A So-Cal Workout

"Uggh!" Alaina grunted as she was quickly pulled from the ropes and hit with a dropkick. The way it was done was very fluid... Alaina wanted to get a few of her strikes to that point. Sure she could hit hard, but if it was easier to tie into other things for a combination it would make her more versatile in matches.

As odd as it sounded, Alaina being on her back might be a good thing for the moment. Surely she would be pounded on or put into a hold, and practice in defending against or reversing these things never hurt.

Easy does it, tone it down. Valley was letting her training get the better of her. The dropkick was really too extreme for their light spar, but her body was used to the movements. Still, Alaina was down and she couldn't let that go to waste. Down she went.

Putting her legs to use, Valley grabbed Alaina's head and lifted it up as she dropped down, bringing her legs around the Amazon's neck for a scissorhold and squeezing down tight.

This wasn't good.... Alaina tried to thrust her hands between Valley's legs and her own throat so she'd have room to breathe.

Unfortunately that plan failed, even though it was more technically sound than Alaina's usual style. However, she did have a plan B. She would try to twist so her head was facing Valley, and from there if she could get her legs under her to stand she would try to stand up, while holding Valley. If this worked it was a prime Ama-bomb position, but Alaina didn't want to do something like that in a spar like this.

Instead, Alaina would run towards a turnbuckle and kneel last minute, slamming Valley's back against it. It'd still be painful but less so than an Ama-bomb would be...

Once again, Valley's legs came through for her. She'd actually shied away from holds like this with the Slamazons, but maybe she could start leaning on them more. They fit her style, her strengths, why not get as much play out of them as possible?

She put the squeeze on Alaina, but she should have known that wouldn't be nearly enough to stop the rising star from rising. Her impressive strength came into play once again, and Valley could only really look on as she was taken for a ride. She tried to power down on the hold, but it wasn't happening.

She hit the turnbuckle hard and fell on her back, grunting...but laughing, too."Okay, nice move."

"..Thanks." Alaina panted. She was free but getting that way took a lot out of her. However, that was no excuse to take it easy.

Alaina moved forward to grab Valley's feet and pull her away from the ropes. She had only dabbled in figure-4 leglocks, and she knew from being on the wrong end of them that they were an effective hold. As soon as Valley was a decent distance away from the ropes, Alaina did what she could to get her veteran sparring partner into the figure-4.

Valley was more than a little surprised when Alaina pulled her away from the ropes, not sure what she was up to until they'd gotten a little bit away - Alaina was going for the figure-four leg lock.

Smart move, very smart. Hurting her legs was the best thing to do, here. Valley's strategy began and ended with them, and getting them hurt would cost her any match...present or in the near future.

She would have applauded of she wasn't so busy tapping. With her Splash matching coming up, she really couldn't risk it, especially not over a sparring match.

Alaina immediately let go once Valley tapped. She was surprised at first, but quickly saw the logic of it. Why risk injury during practice when something big was right around the corner?

As Alaina got up she immediately helped up her partner. "I didn't plan on putting much pressure on, I'm sorry if I went overboard." Alaina said. "IS your matchup at Summer Splash a single or tag team match?"

"No, no! It's fine." She gave Alaina a pat on the shoulder as she rose up. "I'm just playing it safe, for now. That was a great move, you're really getting fluid."

She moved back up and went into a lower stance, starting to circle around her once more. "Tag match. Me and my girl are going up against some masked goons that messed with her and tried to beat her down. They've actually been making a habit of ganging up on wrestlers, but I'm hoping we can knock some sense into them. I hate wrestling bullies."

"You and I both!" Alaina said. Apparently being new had some perks... like being under the radar of those two masked jerkwads. "Make sure to cartwheel bomb one of them for me! Actually... I will hate myself for this, but do you want to try that move out in a mock match situation now?"

Alaina wasn't a masochist, but if her friend was going to get proficient with a new move a more realistic practice setting seemed appropriate.

She stepped back, looking her over. "You're sure? It's going to hurt, I can't lie. Because of the way the move works, I can't really dull it. It's basically going to be like a sit-out powerbomb."

Alaina had gumption, though, there wasn't any questioning that. And Valley could use all the practice she could get...