Eriko Sakai vs Willow Banks - Standard Match

Match Type: Standard
Victory Conditions: Pinfall, submission, or KO

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While it was her first official match with AFW, she wasn't exactly unfamiliar with rolling around in a ring with some of the talents of Friction. Granted, the ring tended to be filled with oil, mud, or in some cases something edible... surprisingly enough the latter was always the absolute worst to clean off when they were done. This was a far cry from the underground pits she had made a bit of a name for herself. It did however offer a steady paycheck and a chance to broaden her horizons considerably, so it wasn't all bad. It was still a bit nerve wracking.

She performed in front of people all the time. It more or less came with being a hostess for a living. Making good conversation, serving tea, she could even play her shamisen on request. In terms of pressure and expectations, her original job had been rather stressful when she began. Here, and in the pit? She didn't really have to impress as much. She could just be herself and have fun with it. Sure there was the competitive nature of the sport, but she had seen plenty of people both with AFW and outside of it do alright for themselves just by winning over the fans. She'd work towards that. If she could entertain uptight businessmen and foreigners, a bunch of people crammed into a arena wouldn't be a problem.

She grinned into the mirror, making sure there was nothing in her teeth. All clear. Mom would be proud... until she went out to the ring to wrestle anyhow. "Just have fun. Don't let a job seem like work." She flashed herself a smile and a wink. "Good advice, me. Good luck out there." She nodded to herself. "You bet."

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Theme:

Eriko Sakai:

While she was new to the idea of dramatic entrances and showmanship, she did buy herself a few handy props. AFW was full of martial artists. While not many seemed to carry themselves with rooted traditions, she figured making an impression early would help her stand out a bit. As her music began she waited quietly behind the curtain as the lights dimmed, leaving the stage, ramp and ring lit. When the appropriate note was hit, she kicked off the ground, cartwheeling out from behind the curtain with a dramatic flourish.

She wore a deep red and black mask with fiery orange highlights. A long bird beak on the front. A less common depiction of a Tengu, for those who knew it. In each hand she held a battle fan, the characters for "strength" and "pride" printed on each. She made a bid display upon the stage, striking several tradition martial arts forms. To punctuate each, she gave the fans a small rattle. As the beat of her music picked up, she took to the ramp.

Arms tucked back behind her, she fluttered the fans as she leaned into her run down along the grating. At the very last moment she leapt up, gliding beneath the bottom rope. She tucked into a tumble, springing up in a forward heal kick. She landed with a bounce on the backs of her feet, flipping backwards to kick again at the air. Impressive? The air didn't really put up much of a fight. Spinning on her foot she displayed a few more spinning roundhouse kicks before settling down center ring, taking a deep breath. As the lights came up, she removed her props, handing them off to the official. People seemed to enjoy her far more without the mask, even giving an odd whistle. She grinned sheepishly, waving to the crowd.

The fact that she gotten another match shortly after her debut means that Willow Banks is doing something right. The Brooklyn Bombshell has heard of many tales in the locker room of wrestlers and fighters alike not making it past their debut. And it would be a big shame if her journey ended just as she started. Certainly wouldn't bode well with her followers on social media, no doubt an uproar would have ensued. And Willow didn't think she was done yet. In fact, she was just getting started.

Which is good for the Japanese crowd of AFW, having taking a liking to the little ball of spunk and sass from her debut. As for social media, more and more followers flooded in which did meant that Willow found some comments that were full on Japanese. That reminds her that she should probably learn that language though. At best, Willow would automatically assume that they are good comments. Either that or they are all about her ass. Probably the latter.

But now, she has to think about her match rather than what those comments mean in a foreign language. Most of all, who her opponent is. Luckily, the monitor gave her the answer as she stood and watched the entrance of a newcomer. Which felt somewhat nice. Sure she already had her debut but she was still relatively new to AFW. Good thing is that she was sorta familiar to the crowd, which was sorta an advantage. Her opponent: a full on martial artist. "Damn." Willow muttered to herself as she watched the theatrics of the masked newcomer. "I better not finna get my ass kicked by Miss Bruce Lee..." She took her phone out, taking a quick selfie for the 'Gram. "Next opponent's a martial artist. Might get my fat ass kicked. Literally." Was captioned at the bottom, followed by #mymommastillgivesnastyasswhoopings.

Willow Banks:

Theme:

Since Eriko's entrance set the bar for the dramatic flair, Willow thought she would at least put some effort into her entrances, especially after her debut. Soon the well known Trap music theme started to play after Eriko's, not cartwheels coming out but Willow showing up with a classic boombox stereo on her shoulder, doing her best to pump up the crowd while there's the build up to the drop. In pretty much perfect sync, Willow leaped up in the air before landing in a split on top of the ramp the same time the big drop comes, the bass isn't ear rape levels but one could feel it all over the arena. A few pink and white pyros blast as she wiggled her bubble butt, the Queen of Sass getting up to her feet before skipping down towards the ring, her natural butt bouncing with the black booty shorts with "SASS" written on the back. Climbing up the steps, she leaves the boombox outside before she would step inside, still skipping along before she climbs up to the top, posing with her hands forming a triangle like the sign on her cap.

With all that done, she calls for a mic, one of the announcers giving it to her. She waits for the crowd to calm down a little before she would speak. "WHAT IT DO, TOKYO!" The crowd giving a more bigger pop than her debut. Awesome. She waits a beat before turning to her opponent. "So. You got some sweet moves there, Miss Miyagi." A bit of a cheeky smile towards the redhead. "Maybe try to go easy on me? I don't think I can do...whatever you just did there." Waiting a beat before raising her right index finger. "In exchange, I won't humiliate you so bad when I do win. Sounds like a good deal, don't you think?" Giving a wink as the crowd gives a cheer for the Queen of Sass.

Eriko quirked a brow at Willow's music, quietly bobbing her head. While it wasn't in line with her usual tastes, she couldn't really deny it had an infectious beat. She eyed her opponent with fierce curiosity. She assumed outright she was American by the presentation alone. Between the music, the clothing, the body langauge. Was this... "Street"?

She had heard the term used before a few times, but wasn't sure what it meant completely. This felt like the right time to apply it though. This woman had a very raw feeling to how she presented herself. She was curious what she sounded like.

She was pleasantly surprised by the woman's split most out of her whole entrance, going so far as to clap for her. People didn't understand how much work it took to be that limber, plus the way she had done it would have been painful if the move was less practiced. It deserved a small cheer. She slowly backed out of center stage as Willow climbed the stairs, giving her plenty of room to do her thing.

What it do? She wasn't sure she heard Willow correctly, despite how clearly she came out over the sound system. Eriko wasn't certain that was right, but it could have just been her English wasn't as polished as she had thought. When she was addressed, she bowed her head politely to Willow in greeting.

"Sakai Eriko." She corrected, not sure how her adversary had mixed her name up with someone else. The Karate Kid reference was absolutely wasted on her as it crane kicked right over her head. Had she known, she might have taken it as a compliment though. She was after all be compared to a master.

Eriko blinked at Willow's offer. She wasn't entirely sure if she was being serious or not until it clicked in her head. This was something they did here, wasn't it. "Trash talk". She wanted a turn too! "Well aren't you cheeky!" She fell silent for a beat or two finding the humor in it hitting her suddenly. All the twerking and the attitude. Double meaning behind cheeky. She sputtered, trying not to laugh at her own words. She wasn't winning a verbal duel anytime soon.

"I won't be holding back." She may have lied, just a little. This was her first match at Friction. She was still learning the ropes... Literally. Coming out here and kicking off people's heads wasn't really the point to her. It was the thrill of combat while being presented in an entertaining way. While winning was always the end game, she was more the type for friendly competition over raw animalistic brutality.

"Let's have a good fight. I'm curious to see what you can do." She couldn't even try to hide her smile. Even when she should be digging into Willow, Eriko managed to be a sweetheart. Rather than get into it right away, she would walk up to the other woman, offering her hand to shake it unaware the bell was about to ring.

Huh. Well she has taken this in stride. Eriko didn't seem so mad about the earlier taunts from the Queen of Sass. From the entrance music, the spits and how she managed to get the crowd pumped, Eriko seemed very nice in fact. That did made Willow feel more at ease. Last thing she wants is someone that takes things too seriously. Although she has been able to use this to her advantage on her opponent. Angry people has been known to make mistakes after all.

The only thing Willow would need to worry about now, apart from facing her opponent is any jokes that would lotus kick way over the head of Eriko. She thought that she hit a home run with the Karate Kid reference but she missed the ball. Strike one. Can't have two more. Or maybe it would be a home run when the ball did few over her.

Luckily for her, she managed to hit the ball just right the second time and Eriko managing to catch the ball, throwing in her own taunt. Willow would give a cheeky smirk and give a slap of her ass as a reply to her taunt. As the Queen of Sass, jokes or taunts wouldn't have gone over her head, despite how small she was.

Willow would pout when Eriko stated that she wouldn't hold back. While it turned out she was lying just a bit, the Brooklyn Bombshell wasn't gonna have a nice time. She would simply shrug at the comment. "Well that is a damn shame...Eriko, was it? Mind if I call you Ericka? I'll call you Ericka." The Queen of Sass chuckled with some audible laughs from the crowd. "Still, suit yourself. Don't blame me when you do lose." Sticking her tongue out. Despite this, She was really looking forward to this match. Something tells her that she is gonna have a fun time. The debut was good but this looks to be even better!

"Oh you'll be surprised to see what I can do. Won't be just my ass that people would be saying 'Oh mah gawd'!" Giggling, she threw the microphone out of the ring, taking off her hoodie to expose the black sports bra. Eriko, ever being the sweetheart would come up to the Queen of Sass and offer a hand to shake. Despite being such a master at insults, Willow didn't have a mean bone in her body. And while she likes to get the W, a friendly competitive match is always nice. The Brooklyn Bombshell would take the hand and shake it. "And I'd like that. Seriously though, try not to kick my head off my damn shoulders." The bell would soon ring, signalling the start of the match. With that, Willow would step back and get to her own wrestling stance.

It was a curious thought, blaming the better person for losing to them. Sure, they could cheat to win and steal a victory, but that thought never really crossed her mind. If she lost, it would just mean she would need to improve. It was simple in her head. She didn't feel the need to vocalize, but nodded to Willow's comment on it all the same to acknowledge it.

She arched a brow at the other girl's mention of the impression of booty tended to leave on people. Did they really think that? She leaned slightly to the side as if that would somehow present her a better look at Willow's backside. Physics however triumphed however, and she couldn't sneak so much as a glance. She hadn't really given it much attention past the obvious twerking and the earlier joke.

Off the mic and up close, Willow seemed a bit more genuine. Eriko gave the other woman a firm handshake, a surprising amount of grip for someone that didn't really looked built for power. She was mindful though, it wasn't crushing, just a good strong handshake. She smiled faintly, taking the request to heart. "I'll try not to." Was there a hint of mirth in her tone?

As the bell rang, she withdrew her hand, the two women backed away in unison to claim their sides of the ring. There was a bounce in her every step, the clear excitement etched into every movement. Her preferred stance was fluid, no form to it as she pivoted on the ball of her feet, arms shifting constantly giving no real visible openings. She liked to stay moving, keep her reflexes on high alert.

Her baby blues locked on Willow, giving the woman one last nod. A friendly warning she was coming for her. Eriko tucked a shoulder inward, taking a few quick shuffling steps to close ground on Willow. Her upper body leaning away as her leg blew up, it went high at first, as if she was intending to send a roundhouse at Willow's head.

She gave a small birdlike hop with her planted foot half way into its travel, snapping it suddenly down towards the girl's midsection, looking to catch her in the side with a stiff blow. "Koko ni!"