Mikoto Kusanagi Vs Miss USA: Once and Future Angels

It was time. Marilyn stepped up to the curtain, tugging on her mask on last time to make sure it was on securely. She had been taught that every match was important, but somehow, this one seemed to weigh heavier on her than usual. As Miss USA, she was being advertised as the successor to the absent, former Wrestle Angel The USA. And now she was going against a former Wrestle Angel, in Mikoto Kusanagi. An original Wrestle Angel versus a hand picked successor to one. Marilyn would bet that she would be hard pressed to get the approval of die hard Wrestle Angel fans. Still, her match against Ace was getting lots of replay views on the AFW website, and fans seemed to be impressed with her athleticism. But if she could get a win over one of the original Wrestle Angels, that would earn respect, even from those who claimed she was just a pretender to the original patriotic masked wrestler.

When her music hit, Miss USA burst through the curtains at a full run, sprinting down the ramp as her theme's fast paced rock tones filled the arena. Although she was cheered, there were also some scattered boos as well, confirming Marilyn's suspicions about Wrestle Angel fans. Coming to the ring, Miss USA dove headfirst under the bottom rope, sliding to the middle of the ring before springing to her feet and heading to a corner to perch on the second rope, facing the crowd.

Raising her right hand up with two fingers extended, Miss USA gave the peace sign while letting loose a wild yell. Then she hopped down, her music fading away. Settling into the corner, her back against the turnbuckles, Marilyn waited for her Japanese opponent.

While Mikoto was exceptionally flattered and appreciative by all the attention and repeated bookings, it was difficult for her not to initially feel somewhat reluctant at the prospect of facing yet another Wrestle Angel veteran. Her record so far was an anemic 0-2 against fellow former competitors from the now defunct league. Both were matches that came down to the wire but were ultimately compromised by the priestess’ heightened emotional state. Though before she could dread the idea of a three-peat performance, her manager mentioned that THIS Miss U.S.A. was not THE USA , but rather an aspiring rookie who took up the mantle of the patriotic wrestler in her honor. A respectful gesture to say the least, but while the circumstances weren’t exact Miko nevertheless knew she needed to break this losing streak before it became a stigma and prove she was always talented enough to be called a Wrestle Angel.

With the rhythmic whistling and haunting lyrics from her theme blaring over the speakers, the audience cheered on the arrival of the priestess stepping out from the curtains. It was quite frankly a more fervent applause than she was accustomed to, no doubt due to the fact Miko was not only a ‘truer’ Wrestle Angel but also the fact the people more easily rallied behind a distinctly Japanese competitor than her American opponent. With a shy wave and a flick of her hair, Miko treaded lightly up the stairs and through the middle ropes and took one last prolonged breath to settle her nerves before stepping towards the middle of the ring to approach Miss U.S.A.

“Ah,…hi. My name’ s Mikoto and it’s a pleasure to meet you.” Miko would bow in a respectful manner before continuing her greeting with warm smile on her face. “You certainly have quite the wrestling boots to fill. I, uh, never knew the original USA too well but she was always one of the louder voices in the room and hardly a slouch in the ring. Always had to stay on your toes when you faced her…”

Miss USA smiled and nodded in thanks for the compliment, bowing as well.
"It's an honor to meet you, Kusanagi-san." she said, addressing Mikoto by the formal use of her last name. "You're right, she was an impressive wrestler, and even more that that, her honor and pride were things that made her worth looking up to. I only hope I'm up to the challenge of wearing both her mask, and the stars and stripes." she replied.

With that, Marilyn extended her hand to Mikoto, looking to shake hands before the referee called for the bell.

"Now that the formalities are done, let's have a good, clean match!" she said enthusiastically.

“Ah ha, please, ah, no need to be so formal..’Mikoto’ is perfectly fine…” Mikoto scratched her cheek and waved her other hand shyly from Miss USA’s overtly respectful greeting. While proud of her Wrestle Angel background Miko would probably never become accustomed to any manner of fandom that came along with it. She cheerily walked up and accepted the handshake, immediately taking a liking to the American wrestler and her modest attitude.

“Yes, well, just from speaking to you just know…I think the original would be proud of the type of person who upholds her mantle. Although, I don’t remember her outfit being quite so revealing, heh,...But yes, to an unsullied match!” With the sound of the bell Mikoto retreated enough to give them both time to circle the ring and contemplate their next move.

Miko could tell that Miss USA had a distinct size and weight advantage. So rather than attempt a simple lock-up, once close enough and if uninterrupted, Mikoto would swiftly step forward and attempt to aim a straight kick right towards USA’s toned abs.

Marilyn smiled as Mikoto mentioned her attire.
"Well, I am the younger more daring successor, after all." She replied.

Keeping her front facing Mikoto, Miss USA circled opposite the Japanese woman. Seeing how fast Mikoto darted in, Marilyn knew that the Asian would be have the speed advantage, although the margin may be narrower than some expected.

Grunting as Mikoto's kick struck home, Miss USA reeled back, but remained upright. Trying to use the reach her bigger size gave her, the purple haired girl would fire a kick of her own, aiming at the side of Mikoto's leg.

Mikoto intended to press her advantage once forward kick connected and sent the American retreating backward. She hoped the strike would have kept USA stunned enough for a more impactful follow up connect to the jaw or a takedown, but Miss USA's resilience took the priestess by surprise.

“Nnngh!” Miko groaned and shakily stepped back as Miss USA’s shin smacked into her thigh. She reached her hand down and rubbed the affected area briefly before steadying herself in a defensive posture with her arms raised. The numbing pain in her leg kept Miko from advancing, a wincing expression on her face from the counter attack…

Marilyn caught Mikoto coming in, stopping the Asian woman's advance before she could turn things in her favor.

Resuming her circling, Miss USA decided that maybe it would be a good idea to keep at Mikoto's leg. If she could slow the smaller woman down, Marilyn felt confident that she bring more of her offense to bear and win this match. Feinting another kick at Mikoto's leg, she hoped to draw the Japanese woman off guard as she instead crouched low and went for a double leg takedown!

Mikoto resumed her strafing as well after being fought off from continuing her offense, slightly favoring her other leg. The American wrestler’s resilience took her by surprise, as did the amount of power she felt from that one kick.

The entire exchange made Mikoto cautious about underestimating USA now, understanding that the successor to the mantle may have more than what it takes to keep it. The stinging pain on her thigh made Miko flinch and lower her arm to block or catch the feint kick, easily giving USA the opening to make a grab attempt for her thin legs instead. Miko immediately lost her balance as USA lifted her up slammed them both down to the mat, the priestess wincing as she tried to lean back up on her elbows with her opponent’s heftier frame laying on top of her.

Marilyn gave a grunt as she brought Mikoto down to the mat. However, once there, she realized what she knew about ground grappling and submission holds couldn't even fill a shot glass. So instead she decided to try for something else. It was a move she hadn't seen since she was a kid, watching wrestling videos in her home in San Francisco. Hopefully, it was something the Asian woman hadn't seen in her career.

Still possessing her hold on the Miko's legs, Miss USA stood back up. The purple haired woman took a moment to gather herself. Then she began to try and spin and place, while still holding onto Mikoto's legs. Eventually, the lighter woman's body would lift off the mat as Marilyn went to execute a giant spin. If it worked the crowd would point in astonishment as Miss USA tried to bring back a move from the 80s....

The shock of the takedown was only just wearing off for the priestess before Marilyn decided on her next course of action, the patriotic newcomer  yanking on Mikotos ensnared legs until she was left dangling upside-down with her neck and shoulders pressed against the mat. It was hard not to feel completely helpless in this hanging position, her eyes squinting through the stadium lights as she glanced upwards to barely make out Marilyn’s masked face and her star spangled chest right below it.

Mikoto instinctively assumed Miss USA would shift them both over on her front for an excruciating boston crab, made even more tormenting by the American’s heftier build weighing down on her. So imagine her surprise when the back of her head would instead lift off the mat as Marilyn began to slowly spin in place with the hapless priestess going along for the ride.

“Yah!!!!” With each completed spin Mikoto felt herself being elevated higher and higher until her head was practically at middle rope height. The nauseating spin cycle incited the stunned crowd to start counting and keeping track of the number of laps the poor priestess was forced to endure in the American’s carousel. Mikoto winced sharply as the blood started rushing to her head from the centrifugal force, embarrassed at how defenseless she was until Marilyn saw fit to end the ride.