AJ Shay vs. Spider Kikuchi - Arachnophobia

Something had changed. Spider could sense it. The air in the ring tasted different, had a new flavor to it. The crowd's vibe had changed, going from enthusiastic support of their precious heroine to something more simmering, something darker. Matches had flow, a rhythm, and everyone could sense where it was swaying now, whether they wanted to admit it or not.

She could see it clear as AJ reeled back from the blow, taken off guard, leaving herself so wide open for anything. Broken stance, shock etched on her face, not a defense to worry about, practically begging to be taken advantage of. Spider, being a proper lady, obliged her.

”Me.”

She rushed forward and reached out, grasping for AJ’s hair with wide fingers and snatching two handfuls. She spun around whip-quick and yanked the younger wrestler over her shoulder, looking to drop her flat on her back with a hairmare, making sure to give her roots a bit of an extra tug along the way for spite.

Alexa winced up at Spider, gritting her teeth as she sucked in hissing breathes to manage the sting in her chest. She had managed to stand her ground, but it seemed Spider was intending to take it from her. As the woman rushed her, she held up her hands to meet her in a grapple… only as her oppent got close, she didn't attempt to lock up, instead she grabbed hand full of Alexa’s hair. “Ah! H-hey!”

She was jerked forward as Spider pulled her, reaching up to call her hand over those of her opponent. The woman before her turned and pulled, hard. Alexa let out a scream as she was dragged up and over the woman's shoulder, flung down at the last moment to be plant hard on her back.

The referee had been quick to move in and get in Spiders face, issuing her a warning for making use of her opponents hair like that. A clearly illegal move that she wouldn't suffer through this match… bold now to stand up to Spider. It may have been fleeting bravery though.

”Watch the hair, Kikuchi!” The referee barked at Spider, chiding her hard for the infraction. ”Do not make me tell you twice!”

Spider swore, referees had to collectively be the dumbest people she’d ever met. She had skirted the rules for years, years, and never been caught by them even once, so much so that it was almost a game within a game as far as she was concerned. Once you knew the rules, it was so easy to skirt them.

This particular ref, however, irked her, enough to earn an irritated glare from the former Ring Dreamer. The AFW tended to be so lax on the rules, so forgiving, with many of the referees ignoring such flagrant violations. Why was this one giving her such guff right away? Because she was trying to protect her little heroine, that was why. Playing favorites for the cute rookie.

It made her sick to her stomach, but she knew just how to cure that ailment, thankfully.

”Hair pulling is off limits. Okay.” She pouted, did her best to look innocent, probably failed. ”But what about…”

As AJ laid on her back, Spider brought her foot down on her opponent’s hair, pinning her down by it with her full weight. She brought the other up and started to stomp away at the little brat’s chest, shooting her heel hard into every soft spot she could see, making sure to grind it in as often as she could. The referee would hate it, of course, but Spider intended to milk this one for all she could.

Alexa groaned softly as she looked up at the arguing referee and Spider. It hadn't lasted look before the woman looked over her, raising up her boot. The rookie cringed, quickly twisting to attempt to roll away, finding her progressed stopped by a seating pain in her head as her hair was pinned to the mat.

The first boot dug into her side, causing her to cry out in pain, rolling sharply onto her back again. Her hands reached up, grasping at Spider’s boot planted on her ponytail, trying frantically to remove it. Stomp after stomp were driven down into her with impunity as she struggled and screamed in pain. Her grip weakened, surrendering her attempt to break free, instead throwing up her arms and trying to tuck in her legs to roll up in a protective ball.

There were still chinks in her armor, which Spider seemed more than happy to exploit. She had been doing so good, and in an instant momentum had shifted. All her hard work to create a healthy lead was being stomped out of her and there was nothing she could do but try to survive it.

”Are you kidding me, ref?!”

The audience was generally not liking the way that this was going all of the sudden, looking on as Spider took the advantage of the situation, but none were more vocal about the situation than Ryoko. She was fighting the impulse to jump the barricade, and she very well might have if not for a big, burly dude standing in her way. ”Are you blind, ref? What’s wrong with you?”

To be fair, the referee was scolding Spider hard, and she even started up a count, but if there was one thing that Spider excelled at besides - besides her technical acumen, fashion sense, and sparkling looks - it was her ability to get the most out of a five count. She waited until the last millisecond, when the referee was just starting form a five with her mouth. That was the moment where she back let go and backed off with her hands in the air, innocently skipping away at the referee’s demand.

She was tempted to move back in right away, but the official was taking the time to check on AJ, so she had to hold back for a few seconds. All good, really. It was best to let moments like this simmer for a little bit, let her victims realize what they were in for.

A fly, squirming in the web...

She had been hit with strike combinations before, even knocked out. Been made to tap and had been choked out. Being subjected to Spider’s boot raining down punishment on her was ranked among the worst. It had happened so fast, so viciously that she still didn't understand what had happened. It was over now, saved by the referee’s count. Part of her had hoped her opponent t would go overboard and get disqualified, saving her whatever hardships were to befall her in this match. That dream however, only made her feel worse. Like a coward.

“I’m okay… I’m good.” She knew the official was just doing her job, but the concern dug at her like a knife. She had been in control up until a minute ago. She might have even been able to make Spider tap before the match even got rolling. All she could think of was how much she didn't want to return back to her apartment with Ryoko to review this match and have to break down the exact moment she lost the match before it even ended. Not again.

Alexa staggered to her feet, left arm tucked in to rest against her both while the right remained raised, ready to meet whatever Spider had to throw at her. She was fidgeting, clearly shaken, obviously more weary of her opponent now that the woman had sunk teeth into her.

She was mindful to keep her distance, trying to shuffle back and away from Spiders early advances to grab hold of her again. She wanted her opponent t to chase her, to think she was running her down… at that point she would finally step in to meet her, throwing her leg up in a spinning high kick to try and knock that sinister smirk off Spider's face.

As AJ took some time to get back up to her feet and soaked in her place, Spider moved over to the ropes and leaned against them, taking a moment to just prop her leg and hang about. Part of it was to just mess with AJ. Stay calm. Stay in control. Continue the mind games.

The other thing, though, was that she was still hurting the submission hold - submission holds, damn it - and she wasn’t about to let the little puppy have the knowledge that she’d hurt her that much.

”Come on, AJ! You’ve got this, just keep your head in the game!”

Now, if only she could do something about her cheerleader. That was starting to become rather irksome.

Break time was over for now, anyway, and Spider moved out to meet her foe, bringing her hands up as they neared. She didn’t expect AJ to go for the lockup, thought she would be too weary for it, and the rookie didn’t disappoint on that front. Instead, she came in with a spin, swinging her leg up high as she turned. An impressive move. Nice lift. Good flexibilty.

So Spider assumed, anyway. She couldn’t say for sure, since she’d already started ducking it the moment it began.

As AJ spun around, she ducked low and slid around her, coming over to her back after she turned. Her foe would only have a half-second to process her miss, before the smarter, sexier woman leaped up, wrapped her arm around her neck with an inverted facelock, then jerked back and attempted to execute a reverse DDT to hammer her skull into the canvas.

She ran down the checklist in her head, hitting every single bullet point to execute her kick perfectly. It had indeed looked perfect, showing of far more of her flexibility than her normal moveset allowed. She almost looked graceful for a change. The problem arose when it was time to actually land the hit. She knew she missed as her kick slice through the air, but in mid motion she couldn't see or grasp what had happened until it was already too late. Spider moved… Alexa’s one weakness! How did she know?

“Hrk!” She came to an abrupt stop, ankle twisting into a sharp pain as her pivot had continued with only half of her moving. She was dragged back, almost losing her footing as she was bent backwards. Her arms back up, attempting to reach back to grab hold of something but the movement was fluid, far too quick for her.

Alexa grunted as she was planted head first into the canvas. The blow jarred her severely when coupled with the whiplash of being jerked into it from her whiffed kick, it had been incredibly effective. The momentum from the snap DDT had brought her back, then sent her flopping onto her stomach where her hands grasped for her already aching head.

Was there anything more beautiful than a plan coming together? Not in Spider’s mind, there wasn’t. Everything went so well, a less keen eye would’ve been forgiven for thinking it was all rehearsed. The older wrestler’s timing was on point, allowing to be in the exact wrong place for the plucky upstart. He arm came up, locked in, jerked back, and the move was completed by proper resistance could even be attempted.

AJ went flopping away, going down hard on her chest, hopefully regretting whatever life choices that led her to this moment. Spider was determined to make sure it got no better. ”Playtime.”

Spider crawled forward on her hands and knees, slithering over Shay’s body, making sure to rub over as she passed. She had no intention on getting overtly sensual with AJ - she was worth it, honestly - but a little teasing could make things that much better, work the mindgames. Especially so if AJ didn’t even swing the same way.

And there was a purpose to it, as well. As she moved up AJ’s body, she lifted up and swung her legs around, closing in on AJ from both sides with them. She reached forward and grabbed her foe by the wrists, then pulled back and forced her arms back, keeping them straight. She brought her thighs around, trapped those arms between them, crossed her ankles behind the brunette’s hair and began to squeeze, attempting to stretch her out with a tight Lotus Lock.

“Ugh hah…” Alexa lay face down on the canvas, head turned just enough where she could peer out across the mat with one eye. She coughed softly, brow pressed down to the mat made her head ache but there was no way around it. She was still struggling to put together what had just happened beyond the obvious conclusion of “pain”. Her fingers spread out along the ring as she had only just begun to try to rise when Spider slithered over top of her.

A shiver ran up her spine as she was pressed down to the mat under her opponent, thoroughly skeeved out with whatever this woman was trying to accomplish. She knew what kind of a match this was right? Oh god… it was just a normal match, wasn't it? Her face flared up red, suddenly having a miniature panic attack, doubting what she knew.

“Argh!” Those few moments of uncertainty had been more than enough for the Spider to wrap her up in her web. Arms drawn back, trying to pull against her opponent's grip to no effect. The legs hooked around her shoulders pushing her head down. What even was this?! “G-get… off of me!”

The brunette franticly kicked her legs, trying to thrash the woman off her by tip them to either side. Out of all the holds she had been in this far in her career, as short as it was, this was definitely along one of the most humiliating ones. In terms of punishment, it was bad, yes, but the position she had her in on the canvas was embarrassing and frustrating. If she had no luck tipping the two of them she would dig in her boots, trying to push them both towards the ropes.