Blue Thunder Mask vs. Stone - Duty and Honor

Squeezing. Crushing. Constant pressure. Makio had relentless legs, and he knew how to use them to maximum effect. Whereas Devine would’ve just powered down and tired herself out early, he seemed to be more careful with his energy, not using anymore than he needed at any given moment, hammering away with constant, consistent pressure. It was annoying, but damned effective, and Stone couldn’t ignore the toll it was taking. Something needed to be done. Soon.

She had an idea on that. It wouldn’t be easy, but it was an idea.

”What can I say?” She got her words out through grumbles and grunts. ”I’m old-fashioned.”

And those were the last words she said before she shifted forward and pull all her effort into standing, attempting to rise with him Blue Thunder Mask still attached. She put one foot on the ground, then the other, and surged upwards from there. As soon as she was up high enough, she bounded forward and tried to slam her foe into the turnbuckle.

"You and me both." He couldn't help but chuckle a bit at that. He wasn't much for the big flash in the pan stipulation matches that often times were overdone in the craft today. He wouldn't argue their effectiveness in both crowd appeal and use of blowing off a feud with one though. Still, when two passionate wrestlers shared a ring, storytelling and chemistry tended to come naturally which had a way of investing people far more than cages or barbed wire... at least he liked to think so. He had shown no signs of relenting, Stone hadn't even budged to try for the ropes. What was she planning anyway?

He tried not to look nearly as surprised as he felt as she shifted under him, her knees briefly brushing against his back as she worked her legs underneath to to begin to rise. If he needed an example of how strong she had been earlier, this certainly cleared the air. Even while he constricted her, she managed to rise to her feet, walking them towards the corner. He glanced back over his shoulder, expecting what was coming next. He instinctively pulled himself closer to her, using his back to take the brunt of the impact rather than letting her slam his head into the turnbuckles or the posts.

Keeping the hold wasn't really a worthy option anymore. The blow alone hand't been enough to dislodge him by brute strength alone, but had been more than enough to convince him it wasn't worth suffering more of the same to keep it. Even with the cushioning, the small area of the turnbuckle managed to dig itself into his back just below the shoulders leaving what felt like a painful knot. His legs untangling from Stone found footing, sloppily. Backed into the corner, he was able to maintain an upright stance, his hands pulling free from hers to use one to support himself along the top rope while the other took up a defensive diagonal across his chest, shove out at Stone to try and keep her from pinning him in.

In retrospect, there were easier ways she could’ve gotten out of a hold like this. She had enough energy to stand, so she certainly had enough energy to roll her way to the ropes and force a break. Stone probably could’ve pushed his chest away and battered him into letting go, that would’ve worked fine. There was no real reason to pull off such a feat.

No other reason than wanting to impress Blue Thunder Mask, at least. Not in the same way Devine wanted to impress him, but as one athlete to another. A competitor, showing off her skills. It was all about proving she could handle a real match against a real foe, and she wasn’t even close to being finished in that regard.

Another chance was showing itself now. She had a gruff laugh as her efforts managed to make him let go, easing up at her midsection, but he was smart enough to know he needed an escape plan. Before she could hope to capitalize, Blue Thunder Mask pushed her hard out of the corner, no doubt trying to make an escape. He managed to make her turn around as he did, so he had to think she was open.

But he’d be wrong.

”Not happening!”

She’d shown where her name came from, now she’d show why it wasn’t 100% accurate. Stone leaped up and fell backwards, completely flipping her body over in one swift move. As she fell, she swung her legs around and attempted to introduce Blue Thunder Mask’s face with the tip of her boot, nailing him with a CCS Enziguiri.

Leaning into his forearm as he pushed out at Stone, he had thrown her back a bit, but not in the way he wanted. She deflected the bulk of the thrust by turning away from him. He was half prepared for her to come whirling back around with a lariat or a punch of some kind, leaning off the ropes to hold up his arms defensively. There was a chance he could catch her again, maybe manage to land an easy armbar. She would no doubt get a rope break given where they were, but it would buy him an easy out of the corner, where he did not want to find himself for too long with someone as big and strong as Stone.

As she whirled around, he didn't see an arm to grab for, no, he didn't see much of anything. She was throwing herself away from him? His befuddlement didn't last long, his eyes suddenly catching a hint of movement in their peripherals. Her boot cleared his guard at an odd angle, striking him firmly, enough to snap his head violently to the side. His entire body turned with the momentum, leaning chest first into the top rope, catch himself with both of his arms to keep his wobbling legs from dropping him to the canvas. He blinked, wide eyed as his his hearing rang trying to make sense of what just happened despite understanding a moment ago before she actually hit him.

The pain surprisingly wasn't as bad as it looked, only because there was a distinct numbness that make his head feel slightly hollow, fingertips tingling. His body slumped slightly against the ropes, body lowering enough that his chin rested along the cable as he breathed out. Wow... that... was not good. He obviously needed a moment to recover, trying to drag himself upright again.

Solid impact. Good. Stone was concerned about that move landing, truth be told. She’d never used in a real match - in fact, the same could likely be said for most of her moves. Mako was often too busy to train, always out getting herself involved in some craziness, and Devine was hard to get involved unless she promised some extracurricular activities on top. Whether he realized it or not, Makio was playing the role of test dummy, and she was so far impressed with the results.

She rolled to her feet and saw the move had left him loopy, though he was still standing up well enough with the ropes support. That actually worked in her favor, because she had more surprises for him.

Stone swung about on her knee and rose up quick behind Blue Thunder Mask, getting in nice and close. She snaked her arms under his shoulders and clasped them behind his head, securing a tight full nelson and using it to pull him away from the ropes.

A good submission hold, and one that she could’ve worn him down with. That wasn’t her intention, though.

Instead, she jerked back hard, lifted him into the air, and planted him on the mat with a Dragon Suplex, looking to do some big damage and get in an early pin.

Blue Thunder Mask had been thrown for a loop. It wasn't the fact she had him him so hard with her legitimate boots, no, it was what she had just done. He in no way had seen that coming, not from her. He thought he had her pegged but that alone blow his theories on her style out of the water. He had to be more careful, her wheelhouse filled with far more tools than simple blunt instraments.

He could hear her behind him, even if the shouts and cries from the crowd hadn't alerted him. There wasn't much he could do blindly though. Pushing himself up slowly, he found his body pressing to the ropes as Stone jammed her arms up under his a full nelson. Not a problem. But she was pulling him, dragging him away. Her fingers locked themselves around the top rope, anchoring himself in.

He kicked out a leg, his heel brushing at the rope as he tried to hook his leg through the middle cable to secure his place at the ropes. She was strong, asserting the hold and her leverage to shake his grip. It was so awkward and difficult to keep hold of the ropes as each attempt to use his leg failed. One by one his fingers gave out until she was finally able to wrench him away from the safety of the ropes. With nothing to hold on to or solid foundation, his boot soles dragged back along the ground.

This wasn't about the hold. What was she...? He could feel her tense up, arms wrapped tightly around his own. She was preparing to throw him? A suplex? He kicked a leg back behind him, managing to hook his ankle behind one of her calves just in time, as she heaved back, Blue Thunder Mask deadlocked the two of them upright. She twisted with him in her grasp, shaking his leg loose before throwing her weight back again.

With nothing to ground him this time, he felt the world spin before coming to an abrupt stop as his head and shoulders were driven directly down into the canvas. His body folded up, legs hanging over his head as he remained awkwardly rolled into a pinning position. If their ever was a good example of the differences between Stone and Devine, this was a very powerful reminder.

The referee slid down into position, clapping their hand to the mat. "One!"

In a more "comfortable" pinning position, he might have tried to milk his time on the ground, that extra second sometimes helped. Here, he could feel the blood rushing to his head, ears ringing. His weight on his neck and shoulders would provide no relief. Even before the official laid their hand on the mat a second time, his legs bucked upward, shifting his weight suddenly to the side to flop himself over. He strained, pulling his arms forward to try a different break himself free from her hold on him. If he managed to get out, he would roll away from her to create some distance.

”Got you!”

It was everything Stone wanted out of her move. It hurt, drilling Makio hard into the canvas, so much so that it made some of the audience leap back in surprise. It was a move that didn’t get enough play in the AFW, with many opting for the well-known German Suplex. It put her in a pinning predicament, which meant he’d had to expend more of his precious energy if he wanted to escape. Oh, and it utilized her strength and showcased her skill, enough so that she got a fair round of applause from the audience. A definite upgrade from the earlier reactions.

It didn't work, mind you. Of course it didn’t work. He kicked out, right after the first count, and it would’ve been odd if she got more than that on such a decorated wrestler. But that hardly mattered. If he wasn’t taking her seriously before, he was now, and she was making sure he stayed weary, knowing she could pin him in more ways than one. That was the cornerstone of her entire style: versatility.

Also, it put her in a prime position to capitalize, which she aimed to do as he rolled away. Trying to put some distance between them, buy some time. Smart tragedy. Smart man. Shame she wasn’t about to make it that easy for him.

Scrambling to her feet, knowing every second mattered, she dashed after Makio. She took a second, waited for him to stop rolling, and kicked her legs out as she swung her way down with her arm up, trying to hit him with an elbow drop.

Blue Thunder Mask was almost as taken aback by Stone's sudden outburst as he had been from her jumping boot strike moments prior. This woman was such an enigma, every time he thought he knew what to expect from her, there she was again to subvert his expectation. He wasn't sure how he felt about that. If this had been a normal match, it likely would have made him pretty happy. Being matched up against tough opposition was always something he loved. He always improved the most when he was pushed. Here though? He had so much on the line. Even if he could put Stone away, any damage she did now was going to be with him when he fought Makoto. The last time he fought the biker leader, she had put him through his paces when he was fresh.

He didn't roll far, that was by design. Enough to make sure she couldn't grab him, but not enough she could rise to her feet and chase him down outright. So many people made the mistake of going too long or too short. Positioning was king in the ring, which is why when he did finally stop it was partially on his side, enough to catch sight of Stone. She was faster than anticipated when she got moving, closing the gap between them rather quickly. He wasn't nearly as helpless on the ground as she must have thought as she took to the air. He lurched to the side, moving just enough to clear the limited range of her elbow drop.

At the sound of her impact on the canvas, he quickly rolled back towards her, grasping out for the arm she had used to try and drill him with an elbow. He tried to capture her wrist, tugging her towards him as his boots kicked along the mat to turn his legs to face her, preparing for what he intended to do. If he pulled her in, he would part his legs trying lock them in around her. One slipped under the arm he was pulling at, while the other went up to hook down over her shoulder and neck to link behind her to form a triangle choke hold. Stone may have had an advantage in pure power, but Blue Thunder Mask was a master of the ground game.

Stone was fast. People were always kind of surprised by that, not realizing that her nickname came more from her demeanor than her physical abilities. People saw her, the towering American woman with the tight muscles and the bulky bike, and they assumed she moved like led, that they’d be able to dazzle their way around her like flies. Swatting those flies was one of her greatest guilty pleasures.

But Makio wasn’t a fly, not really. He was more akin to a wasp. When you swatted those, you had to make sure you hit, because if you missed? You got the stinger.

That was precisely what happened, here. Stone came in quick and hard, dropped down on him, and wound up hitting nothing but the canvas, sending a shiver through her arm. She pushed past the pain and tried to roll away before he could capitalize, but fast as she was, she wasn’t fast enough in this case. Makio pulled her in, got her in between his legs, and now she had the Triangle Hold to deal with. Lovely.

She struggled right away, but she was a bear in a bear trap, stuck and unable to do anything about it but suffer. For now, the only move she could come up with was rolling to her front and trying to pin him underneath her weight - not too likely to make him let go, but worth a shot.

It hadn't been the best application of the triangle choke. He wasn't able to pull her in quite close enough, so much so he knew he was going to have to transition into something else. He was however, in a pretty good position from his perspective. If her raw display of power earlier had been any indication, she wasn't as remotely well versed as him when it came to submission moves. Clearly he was exploiting that.

As Stone rolled over and pressed her weight down into him, it only made his hold more awkward to maintain, but her new position sured up what he would do next in his mind. Twisting, he forced himself over onto his side, one shoulder pressed hard to the mat. There was a sudden sense of relief as his legs unhooked from around Stone's upper body, one simply moving down across her, the other suddenly coming around from her shoulder to try and catch her neck under the crook of his knee.

"Learning anything useful?" His movements were incredibly smooth, shifting seamlessly from one thing to the other. If not stopped or a hold went unbroken, it gave the impression he had an answer for every minor shift in position the two could find themselves in. With a sudden snap he rolled back the other way, kicking his legs up to try to slam Stone over onto her back with her now in a standard armbar not unlike the one her had locked into Devine.