The Cowgirl Rides Again! Julia Rogers vs Suzumi Ishikawa

Standard Match
Victory Conditions: Pinfall, Submission, DQ, KO or Countout

Music began to play over the arena speakers no one had here heard in quite some time. For a moment or two the fans seemed confused, unsure if this actually meant if they thought it did. But the moment Julia stepped out onto the stage, boisterous cheers immediately filled the air in the Friction arena! Her return hadn’t been announced. No dirtsheets had even caught wind of a rumor of this. Many probably thought they’d seen the last of her in Japan, but here she was, pleasantly surprising everyone!

Julia:

The masked cowgirl smiled from ear to ear as she made her way down the aisle, high fiving every fan within reach on the way down. Once she reached the ring Julia hopped onto the apron and quickly climbed up to the top turnbuckle.

“THE FOLLOWING CONTEST IS SCHEDULED FOR ONE FALL! INTRODUCING FIRST, FROM ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO, MAKING HER RETURN TO FRICTION…. JULIAAAAA ROOOOOOGERS!!!!”

Cupping both hands around her mouth, Julia shouted at the top of her lungs, sparking a fresh wave of cheers from the crowd.

“I’M BACK, TOKYO!!!!”

Julia held her arms out, taking everything in, before she finally hopped back down into the ring and made her way into her corner. She stretched her legs out while looking down the entranceway. Tonight she was set to take on a Wrestle Angels veteran, one she had a lot of respect for. But she felt good. She felt confident. The luchadora felt ready to give these people a show they wouldn’t soon forget!

Suzumi hadn't had this high profile a match in quite some time. She excitedly bounced on her feet as she watched the TV, Julia making her way down into a Friction arena for the first time in years.

Suzumi hated to be a downer but if she pulled off a win against Julia in her welcome back match it would do Suzumi wonders in her own career. As soon as Suzumi's music began to play she smiled as she strut her way out to the arena. She was all smiles and swaying hips as she made her way to the ring, climbing up onto the apron then through the ropes.

Suzumi smiled and nodded to Julia extending her hand for a handshake, looking very confident in herself.

Once Suzumi was in the ring and offered a hand, Julia went right in to shake it with no hesitation.

“Nice to finally meet ya. Good luck, and let’s make it a good one!” she said, then backed back into her corner as the ref called for the bell to officially start the match. The second it rang the crowd all started to cheer, and the immediate thought that entered Julia’s mind was “God I’ve missed this so much.” Of course she’d worked with loud crowds back home, but one or two hundred people just couldn’t compare to the adrenaline rush of hearing tens of thousands roar in excitement simultaneously.

Julia, ever the showman, waved a hand repeatedly, encouraging those in the crowd supporting her to cheer her on even louder. It was mere seconds before a booming call of “JULIA! JULIA! JULIA!” was ringing out through the arena. She smiled in satisfaction before returning her attention to Suzumi.

Arms up, she’d inch her way in toward the Angel before lunging forward, looking to initiate a lockup with her foe.

Suzumi smiled and nodded. "Like, likewise! I totally saw a lot of your old matches and wish you were still around to watch. I think that big amazon lady totally missed you too, she didn't do much tag stuff since your old team ended." Suzumi said referring to Julia's former tag partner in Sonic Boom.

As the bell rang Suzumi was happy to try to look up with Julia! Both women were roughly the same size but Suzumi wasn't going to overpower her tonight. Once she locked up Suzumi wanted to get hold of Julia before dropping to her knees to fireman carry toss Julia to the mat while trying to keep hold of an arm, twisting it while Julia laid flat on her back on the canvas! It wasn't devastating but Suzumi knew technical skills were her best bet to beat the speedy flying striker that was Julia Rogers!

Julia was taken aback slightly when Suzumi mentioned having watched her matches. It almost felt backwards, normally in matchups like these it was the Wrestle Angel getting praised for her past work. But Julia was flattered regardless, and knew she’d been lucky to be set against Suzumi for her return match. Not to say she thought this would be easy, because she certainly didn’t. But the cowgirl knew all too well there were many women on the roster who would’ve gladly seen this as an opportunity to raise their own stock by trying to embarrass and humiliate Julia in her return. Suzumi, however, was a perfect picture of class and sportsmanship. Whatever else happened, the blonde could take comfort knowing her first match back in Friction would be with a respectable opponent.

The two locked up, but Julia never had any intention of trying to overpower Suzumi. One quick shift in position, and she’d be ready to catch the Tsunami off guard with a sudden takedown. That was the plan anyway, until Suzumi beat her to the punch! Suddenly Julia was flipped over, crashing onto her back with a grunt and grimacing while her trapped arm was twisted. It hurt, but Julia could handle it.

The cowgirl raised her legs up and kicked them out to kip up right back to her feet, only to then immediately fall back down while twisting her body, trying to use Suzumi’s grip on her wrist against her to throw the girl down with a sudden arm drag.

"Whoa! Oommpphhh!" Suzumi groaned as she went flying, landing on her back and using the momentum to try to roll back up to her feet although the sting of the landing made her wince.

Not to be outdone the tsunami immediately took off at Julia, rushing in a line straight at her as she jumped up to plant the returning cowgirl in the chest with a dropkick!

Julia kipped up once again immediately after tossing Suzumi down with the arm drag, punching a fist through the air while shouting out to the crowd.

"LET'S GO!!!!"

Her infectious energy sparked a fresh round of cheers from the spectators, further feeding the cowgirl's adrenaline rush! But as good as the moment felt, it was a mistake to take her eyes of the Wrestle Angel, one she paid for the second she turned to face her foe again.

"UGH!!" she gasped out aa pair of boots hammered right into her chest, blasting Julia off her feet! The masked blonde landed on her upper back and rolled through, coming up on a knee right against the ropes. One hand resting over her chest, the other grabbed onto the middle rope for leverage as she tried to pick herself back up.

Suzumi managed to connect with the dropkick, and she did not want Julia back in the move! Suzumi moved in reaching out to grab Julia by the hair, grasping tight as she turned to try to snapmare Julia to the mat! Suzumi grot her teeth as she quickly wedged her shin against Julia's back in a kneeling position. Suzumi transitioned her hands to wrap around Julia's chin while pulling back as hard as she could, trying to lock in a reverse chin lock hold!

Julia was just starting to get to her feet when Suzumi was already on her again. With no time to get her bearings, the cowgirl was led away from the ropes before being flipped onto her rear with the snapmare. Immediately after, a shin was pressed into her back while the former Angel secured her in a tight reverse chinlock. Hissing and cringing in pain, she grabbed at Suzumi’s hands while squirming in her hold.

Suzumi tried to keep the hold locked in, fighting against Julia's attempts to pull her hands away! Suzumi grit her teeth and did her best to keep at it although it was incredibly difficult! "L-like you are totally stuck! You can't escape...." Suzumi said as she did her best to keep the hold locked in although she knew despite her stubborn pride telling her otherwise Julia was slowly prying Suzumi's hands apart, lessening the effects of the hold each second that passed! Suzumi tried to keep it held although she eventually let go, kicking at Julia''s upper back to send her tumbling forward while Suzumi herself backed off, crouching low to reset.