chairs. There are plans for them to be the first women involved in a tables, ladders, and chairs match. "I'm looking forward to our quick and intense feud."
"Me too, Nattie. It'll be an honor to feud with you on the main roster."
"You ready for your debut?" The third generation Hart wondered.
"I'm ready but nervous," The second generation Michaels replied. "But, I think all my nerves will dissipate whenever the segment actually happens."
"You got this, Natalie." Nattie rubbed Natalie's shoulder soothingly. "Everything will go smoothly."
"You're right," Natalie smiled. "So, should we go over our segment together real quick?"
"Sure; good idea." Nattie lead Natalie out of the women's locker room and through the hallway to pick up their scripts for the show. They walked through catering and passed the table that was occupied by AJ Styles and Nikki Bella. She waved at them and smiled. Nikki smiled and waved back while AJ merely nodded his head in greeting.
Nikki Bella had became good friends with AJ Styles since her return from Summerslam. It amused her how the WWE champion was mesmerized by the newest addition to the Smackdown roster. His eyes were still lingering in the direction that Natalie had followed Nattie. AJ had been single since right before his Royal Rumble debut in January, so it intrigued Nikki that AJ seemed to be interested in someone, especially a beauty like Natalie Michaels. "AJ, are you in love with our newest lovely addition to the Smackdown roster?"
The Phenomenal One's face turned bright red and The Bella Twin giggled. "No. I was just making sure she made it there safely because she is newer and she might have gotten lost."
"She was following Nattie; so she wouldn't have got lost." Nikki rolled her eyes. "Let's face it: you're enamored with Natalie Michaels. You should talk to her."
"Yeah, right. She's Shawn Michaels' daughter, she wouldn't want to waste her time talking to me," AJ scoffed. "She probably wants to hang out with someone her own age instead of a recently divorced forty year old."
"Are you insecure?" Nikki wondered. "And if you are, you have no reason to be. You have a lot to offer, AJ. Any woman would be lucky to have you." The brunette placed a hand on AJ's shoulder. "I think you should talk to her and see how it goes. I've heard through the grapevine that she's single and she's one of the kindest people you could ever know."
The WWE champion huffed. "I guess I'm just nervous. I haven't pursued a woman in so long; it's like I need an instruction guide or something."
"Just introduce yourself and welcome her to the main roster," The San Diego resident advised.
"That's easier said than done."
Nikki rolled her eyes. "That's because it is easy."
"Okay, Nicole, I'll talk to Natalie during the show."
"Great!" Nikki beamed. "Let me know how it goes." The Bella Twin got up from the table and patted the WWE champion on the back before walking to get ready for the show.
AJ let out a sigh. He needed to find a way to introduce himself to Natalie Michaels without looking like an idiot.
Natalya was walking backstage after being defeated by Smackdown women's champion: Becky Lynch. The third generation woman appeared to be frustrated, but that frustration quickly turned into one of shock. The camera zoomed in on a debuting Natalie Michaels and The Ottawa, Ontario WWE Universe popped for the second generation woman. She was dressed in a white pullover crop sweater, white midrise skinny jeans with holes at the knees, and beige tiramisu high heel sandals. Her makeup was done to give her a more natural look with light brown eyeshadow and pink lipgloss. Her medium length blonde hair was half up with the half down in natural waves.
The two women stared at each other and the WWE universe was eating it up. "Hello, Nattie, you're just the person I wanted to see," Natalie said. "I just wanted to let you know that you did splendid last night at the Survivor Series pay-per-view. You really stepped up for your team whenever Nikki got ambushed."
"Thanks, Natalie, I appreciate that," Natalya smiled. "That's why I should've been captain in the first place. I would've never let down the team like Nikki Bella did. I mean she's my friend and all, but I even know that Nikki can be unreliable."
"That's kind of ironic that you mention unreliable. It seems like to me that you're an unreliable friend."
Natalya scoffed. "What is that supposed to mean?"
"I was backstage at Survivor Series last night and I know what you did."
"I don't know what you're talking about, Natalie."
"It's okay, I won't expose you for the fraud of a friend and person that you are. Everybody will find out soon enough."
"What is with you Michaels' and spreading lies about the Hart family?" The crowd ooo'd at Natalya's question.
"I know how you're so obsessed with leaching off your family's legacy, but I am not inheriting the same traits that my Dad did to get to the top; no offense to him," Natalie replied. "I am not going to spread propaganda about you to raise my stock. I know what I saw last night and you know what I am talking about. It'll eventually get out, so I'm not worried about that. I just wanted to tell you to your face that what you did to Nikki at Survivor Series was terrible and that she deserves a better friend than you."
"I know why you really confronted me," Natalya stated. "You want to make a name at the expense of me. Just like your Daddy Shawn did with my Uncle Bret."
Natalie rolled her eyes. "You're so delusional. You will do anything to mention any of your family because that's the only way you will be relevant. I am more than capable of making my own legacy. I just so happen to have a WWE Hall Of Famer as my Dad. I'm proud of it, but that doesn't mean I am going to leach off his legacy to help me get to the top. I want to prove that I belong here because of my talent and passion."
"We all know you're only here because your Daddy called up his best friend, Hunter, because his daughter needed a job. You're irrelevant and there's no place for you on the roster."
"That's the pot calling the kettle black. Nattie, you haven't been relevant since 2010." Natalya who was now offended, slapped Natalie in the face.
Natalie speared Natalya into one of the nearest tables and laid down punches left and right. Natalya kicked Natalie in the abdomen and shoved her into one of the ladders that were propped nearby. Natalya attempted to ram Natalie's face into the ladder, but Natalie countered and rammed Natalya's face into the ladder.
Officials and General Manager, Daniel Bryan broke up the catfight between Natalie and Natalya. "Ladies, that is enough!" The crowd booed because they still wanted to see the ladies brawl backstage. "I can already tell that you two are going to have problems, so I am going to solve the problem before it gets out of hand. Since you two like to use tables and ladders, at TLC - it'll be you two in the first ever women's tables, ladders, and chairs match. And the winner will get bragging rights on superiority on the Michaels or Hart Legacy." The audience cheered in satisfaction of the match.
Natalie smiled. "Sounds great. I am all about trying to make history and I am going to create my own legacy."
"I'm going to prove that my family is much more superior than yours."
Natalie rolled her eyes. "That's exactly what I'm talking about. You're always talking about your family, why can't you do something for yourself for a change?"
"I'll do something for myself, I will end your career before it can even start," Natalya smirked. "So, I would worry more about that instead of worrying about what you thought you saw last night at Survivor Series."
"I'm not worried about that Nattie, because like I said earlier, Nikki is going to find about what you did and how you're a fraud of a friend and person. How you're treating me now is exactly how you treat her but worse because you did it behind her back."
"Alright, let's go, Natalya," Daniel said. Natalya huffed and was escorted by officials to the locker room area. Daniel looked at Natalie, who had an intense look on her face. "So, welcome to Smackdown, Natalie!" The crowd laughed and Natalie let out a dry laugh.
Natalie was getting ready to head back to the women's locker room when she ran into a muscled figure. She recognized him as current WWE champion: The Phenomenal, AJ Styles. "I'm sorry. I wasn't paying attention."
"It's alright," AJ assured. "By the way, welcome to Smackdown!"
"Thank you, I'm grateful to be here." She extended her hand out to AJ. "I'm Natalie Michaels, it's an honor to finally meet you. I'm a huge fan."
The Phenomenal One was flattered to know that the beautiful woman standing before him was a fan of him. "I'm honored."
"I practically jumped out of my seat whenever you won the WWE title at Backlash. I couldn't think of anyone more deserving."
AJ felt his cheeks go hot. He was seriously flattered. "I appreciate that." Everyone was right about Natalie Michaels; she really was a kind person.
"I'm sure you hear that all the time though, so I'm sorry."
Yes, he had heard people tell him that, but not from someone who made his mouth go dry in a span of second with sparkling blue-green eyes and radiating smile. She was certainly one of the most beautiful women he'd ever seen. He was officially hooked. "Trust me, I am flattered."
"I tend to get starstruck, so please forgive me if I am acting weird or making you feel uncomfortable."
The WWE champion chuckled. "Do you have the tendency to babble?"
Natalie nodded her head. "It's a bad habit."
"I think it's adorable." AJ hadn't expected that to be said out loud. He wanted to punch himself in the throat for flirting with a woman he barely even knew. He probably scared her away.
"Thanks," Natalie blushed. "I should head towards the locker room. It was really nice to meet you, AJ."
"I'll be seeing more of you, right?" The Phenomenal One wondered. He really hoped he would be seeing more of Natalie Michaels around.
"Yep, you can't get rid of me that easy," Natalie teased. "I'll see you around."
Natalie walked towards the women's locker room and her insides were screaming. She had finally met AJ Styles. The best wrestler in the world. The rumors were true about him - he was such a down to earth guy. Natalie hoped that she would see a lot more of him because she was hooked.
If anything: she knew that they could be friends.
A/N: Thank you for reading. I am grateful for any favorites, follows, or reviews. I hope you find something you like about the story. Thanks for taking the time to click on this story and reading. Hope you all enjoy!