Summer Splash 2020: Rising Star Title: Mika Kaminashi(c) vs Mia Yukari Wilson

Mia had to admit she wasn’t one of those competitors who would systematically make research on her upcoming rivals prior to her matches, and maybe that would have been a very wise decision being that one a title match with a lot on the line, but the Mustang was one who trusted her instincts and improvisation skills to quickly read a rival and react to their method, and up to that point it had served Mia well. But if Mia had made some research she would be aware about Mia’s famous Butt of Justice and how it was the regning champion’s signature move, and to have good care not to get hit by it.

But as things were, Mia had some luck when avoiding Mika’s powerful butt attack, and from there on it was her time to mount a comeback, and at the moment it looked like the Mustang was starting to come up on top, having her rival completely open and defenseless on the mat. That was why Mia went for a powerful elbow to the midsection that connected and made Mika complain and writhe in pain while lying on the mat. All this wasn’t going to finish the match, but at least it would serve to tip the scales a little and make the match more even.

After that Mika looked dazed and in pain, so Mia had a good chance to keep going. Standing once more and pulling from Mika’s arm she dragged the champion back on her feet and sent her in an Irish whip against the corner. The Mustang would start running after her and execute a powerful boot to her chest, trying to trap her against the corner.

Although she has her own reservations and qualms of not hitting one of her mighty Butt of Justice moves, Mika Kaminashi would be lying if she said she wasn’t impressed by Mia dodging such a powerful manoeuvre. She’d expect it to be circumvented by someone who’s a true veteran, one who has seen all that AFW has thrown at them and experienced to deal with any situation. The Mustang was a growing and hot commodity, one that has risen up the ranks and gain favour from the fans. But she was still a rookie, which is why she’s battling for the Rising Star title belt. Nevertheless, this wasn’t a rookie to underestimate, however. This stallion has a mighty kick to her, and The Avatar of Justice wasn’t here to play around. Lest she gets bucked off in her efforts to keep such a feisty opponent in check.

However, this made an exciting match to watch, one that would help shine a light to the talented rookies AFW has to offer. And Mika had no qualms of using her light to help those rising up the ranks. At least those that deserve it. Mia proved not to be a pushover in the slightest, an elbow drop onto the Twin-Tailed Wonder proved as such as it left Mika writhing in pain. Completely open and completely defenceless. There were many things that Mia could go for right now. A submission could be a good choice, considering they are already on the ground. But the Mustang opted for another route. One that needed Mika on her feet.

The Lightbringer would be hoisted up from her arm, an arm wrapped around her abdomen as she winced. She wouldn’t take much of her time to rise up, just for Mia to sling Mika towards the padded turnbuckles, letting out a grunt as she does. She still has her wits together to know that this sort of position would mean that something big was to happen. And of course, there was.

The Mustang would rush in, galloping towards Mika with a follow up after the Irish Whip. Mika has something in mind, a move that hasn’t been done a lot, but in this situation, it calls of her to use. Lest she gets caught between a boot and a hard place. Soon as Mia gets close, Mika would hop onto the middle rope, manoeuvring herself to get her body out of the way before swinging her body, her leg firing upwards towards Mia’s head.

A Pendulum Kick. Something that only works as a situational manoeuvre but one that’s effective in such circumstances.

Mia was a woman who had a very clear opinion about how people should tackle their destiny. She was a woman of action and wasn't going to stand looking at things as they happened, but run at them and catching them, making them for herself. She wanted to shine bright and achieve a belt, get some fame and reputation in the wrestling world, and if there was something she hated was looking weak. That was why starting the match as she did had the Mustang concerned: she didn't want to be seen as a weakling, not on her best day, not in front of a champion. But luckily that image shifted as soon as she started taking some ground from Mika until she reached the current situation.

From where she stood now, Mia knew that now people was starting to reckon her strength. Maybe her bad start had her looking bad, but now the crowd and even more her rival had to admit that the Mustang actually had some fight in her. Not everyone would have the inner strength to turn the tables like that, but Mia was now feeling on a roll, just after Irish whipping her rival and ready to hit her for good.

But the hit wouldn't come to pass, as Mika was more than eager to show why dhe was the reigning champion. Another kind of rival would have been easily hit when pitted against the corner, but the blonde had more than enough resources to escape her predicament, and her way of exit was literally jumping between the ropes and receiving Mia with an unorthodox move that isn't seen very often. The pendulum kick got Mia in the head and the Mustang staggered a little, trying to find her balance but failing and falling on her back.

As the match goes on, Mika was fully becoming content that she made the right decision in allowing Mia to be the contender. Everything that she does is for the future of this Rising Star title belt, and she wishes to build upon its illustrious prestige. That was the reason why Yukina allowed her to battle for it, and the Avatar of Justice would be remiss if she’d let the Snowmaker down. That would not stand. So with every opponent she faces, Mika has to be wary. As the Lightbringer, it is up to her to leave the belt into the right hands. That is if they managed to beat her in battle. And she wasn’t going to make it easy.

Pushing contenders to bring their very best is something Mika can take joy in. It shows that they have the drive, the hunger and the ambition to rise to the top. They want it, and so they should. Mia was showing this in spades, as to how a Mustang should be. It does great things for Mia, for Mika and for the Rising Star title scene as a whole. The crowd was starting to get behind Mia after seeing her grit and tenacity in the face of opposition after she turned the tables. As Mika had her back on the corner, she was content. No matter what happens afterwards, she was proud of Mia Yukari Wilson.

That’s not to say that this is over, far from it. Soon as Mia came towards her, Mika did her own table-turning and struck the dark-haired woman in the noggin. It was an unusual manoeuvre, one that did its job at catching the Mustang off guard. Mika quickly moved afterwards, finding herself on the apron of the ring. The Twin-Tailed Wonder began to climb up on the turnbuckle, the crowd watching on as she climbed up to the peak. Not as high as she was on top of the titantron, but this will do. Once Mia stopped stumbling, Mika would then leap off the top rope, seeking to crash her body onto Mia with a cross-body splash!

Even if Mia was going through quite the endeavour at the moment, some part of her mind was racing. A part of the Mustang was actually proud of her abilities for analysis, really knowing how to quickly read a room and her rivals. At that moment, Mia was completely sure about something: she understood Mika. The blonde was a proud fighter, someone worthy of wearing a name as the Avatar of Justice. But having that fiery pride didn't rival with her having the humility to bow before the crowd, and what was much more important, before a rival. For the initial stages of the match Mia had the hunch, but at the moment she was sure of it: Mika was not only pushing her to do her best, but she was willing to determine if the contender was worthy of the belt. It wasn't about defending the belt in order to hoard it, it was about finding the right successor. At that moment, Mia felt like she understood Mika.

And at that very moment Mia also had a pressuring emergency as she noticed Mika flying at her to get a crossbody splash going. "Shit!", was the only thing Mia could think of, but luckily she reacted quickly enough and rolled over, making Mika spash on the mat. Feeling that it was her moment, the Mustang felt her resolution burning like fire inside her. Yes, she was going to show Mika how worthy she could be. Signaling the crowd, people responded in awe at the Mustang's way of telling she was going for her finisher. As Mika would try getting up Mia would execute her Untameable, consistint in a Michinoku driver throw aimed at draining her rival of any resistande before going for a craddle pin. The thrill of the moment filled Mia with sheer passion for what she did as the throw went good enough and it was time for the count. "One!"

It was inevitable for the Avatar of Justice battles to take to the sky. With most of her offence involving flinging her body (or in this case, her butt) at opponents, the ropes and turnbuckles tend to be Mika’s friend in certain situations. Used to amplify moves that would have done plenty of damage on their own, the pairing of gravity and velocity combine to make something devastating. And with her butt of justice, the effects would have been felt for a long time. Exaggerated, but that is the case for high-flying manoeuvres. Though of course, you need a target to land on. All of this would have been for nought if the Twin-Tailed Wonder had gone up the turnbuckle, hurl herself off it to hit nothing at all.

Except that is precisely what had happened. Soon as she’d leap off the turnbuckle, the Lightbringer felt that rush of adrenaline. She did leap a reasonable distance, having had enough practice to know how far to jump. There was a lot that goes into it. Some misjudge their jump and come up just short. Some would fly way over than expected. Regardless, Mika’s body splash intended to strike through her opponent, bringing them down to the mat. Strong as Mia was, not even the Mustang herself can stop the momentum once it hit her body.

Which is why the Mustang did the smart thing and evaded. Mika had a brief moment of shock before her body near-cartoonishly splat on the canvas beneath them. Not quite the superhero landing she was hoping for. Her cheeks jiggled slightly, wincing as the Twin-Tailed wonder peeled herself off the mat. Her arms clutching her body, knowing that it was going to hurt all over the next day. Perhaps not as much as what was to come next. Mia grabbed Mika, not waiting for her to fully get to her feet as the Lightbringer’s world would be turned upside down. And then crashing back to earth from the shattering Michinoku Driver! The Avatar of Justice let out a cry of pain, her legs not even touching the floor as she was tucked in for a cradle pin! Damn, she can’t go out like this! With her butt exposed for the crowd to see as Mia held on tight! “Two!” Her body hurts, but the Avatar of Justice felt like she could still go on. There was even more for her to show off. She was the champion! And Mika wasn’t going to rest until she knows she has given her all. Not…done…yet!

“Th-“ Mika gathered all the strength she had, her body tensing before exploding all at once, her legs kicked out from the cradle pin!

One thing of having not so great starts for matches as it happened to Mia was it left room for spectacular comebacks. One could not forget that in the end all of the wrestling craft was a show, and it was as good as the people witnessing it were able to remember it once the match was over. A one sided match, even if the victor showed skill, is easily forgotten, but when someone is down and then musters the strength to come back strong and get the win, that the people remembers.

And it was just what Mia was working so hard to materialize. Dodging Mika’s signature hip strike was just the beginning, but it was impressive by itself, cancelling what it was the champion’s trademark move. Then, the Mustang made an effort to strengthen the imprint of the following moves in the people’s minds by using her own finisher, a spectacular Michinoku driver that ended with a craddle pin, leaving the blonde champion down for the count!

As Mia heard the referee reaching the “two” count, something stirred in her insides. She could feel it, the victory lingering so close that if only she reached with her hand she could take it. She only had to maintain the pin for one more second and all her effort would pay a handsome reward in the form of a belt. Almost tasting the glory of achieving a championship, Mia had to focus all her might in order to remain in the present. It wouldn’t have been like her if she had indulged in celebration before winning.

And in the end it looked like the match wasn’t intended to end at that moment. Just miliseconds before the ref would slap the mat and seal the match, Mika managed to break Mia’s pinning hold. With an explosion of cheering, Mia shook her head in disbelief. It felt so real, it was so close that now the Mustang was feeling as if Mika had ripped the belt from her waist. And what was even worse: Mia was pretty exhausted and she had gambled a lot by executing a straining move like that. She needed some seconds to regain her breath and get on her feet again, but wasn’t sure about what her rival would do with that window.

There was no way that Mika was going out on the first pinfall of this match. Not if she had anything to say about it. That’s not to say that Mia didn’t earn it, her move almost put her down enough for the count after dodging the cross-body splash. Her legs wriggled in the air while being contained in the cradle pin, and that Michinoku Driver did one hell of a number. But as the champion, she has expectations on her, just as the Mustang has expectations as the contender. She had to give as good as a fight as she could, and going out like that would be unbecoming as champion.

Gathering all the energy she could, the Avatar of Justice would suddenly burst out of the pin attempt, denying Mia the glory. Only just for a little while if she still had the drive to win. The crowd rallied on for the Lightbringer, and she heard their call. The gods above will not allow her to bow out this early.

Such is the judgement that Mia will have to deal with. Though surprisingly, that manoeuvre took a lot out of the Mustang than Mika had thought. Then again, she had been taking a battering from the Avatar of Justice. So it shouldn’t be that much of a surprise that a workhorse like her needs a breather. Which Mika can oblige. Rest for her is a rest for the blonde.

“Sorry Mia…” Mika gasped, the sting from the slam still felt within her body. It is taking some willpower to not let it overwhelm her to the point of not getting up. “…But I still…got so much…to prove…for the Rising…Stars...” That purpose was the very thing that helps her get out of bed, the promise that the Twin-Tailed Wonder holds on until it is accomplished.

Mia's pride was still a little hurt after Mika had managed to escape just when the Mustang could feel the taste of victory and the touch of that belt around her hip, but that was the kind of resilience and willpower expected from a champion, and Mia would have to learn that if she really wanted to become worthy of wearing that belt and become a champion of the people.

As Mia was slowly making her way on her feet to fight back once more it suprised her not facing one of the energetic Mika's strikes. Instead, when Mia managed to rise all huffing and puffing, gasping for air, her eyes met with Mika's who was also visibly exhausted. That was a no brainer since both women had taken serious punishment. After what it felt like a very inspirational heart to heart moment, Mia's eyes bruned with resolve. "Understood, champion. Make them feel proud. Are you ready?" She knew that the march should be close to an end and that anything could happen, but she would fight until the last instant to get that title belt.