Panther Risako vs. Beauty Ichigaya - Eye of the Beholder

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

Beauty had a match. Past time, really.

While she had joined the AFW’s ranks some time ago, they saw fit keep her underwraps ever since she made their hiring known to the world by becoming reacquainted with Blade. Oh, they had her do a few dark matches, squashing the odd newcomer here and there, using her to weed out some of the less promising recruits. While it wasn’t work that was worthy of a woman of her talents, she would be lying if she said she didn’t take some small measure of enjoyment from it.

Crushing the weak, the pathetic, the unworthy dregs that were trying to claw their way to fame. A gatekeeper, of sorts. It appealed to her baser sensibilities.

But it wasn’t what she’d come for. Not even close. She was here for Blade Uehara, but management refused to give her that match. If anything, they seemed poised to punish her for what she’d done to Blade, pretending to understand her reasons, thinking she was out to ruin the ruffian’s career.

Far from the truth, but she wasn’t going to throw her pearls before the swine in explaining it. Her protests weren’t fruitless, however, as they did acquiesce to give her the next best thing to what she wanted: Panther Risako.

It was for her that she waited in the ring now, leaning back against the ropes, staring at the ramp while her theme music faded and the crowd continued to jeer. She paid them little thought, focusing more on the reunion that was about to occur, a thin smile crossing her lips. It had been so long since she’d seen Blade’s friend, and she was eager to see how the woman would receive her after all this time. A fierce, well-rounded sort of wrestler, if Beauty remembered correctly. Gaudy fashion sense, but otherwise quite respectable, and an odd-pairing for the boisterous Blade.

She had to know about what happened with Blade. Beauty would wager she visited her, the two of them talked, maybe came to some kind of accord. Trauma had a way of bringing friends together. Maybe, just maybe, Blade would accompany Panther to the ring…

The smile grew.

It had, Risako reflected, not been that long ago when she had set out into the ring purely to destroy someone. The last time had been in her ill-fated rematch against Chris Morgan...and that had damaged her far more than she thought possible. Now, here she was again, marching towards the ring to claim vengeance. Only this time, it wasn't against someone she had any particular love for.

Spoiler:

Beauty freaking Ichigaya. The woman had always been known for her cruelty, a vainglorious bully who preyed on up-and-comers and rookies back in the old league. She had skill, of course, to back up her boasting, but in all the times she had faced her, Risako had never come close to teaching the blonde freak a proper lesson. Now, however, she had to. Ichigaya had another match ready, and Uehara was still in no state to face her. It was down to her, Risako knew, to get some payback for her friend.

Striding into the ring, Risako ignored the cheers of her fans as she strode relentlessly down the ring. There. Ichigaya was waiting for her, all blonde curls, white silk, and imperious attitude. Risako's own expression was impassive, betraying no emotion even as she slid under the ropes and hopped to her feet opposite the blonde Wrestle Angels heel.

She made a show of nonchalantly folding her arms. "Reika," she said with a nod, making a point of using Ichigaya's real name. "It's been a while. Still looking as tacky as ever, I see."

Beauty twitched at the mention of her name. It was slight. Quick. No more than a single, fleeting spark of anger, speckles of flame that were carried off in the wind. There was a time when Panther’s goading would’ve gotten the better of her and sent her in a raw rage, cursing and screaming and hurling Risako from one end of the ring to another.

No longer. She was a better woman than those days, more complete, more in control. Improved in many ways, some of which she would be showing to Panther shortly.

”Sukuma.” She folded her own arms, using them to prop up her impressive chest, as she strode forward and made her way towards the center of the ring. Her smile was pleasant, her voice saccharine, her eyes bright and welcoming. One could be forgiven for thinking the mood cordia, if there were only able to see Beauty and not the chilling gaze of Panther. ”It’s not a look for everyone, but I think I make do. It could be worse, you have to admit. Leopard print, for instance.”

She giggled and unfolded her arms at the center, moving into her wrestling stance. Arms at the ready, muscles tensed. ”So, tell me, how is Blade doing? Recovering well, I hope.” Beauty threw a few of her curls back, making sure her wide, intrigued eyes and her puffy pout could be seen. ”I didn’t mean to break the poor thing, but I forgot how fragile she was, and you know how I can get carried away…”

Panther smiled as she saw Ichigaya's normally flawless features twitch in visible discomfort. Ichigaya liked to hold herself above everyone, to put on the superior act...but her unsurmountable pride was her one glaring weak point, and once you started to pick at it, it was all too easy to get under her skin.

At least, that was what Risako thought...until Ichigaya mentioned blade. Despite herself, Panther's eye twitched at this. Her frown creased even further, and involuntarily, her hand clamped into a fist. Her eyes remained locked with Ichigaya's, conveying the silent message of I am going to hurt you for this, bitch.. "I'll show you a thing or two about fragility..."

The bell rang, and Risako began to circle Ichigaya, widening her legs and raising an arm for a test of strength. It was a nonchalant, taunting move, but the look on Risako's face made it clear to the audience that she not here for a simple single's match: she was out to get even.
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Beauty’s eyes narrowed, vision focused, not wanting to miss a bit of Risako’s reaction to her last words. Sure enough, she saw the telltale signs of boiling fury underneath the stalwart wrestler’s skin. The clenched fist, the twitch, and was that a small shiver she detected? Oh, yes. Panther was fuming.

There was the chink in Panther Risako’s redoubtable armor. She was a great wrestler, bordering on legend, so well-rounded, a peerless athlete, and she could’ve been a champion in any promotion...but, at the end of the day, she cared too much. On that rock, Beauty would build her church. ”Careful, Risako. You show your wrinkles when you get angry.”

The two of them squared off with Panther deciding to raise her arms, daring Beauty into a test of strength. It was one that she accepted, albeit with no small degree of caution, reaching out with tentative fingers to lock horns.

As soon as they were connected, Beauty brought her full strength to bear and attempted to surge forward, hoping to drive her hard to the ropes.

The circle was more than just a circle. Even as the two Wrestle Angels legends circled one another, their eyes never left one another, Ichigaya's smirk meeting Risako's smouldering frown. The war between these ladies had begun in earnest, and no quarter was going to be given, no mercy was going to be asked for.

In an instant, the two women were locking up, arms intertwining as they pushed, twisted and grappled against one another. Risako gritted her teeth as she felt a surge of strength press in from Ichigaya: in response, she dug in her heels, the muscles in her thighs and calves firming up as she met the Beauty with her own formidable strength, their arms wavering as the grappled. For a few vital seconds, the two Wrestle Angels were face to face, deadlocked in the centre of the ring, their arms shaking from the sheer pressure of their lockup.

And then, suddenly, Risako twisted, using Ichigaya's momentum against her to send her hurtling towards the rope. If Ichigaya came bouncing back, then Risako would burst forward, faking a lockup...before ducking low, aiming to come up behind her foe and nail her with a savage kick to her back or her head!

Was Panther always this strong? Beauty didn’t remember her as being weak, that was for sure, but she’d always thought the woman was more of an all-rounder, not the type to go toe to toe, more technical. That thought was being put to the test, as the little hellcat had no qualms going up against a bigger, stronger foe.

Not a problem with Beauty. She was all too eager to lock horns and exert her power. Panther was able-bodied, using what strength she had to maximum effect, but it was a wasted effort. She couldn’t keep this up forever - soon those muscles would tire, that back would give, and then…

That moment, sadly, didn’t come. Before she could press any advantage, Panther turned her strength against her and sent her off running, hurtling into the ropes. She came bouncing back at full speed and her arms raised, attempted to flatten Panther with a lariat that would’ve left Bomber Kirishima envious, but her nimble foe was able to duck under it at the last second.

Beauty slammed the brakes and spun about, only to get a stiff foot in the side of her face for all her troubles, one that had her staggering back from the impact as stars filled her vision. She was quick to shake it off, however, her curls dancing about while her head wobbled, and she was locked on target soon enough.

Using rage as a fuel, she launched herself forward with open arms, trying to grab hold of Panther and push her into the nearest corner before she could get away.

Risako had danced with larger opponents plenty of times before: Bomber Kishima, Chris Morgan, Grizzly Yamamoto...and yes, even Ichigaya. She knew how to use their strength and weight against them, to strike them where they were vulnerable and outmanouver them, and even beat them at their own game if need be. As she got back to her feet, she saw Ichigaya lunge in a single, angry charge.

Risako's reactions were like lightning: spinning to the side, she grabbed for Ichigaya's wrist, hoping to use her opponent's momentum to swing her around and slam her, back-first, into the corner. If she managed that, then she would immediately follow up with a lunge of her own, launching herself at Ichigaya while she was in the corner and spinning to slam her body against Ichigaya's...and more importantly, to drive her elbow hard between Ichigaya's breasts!

Ah, yes. Wrestling Panther was a pain in the ass. It was all starting to come back to Beauty, now.

As much as she hated to admit it, there was a certain grace and style to the way Panther moved, dancing about the ring and deftly manipulating the match. In one moment, it seemed certain that things were in Beauty’s favor, that she would have her foe in the corner. In the next moment, she was in the corner, thrown there with a simple movement.

Frustrating. That was a good word for it.

Her immediate reaction was to force her way out, and she took a step forward with that in mind, only to find an elbow to her chest waiting for her. She crashed right into it, doubling the damage, and she was knocked back to flop against the turnbuckle, stunned for a critical moment. Knowing Panther, it wouldn’t be a window she ignored.

Ichigaya gasped loudly over Risako's shoulder as that elbow hit home. This match was a dance, and so far, Risako was leading it gracefully and expertly, fighting two steps ahead of Ichigaya as she managed to trap her brutally in the corner. She knew from experience, however, that Ichigaya could and would recover quickly, and so she needed to keep hammering at her.

Moving quickly, Risako delivered two knife-edge chops to Ichigaya's generous bosom, wanting to keep her nice and out of breath-- just . Moving before the ref could get in her face, Risako grabbed at Ichigaya's arm, aiming to whip her across the ring! The Panther was relentless today, and meant to show Ichigaya that she was here for war.