Second Nature

by Ric Flair

  There was a level of excitement in the NXT locker room leading up to ArRival. The matches people were talking about beforehand were the two-out-of-three falls match with Cesaro and Sami Zayn, and the Ladder Match for the NXT Championship between champion Bo Dallas and Neville.

  There was one match that stole the show, and that was NXT Women’s Champion Paige versus Emma. I had so much respect for both of them. Their match was an emotional, hard-fought contest. It had people talking long after the event was over. People wanted to watch ArRival just to see that match. Fans wanted more matches that featured female athletes. That night, Paige and Emma set a new standard for female competition.

  In the days and weeks following ArRival, you could feel a healthy competition start to set in between the male and female performers at the Performance Center. Everyone welcomed it. In the early days of NXT, we were all a team.

  Over time, NXT became the place to watch incredible female wrestlers engaged in fiercely competitive matches with compelling story lines.

  We were reminded in NXT that the WWE main roster was different, and things that worked in NXT might not transfer to Raw and SmackDown. In this case, it was the opposite: the Divas on the main roster were relegated to the bottom of the card. The women on Raw and SmackDown were being presented as “fillers” between male-dominated segments. They had two- to three-minute matches that were often more comedic fodder than competitive showings of what they could really do in the ring.

  The NXT Women’s Division developed such a loyal following that those female presentations would not work in NXT. The audience wanted to see empowered females giving everything they had in highly contested matchups. They wanted to see women in meaningful story lines, not Bra-and-Panties Matches, or a Santa’s Helper Battle Royal, or a food fight that ended up in a pool of chocolate pudding.

  A couple of weeks before WrestleMania 30, I got the news that I would travel to New Orleans to walk on WrestleMania’s wondrous stage.

  No, I didn’t make my main roster debut at WrestleMania. Hunter asked me if I’d be a part of his entrance when he came out to face Daniel Bryan. Sasha, Alexa Bliss, and I were under gold masks. We were goddesses who took off the King of Kings’ battle gear before he went to war.

  The feeling I had of walking out on that stage to Hunter’s music was exhilarating. The energy, the enormity, and the pageantry of his entrance made me want to be a member of WWE’s main roster even more than ever before. That night, I decided what my ultimate goal would be: to perform in a match at next year’s WrestleMania.

  When I returned to Orlando, I realized I was consumed by the thought of getting to the main roster. All I thought about was improving. My character development and learning curve dramatically increased to go at a much faster rate. In class, we’d be given scenarios to talk about. I was told to talk about Paige. She was the NXT Women’s Champion. I had to talk about challenging her for her championship, that it would be mine and that nothing would stop me.

  I started my monologue by stating, “I was going to come after the NXT title with an extra set of wings. I was going to win it for my brother. He was my angel.”

  I meant every word I said, and when I returned to my seat, I realized that I had the ability to channel feelings from my real life and express myself using a microphone. It wasn’t about “Charlotte” being a “bad guy,” or saying she’s “genetically superior.” It was about the bigger picture—that I was going to make it to the top for my brother, and he was going to be with me every step of the way. At that moment, nothing felt more real.

  I continued to stress the importance of character development as it pertained to my own work at the Performance Center. I had the athleticism; I just needed more emotion. I needed to develop facial expressions so that what I felt transferred to the audience and told a compelling story.

  I became obsessed with perfecting every aspect of my character. I didn’t realize it then, but the timing was perfect because I earned an opportunity that changed the trajectory of my career and my life.

  Paige made a historic debut on the Monday Night Raw that aired the night after WrestleMania 30. In NXT, it was customary when an NXT Champion dropped their championship to someone else, they’d get called up to the main roster. Paige won the Divas Championship that night on Raw and was still the NXT Women’s Champion. The NXT title was vacated.

  There was a tournament to crown a new Women’s Champion. From the main roster, the tournament featured Layla, a former Women’s and Divas Champion; Alicia Fox, a former Divas Champion; and Natalya, a former Divas Champion and third-generation performer from the famous Hart family.

  I felt like I came full circle in the first round of the tournament. I faced Emma, the person I’d had my first match with in FCW. Emma was so smooth in the ring. With Sasha in my corner, we incorporated her into the match, so at the end, Emma mistakenly hit Sasha with the Cobra Strike, and I rolled Emma up to win the match. I’m sure it was unexpected from the audience’s point of view, but I advanced to the next round of the tournament.

  In the semifinals, I defeated Alexa Bliss. Alexa was a gymnast, an NCAA Division I cheerleader, and a competitive bodybuilder turned NXT Diva. Alexa had great agility and balance in the ring.

  In our match, we complemented one another’s skills well and used our height differential as a way to help tell our story. Alexa stood five foot one compared to my five foot ten. The match featured many reversals, and we kept up step for step with each other. In the end, my finishing move, now named “Bow Down to the Queen,” was too much for Miss Bliss.

  Natalya defeated Sasha in the other semifinal match, which meant the fans would see Natalya and me perform in the tournament finals, which was going to be featured on the second live NXT special, TakeOver.

  I couldn’t believe that from my beginning in FCW two years earlier, I was now in a match for the NXT Women’s Championship with someone of Natalya’s caliber. I sat directly in the row in front of her during the 2012 Hall of Fame induction ceremony. She was my first match at an NXT live event. I remember when I started in developmental, Reider told me, “Look at Natalya. That’s who you want to be like.” Now I was going to have my chance.

  I remember that morning being on the treadmill in my favorite red Marvel cutoff T-shirt while Tom and my dad lifted weights on the first level of LA Fitness by my apartment.

  I had just gotten my new music with my dad’s entrance theme dubbed into it, and I can remember playing it over and over and over as I walked on an incline, hyping myself up for this match.

  I had put together some ideas for the match with Coach Sara and Tyler Breeze. Nattie had come to the Performance Center the week before to roll around with me in the ring. She said she just wanted to see if I could move with her and listen. We didn’t walk through anything; she just wanted to “play, play, play,” as she called it. I looked up to Nattie. I respected her. I knew if I listened to her, we could have a great match.

  When it came to the match, all I knew was that I wanted to prove everyone wrong. That I deserved to be in the position of winning the NXT Women’s title and that I had progressed as a talent. That Hunter wasn’t going with the wrong girl and that even though Paige vacated the title, Nattie and I were going to put a good match on. When I say I just wanted to put a good match on, I had no idea what I was capable of.

  I just remember Nattie telling me, “Listen to me. I promise, it will be great.” I took her words to heart. I wanted to gain her respect, but at the same time I had to listen, because I still didn’t really know what I was doing. I just knew that she promised to take care of me!

  I did a few things for that match. One, I prepared myself like never before. I envisioned how everything should happen from start to finish. It all revolved around feeling: how I should feel walking in, at different points of the match, and at the end. Before, I went through the motions I had memorized with little feeling or depth. I did exactly what Nattie told me. I listened to her, I let her guide me, and I poured my
entire heart and soul into that match.

  Nattie knew what this meant to me.4 She knew what my family had suffered through. I told her I was dedicating this match to my brother, that I tried to envision what it would feel like to win the title, and that I teared up every time I thought about it and Reider. I couldn’t believe I had made it this far. I wanted to do it for him.

  Something special was announced for our match. My dad would be in my corner, and Nattie’s uncle, legend Bret Hart, would be in hers. My dad and Bret worked together in WWE and WCW. Their relationship hit a rough patch because of things they both said about one another. When they saw each other backstage, they smiled and shook hands. You could tell how proud they were to be there.

  It was special for us to have the match elevated in importance by having our legendary family members at ringside, but when the bell rang, Nattie and I made sure our work spoke for itself. This battle was about us and the NXT Women’s Championship.

  We wanted to establish a big-fight, championship feel to the match. Natalya, the storied competitor from an iconic bloodline, had the experience, poise, and grace of a champion. My character, Charlotte, was the brash, second-generation competitor on the rise.

  It was important to show us going hold for hold and move for move to establish the groundwork for the intense story we were going to tell. We engaged in reversals of one another’s moves, close pin-fall attempts, and going toe-to-toe with one another. This was the story of a true struggle. To the audience, perhaps both of us met our match?

  The match seemed to be over when I was locked in Natalya’s Sharpshooter, but when I rolled through to reverse the move into my version of the figure-four leg lock, the tables continued to turn. We raised the tension ever more when we slapped each other in the face while still being locked in the hold. We rolled out of the ring and hung off the apron while still locked in the hold. We wanted the audience to feel that both women were consumed with the thought of being recognized as the NXT Women’s Champion.

  Back in the ring, I regained the advantage. I picked up my leg and instead of locking in the figure four again, I committed the classic act of “adding insult to injury.” I used Natalya’s Sharpshooter against her. This time, I taunted her uncle Bret, who stood on the outside. This time, Natalya reversed the hold and was going to lock me in. At this stage in the match, it would’ve resulted in my character meeting her impending doom, but that night in Orlando, the story read differently.

  I kicked out of Natalya’s Sharpshooter attempt and hit my finishing move. The Full Sail University faithful counted as referee Charles Robinson’s hand hit the canvas. I still couldn’t believe that this time, I’d hear the audience say, “Three!”

  Being announced as the new NXT Women’s Champion was surreal. After my dad came into the ring, I needed to see Natalya. Having this moment with her meant so much to me. My dad and Bret hugged, and the four of us enjoyed a moment in the ring.

  Nattie and Bret exited the ring. I celebrated with my dad. It was like we were the only two people in the arena. Both my parents always supported me 100 percent. They went to every recital, meet, competition, and game. For my dad to go from the stands at a volleyball game to my corner ringside was a thrill I couldn’t quite grasp. We kept the celebration going right up the ramp. That’s where it ended for the people in the audience. Backstage, the moment continued.

  The first person I saw was Dusty in his camouflage jacket. I could see the pride radiating from every fiber of his being. I put my arms around him and cried.

  The second person I saw was Hunter. He looked so proud. Hunter’s watched me grow up since I was a little girl. He knew how special that moment was. He’s always been a text or phone call away. That night, he was there in person. I wanted to show him what I was really made of and that NXT was my home. He wrapped his arms around me and put his hands on my face. It was like I was one of his daughters.

  One of my favorite moments was when I went into the locker room and celebrated with the women I worked with every day.

  The Divas Revolution started with two women at ArRival. It was up to every woman who trained at the Performance Center and performed on NXT cards to develop that foundation and make it stronger. We needed to make the most of every opportunity and build on that for the next time.

  I was one of the women in the ring who celebrated Paige’s winning the NXT Women’s Championship a year before. Paige was an outstanding champion. Paige and Emma’s match at ArRival elevated the prestige of the championship. Out of respect for them and respect for the women at the Performance Center who gave everything they had every day, I knew my work had to continue to improve.

  After the show, Tom, Mom, Dad, and I went to the sushi restaurant at Dad’s hotel in the airport. I remember taking pictures with the NXT title in the car on the way there. I was bursting with pride. It was sitting in my lap, and I kept thinking, I did it. I really did it.

  * * *

  Having dinner with the three of them after that match was rare and very special to me. They were all so proud. I actually think I surpassed my dad’s and Tom’s expectations.5 I blew them away! It was a night I will never forget. I had no idea what the future would hold, but I had this night. It had a piece of my heart forever.

  In one sense, this win represented how far I had come as a person and as a performer.6 On the other hand, it served as my motivation to savor this moment of victory and realize that I had a long way to go. I couldn’t get to this point and walk away. This was destiny calling, and it symbolized another beginning in my young life.

  I was on cloud nine. I felt I could do anything after that match. When I found a few quiet moments to myself, I couldn’t do the one thing I wanted to: call Reider.

  I wouldn’t have been there were it not for him being my biggest advocate to give wrestling a shot. I went to dinner with him and our dad to speak with a WWE executive about what Reider needed to do. No one seated at that table knew how lost I was, how much pain I was in, and how much help I needed. Now, two years removed from that night, I was holding the NXT Women’s Championship. It was so hard accepting that I couldn’t call the one person I knew would’ve been there, the one person I wanted to be there. I knew after that match I was going to live his dream for the both of us.7

  Being a champion and what you do as a champion are two different things. I knew the challenges that were ahead. I looked forward to meeting them head-on.

  For that night, I was walking on sunshine in legendary footsteps, ready to blaze my own trail.

  17

  YOU SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION

  It was our time.

  July 2015

  After my match with Nattie at TakeOver,1 my confidence grew by leaps and bounds. Nattie gave me the ability to believe in myself and to be comfortable in my own skin as a performer. She inspired me by showing what it was like to be a ring general and to be a genuine and unselfish person in this business.

  Becoming the second Women’s Champion in NXT history meant everything to me.

  I wanted to enrich the prestige of the championship because of Paige’s work as champion, my own goals as a performer, and because of what the championship meant during Paige’s reign. I came a long way from the days of watching NXT tapings on the video screens in the classroom at the Performance Center. I wanted to bring my skill and dedication center stage and say, “Hey, you did that, and it was incredible. Now watch this.” I wanted to up the ante, raise the bar, and continue the momentum—and not just be Ric Flair’s daughter.

  More than anything, it was all about the amazing work the women did in the Performance Center and what the championship meant to all of us. The way that was accomplished was through having great matches with every opponent I met in the ring.

  It also included improving the areas I focused on before my match with Nattie: the strength of my character, the emotion behind what I said and did, and bringing the audience deeper into my performance. I didn’t want to rely on my athleticism to execute impr
essive acrobatic moves; the moves did not mean anything in the larger sense of my character and the story I wanted to tell. I needed to further develop that ability and, as a villain, make the crowd despise me.

  Despite focusing my attention on the many areas of my performance that did not revolve around athleticism, I started to incorporate some of my dad’s moves and mannerisms into my character: chops, the knee drop, and of course, saying, “WOOOOO!” My finishing move’s name appropriately changed to Natural Selection.

  I wanted to work with Coach Sara on new maneuvers. A lot of moves I did were created when I’d play around in the ring with her and Norman Smiley, just trying new things. I was training in the ring with them when she suggested I try the figure-four leg lock. When the move was applied, she suggested I bring my body back into a bridge. Most people don’t believe me when I tell them that Sara showed me how to apply the figure four—not my dad!

  Once I performed the figure four with the bridge, I didn’t know what to call it. Simon Gotch of the Vaudevillains, who was always so creative, was standing outside the ring and said, “You should name that the Figure Eight—twice as good as your dad’s.” And that was it. Something similar happened when Kassius Ohno saw my finishing move and said, “You should call that Natural Selection.”

  To be at the Performance Center, to perform on NXT cards and experience NXT’s growth was incredibly rewarding. What was supposed to be a training ground for the future of WWE became its own brand. The weekly NXT program, which was supposed to give us experience performing in front of a television audience with scheduled live specials, became one of the most popular programs on the WWE Network. NXT Superstars had their own merchandise, trading cards, action figures; they were featured in the WWE video game. NXT was a legitimate, individual entity. People spoke about it as a third brand in the same breath as Raw and SmackDown.