AV 15 Iron Woman Match: Natasha Han Vs. Valley Doll

Valley’s head was swimming and she wasn't entirely sure her brain was in the same time zone as the rest of her body, but she still had enough sense to wonder what Natasha was going for. A superplex, probably. The big power types loved their superplexes. Figured that Valley would wind up taking one before all was said and done.

She held onto that notion all the way up until Natasha started up something she didn't recognize. It wasn't a traditional position, and the way she was lifting her off the turnbuckle reminded her of-

”A muscle buster?” She squawked in disbelief, as her eyes widened and she feebly tried to wiggle her way out to no avail. ”You're not seriously-”

Valley had gone her entire career without eating a muscle buster, but that streak ended today, at the hands of Natasha Han. She hit the center of the ring like a fallen star, an impact that echoed across the arena, and fiery pain shot up her spine the moment she touched down. Valley flopped over to her back with her arms and legs spread-eagled, practically begging to be pinned. The only real movement came from her eye, as she screwed them shut and tried to block out the pain. Didn't work.

Natasha collapsed beside Valley, the Russian not moving either. Her adrenaline had faded, and now the sheer effort it had taken to haul Valley onto her shoulder and carry her across the ring was catching up to her. It was a reminded of just how tired, how hurt and exhausted she really was. She wished she could just lie there for the rest of the night, but that was impossible. She had a fight to win.

Slowly but surely, the Russian forced herself to roll over, slinging an arm across Valley's chest. Right on cue, the referee rushed over and dropped to the mat, beginning the count for the pin.

"One...!"

”...a muscle buster.”

”2…!”

Valley stared up in disbelief as she panted, trying to catch her rapidly diminishing breath. Despite the fact that she hated getting put down for the three count like this, she had to admit, she was extremely impressed. She couldn’t even remember the last time she’d seen a muscle buster, much less one done with such destructive force.

”3!” And just like that, they were tied up again.

”A muscle buster.” She groaned and rolled her head to the side. ”Damn it.”

Natasha had never been as happy to hear the number three in her life as she was at that moment in time. A smile crept across her face, a weary, tired smile. She had caught back to Valley. The Slamazon barely even had time to enjoy her lead before Natasha tied things back up again. Now, all she had to do was get one more fall. She could do that. Easy.

With a sigh, she glanced up at the clock...


...and began to sit up, shaking her head as she rose back up to her feet. The referee was ordering the two of them back to their corners, and Natasha was glad to oblige. She rose back to her feet on wobbly legs, and stumbled to her corner, leaning against it as she waited for the brief period of rest to be over, watching Valley all the while.

Valley slapped her hand against the mat, not even bothering to look at the clock. Hardly mattered at this point - if it ran out, there was no way this match was ending in a draw. She absolutely refused, even if she had to make the final count herself.

She grabbed the ropes and stood up, making her way to her corner and gratefully taking the breather. Not just becuse she needed to rest, but because she needed to think, and she faced away from Natasha while she did it.

This entire year, everything, all of it, had been about one thing: proving she still had it. Valley had come back from her losing streak and redefined herself, winning match after match,  giving it her all against everyone she came across. Teddy Cat Hori, Gemma Faraday, Morrigan - she’d beaten them. She’d established herself.

Or so she thought, until a certain snotty champion said she wasn’t worth anything.

So here she was. At Avalanche. Close - so close - to ending this year without a single stain on her record. And all she had to do was defeat one extremely stubborn Russian.

When the bell rang, the Valley Doll that turned back to Natasha was a fierce, stone-faced one, with a silent fury bubbling underneath her skin. She made her way to the middle of the ring, wincing with every other step, but she didn’t get her guard up yet and limping along. She wanted to look in Natasha’s eyes. Speak straight to her face.

”Really hoped you enjoyed that pin, Han.” She shook her head. ”It’s the last one you get.”

When the bell, and Natasha stepped out of the corner, her own expression had grown hard again. No more smiles. This was the time to be serious, more serious then she had ever been in her life. Everything was riding on the final ten minutes of the match. The next fall would put one of them ahead, and Natasha was smart enough to know that there wouldn't be enough time for another fall after that. She had to beat Valley here. Everything was riding on her winning this final round, and she was all too aware of the situation.

She had to do this. She had to beat Valley so that she could finally rest, and stop thinking about the Slamazon. She had to break her losing streak. She had to prove that she could do this. She had to prove that she was the better wrestler between them. If she couldn't...

She staggered towards Valley, meeting her stare as she approached the blonde. She listened to her words, then the Wrestle Angel was quick with her response.

"You are being right," she answered, feeling her breath growing quicker, the anticipation of the moment starting to get to her. "There will be no more pinning. Instead, you will be submitting to me. I will be making you give up match, little kukla, of this I can promise."

Valley had to admit, she was a little surprised at Natasha’s comeback. Half because it was actually pretty good, and half because she actually made a comeback at all. Usually, the Russian wasn’t all that locquiacious in the ring, resorting to mostly hard stares and grunts.

Not that Valley minded. If anything, it was just making her more game. She intended to drag Natasha through hell for the next ten minutes, and she wanted to drill that fact in.

”That a fact?” She stepped forward again and brought their foreheads together, getting up on the tips of her toes so they’d be perfectly aligned. ”I think that superkick knocked out what little since you had left, Han. You’ve tried to make me submit how many times now? Three? Four? It’s not happening.”

Valley poked her in shoulder and leaned into her forehead, pressing it hard. ”I’m getting you between my thighs and I’m knocking you clean out. That’s reality.”

Natasha leaned her head forwards, mashing her forehead right into Valley's. She glared back into her eyes, a fiery, determined look burning in her own. Valley could say whatever she wanted, but she was wrong. Tonight belonged to Natasha, plain and simple.

"That is the simplest fact," she answered, her breath hot against Valley's face, her voice low but her words steel. "It will be happening. Ten minutes, kukla. I am planning on tearing you apart for ten minutes. At the end, you will submit to me."

She could feel her heart beating faster, pounding like a jackhammer against her chest. She wanted to tear into Valley right now, but she refused to be the first one to back down from the staredown.

"You will be submitting, kukla. This is not a choice. You will submit, or I will break you. Simple and plain."

Valley laughed. It wasn’t a big laugh. Not a long laugh. Just a plithy little scoff at the woman whose minty fresh breath was currently washing over her face. ”Gonna break me, huh? Okay, Ivan Drago.” Valley gave Natasha one more little push, then finally took a step back. She glanced over her rival’s shoulders, just as the clock struck 10:00. Couldn’t have been more perfect if they planned it in advance. ”Cold war is over.”

"Let's go, Valley! Let's go, Han!"
"Let's go, Valley! Let's go, Han!"
"Let's go, Valley! Let's go, Han!"

The crowd began to break in dueling chants, with the bulk of the volume going Natasha's way. Valley tuned it out, all of it. So many things hurt that she'd stopped taking stock. It was hurting to breath, for some reason, every single movement seemed to make her aware of a new ache. But she puished past it as best as she could. Just ten minutes. She could feel like crap in eleven.

Valley brought her hands up, lowered her knees and began to circle Natasha, keeping her eyes locked every step of the way.

As Valley stepped back, Natasha allowed herself a smile. No matter what happened now, she would be pleased with the fact that the Slamazon had backed down first. It was a small victory, but one she was glad for. It was one more small step on her way towards finishing this match and finishing off Valley for good.

She raised her own hands, silent as she began to circle back around her rival, staring icy daggers at her as she slowly stepped around her. She refused to move her gaze, watching every movement the blonde made. Every breath she took, every twitch of her eye...Natasha took it all in, waiting for just the perfect opportunity to get things moving again.

Eventually, though, she couldn't take it anymore. She had to act. Enough of playing around.

With a low, guttural growl, the Russian stepped in towards Valley, raising her arms higher to try and lock up with her. Ten minutes. Most matches in the AFW didn't last longer than ten minutes, and that's how long she and Valley had left. The span of an entire match still remained between them, so she decided to start off the final round as one would start any match. One more lock up, one more clash with her rival to determine things once and for all.