SS 18 Entropy Title: Valley Doll (c) versus Manami Kuroda (Iron Man Match)

Preceded by: Announcement from Gilgamesh (Promotion)
Followed by: SS 18: Cicilia De’Reigndhart vs. Veronika Ivanov





Vs.





Match type: Sixty Minute Iron Man Match
Winning conditions: Victory is attained by scoring more submissions and pinfalls than your opponent
Live or Die to the Pits (Of Snakes) Stipulation

The time was soon upon her. Th next match was scheduled to begin not too long from now as the audience once again began to take their seats, finally having the time to empty their bowels and stretch their little legs in anticipation for the coming storm. Though the locations may have changed, AFW still possessed the best marketing money could afford. The anticipation had spilled over from the Pacific, trekking far across the Silk Roads to the heartland of the shining aquila.

All except for Manami. She was far removed from the arena. Rome had been a destination she'd long to visit since the days of her more frivolous youth. It's history long and great, its figures immortal and captivating. In the moments building up to her long-awaited encounter with the Entropy Champion, the wolf was perfectly content with spending these fleeting seconds in the decrepit ruins of the might of Rome, its marvelous stone shining brightly even as the sun descended from its zenith to the waiting horizon. Upon an aged spire of marble Manami, her eyes glinting gently in the warm light of the setting sun, her hair fluttering gently in the breeze that flowed over the aged stone.

There was a day, once upon a time, when Manami would have looked back on moments such as these with a tinge of appreciation for how far she had come. For what seemed half her life, she'd known nothing but the squalid corners and darkened streets of Satsuma with nary a care for the world beyond the next fight to the death. To bask in her glory, in her strength. Now, all she could allow herself was to think on her next opponent.

In spite of the honest opinion she’d given the champion some weeks ago, Manami had to concede some points to the woman. They’d never faced in the ring before, never so much as glanced in one another’s direction. Unlike the previous contender, the Wolf Girl would be entering this battle with no experience to work off of. Nothing but whatever memories she could muster of the videos pulled from the archives at her behest. She'd be going in blind. There was a very real danger here. Suffering defeat in itself was enough to complicate her plans. Being defeated by pro-wrestling’s patron saint, Valerie Dolores-Castle Wells? The thought alone was enough to make her stomach turn.

And yet...the challenge and thrill were enough to overwhelm her. It made her hairs stand up on end with the wind between her ears. Her heart beat strongly in her chest as she took one last look at the fallen empire around her. Very well, then. With a lick of her lips, she hopped down from the pillar and made her way to the distant roar of the crowd.

Now, it began.

Manami Kuroda:

The Wolf Draws Near...:

There was a brief moment of deathly silence as the stage lights dimmed and the ring drenched itself in faint darkness, the arena only faintly illuminated by the fading daylight cascading over the audience. All at once, the heavy bass of the Wolf Girl’s theme filled the arena to an overwhelmingly energetic reception from the audience. Blaring white and gray lights lit up the ramp as she made her way down towards the ring at its center. Slung over her shoulder, the Entropy belt gleamed brilliantly against the waves of camera flashes, Valley’s “signature” still immaculately produced upon its surface.

The wolf entered from the left side, bathed from both sides by wave after deafening wave of cheers and jeers. The stoic, half-smile on her face did little to reflect the mounting tension building up within as she stepped off the cobbled ramp and onto the earthen ground towards the ring. She climbed up and over the middle rope, stepping into the ring with a collected, ice cold temperament, hardly batting an eye to the raving attendants around her.

There was little reason for fanfare tonight. All was said that was needed to be said, everything was done that could not be undone. Her eyes merely glanced over to her left side as she handed the belt to the official, taking note of the tarp covering in front of the ring, purposefully dug in front of the GM’s observance tower. A helpful reminder of tonight’s stipulation that she took note of as she walked over to her corner for some last minute stretches. Sixty minutes, and glory only to the winner.

She allowed a cruel little smirk to grow on her lips as her music faded away...

Valley waited in the gorilla position while her opponent’s music played outside, lacing up her boots as she sat on a crate, as she’d done a hundred, a thousand, a tens of thousand times. This was more than her career, it was her life, as integral to who she was as the air she breathed. She was born into the industry, bred into it. She was meant to be a wrestler before she could properly process the fact. She was doing nothing today that she had never done before. The names changed, the matches changed, but it was all some combination of something she’d done before. She was ready. She had to be ready.

So why was she so nervous?  

It could’ve been what this match represented for her. As much as she hated to admit it, Manami hadn’t been wrong about everything she’d said the last time they stood in a ring together. When Valley’s career was over and people compiled all the highlights of her career, there wouldn’t be too many clips from the past year on it. She had started off strong with the Entropy Title, wanted to give it prestige, but somewhere along the line things had petered out.

Losing to Kaylee was not a good look, even if it had been in surrounded in hazy circumstances. Yes, she’d beaten Charlie in dominating fashion, but looking back at it, he hadn’t been giving it his all, if he even had an ‘all’ to give.

The Entropy Title deserved better than that, but it deserved better than the woman who was making her way down to the ring, the woman who’s half-smile adorned the screen in front of Valley’s face. It was funny, really - Valley had enemies she’d known longer, far longer, who make her blood boil the same way it did now, on pure sight. Then again, none of her enemies had ever beaten her that bad and left her to rot in a park, so there was that. None of them had ever stolen her title, either, and went about parading like she owned the damn thing.

It had taken a great degree of self-control to not attack Manami in that ring before, to hold back and save it all. Today, that patience would be rewarded.

”Ms. Doll?” One of the stagehands walked over, a clipboard in her hand and a nervous gaze behind her thin glasses. ”Are you ready?”

She caught the stagehands signal from the corner of her eye and stood up, breathing deep as she rose. She could already hear the crowd’s chants on the outside, the thudding drumbeat of thousands of feet, calling to her. So many people, so many faces, so many eyes fixed on entrance, waiting for her to emerge. Millions across the world, leaning towards their screens in anticipation.

”VALLEY! VALLEY! VALLEY!”

Don’t think about the stakes. Don’t think about the odds. Don’t think about your girlfriend and all the tacks she’d pulling out her body. Head up. Back straight. Eyes forward. ”Ready.”

Valley liked to change things up for her PPV matches, debut a new theme for her fans to chew on, and today was no different. The world went dark again, bathing the arena in shadow. Silent, dark, still, until a guitar riff began to play and blasted out of the speakers. One that would be familiar to anyone with a love for hard rock.

The Champion of Love:

Heart’s on fire:

It was a fast, electric tune, and when the drums kicked in Valley came out to match it. She burst through the curtain as a spotlight lit her up, making her glow like some sort of descending angel. But the look on her face was anything but - she stood and stared straight towards the ring. Straight towards her target.

”So! This ain’t the end, I saw you again
Today I had to turn my heart away…”

Valley made her way to the ring with proud strides, moving to match the music, power in every step. It was a determined walk, one that would’ve pushed aside anyone that stood in her way, and the look on her face was every bit as intense. No smiles. No high-fives. Yes, she was going for the fanfare with her entrance, but it wasn’t without a point.

”Smile like the sun, kisses for everyone
And tales, it never fails…”

She made her way up the stairs and onto the apron, not entering just yet, but taking a little walk. Her fingers trailed over the rope, cautious, and sparing only a brief glimpse to the tarp and dugout pit on the side of the ring. It was all an intimidation tactic, she knew, but she wasn’t going to show Manami that it bothered her. She didn’t get to have that satisfaction.

”You’re lying so low in the weeds
Bet you gonna ambush me
You’d have me down, down, down, down to my knees!”

Valley made her way to the center of the ropes, and only then, right before the last verse, did she break eye contact with Manami to throw her head back and let her hair fly. With both hands gripping the top rope, she yanked herself up, did a springboard into the ring, and soared through the air, doing a five-star flip forward, moving into the sky with ease. The rotation end with her coming down dead center in the middle of the ring, landing with a knee and a fist. Perfect three-point landing.

”Now wouldn’t ya, Barracuda?”

Valley was still peering at Manami when the lights lifted and the crowd gave their applause, always loving her new entrances. It was over-the-top, she knew, and it took energy that could’ve been spent in the grueling match that she was about to partake in, but it served a purpose. Whatever doubts, whatever fears, whatever niggling thoughts Valley had from before were now gone. Her heart beat in time with the music even as it faded away, keeping her pumped. When the bell rang, there’d be now slow and subtle stop. She’d be coming at Manami full speed, from the first minute to the last.

Valley stepped back towards her corner as the referee moved to the middle with the title in hand. They just had to get the introductions out of the way, handle the ceremony of a proper championship, and then they could get to the moment they’d been waiting for...[/b]

Manami was a patient woman. She accepted the fact that her opponent could merely be going through some last minute jitters, fully assessing the situation until she finally got a grip on the hopeless reality in front of her and summoned up some courage to face the wolf on her own terms. Not everyone was built on the strongest material. Not all of them could be worthy of being called “champion” no matter how hard that title was thrust upon her. One minute could turn to ten. Ten could turn to twenty. However long she had to wait, so long as they arrived, she would be satisfied.

”VALLEY! VALLEY! VALLEY!”

But all of this was seeing that patience wear extremely thin. Where Valley had developed such an appallingly gall behavior was beyond her. She willfully ignored a few petty jeers thrown her way, a couple in the local language that was completely lost on her, keeping her gaze focused on the ramp.

As she concluded her stretches, however, the fact did dawn upon her that the mood could have been tremendously more insufferable. Given the context surrounding this match, by rights, the entire arena should have been well against the challenger carrying in the belt she had yet to earn. A vicious attack in broad daylight that no shortage of cameras hesitated in uploading and sharing to every professional wrestling page that would have it. There were no “if”, “ands”, or “buts” surrounding Manami’s appearance here today. Everything that she stood accused of was laid bare for the world to see.

And yet, she couldn’t help but pick up on the mixed atmosphere permeating the stands. That thought alone brought a hint of a smile to her face. The points she’d made some weeks ago resonated better than she expected. All that was left was to follow through on them. An easy task. She had a singular purpose this day, and she wanted no question once it was all over. Valley Doll was nothing but a facade. She’d shatter their pale illusions.

Then the fated hour came. Manami crossed her arms and she leaned back against the turnbuckles. The lights dimmed and the music came in bit by bit. For a moment, her eyes glazed over to the official, who’d taken to stepping back to the ropes while nodding her head along with the theme and tapping her foot. Manami rolled her eyes and shot her head back to arriving champion. She watched her entrance, perfectly timed and meaningful in her movements, all the way up until the last perfectly-executed flip through the air. As the music faded away, a deafening roar from the half of the crowd still loyal to the Slamazon dispelled whatever negativity still lingered in the air if for a brief moment. Valley’s ability to entertain truly knew no equal. A little monkey in her own circus.

Manami snickered and watched as the woman rose, evidently trying to slice the wolf in half with her gaze. In response, the underground veteran merely raised an idle hand to chest-level, the closest she’d get to an applause for her theatrics. The official finally stopped clapping long enough to remember why she was even here in the first place and called both of the contestants to the center of the ring. The Wolf Girl took her time, taking slow, methodical steps as she crossed her arms and stopped at the center of the ring, looking back at the champion with a pleased grin. “Quite the entrance, Val. It’s a shame your exit won’t be nearly as...graceful, but certainly entertaining.” She cocked her head to the side. “This is your last chance. Surrender. Fall to one knee, and this whole farce can be done with. You can leave with whatever shred of dignity you haven’t already sacrificed.”

Valley sighed as the charge dissipated through her body, coming down, just a little from the high of her entrance. Deja vu started to take over, and she found herself harking back to Mongolia, to her last Iron Man match, to the hell she and Natasha went through on that fateful night. As much of a sadistic beast as Manami was, as much as this was far more personal and heated than her one-year feud with the Russian, a part of her relished all this. The chance to be tested again. To make history, twice in a lifetime.

It was that thought that had her shivering as Manami approached, filling the air with that ‘Big Fight Feel’ the announcers were always babbling on about. Two different types of wrestlers from two wildly different generations. Two mindsets. Two styles. One championship. The stubborn veteran versus the rising star.

She found herself looking at the belt for a moment, still defaced with her copied signature as Manami approached, moving with a slow, stalking gait. She looked back up to meet her gaze. Calm and cool, as if she thought the matches itself was a formality, like the next hour was going to be all hers.

Not surprising that she thought that way, given the words they’d exchanged in their last meeting. It was up to Valley to make a believer out of her.

The referee stood between them and chewed her lip, looking between the two wrestling warriors as Manami spoke, rightly scared that this match might escalate in a second. From what Valley understood, the referees all got together to and drew straws to see who be working on this one, and the winner was a poor little thing who looked like she would’ve loved to be anywhere but inside this ring. Understandable. Manami’s ‘offer’ was a spit in the face, after all, and sparks were set to fly for an hour straight. Valley would be lying if she said it didn’t push the needle an inch or two, if she said there wasn’t a creeping temptation to kick things off and skip the intros, but she managed to keep things cool.

It was hard to tell whether on not Manami was playing around or if she seriously believed her suggestion could happen in any reality. Didn’t matter, either way. Valley’s response would be a simple one.

”Manami.” She closed her eyes and lifted up to take a deep breath, then let it go as she opened them, meeting the She-Wolf with a look that mirrored her own, her head cocked to the opposite side. ”Give me everything.” She leaned forward, edging into Manami’s personal space. ”I want it all.”

The referee coughed and threw a sideways glance to the announcer - a local woman dressed in a toga and sandals, who looked like she was ready to leap out of this ring at the first sign of overt violence.

Manami loved this feeling. She loved it so much more than people knew.

She could have drunk the tension in the air like fine wine, letting it permeate her body and become one with her insatiable appetite. There was nothing better to enter a fight such as this than with the quiet, unspoken disdain that stood between them now. Each and every hair stood up to attention. When she made her demands, Manami never expected the woman to abide by her demands. She just wanted more of it. To see that stupid look on her face stretch a little further.

She didn’t quite get that. She got something that she never quite expected. For a moment, it was as if she was staring at a mirror. Her fingers curled and uncurled, her smirk twitched at the corners, turning lethal as she leaned forward, close enough to feel their heated breathes waft over her face. Her muscles tensed, her face twisted, her smile broadened...

Then the mic came on. The official raised a tentative hand between her and Valley, trying to make some space. The wolf was, surprisingly, the first to back and stand with her arms crossed. The referee let out a breath of relief and stepped to the side, allowing a woman more dressed for the theme to take her spot between the two warrior women. She looked between them, her brows quivering slightly and a bit of sweat protruding from her glands. She found her composure soon enough and raised a palm to the crowd.

"Roma invicta!" A round of cheers made its way around the audience. The toga-clad woman continued to keep her hand in the air, determined to stay in character and doing her best to remember the terminology she was given. “Ave, to the millions watching at home, and to the thousands of loyal patrons in attendance this evening! On the blessings of Her Royal Empress in Perpetuity, the following match will be one of honor, courage, and might! A truly awe-inspiring contest of endurance and willpower, worthy for only the two gladiators standing before us! A sixty-minute, uninterrupted, unforgiving, unparalleled, Iron Woman match!” The crowd broke out into a hive of cheers and applause, fists pumping and hands clapping. Many, clearly, were excited for the Entropy Champion’s chance to redeem herself. “The rules for this contest are as follows: by royal decree, each contestant will cross blades for the next hour. Throughout this time, they will attempt to gain the greatest combined number of pinfalls, submissions, or knockouts. The contestant with the greatest combined score will be named the victor. In the event of a tie, however, the match will enter sudden death after a thirty second recuperation period. There will NO draws, NO quarter given. This will a be a fight to the death!" Another pop from the crowd. A tad dramatic for Manami's tastes, but she wasn't in any position to complain. She asked for her match, and they abided. "And yes, loyal patrons! Tonight’s contest also holds this year’s Summer Splash’s special 'Live or Die' stipulation! At the end of tonight’s match, Her Royal Empress in Perpetuity will make her grand appearance and decide the ultimate fate of the one left wallowing in defeat. Who will that unfortunate soul be? Let’s allow you all to decide!”

The woman in the toga raised a hand from her hip to the woman at her left side. “Introducing our first contestant, the challenger, hailing from Southern Japan’s historic land of Satsuma. Standing at one hundred and sixty-eight centimeters and weighing in at one hundred and forty pounds, Manami - The Wolf Girl-  Kurodaaaaaaaa!”

And here came the...cheers? Interesting. There were plenty of insults peppered in the crowd’s reaction, but in terms of the vast reception, surprisingly warm. Aside from a raised eyebrow, Manami didn’t care to show her surprise to the cameras. She merely stood back with her arms crossed, continuing to smirk with her eyes locked on her prey.

Valley had never been into drugs - casual drinker, a little pot on the road, nothing much - but if she ever was, she had to imagine it was something like the sensation she was experiencing now.

It had been so long since she’d had an opponent that she felt this intense about, that she was this driven to defeat, where this much was on the line. She’d put her title on the line against some great wrestlers, yes, but none of them had the fire Manami had. She could’ve used a bunch of adjectives to describe this woman - crazy, deranged, evil, psychotic. But dull? Never that.

They were close now, drawing closer, the sparks crackled between them. She was sucking in Manami’s breath with every inhale…

And then the announcer cut in.

Right. The pomp. Never let it be said that Valley Doll didn’t appreciate theatrics. She was a firm believe that part of what made wrestling unique, what made it truly beautiful, was that it was focused on combining entertainment and competition, that it had a spectacle and a story you just couldn’t get with any other sport. Baseball, basketball, football, even other combat sports, they all lacked the touch.

Still, she had to admit, this whole setup was a wee bit much for her tastes. She got the whole idea, wrestlers were as close as one could get to modern day gladiators without breaking laws, but the ‘Live or Die’ addition was a sharp step from crazy-awesome to just crazy.

She’d had time to accept that, though. What she had less time to accept was the reaction Manami received, more accepting than she would’ve ever thought. Crowds were fickle, sure, but given all the things the Wolf Mother did and how clear her disdain was, even partial acceptance was a surprise that had her eyebrows shaking and her head canting. ”Really?” She muttered, then snapped to attention as the announcer switched attention.

”And now, your Entropy Champion!” Valley raised her hands into the air, drawing all her fans to cheer, getting  a loud response - but not quite as loud as she expected. The peppered jeers did not go unnoticed, though she refused to let it show on her face, wild and grinning. ”Hailing from the sunny streets of Palm Springs, California, standing at 173 centimeters and weighing in at a slim 133 pounds, she is Friction’s aeriel ace, the Slamazon - Vaaaaaaaaaaaaalleeeeeeeey Dooooooooooooooll!”

Valley Doll bent over, slapped them mat, then raised her fist high into the sky, rallying all the support she could. She had doubters, sure, but tonight was all about proving them wrong - especially the one standing right in front of her.

The announcer made a quick, grateful exit as the referee went to hand the belt off, leaving Valley and Manami a few precious seconds to prep. The Slamazon took her time to walk back to her corner, making sure to keep her foe in view at all times. When she was back as far as she could go, she took a step forward, placed her hands to the floor, and leaned forward into a runner’s stance. A gun with the hammer cocked back. Potentially.

The bell. The bell. Any second now...

Did everything in this federation have to be so painstakingly overblown? Did the audience really care for these kinds of needless formalities and overblown preparations? Why not just skip to the bloodshed and move the event along its merry way? Surely, she wasn't the only one annoyed by this?

But the more Manami prodded with her questions, the less they seemed to hold any water to the backdrop of thunderous cheers and applause as each of the contestants were introduced. The nuances of the entertainment industry were evidently lost on the wolf as she threw a curious eye around the colosseum. She must have been living under her hole for a tad longer than she realized.

It mattered little, she supposed. Her prey was here now. The air thick with anticipation and laced with blood. She couldn't wait for it. To see that face full of resolve reduced to fear and anguish in front of the fans she was so desperately trying to rally with that inane little gesture. Go on then. Muster whatever strength you can. This was only the beginning. For everyone.

Her eyes stayed locked and arms folded as the introductions ceased. Manami kept her eyes on Valley as the two retreated back into their respective corners, walking with slow and causal steps backward to the turnbuckles.

There was a remarkable tension in the air as everyone held their breath, waiting for the bell. The silence was deep enough to hear a pin drop as the official made her way to the center, looking once to the left, then to the right, and tentatively raising her hand into the air with a clear worry written upon her face. Manami looked on, watching the intensity in Valley’s face and growing a snide little smile as the champion adopted her sprinter’s stance. She licked her lips and pressed her heel back against the bottom turnbuckle, leaning forward and curling her fists. Her mouth stretched, and her fangs shined against a single camera flash off in the distance.

The bell rang out and the wolf stormed out from her corner towards the golden rabbit waiting for her on the other side. The referee let out a slight yelp as she jumped back, throwing her hands up for a quick moment. Manami’s feet quaked against the canvas as she drew closer and closer. With a quick kip in her front leg, she would leap up and bring her back leg forward, looking to bury her knee right into Valley’s gut.

For a second, just a glimpse in time, Valley looked towards the ticking red clock off in the distance, one of many nestled between the advertisements all over the stadium. It was good to have an idea of how she was doing timewise. In her experience - the experience of doing this exactly once before, mind you - the secret to these matches was about pacing. Not just enduring, but making the most out of the energy you had.

Maybe that was an avenue she could take with Manami, try to outlast her, make waste energy upfront so she got blown up during the latter half. She was the younger woman, yes, but youth was only an advantage when you knew how to make the best of it.

And...oh.

Valley had taken her eye off Manami for a second, just a second, and when she turned back, she saw Manami come at her, full steam. Game’s on, then.

Valley burst out of her runner’s stance, closing the distance  with a few quick strides, meeting Manami near the center. She rose up, ready to lock horns with the wild woman, but it seemed like she wanted to kick this move off in a more direct fashion, shooting her knee out. The blow rose into Valley’s gut and made a little home there, going deep into her tight abdominals. It hit with enough force to launch her, making the Slamazon’s feet leave the canvas.

But when Valley came down, she hadn’t returned without a little souvenir. Instead of letting Manami pulled her leg back after the impact, she wrapped her arms around the striking leg, clutching the shin against her stomach, soldiering through the pain as best she could. Knowing she’d only have half a second before her foe ripped her way free, Valley threw her body into a side roll with the leg held tight, forcing Manami to spin with her, and released it at the last moment, sending her rolling away with a Dragon Screw.

Never would Manami allow it to be said that she was one to let her opponent take the initiative, especially not in contests such as this, where every second was one that counted against her. Valley dropping into the runner’s stance may as well have been throwing on the red cape for the bull glaring down right at her.

She’d yet to stand toe-to-toe with the Californian in an official setting, but Manami had a fair guess at what her strategy was. To come in fast, to come in hard, and to wear the wolf down with every inch of power she could muster. To keep any surprises Manami may have had in store to an absolute minimum until Valley was already far ahead of the game for it to matter. A noble goal, certainly. A strong start had the power to decide almost any match before it truly began. A noble goal, to be sure…

...but also foolish. Fast meant rushed. Rushed meant predictable. And when one stepped into the ring with the Wolf Girl, that was most certainly the last thing they wanted to be. A lesson her opponent was no doubt coming to grips with.

Valley’s traditionalist mindset ended up working against her, as she inadvertently opened her guard for the underground fighter’s charge. Her knee smacked with a sickening slap against her bare midriff, causing the first couple rows of heads in the crowd to jerk back at once like a wave. The sneer on the wolf’s lips elongated, stretching to the corners as she felt the woman’s abdomen yield to her. First blood. There was little better than its taste alone.

And there wasn’t anything quite as foul as having that moment trifled in an instant. A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her leg and, as the two fell, the green-clad woman was whipped to the side with a surprising amount of force. Her teeth gritted together as she felt the tendons and ligaments in her leg flare up, sending a quick shock through her system. Her side met the ground first and she tumbled away to the side in a harsh series of barrel rolls.

She shook her head and threw a glare at the woman who launched her. Sprightly. Strong. Astute. Annoying qualities, but not quite as annoying as the throbbing in her leg. Manami clicked her tongue, already knowing better than to use it to stand up, and instead reached for the bottom rope, moving to stand back up on two feet before her adversary got any more ideas.