SS 17 Tag team title - Imperial Order (c) vs. Sonic Boom (ladder match)

Preceded by: SS 17 Entropy Title - Valley Doll (c) vs. Alicia Welles (Total Victory Match)
Followed by: SS 17 Main Event: Friction World Title - Cecila Northman (c) vs. Kyoko Akan



Vs.




Match type: Ladder Match
Winning Condition: The team who retrieves the tag belts that is suspended above the ring via the use of ladders will be the winners

How long had it been since that infamous triple threat match? Not long enough as far as Julia Rogers was concerned.

It seemed like forever ago that Julia and Alaina had embarked on simultaneous journeys to become Entropy Champion by tearing that title out of the clutches in a certain heiress. Twice Julia had stepped in the ring to compete against Gwen, and both matches were memories Julia wished she could forget. She’d won the first on a disqualification but had been left unmasked and humiliated in the ring, and then of course her “victory” in the subsequent triple threat had put an asterisk on her greatest accomplishment in this league and nearly tore apart her relationship with her best friend. One way or another something always found a way to go bad whenever she stepped into the ring with Gwen, and Julia wouldn’t have minded at all if their paths never crossed again… If not for the Tag Team Championships.

Julia knew what she and the Amazon were capable of together. She knew together there wasn’t a team in the world they couldn’t beat. They wanted to win those tag titles and prove that they were in fact the best team around. And once again, Gwen was standing in their way. But this time, things were very different. Julia and Alaina were now united in their cause, rather than fighting among each other. And of course, this time Gwen would have an ally of her own. Even after finally meeting Akiha in person, there was still much Julia didn’t know about her. But the redhead had defeated Alaina, which alone was enough to prove she was the real deal. Oh, and this time it was going to be a ladder match. That took Julia’s excitement to the next level. The high flying luchadora could have all sorts of fun in an environment like this!

All of that and more were running through Julia’s mind as she paced back and forth backstage, with a confident smile on her masked face. “This is it, Alaina! I can’t wait to see the look on their faces once we take those belts!” she said excitedly, hardly able to wait to get this show kicked off! Fortunately she didn’t have to wait long. It was mere seconds later that their music hit, and Julia almost immediately burst through the curtain and took in the thunderous wave of cheers that greeted Sonic Boom. The cowgirl hurried down the aisle, high fiving as many fans along the front row as she could, and navigating past the numerous ladders that had been set up on the ramp, before rushing up to the ring and hopping up on the apron. Grabbing the top rope, she slung herself over the top rope and landed softly on her feet, then quickly ascended the nearest corner and cupped her hands around her mouth.

“WHAT’S UP, CAIRO!!!!” she yelled out at the top of her lungs, igniting a fresh explosion of cheers and applause from the crowd. Julia paused a moment to take in the sights and sounds, then hopped back down to the mat. There the cowgirl took some deep breaths and stretched her limbs out, anxiously awaiting the arrival of the reigning champions.

Alaina was excited. She couldn't wait to step into the ring with Julia to face these two ladies who called themselves Imperial Order. Gwen and to a far lesser extent Akiha were foes Alaina wanted to beat on a big stage. Akiha defeated her clean in a solo match which Alaina did want to avenge. However taking tag gold away from Gwen was the real king on the cake. Or Gwenniecake.

Alaina was clad in her usual tiger print one piece swimsuit, along with matching boots and kneepads. She was all smiles backstage as the team of Sonic Boom made its way out towards the ring! Alaina was jumping up and down, high living fans along the side of the barricade before she climbed up into the ring, striking a couple poses with Julia. Tonight was their night and nothing was going to stop Sonic Boom from showing that it really was the best tag team in Friction, if not the world!

Who loves ya Cairo!" Alaina called out as she leaned over the ropes, further firing up the crowd. Alaina blew kisses and even swayed her hips a bit, shaking her backside. The crowd ate it up. "We are going to rip those two little spoiled rich kids apart... nothing is going to stop us from those belts tonight." Alaina said as she waited next to Julia crossing her powerful arms, looking up the ramp with a glare.

Once Sonic Boom theme song died down, the lights would go dark before all the lights then focused on the entrance.  Imperial Order theme song would then start to play.  Out would come Akiha and Gwendolyn, each of them holding the champion belt over their shoulder.  Taking a moment while on the ramp, the Japanese Crusader would raise her belt into the air as all sorts of confetti would fall from the ceiling.  The audience would give out all sorts of boos, clearly not happy with the current tag team champions.

The duo would then make their way down the ramp, now being followed by several servants.  Both Akiha and Gwendolyn would be wearing a cape, with their company logo.  As the two of them made their way down to the ring, Akiha would take a look at their opponents, Sonic Boom.  She knew a good amount about both of them, having face Alaina in the ring and having secretly studied Julia.  This wasn't going to be an easy match but Akiha felt confident they could come out on top.

Once reaching the ring, she would remove her cape that had her company logo, one of her fellow employees would hand her a water bottle.  Though no one could see it, it was filled with red mist, a cheap technique she used from time to time.  Seeing as this was a ladder match, the Japanese crusader would not have to worry about getting disqualified from using it.  Once having her bottle, Akiha would climb up the stairs before entering the ring and raising her title belt into the air for everyone to see.  The audience would even boo more at this site.

The referee would then make her way towards Akiha and ask her to hand over her belt.  The Japanese wrestler would grab her belt taking a moment to look at it before allowing the referee to take it.  “Don't get your hopes up to high, those belts will soon be back in our hands.” stated the crimson hair wrestler as she would give a confident smirk.  “Julia, I don't think we have ever met in the ring, so then how about I start off fighting you?” stated Akiha as she then pointed at Julia while her other hand held onto her water bottle. Usually, the Japanese wrestler would act as the follower but this time she was taking charge, she really wanted a crack at the wrestler who had inspired her to become a high flyer.

Performing the inherited responsibilities of Tag-Team champions in defending their prestigious title belts at any and all major events was coming in at a distant third in terms of Gwen's motivations for arranging this very specific matchup. The first two reasons being the uncultured philistines now occupying the ring, both of whom representing unsightly loose ends in her illustrious wrestling career that she intended to elegantly tie up on this fateful Egyptian night. The former Dojo lackeys causing no end of grief during her Entropy title reign until their brutish tactics unjustly pilfered her of her former glory, and as a result became the living embodiment's of her greatest loss to date. However...Gwen saw tonight as a chance for fated retribution and the absolute vindication that came with defeating these uncouth plebeians at their own double-teaming game...

A monarchical theme and fluttering confetti heralded the entrances of the reviled champions, the gilded trophies of the night adorning their shoulders as they promenaded down the ramp accompanied by both their dutiful entourage and the ceaseless booing of the abundant masses. The privileged aristocrats being the epitome of the elitist and snobbish high-class citizenry who justifiably looked down on the uncivilized wastrels surrounding them as the haughty pair remained in lockstep beside each other. Gwendolyn herself having an unflinching glare fixated on the ring throughout their march down the elongated ramp strewn with erected ladders, and into the squared circle where she raised her belt alongside Akiha while their lackeys unhooked their lavish capes.

Though while her crimson-haired cohort began making formal arrangements with Sonic Boom in the center of the ring in regards to how best to get this match underway, Gwen would remain in her corner with her back turned to them while readjusting her gloves.

Uncharacteristically quiet and benign throughout the entirety of Akiha's composed dialoguing and negotiation...

...until the ringing of the bell coincided with Akiha just than finishing her request to Julia, and instantly sent Gwendolyn sprinting rapidly out of her corner with blistering speed!!! An enraged look on her eyes as she centered her furiously paced charge directly towards the cowgirl herself, intending to spear tackle Julia right out of her gauche cowgirl boots. The heiress remaining tightly clamped onto Julia while sending them both into a tumbling and scuffling roll right that would result in them both plunging under the nearby bottom ropes and out of the ring!!!!

Once the champions’ music hit, Julia patiently watched as Akiha and Gwen emerged onto the stage and made their way down to the ring. And she couldn’t help but notice that even though there was still as much flare and regality to it as ever, Gwen in particular didn’t seem to have that same sense of arrogance that seemed to radiate off of her at a near-constant rate. It wasn’t for lack of confidence, of course. The blonde heiress just seemed pissed off, a notion that brought a small smirk to Julia’s face.

Slamming that cake into Gwen’s face had been one of the most satisfying things she’d ever done in her entire life. The image of her nemesis prone, sprawled out and covered all over with the delicious pastry would live in her memory forever. The only thing that could make that sweet moment even sweeter would be leaving tonight with the tag team championships.

Her gaze turned to Akiha when the crimson-haired champion addressed her. She expected her to every bit as confident and prideful as her partner, but she hadn’t expected Akiha to throw this sort of challenge out to her. This was already getting interesting. Julia went to stand toe-to-toe and eye-to-eye with Akiha. “If that’s how ya wanna play it, then I’m--GUAH!!!!”

The sudden gasp burst from her lips and her body was launched back as Gwen suddenly blasted into her like a torpedo! Every fan in the arena gasped in shock and excitement, and Julia was so out of it that she barely even heard the bell ring! The spear had been so impactful and caught Julia with such surprise that it had almost managed to knock the cowgirl out right then and there! Heavily dazed, she threw a series of weak strikes with her right hand aimed for Gwen’s face while the two rolled under the rope and fell out of the ring. Julia grunted out as her body fell roughly on its side on the thinly matted floor.

Alaina had he eye on the other team as they both came out, and after hearing Akiha's request she was more than happy to take on Gwen. Unfortunately it seemed like Gwen had her own ideas as she took both herself and Julia to the outside! Alaina couldn't let her team get caught totally off guard, so she opted to in turn rush straight at Akiha as quickly as she could! "So that is how this is going to be eh? All right!"

The amazon jumped up, using her size and momentum to her advantage, hoping to take Akiha down with a Lou Thesz Press complete with a flurry of punches aimed at her pretty face! Alaina's offensive choice was hardly a graceful one befitting an aristocrat however she hoped its blunt effectiveness made up for it!

A smile would appear on Akiha face as she waited to hear her opponent response.  The crimson hair wrestler watched as her opponent then began to make a reply before suddenly Gwendolyn came out of nowhere and took down the cowgirl.  An expression of shock would appear on the Japanese crusader as the events unfolded before her.  She was a bit annoyed how her partner stole the opponent she wanted to fight but seeing what Julia had done to Gwendolyn, the crimson hair wrestler couldn't blame her partner for such an act.  If the situation had been the reverse, Akiha would have probably done the same thing.

Her attention then went towards Alaina.  But before she could even get ready, she would be taken down by her much bigger opponent before getting struck in the face several times by several punches.  At first, the crimson hair wrestler would attempt to shield her face but then she realized that was probably not the best tactic to escape such a situation.  Instead, with one hand, she would attempt to claw at Alaina's face before trying to drag her nails across her face, attempting to get into her eyes.

Stunned onlookers watched on with sympathized groans after witnessing Gwendolyn's decidedly uncharacteristic opening maneuver, a spearing tackle that duly exemplified the level of pent up rage and frustration she had been festering within her. Not just from Julia's oh-so-hilarious cake splattering into Gwen's posh visage, but from the extensive catalogue of offenses that both of the insufferable former Dojo lackey had levied against her since first crossing paths with them. From pilfering her Entropy title to branding her with that ridiculous moniker, Gwen had plenty of anguish to feed off of as she remained clamped onto Julia well after having tackled her to the ground.

The pair tumbling and flailing with errant strikes while remaining latched on until the scrapping pair would suddenly run out of real estate and go collapsing to the floor below to a deadened thud. Gwendolyn growling from the jostling fall that forced her to relinquish her grip on Julia, the heiress than shuffling to her hands and knees besides Julia with a wincing grimace. It was a jarring fall, but one she surmised had taken more out of Julia considering she was clearly still winded from spearing gut check. With Gwen back on her feet while standing beside the downed cowgirl, Gwen clenched her teeth and backpedaled a few steps. Biding her time for Julia to get on her hands knees before dashing up and attempting a field goal style punt directly into Julia's already targeted midsection.

Julia’s brain had never been this scrambled within the first ten seconds of a match.

Between the spear, the rolling and tumble out to ringside, there were plenty of factors keeping the cowgirl heavily dizzy. She tried to ease her mind back down with controlled breaths and sheer will, but the task was still far easier said than done. And only after a few seconds did it occur to her that something was off, specifically regarding the fact that Gwen wasn’t still on her. It was perfectly possible that meant she’d gone back into the ring to assist Akiha in dealing with Alaina. And while she never doubted the Amazon’s ability, but she damn sure didn’t want her partner to have to fend off both of the tag champions simultaneously.

With a heavy, strained grunt Julia finally rolled onto her front and pushed up onto her hands and knees, when….. “UGGH!!!” she gasped out as Gwen’s boot slammed into her ribs with a mighty smack that echoed throughout the arena and made every fan in attendance cringe. The luchadora’s arms immediately moved protectively over her ribs, and she writhed about on the floor while frantically kicking her legs about. The punt had knocked the wind right out of her, and Julia was finding it hard to breathe.