˚｡⋆⭒ ˚｡⋆⭒

Irl!

(Sunday Evening, July  31st, 2022)

˚｡⋆⭒ ˚｡⋆⭒

I have never been more relieved to arrive home than I am right now. The weight and stress of SummerSlam, the crowds reaction, my performance, and how everything was gonna go is now lifted off my chest and shoulders!! And I can finally relax, for a bit.

I have a surprise guest appearance at NXT on Tuesday to say my final farewell to my old home, and then I have to travel to South Carolina for my very first Friday Night Smackdown appearance... sleep will be zero to none this week, I can already tell.

I let out a sigh of relief as I punch in the code and enter my house, some delicious immediately hitting my nose.

"Hello!!" I call out and I'm met with a bark before I'm bombarded with licks and fur from my beautiful German Shepard. "Hey, Maverick, how's my favorite boy." I gush, letting go of my suitcase and duffle bag I squat down to give him my full attention for pets and he flops down to his side, eating it up of course.

"In here!" Uncle Jack hollers from the kitchen. "Making one of your favs!"

My face actually hurts from smiling so big as I give Maverick one last big pat on the belly before discarding my backpack and heading for the kitchen. He told me he was making me a surprise for getting home. He has always love to cook and has worked in the restaurant industry his entire life. That's what he did before officially retiring to 'work for me.'

I enter the kitchen to find Jack cooking away, whistling as he switches from stove to stove.

"Hey, kiddo." He looks over his shoulder. "Breakfast for dinner sound good to you."

Um, HELL YEAH!

I place my hands on my hips. "Is that even a question?" I muse.

He chuckles, flipping what looks to be pancakes, yummmm.

"Hi, Coraline." I reach over to the counter to pet my second furry child as she stretches her head out towards my hand.

I was initially a bit nervous to get a cat after already owning a dog, as they're normally seen as not getting along, but a year or so after this house was built I started seeing a black kitten roaming around. I wasn't sure if the poor thing was born and left behind or dumped near by but Uncle Jack started putting out food, milk, and water and before you know it I finally let her in the house just to try it.

Once she made herself right at home we took her to the vet, and Maverick was just excited to have a new friend, being a puppy himself, so he didn't mind at all. And I settled on the name Coraline after the movie since she was a black cat and the black cat in the movie didn't really have a name, and she's a girl.

"I see you have a helper." I scratch behind her ear as Maverick plops himself down at my feet. Jack is Coraline's favorite human in the world.

"Hmm, oh yes, tried the pancake batter and everything." He cracks, lifting his eyebrows at her, he quickly scratches her back as he lays down a plate of bacon.

"Ooo, ba-" I go to reach before he slaps my hand. "Ow!"

"Uh-uh, no snacking." He points his finger at me.

I scoff. "Wha- this isn't a snack, this is dinner."

"I'm almost finished." He tsks, moving back to the stove.

"Fine..." I huff. "He's no fun." I whisper to Coraline.

"I heard that."

"Good." I chuckle.

"What's up, bitches!!" Denni's voice rings through the house as the door slams shut. "I'm here for breakfast, no dinner, no breakfast. Oh whatever, I'm here." She grumbles with herself, rounding the corner, her golden retriever Goose following behind. "Heyyyy."

I snort, shaking my head at her. "Hey."

I've always, always wanted my own dog, or to own a dog period, so when Denni officially got hired we went out and got dogs together. This sweet couple that owns a dog training center were selling both breeds and of course Denni and I had to match their names and went with one of our favorite movies of all time, Top Gun.

Whenever she has to travel, she brings Goose here for Uncle Jack as well, conveniently buying a house just several minutes away.

Which also means joining us for dinner a lot of nights. At this point, Denni is family, and neither of us would have it any other way.

"Ooo, bacon." Denni rubs her hands together, diving for a piece. "Hi, Uncle Jack." She says with a mouth full.

"Hey, Denni." He smiles, platting up the pancakes, then the eggs.

"Uh, hello?!" I wave my hands around towards her. "Where's her hand smack?" I ask Uncle Jack.

He looks at me, acting clueless. "I don't know what you're talking about. Sweet Denni here had to try it out, of course." He grins at her and she beams before sticking her tongue out at me.

"Ha, I'm Uncle Jack's favorite." She throws a piece of bacon at me, and it lands of the floor for Maverick to eat up before Goose can.

"So not fair." I huff as we all move to grab our plates and head to the living room.

Good to be home.

˚｡⋆⭒ ˚｡⋆⭒

(Tuesday, August 2nd, 2022)

˚｡⋆⭒ ˚｡⋆⭒

I smirk as I enter the performance center, the energy of this place coursing through my veins.

I requested to Shawn to let me come out for one final goodbye the Tuesday after SummerSlam, wanting- no, needing to say my peace and have my closure. One chapter ends, another begins. NXT has been my home for so long, hell, it's why I built on the outskirts of Orlando, but I know it's time.

When I lost my title at The Great American Bash, I knew I wanted to go out strong, and my way. And I did. I didn't want to be forced to vacate the title, definitely didn't want to be made looking weak, and I wasn't.

Toxic Attraction had to pull out all their stops to take me down, and I went out with blood dripping down my nose to a bloody smirk as I held my fist in the air, my head held high, and the NXT crowd chanting 'Thank you, Crimson!' It was truly a dream come true.

And what better way to kick of NXT than with Crimson Kae?

I hear a squeal as I walk towards catering to grab a coffee before we go live in a about an hour.

"You're here!!" I'm attacked with a hug from behind and turn around to find Brianna, Cora Jade, clinging to me.

"Hey, baby cakes." I squeeze the life out of her.

I met her when she started off in the performance center and I took her under my wing almost immediately and she clinged on to me. She told me that she saw me as one of wrestling inspirations, along with AJ Lee, Bayley, and Sasha Banks and I couldn't have been more honored in that moment, it was a huge career moment to here one of the new signee's tell me that and I made sure to take extra time with her, wanting to build a strong path for NXT and it's bright future, even when I'm long gone, and Cora is definitely one of them.

"You killed it Saturday at SummerSlam!! I wish you would've told me." She send her elbow into my ribs.

"Ow, you!" I pull her into a headlock as we circle around for several seconds before releasing each other, laughing. "I didn't tell anybody- okay, any wrestler..." Denni doesn't count in that department, and of course neither does Uncle Jack, so not a lie. "Don't take it personally."

I did in fact receive a text message from Rhea Saturday night, in all caps might I add, of her shouting at me for not telling her. I send her many kiss emoji's, swearing to her I would make it up to her, but I still don't think she's convinced.

I could barely talk to her other than text messages keeping this from her because I was dying more than anything to tell her, but I wanted it to be a surprise, especially to her. Now I gotta kiss her ass much more for the next couple months, not that I'm complaining.

"You could've told me." Cora whines.

"I didn't even tell Rhea." I tell her.

She gasps, knowing how close we are. "Was she mad?"

I chuckle. "Oh, very."

˚｡⋆⭒ ˚｡⋆⭒

I bounce on my heels, waiting in the gorilla as Vic Joseph kicks off the show. As soon as he finishes and the crowds 'NXT' chants die down my music hits, sending the audience into a full eruption.

"Knock 'em dead, kid." Shawn hollers to me from his seat, putting on his headset and I take a deep breath before stepping out.

My smirk grows as I rake my tongue across my teeth, scrunching my nose in excitment as the crowd begins to chant, "Welcome Home! Welcome Home!"

I slowly make my way down to the ramp, twirling the mic in my hand as I soak up this moment.

"Ohhhh, yes! You here them, Vic?" Booker T. cheers as I reach the steel steps.

"This is crazy! The NXT Universe couldn't be more excited for this surprise appearance by none other than former NXT Women's Champion, Crimson Kae." Vic says back.

I can't hear the rest of their conversation as I plant myself in the middle of the ring and just rock back and fourth on my feet as they continue to yell.

"Crimson Kae! Crimson Kae! Crimson Kae!"

I hold my finger up to my ear, scanning from one side of the crowd to the other, feeling like I'm floating out of my body. This is so surreal.

I finally hold my hand up, not wanting to waste anymore time, and bring the mic up to my lips.

"So, it's safe to say everyone here tuned in to SummerSlam on Saturday?" I begin and they roar. I raise my hand up again. "I'm glad everyone got to witness the bloodbath that was Liv Morgan and Rhonda Rousey, because everyone here knows what happens when I show up and show out, hmm? They just had to learn the hard way, like everyone else." I nod, motioning my hands for applause as the crowd cheers louder.

They die out as I continue. "I just had to come out and kick off tonight's show one last time before heading over to SmackDown this Fridayyyy." I look directly into the camera. "Which I'm sure everyone will tune in to, as I am the star of any show, doesn't matter what night it's on." I laugh, exhaling. "But, I want you all to know, I will not be leaving here for good. A part of me, and my heart, blood, sweat, and yes, even tears, will be here. Because Crimson Kae is and aways will be NXT." I finish with a smile. "Here's to the next road that lies ahead, and know it will be a bloody one." I blow a kiss to the camera before shooting both arms up into the air as the crowd begins, this time even better than the last.

"Thank you, Crimson!'" They clap in unison. "Thank you, Crimson!"

"Thank you guys!" I breathe into the microphone. "Now, is everyone ready for a kickass night?"

"Yeah!"

"I said is everyone ready for a kickass night?!"

"YEAH!!!"

"Well, then let's get on with the show!" I holler, shutting my eyes for a moment, I walk over to the ropes, and leave the NXT ring one final time.

And we're off...

˚｡⋆⭒ ˚｡⋆⭒

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Hello, hellooo <333333

Welcome back to Crimson Ustulationnn ANDDD happy 1 week til SUMMERSLAM!!! This SummerSlam is so packed this year, omggg!!

I was really excited to write this chapter, as I felt Crimson HAD to have one last goodbye at NXT! I let the chapter naturally write itself and I'm SO happy with how it turned out!! Our girl is officially bleeding blue for SmackDown!!

I hope you all enjoyed this chapterrr!! Got more Uncle Jack & Denni of course, Rhea metionnnn, more background/lore on Crimson, & a cute moment with her & Jadeee!! I didn't originally have Jade & Crimson being close in the plan for this book, but got inspo for it about a month ago when I decided to make CM Punk Crimson's wrestling Uncle in the future & she'll be one his wrestling daughtersss, which Cora is too so I haddd to give them a cute mentor-mentee friendship <3

And what do y'all think about Crimson's pets?! I was so excited to introduce them & I think the Maverick-Goose thing was SO CUTEEEE, I love Top Gun lol. Okay, I'll stop freakin yapping now lmao.

DON'T FORGET TO COMMENT YOUR THOUGHTS, REACTIONS, & COMMENTS ANDDD... STAY TUNED BC NEXT WEEK CRIMSON & ROMAN FINALLYYYY CROSS PATHSSS, AHHHH!! See y'all next week for SS!! I hope the rumors/whispers are true & Roman reuturnsss!! (Jimmy too!!) It would be such a full circle moment for him returning SummerSlam 2020!

See y'all next weekend, mwauh!!! ;)