Jessica vs. Irene: Steel Cage “I Quit” Match

Cage Match
Victory Condition: The winner must accept a verbal submission offered by the loser before either is let out of the cage.
Rules: No holds barred.

Jessica Wright:

VS

Irene Inger:

Only two weeks had passed since Irene's fateful confrontation with Jessica Wright, and the former wasn't sure how this match had been scheduled so quickly. Maybe Jessica had demanded expediency from Lukretia or another manager. Maybe the Coalition that claimed her as a member had the pull to get it arranged quickly. After all, its leader was the Friction world champion now...

Whatever it was, Irene's hands were trembling as she waited for her cue to make her entrance. She remembered Jessica telling her to “study up” for the fight, and she really did wish she'd had more time to practice for the big event. To say that this match was the largest of her career so far was an understatement. Before her meeting two weeks ago, Irene had never taken her participation in the AFW more seriously than a part time job to fund her college living expenses. Now that she had a rival that she was dead-set on beating, this was the first match in which Irene felt she had a wrestling career!

How this match played out, however, was in the hands of fate. It could be a moment of glory and vindication for the constantly underestimated Irene, or a day of despair and bitter submission. It all depended on her ability to stay out of her brutal foe's clutches long enough to wear her down. To that end, she didn't have a stunning but suffocating wrestling costume, just some informal, minimalist workout attire. Black sports bra, black shorts, black boots. Lots of black today to match her serious demeanor. Considering her opponent's famously dirty tactics, Irene had also taken some minor anti-cheating measures into consideration. Her pitch black hair, normally very long, was cut down to just below shoulder length to make it slightly less tempting a target to grab and pull. Her feet were sensitive, and her boots were laced tight to keep Jessica from easily yanking them off and twisting or biting her toes. Probably unnecessary, but you never know...

When Spellbound hit the speakers, Irene dashed down the runway with uncharacteristic focus, her stress translating into extra speed. Despite the lateness of the hour, the Friction arena was more packed tonight than usual, and to Irene's shock, people were actually cheering for her this time! Normally, her reception was a lot more mixed than this, but this time she was the clear favorite. Encouraging as it was, Irene quickly realized that the people in the audience weren't here to cheer for Irene, but to cheer against her hated rival. The Coalition had earned a lot of infamy recently, primarily for their highly publicized attacks on Taylor Parker and Avery Shields. Both fan favorites, who had been assaulted and hospitalized to potentially career-ending extremes. Consequently, it didn't matter at all who Irene was; these people would cheer for anyone with the confidence it took to challenge a member of the Coalition. Irene just hoped that she could deliver.

Irene stepped into the ring and took a seat on the middle ring rope, facing the runway in anticipation for Jessica's arrival. The ring was stark and empty, with no referee even present due to the very lax rules that this match had. Above her, the hefty walls of a steel cage were suspended overhead, ready to be lowered when the match began. It was assumed by the AFW staff that a referee wouldn't serve any purpose since the cage would keep out interferers, and the match otherwise had no rules, being a no holds barred brawl that would only end when the winner accepted the loser's submission. Scary circumstances, but Irene was looking forward to this. No doubt her opponent was too...

Jessica was really pushing herself. She had a ton of matches in the past few weeks and the quick pace had not taken its toll yet. The Violent Violet was still young, still hungry. And she still had something to prove. This was nearly the same pace she had back in the indies, except the competition was considerably more fierce and Jessica was now a lot better. The mirror served as an instrument of her vanity and Jessica could not help but admire her huge muscles. The TV flickering in the corner told her the previous match was coming to an end and Jessica left her dressing room. As she walked down the halls, the techs and the managers and the hangers-on averted their eyes. Her reputation had preceded her. Good. They should learn to be afraid.

Every where Jessica went, she heard about fucking Avery. How she lost, how she hurt her. Well, some bitches deserve to be hurt in Jessica's estimation. Idiots like Avery, punks like Taylor, and uppity girls like Irene. She adjusted her red black and yellow outfit one more time before she stepped out into the ring and the cage. The Violent Violet snuck a peek behind the curtain. The crowd went nuts for this girl and Jessica was't entirely sure why. She had torrented all of Irene's matches and she wasn't any good and some of the matches got particularly nasty. Then it occurred to her that they would cheer for any bitch they put in the ring against her. Jessica scoffed. Fans. Who needs them.

Little sister there's blood on the tracks...

Her music played loudly over the PA system and Jessica walked out to a torrent of boos. Jessica flipped them the bird with both hands as she walked down to the ring. Her pace was slow- no sense in hurrying. Irene wasn't going anywhere. The boos and catcalls rained down on her the entire length of the walk and Jessica hopped into the ring. She flipped Irene the bird just for good measure and sneered. All of her muscles ached for combat and she was feeling loose and good. There was no Coalition to help her, there weren't any weapons on the ground. No one could say this wasn't a legitimate victory. And this would be a victory. Jessica sized up Irene in her all black- the girl obviously knew that this was going to be her funeral. Shame she had to cut her hair though. It was always nice to pull on something when she fucked a girl.

"Hey," Jessica deadpanned, "don't I know you from somewhere?" Jessica took a step forward. Last time they were together, Irene clearly reckoned the size difference was not in her favor. That difference could be thrown into contrast again. Jessica looked at Irene with an unwavering gaze as she waited for the cage to start creaking down and the match to begin.

For all intents and purposes, this felt like Irene's first real match in the AFW. All the other times, her game had been marred by a lack of motivation on her part. She'd never really entered the ring with any intent other than to perform and get paid, whether she won or lost. Recently, however, she had been feeling the sting of women like Jessica looking down on her and calling her a jobber. Hell, maybe they were right; maybe she had been a jobber before now, since wrestling had just been a job to her.

Not anymore. Today, Irene was going to make sure that the least Jessica got was a couple of shiners and something to think about, maybe give Avery and Taylor some good entertainment while they recovered from their injuries. Still, as a low groan came from above, the metal bars straining and gears grinding as the cage closed down over them, Irene wondered if the aforementioned Higurashi girls would be getting some company in the hospital. Either Jessica herself, or...

Irene exhaled uneasily as she waited for the bell, twitching as her body geared up for the incoming assault. Her fear would subside quickly as she became focused on the moment-to-moment decisions that came with combat, but she hated to let this foul woman see her tremble. At the least, it would make her a little more insufferable.

“When you and I met the other day, I had half a mind to throttle you for what you did to Avery,” Irene wasn't sure why she felt so much concern for a woman that she'd never met. Maybe there wasn't any special reason to it. Basic empathy was something most humans were capable of, after all. “Since this is no holds barred, I hope you don't mind if I do it now.”

Something was bothering Irene. Jessica didn't exactly have a lot of empathy, but she could read a person decently well. Maybe it was something in her eyes, or the little twitches she did. But she held them down, fought and overcame. This girl for all her faults was a professional. Jessica hated professionals. She fought and struggled to get all her conflicting emotions out, to experience some sort of true feeling. And now here was this Irene trying to hold it down as best she could.

Clank clank went the chains. The cage that would enclose them was coming down slowly. She reflected: it was like in those old Western movies, where they cowboys would duel at high noon. Clank clank. There was a certain electricity in the air and Jessica felt like a gunslinger. Fastest gun and fastest punch west of the Mississippi and Irene was right in her sights. The stadium looked like it was at standing capacity only, and almost all of them wanted to see Jessica lose. Hell, most of the fans at home wanted to see her eat the mat too. Clank clank. Jessica arched an eye brow. This girl was still talking shit.

"Sweetheart, you couldn't throttle me then and you can't throttle me now. Although if you beg I promise to make it quick." She wanted to be vague with her threats. It was almost always more fun to leave people to their imaginations. And Irene just looked so damned creative. The cage finally hit the concrete floor with a loud bang that reverberated around the arena. The bell rang, and it was officially go time.

Jessica bounded across the ring, straight towards Irene. She wanted to get the match started off right and she tore over the white expanse like a tornado. The Violent Violet left the restraints of the earth and took to the air, leveling a massive flying front kick at Irene's stomach. If the kick didn't bowl her over, Jessica's momentum surely would. If it connected, she thought.

Even though Jessica was exactly the type of woman to start a match with a wild offensive move, the predictability of her attack didn't make it any less formidable, or terrifying. A bolt of crimson and violet tore across the ring, and Irene howled as a mighty boot heel struck her stomach. It hurt like hell, but even in her anguish, Irene was more capable than anyone expected her to be. With perfect timing, Irene had raised her arms to catch Jessica's leg as it made contact, and she managed to maintain a firm grip even when the devastating strike rattled her body. By holding Jessica's leg as she fell backwards and releasing it at the right moment, Irene would counter Jessica's assault by slingshotting her into the ring ropes, or maybe off the stage entirely! That outta teach Jessica for underestimating her!

It could have gone better, Jessica thought. It could have gone way worse, but it could have gone better. The kick landed right in Irene's gut and Jessica smiled for an instant. The smile turned sour as she felt two strong hands wrapping around her legs and throwing her to the ring. "Oh..." she said before she was catapulted to the side. Jessica skidded across the ring and helped pull herself up using the cage that enclosed them. Perhaps it was the adrenaline coursing through her body that wouldn't let her stay down. More likely it was the rage inside her that wanted to annihilate Irene.

She wheeled around, wiped her face off and stared at Irene. Not bad. Jessica didn't really expect that she had to bring her A game, but Irene was easy to underestimate and she wasn't quick. Whatever. Jessica could begin again. "Lucky." She judged before flying at Irene once again. This time she stayed on the mat as she bounded towards the student. Her strong arm cocked back and then launched forward and Jessica aimed her massive punch squarely for Irene's jaw. Try that stupid shit now, bitch, she thought.

“Just admit I'm smarter than you,” Irene countered Jessica's judgmental comment with one of her own, but as she stood back up to see Jessica already coming in for another bombing run, Irene quickly realized that wasting her time taunting this woman could wind up costing her dearly. Fortunately for her, Jessica's next attack was even more reckless than the last one, which made it easy to avoid. Irene took off and charged into Jessica herself, ducking down to avoid the jawline punch as she tackled Jessica's waist to spear the foolish woman into the mat! As a submission specialist, the mat was her territory, so she dearly hoped that if Jessica went down, Irene could keep her that way.

Jessica was often reckless. In every circumstance where she could have swung first, she usually did. In every circumstance where she could blindly charge in, she did. It was unfortunate that Jessica had to pay for it here. She felt the wind rush out of her in one instance and in the next she felt her body crash down to the mat. Her limbs flew akimbo and her head smacked the mat.

For a second she was dazed, unable to react to much. She not-so-quickly regained her senses and adjudged the situation to be entirely in Irene's favor. Jessica did her best to bring her guard up and try to weather the storm. Her hands were brought up into a quick guard to try and protect her face from punches- against quite a few other things, all she could hope to do was hold on.

Riding high on her counter's success, Irene didn't give Jessica a single second to catch her breath. Literally; her hands ducked underneath Jessica's guard and wrapped around her throat. “Hey, remember what I said earlier?” Irene chirped as she pushed down on the larger woman and squeezed her throat hard. Cheers, boos, and sympathetic cries all rang out from the audience, its members divided over whether Irene's dirty tactic was more reprehensible than the foul woman it was being used on.

Either way, it would only last a few seconds, unless Jessica pulled herself together and escaped. While she was busy attempting to refill her oxygen-starved lungs, Irene hopped off of her and grabbed her legs, attempting to weave her own legs through them to set up a figure four leg lock. The Violent Violet was fast and had powerful kicks, two traits that Irene wanted to cripple as quickly as possible if she could.

That was a good taunt, Jessica had to admit it, as much as she didn't want to. Irene seemlessly snuck past her guard and wrapped her hands around her throat. Jessica's face was contorted with rage and a lack of oxygen. Jessica's powerful right arm was cocked back and she was ready to sock Irene right in the jaw. Then something weird happened. Irene got off of her. The punch that Jessica prepared to launch would have only sliced through the air.

Instead of keeping the hold, Irene locked in a figure four leg lock. Jessica grimaced and grunted in pain. She had the strength to pull both of them to the ropes, but she wasn't entirely sure Irene would accept a rope break, especially as they lacked a ref. Jessica winced again. Damn, this one hurt. The Violent Violet was still much stronger, at least in her estimation, and could still get out. With one mighty twist, Jessica sought to turn the intertwined pair over and wiggle away.