Sayumi Arai vs. Valley Doll - Turn the Page

”Four!”

Valley was going to lose this. While she didn’t like that, didn’t want to be leaving Friction on that note, she wouldn’t have had too much of a problem with it for Sayumi. The younger woman was everything a wrestler should’ve been - bold, brave, courageous, but welcoming and kind. Competitive, smart, drive. The AFW could’ve used a dozen more women like her. Two dozen, even.

”Five!”

Losing wasn’t unacceptable. She’d lost before, she would lose again, it was something that came with the job, a lesson to be learned. But losing like this was something she’d taken pride in avoiding with her career. A countout victory was no real win, and such a cheap way to lose. Not beaten by your own merits, but because you just weren’t able to get into the ring soon enough, A lot of the time it simply boiled down to who was closest to the ring at the time, sheer happenstance.

”Six!”

And yet that was what would be happening soon, if she didn’t get back into the ring. And she tried. Hard. Tried to sit up, failed. Flopped over. Rolled. Pushed up with her aching limbs. Her body refused to cooperate, stubbornly keeping her on the floor, and as the referee counted away, she knew there was no getting around this, about the worst way she could’ve hoped to end her Friction career. She closed her eyes and waited for it to come.

Only it didn’t.

The referee had restarted the count, and when she looked up, she understood why - Sayumi was coming back. At first she thought her opponent was just returning to deal more damage, but no - she dipped down and helped her standing, supporting her and helping her walk back to the ring, aiding her. The crowd clapped, cheering on her sportsmanship, but Valley could only look her way. Dumbfounded. Almost unsure what to say, except…

”T-thank you.” She nodded with a soft smile, as she accepted the help and came back into the ring, sliding in under the bottom rope.

It was a long, hard road back to the ring. She had stumbled her way to Valley with every intention of continuing this match where a real winner could be decided. While she wanted to win, the terms of victory were dictated in her mind by being able to pin or submit the veteran. Disqualification wasn't a worthy end nor was it something she could look back on and be proud. If she won it would be on her terms and if she lost, it would be on her back in the ring.

Once she had Valley supported, much of her fiery determination started to drain. She was so heavy now, each step was more difficult than the last. Thankfully the other woman seemed to understand what was happening and started to carry some of her own weight again making the trip more manageable.

Sayumi paid Valley's gracious remark a pained smile and a stoic nod. It touched her more than it should have, almost making her well up a bit. She wasn't sure if it was the exhaustion leaving her this emotional or just the fact she couldn't really ever think of a time a competitor was so genuine with her. After helping Valley into the ring, she took a moment to bury her head in her folder arms on the apron to compose herself mentally and physically as the count continued to go.

By the time the referee had hit nine, she was already lifting one of her legs up to help hoist her body into the ring, rolling back into the proper field of battle the two had chosen to make their final stands. She was slow to rise to her feet, relying on the ropes to shoulder the burden of her weight until she had managed to find herself upright fully again. This was the first time she had been pushed this hard and drained this fully in a legitimate wrestling bout before… while she hated to admit it, her time in the hentai division had actually been a bit of a boon for helping with her physical longevity but that reserve was starting to run itself dry now. One way or another this needed to wrap up soon or else she would be done for.

Sayumi might never know how much this little gesture meant to Valley. While she had met plenty of good people in the AFW - and had even been dating one for nearly five years, now - but it wasn’t uncommon for her to encounter women who were out to get the win anyway they could, especially with the younger generation. The record books wouldn’t say how you got those wins, loses, and draws, after all - in the end, people would see the numbers and nothing else.

So it was good to see that Sayumi cared more about how she took this win, that it wasn’t about just beating Valley. The Slamazon could respect that, and judging by the crowd’s quick applause, so could they.

But there was only one way for Valley to really show her appreciation to this woman, and that was by giving this match her 100%. Right to the very end.

She rose to her feet along with Sayumi, feeling much of the same exhaustion the other woman was feeling. She didn’t want to blame it on growing older - yes, she’d controlled a lot of this match, but Sayumi was doing a good job with this rally, and it was taking a bigger toll than the Slamazon anticipated.

Figuring it was best to stick to her reliable guns at this stage, Valley stepped forward and lashed out, swing her leg with a roundhouse kicked aimed at her opponent’s side, trying to knock some more of that precious air out of her body. It didn't quite the oomph that her kicks usually carried, but she hoped it would have enough power to at least make her opponent stagger.

Sayumi wasn't pleased with the distance between them as she rose. Aside from a few trademarks of her in ring work, she was the sort that needed to be up close and personal to make things happen and Valley had the advantage when it came to keeping her out. Those long legs for one and a generally larger wheelhouse of moves that could keep the rookie at bay. They were both on their last legs… well she hoped Valley was because she could feel her own strength dwindling.

Cherry Bomb brought her hands up and leaned in, ready to lunge in the moment and opportunity presented itself. She knew if she could just get her hands on the veteran again she could take control again… it was just a matter of getting close to her now. She started to circle, leaving the safety of the ropes in a gamble it would make her opponent more willing to engage with her.

When Valley stepped in, Sayumi jumped the gun and rushed for her, hoping to close the distance and punish the brazen offense in decisive fashion. What she hadn't anticipated was her body's unwillingness to move as fast as she wanted, leaving her halfway to her destination before a sweeping roundhouse clapped her in the side. She let out a surprised grunt as the blow caused her steps to tumble, halting her charge as she staggered to stop to clutch her side, hunched forward.

Valley was starting to feel her adrenaline rise, her blood boil, her focus coming back strong as she got ready for the final leg of this match with Sayumi. She had to give the woman credit, she hadn’t been this excited fighting a new opponent in a while, couldn't’ recall the last time she had so much raw, visceral energy from taking on such a younger woman. It was good to know that she was leaving Friction in good hands - if Sayumi was representative of the talent that was coming their way, then Friction fans had good matches to look forward to.

Sayumi was going to do well in this business. Rise to the top, most likely. But it wouldn’t be at Valley's expense.

The roundhouse kick she sent out went a decent ways to insuring that, crashing into her opponent’s side and stopping her charge dead in its tracks. Sayumi was tough, hardier than the Slamazon had given her credit for at the start of all this. She took it well, even as Valley stumbled back a step from her own attack. Hunched over, hurt...but standing.

She could fix that, though. Planted her foot down, Valley rushed forward, closing in fast with her arm out. She tried to catch Sayumi’s head as she took a short hop off the canvas and swung around to her opposite shoulder, dragging Sayumi to the floor with a slick Sling Blade.

Sayumi winced hard, taking a staggered step to brace herself. The stiff clap of Valley's kick had been a damning force while she was this tired, crippling her attempt to approach at all. Huffing, she lifted her head, one eyes closed to keep the other on her opponent. To what end though, she wasn't sure. When the veteran started towards her she could only stand her ground, knees trembling, nothing seemed to work. The arm looping around her neck pulled her upright in the other woman's crowd pleasing move before trading off to her other arm which dragged the Japanese native down to the mat with a crash.

She hit the canvas hard, her back springing her into a sitting position, leaning forward in a limo slouch. Head hung low she panted softly, gravity slowly pulling her back down until she flopped out flat, laid it on the ground. Her chest heaved with every ragged breath she took. She had done so well in this match, but she was struggling now. Valley had pushed Sayumi to her absolute limits, more than anyone else she had ever faced… but this may have been in. She wasn't sure if she had the energy to get back up.

Closing her eyes she tried to focus, tried to breath. Her head was spinning, body aching. She looked forward to taking off her boots, longer for a long hot bath, and couldn't wait to curl up in her bed beside her girlfriend. She hoped Mariah was watching and had been impressed. She had been trying so hard to build herself back up after the rebrand and her manager had been the driving force behind it all. It felt like so long ago when they were all drinking and singing karaoke… they really needed to do that again. Sayumi opened her eyes slowly, turning her head to the side to weakly look back to Valley. The lavender haired girl was down but she wasn't about to surrender. She would fight to the end.

This was it. Valley had gone back and forth with Sayumi this entire match, going far harder than she’d expected. She had to give it to Mariah, she could see the talent the woman was speaking of on display. This girl had the energy, the talent, the drive to go far, and one day she would accomplish so much.

Valley was determined to not let it be at her expense, though. And she was on the verge of ensuring that. Just a little more. Just needed Sayumi to stand. The Slamazon had two finishers to work with, and she didn’t trust her body to pull off the bigger one - but the second would do for this.

After she rebounded from the Sling Blade, that was exactly what she went to work on. She rolled away, nearly let the momentum carry her out of the ring, but she was able to hit the brakes right at the ropes. Popping to her feet, she rushed back over to her opponent, reached down, and grabbed her head to haul her up. It wasn’t the easiest thing, but with a tight grip and some effort, she was able to get Sayumi vertical. The second she was up, Valley took off in a run towards the ropes, pouring all of her body into this one, final sprint, dedicating her reserves.

She hit the ropes, bounced off, and came dashing towards Sayumi’s side. At the last possible second, she threw her body into a cartwheel, flying through the air and grabbing her foe’s legs as she passed. If all worked out the way it was supposed to, she’d carry Sayumi along for the ride and slam her into the mat with her patented finisher: the Valley Bomb.

Sayumi wanted to get up, needed to get up. So when Valley came to her and began to haul her to her feet, the young rookie did her part to help that process along. She would have liked to fight it more, establish some form of control, but even as her hands gripped at Valley's arms she couldn't muster the strength to push her away. When the veteran suddenly dashed away from her, those Shaky legs took shuffled unsteady steps making it look as if she would topple over at any moment. She needed to move, could envision the race to the ropes where she could ram her knee into the other woman just as she hit the ropes… but she wound up just standing there, in a helpless trance.

Blinking unevenly she watched Valley charge towards her. She knew this woman, had studied her for a time. They both knew what was coming. It was faster than she imagined, watching Valley cartwheel up to her as she did. The sudden shift of being spun upside down was a dizzying sensation and likely the last she would feel. In a final act of desperation, she didn't fight the twirl but instead threw herself sideways into it making her own cartwheel that much faster. Legs meant to simply come up harmlessly flew up as they should, but the back thigh kicking backwards, using it to hook Valley by the head.

The crowd was roaring with excitement for Valley to put the finishing touch on a fantastic match. Long and hard fought, both women had given their all. The sudden and unexpected change however stunned them to silence. Confused, many in attendance already standing and ready to count the pinfall.

In a wild tumble the Valley Bomb would miss the mark, the weight of Sayumi's body in full swing and her legs locking in around the veterans neck would reverse the finisher into an impromptu hurricanrana, one that took them both down to the mat with one another. The difference here however was Sayumi hadn't let her opponent fly free, no, she had kept her head locked in tight with a scissor hold.

Weakly, she grasped out for one of Valley's arms, trying desperately to pull it back and hook it secured under one of her arms. She was hoping the unexpected slam had bought her time to secure the limb, applying an armbar along with the crushing pressure of her thighs. All she could do now was hold on as hard as she could with fading strength and hope it would be enough.

Valley instantly knew something was wrong. She’d done this move countless times, enough that she could tell the way it should go by instinct, regardless of how heavy her opponent was. She knew how it was supposed to feel. Knew how the weight was supposed to be distributed. It was science to her. Predictable, controllable, unstoppable.

But she could tell it was off as she and Sayumi went into the tumble. There was too much force, too much torque, too much momentum. They were coming down, but not on her terms. On Sayumi’s.

Sensing trouble, she tried to pull away right after the impact, but she was slow. Far, far too slow. Her arms was snagged, she was pulled back in, and those legs of Sayumi’s closed in like the jaws of death, locking her into a tight triangle choke. Tight and effective.

The crowd roared around them, but Valley could scarcely hear them, their roar muffled by the thighs at her ears. The hold was tight, painful, but that wasn’t the worst of it - her circulation was cut, breathing was a laborious chore. She went into a thrashing fit, kicking her legs about, but a side glance showed that ropes were at least eight feet away from her at the moment. Too far to crawl to. Way out of reach. She struggled. She pushed at Sayumi’s thighs. Tried to squeeze her way out. Even made a last-ditch effort to plant her feet on the floor and pin her opponent in this position, before her legs gave out and she had to drop down again, failing. If she’d had time, maybe she could’ve figured some way of this, but with her oxygen depleted and her body past the redline, she only had one real option left. Like it or not, she had to take it.

Valley Doll tapped out.

Sayumi had taken a gamble, but it was one she had been forced into. If not for her snap decision she would have been on her back with the Slamazon pinning her to the mat. Instead, both women were sent into a spiral down to the mat, slamming hard enough with explosive momentum it nearly broke the two of them apart on impact. The crowd had already been cheering, knowing full well what Valley had been planning on doing and were in full support of her victory only to be quieted when their expectations were turned on their heads. There was an unusual hush falling over the audience as they watched in stun silence. With all the noise gone, all that was left was the scuffing of ring boots, labored breathing, and tired straining of both women in the middle of the ring.

It took everything Sayumi had to hold on, tightening her body up, stretching herself out to make dragging her as hard as possible. She pressed an eyelid shut at the sting of sweat running down from her forehead, making her eye burn. The rookie bounced along with Valley's thrashing, nearly loosing her grip on the other woman's arm, something that would have allowed the veteran to make a real push for the ropes. She even smartly tried to push the both of them up, almost getting her up onto her shoulders. Sayumi grit her teeth, clamping down as hard as she could, wrenching her legs in a twist to reign valley back in. With that, the last of her struggles seemed to die.

She felt a palm rapidly clapping her thigh, not even realizing what it was until she heard the bell. Valley had tapped.

Her tense muscles went lax, letting the veteran go as she fell back to the canvas to lay, panting and exhausted. Both women lay still loosely intertwined on the mat as Sayumi stared at the ceiling, smiling through her heaving breathes. This was huge for her. Not only was this her first match back after her rebranding, but arguably the most competitive bout she had ever taken part in that wasn't linked directly to her run in hentai matches. It marked a turning point for her career that would no doubt open eyes she had potential, something Mariah had seen in her before she believed it herself.

"You were great." She spoke between gasps, voice slightly to speak to Valley over the roar of the crowd.