Cyber Saturday 2024 - Panther Risako vs Ellie St. James

Match Type: Standard
Victory Conditions: Pinfall, Submission, or Count Out
Official Match Cutoff Date - June 8th, 2024.

Ellie had been made aware her name was thrown into a viewer's choice poll for Cyber Saturday contenders but in truth, she had paid much mind as to what it was for. After viewing the list of other wrestlers she was up against, prospects seemed abysmal. Cherry Bomb had just come back not all that long ago and had not only an impressive match record but a fan following to boot. Jinx was on there as well, another person with a sizable record, whom Ellie had the misfortune of facing in a few dark matches and losing rather convincingly. There was also a woman named Raelyn, who Ellie admittedly had no idea who she was, but her tag partner informed her she was incredibly famous… on TikTok at least. That left her and another rookie named Kimiko whom she had never met…

“You ready?” Ellie glanced up from her thoughts to her tag partner Lyla lingering at the edge of the lockers, watching her with a mischievous little smirk that she normally wore.

“Yeah.” She responded softly, slipping on her ring jacket, still taking it all in. She had won the poll somehow and not only was she getting her first match at a Friction Pay per view, she was headlining for a shot at the Entropy title. She pushed herself up and made her way to Lyla, giving her friend a thoughtful smile. She had insisted on accompanying her to the ring tonight for support and it meant the world to Ellie. They had come here as a team and even if she might become a singles champion, this match was for both of them in her eyes. Both women made their way to the exit but paused as they noticed the doors being obstructed.

“So who'd you sleep with to rig the polls, hm?” Amber eyes narrowed at the two tag partners as Jinx blocked the way, dressed down in casual attire she looked more like a street thug who had just raided Hot Topic than a successful wrestler. Seeing her like this took Ellie by surprise despite it making sense. Jinx didn't have a match tonight, not anymore. She pushed the strangeness aside and finally let the accusation resonate with her, making a face of genuine disgust at the claim.

“Excuse me?” Ellie breathed out, trying her best to remain cordial and professional.

“There is no way you beat me in the polls legit. I'm one of the biggest and brightest stars in this dump” Jinx hissed back, taking a step towards the duo before Lyla moved to meet her, getting up in the other girl's face.

“Yeh, you win some matches, sure sure… but this wasn't about who can cherry pick their fights to look tough. Seems to me you're not half as popular as you seem to think you are… maybe bein' a feckin' cunt has some downsides after all, aye?” Lyla laid it on thick, and Ellie could tell by her body language she was ramping up to throw down if it came to it. She reached up and put a hand on the Irish girl's shoulder as a subtle way to ask her to settle down.

Jinx had, for the briefest moment shown a hint of hurt in her eyes but the moment Lyla let up, the feline fighter clicked her tongue and waved a dismissive hand. She muttered under her breath but purposely loud enough to be heard. “Someone is defensive… I was actually going to wish you good luck.”

“What? Why?” Ellie and Lyla exchanged looks for a moment.

“Is this some stupid fecking cat thing because the other lady goes by Panther?”

“Wha- No. Do I look that petty to you?” Jinx scowled softly.

“Yes.” “Yeah.” The tag partners answered in tandem, managing to deflate Jinx once again.

“Whatever… it's cause they're an outsider. One of those former Wrestle Angels, they aren’t homegrown Friction girls like us… I just wanted you to go out there and kick her ass.” Jinx gave both the girls an uncharacteristic smile, one that had them both eyeing her curiously.

“You wanted to call dibs on my first title defense if I win, didn't you?” Ellie asked flatly.

“I… wha… nooooo… but now that you mention it-” Jinx flashed a fanged grin, leaning closer.

“Feck off.” Lyla shoved her way past Jinx over the other girl's protests, ushering Ellie out of the locker room.

Republica - Ready to Go:

As the arena lights dim, anticipation crackles through the air like electricity. The crowd's roar reaches a crescendo as the first few chords of Ellie St. James' entrance music reverberate throughout the stadium. With determination etched on her face, Ellie emerges from behind the curtain, bathed in a spotlight that accentuates her presence.

”Ellie St. James:

”Lyla Moore:

Turning on her heel she put her back to the crowd, “Bangarang” proudly displaying across her jacket. She brought a hand up, gesturing to it with a thing as her tag partner joined her on the stage of an added pop.

Dressed in her signature attire, Ellie strides confidently down the ramp, her eyes fixed on the ring ahead. Each step she takes resonates with purpose, fueled by the burning desire to prove herself on this grand stage. As she nears the ring, the cheers of the crowd intensify, echoing their unwavering support for the rookie sensation. Together, they share a nod of solidarity, their bond palpable even amidst the thunderous applause. With Lyla by her side, Ellie drew in strength from their shared journey, knowing that she was not alone in this pivotal moment of her career.

As they reached the steel steps leading up to the ring, Ellie paused, taking a moment to soak in the energy pulsating throughout the arena.  Lyla gave her a small one-armed squeeze before drifting off to wait on the wings in the ringside area, not involving herself in the rest of the moment. Ellie raises a clenched hand in a wave to the fans, a gesture of gratitude for their unwavering support that literally had gotten her here. With a determined glint in her eye, she ascends the steps, one by one, ready to face whatever challenges lie ahead once the champion arrives.

From the edge of the arena, Risako watched her opponent's entrance. She had to admit, she liked it: she liked the theme song, she liked the energy she had for the crowd, and she liked the burning determination with which this lithe, violet-haired girl carried herself. She had no idea how good Ellie St. James was, or if she even had what it took to take the title from her, but that all felt secondary to Risako: what was most important was to see who she would be facing tonight, in her first title defense in AFW.

She slid, unnoticed, back behind the edge of the entrance, and smiled, absent-mindedly patting the belt that hung slung over her shoulder. It had been months since she narrowly defeated Succubus Manabe and Mystic Kurihara for the Entropy Title-- two fellow Wrestle Angels who, working in tandem, had given her a rough match and almost managed to defeat her. Almost. Risako, though, had powered through and persevered. She found herself wondering, however, just how much of a challenge Ellie was going to give her tonight. From what little she saw of the British girl, she liked her and liked her attitude, so she privately hoped Ellie would give her a damn good match tonight.

At that moment, though, Risako's theme song began to play. Time to start the show, she thought, before striding through the entrance.

Spoiler:

The moment her theme music came on, Risako strode onto the ramp, to the explosive applause of her fans. Striking an elegant pose, the Queen of Queens smiled to the crowd, before confidently striding down the ramp, her purple hair seeming to glide in a curtain behind her. Focusing on the distant ring, she saw her opponent waiting for her, accompanied by a pink haired girl who was no doubt there to give her moral support. Smiling confidently, Risako made her way down the ramp towards the ring and slid under the ropes. Hoppig up onto the top of the corner post, Risako casually brushed her hair back and held up the title belt, smiling as the fans went wild at the entrance of the Entropy Champion.

Dropping back down to her feet, Risako handed the belt over to the ref before stepping up towards Ellie. She wanted to see how the girl reacted to her, up close, where their size and height differences would become all the more apparent.

"Ellie St. James, I presume?" she asked. "I'm sorry to say I haven't heard much about you. Which is a shame, because you must be good if you're here for my belt tonight." She smiled. "Given what little I've heard, I really hope to see just how good you are tonight."

When the champion's music hit, Ellie stood firm and turned to the ramp, shaking out her arms and with them, the last of her pre-match jitters. This was far from her first big rodeo, having had the honor of sharing the ring with a few other veteran wrestlers in the league. On paper her record didn't say much about her ability, but though who had seen her previous matches… saves for one or two of the more embarrassing ones, would have agreed she had a great deal of potential brimming beneath the surface. She looked on with stone faced stoicism as Risako made her way to the ring, determined not to allow this more seasoned woman to intimidate her.

She watched patiently as the other woman entered the ring and displayed her belt, her own eyes drawn to the gold was well. This was the closest she had ever been to an actual wrestling championship belt and if she failed today, it might be the last time she was this close again. The thought of that helped to stoke the fire inside her, making her antsy to get things going while she was consumed by that desperate want to win. When Risako stepped toward her it nearly gave her a start, so enthralled in her daydream. She would meet the distance part way, puffing herself up a bit and leading with her chest to present herself as fearless and strong in the face of this challenge.

Most of the facade crumbled when the other woman addressed her though. She had been so ready for harsh words and trash talk that genuine interest and friendliness took her completely by surprise. “That's me, yes…” She deflated slightly, cringing at her response. Of course this woman knew who she was, it wasn't as if that had been an actual question.

“I… yes.” Her cheeks flushed red with embarrassment. Not only had this woman not heard of her, but she had expectations she had earned this shot. Had she? The fans had voted her into this position, was she really ready? Doubt started to creep its way in. She fumbled with her words for a moment before managing to respond in earnest.

“I intend to give this everything I have.” She spoke clearly and concisely, nodding her head to affirm her statement. The rookie took a deep breath to calm herself then returned the smile, though there was hints of unease in her expression. Ellie offered out her hand in a gesture of good will for a pre-match handshake, an unspoken offer to have a clean match.

Risako could tell, just by the way that Ellie was looking at her, that she absolutely refused to be intimidated in this match. This made Risako like her all the more, truth be told. Of course, this was a championship match, which meant the moment the bell rang, the gloves would be off. But even so, Risako could appreciate that this girl was no wilting rose: she was here because she was good enough to challenge Risako, and good enough to potentially take her belt. Which simply meant that Risako would give her every bit the respect that she deserved.

And Ellie more or less affirmed as such, declaring that she intended to give everything she had in this bout. She seemed more than a little flustered at the moment-- no doubt from a combination of being here in a title match, and facing off against an opponent of Risako's caliber. Risako could tell that she was now brave-facing a lot of this...and yet, in spite of it all, she still managed to put her hand forward for a pre-match handshake.

A handshake that Risako all to gladly accepted. Clasping the girl's hand tightly, Risako shook Ellie's hand, and the crowd burst into applause at this display of sportswomanship. Even as the audience cheered, Risako leaned a little closer to whisper to Ellie.

"Take a deep breath and relax a little," she said. "I've been in your shoes before, in this situation. Trust yourself. You'll do fine. And no matter what, we will have a great match."

And with that, Risako would release the handshake and step back to her corner, waiting for the bell to ring.

Ellie had done a good wealth of reading about mental manipulation when it came to competitive sports. She understood that endearing oneself to an opponent could subconsciously give one an advantage. Perhaps they would be concerned about going too hard or causing an injury if they liked you. A useful tool if one were to employ it well... While she had read about such things, she never found herself able to employ it. She was terrible with facades and false feelings. She often wore her emotions on her shoulder, which, while genuine, opened her up to being exploited. Even her tag partner took advantage of that to tease her unrelentingly at nearly every opportunity.

For this reason, she had come down to the ring with a fire burning in her heart and a want to dislike Risako to make things easier for her. But the woman seemed, at least on the surface, to be a good person. The sort of person that Ellie herself wanted to be in this industry. Proud but not arrogant, skilled but not condescending. In her limited interaction, this woman seemed like a worthy role model, which was something the young Brit aspired to be someday.

She grasped her hand, giving it a firm squeeze as she shook her hand. She was trying to look strong but Risako seemed to see through the brave face she was putting on. She gave the woman a faint smile at her reassurance. As they separated, Ellie took careful steps back to her corner and adjusted her ring gloves, waiting for the officials to rattle through the rest of their announcements.

Once the bell rang, however, it was all business. She leaned forward into a lower grappling stance with her legs braced in a strong foundation. With a slow but steady trudge, she moved toward the center of the ring with a look of determination on her face, looking as though she was going to try to lock up with Risako without delay.

Risako didn't expect Ellie to reply at all to her whispered reassurances. However, the faint smile the British girl gave her as she backed away was reward enough in an of itself: no matter how rough this match ended up getting, Ellie would at least go into it knowing none of it was personal, and that her opponent, at least believed in her and her skills. Not that Risako had any intention of holding back, mind you: if Ellie was good enough to challenge her for the title belt, then she had to be good enough to fight the Queen of Queens at her best.

And with that, the bell ring. With smoothe, graceful movements, Risako began to circle Ellie, watching her very much like her namesake stalking its prey. She saw Ellie drop down into a classic guerilla crouch, seemingly wanting to start this the old school way. Smiling at the girl's confidence, Risako moved up to meet her, arms raised. In an instant, Risako moved in to tie up, collar and elbow, with the British girl, wanting to see just how strong her pink-haired opponent was!

Ellie's heart pounded with adrenaline as she closed the distance, her muscles tensed with anticipation. With a thunderous collision, she slammed into Risako, their bodies meeting with a resounding impact. The force of her raw aggressiveness gave her a slight edge as they locked up, but Risako proved to be a formidable opponent, matching Ellie's strength with her own.

Feeling the pressure of Risako's resistance, Ellie shifted her focus, utilizing her wrestling acumen to gain an advantage. With precise movements, she maneuvered them into a lower stance, where her amateur wrestling skills could shine. Her grip tightened as she attempted to lead the lock-up, circling opposite Risako while strategically tugging and yanking to disrupt her balance.

As they grappled for control, Ellie's mind raced, searching for an opening to exploit. If she sensed a momentary lapse in Risako's defense, she would seize the opportunity, delivering a well-placed knee blow aimed to soften the champion up.

If Risako proved resilient however, she would refuse to yield her end of this contest. Ellie would bear down into the hold, her determination unwavering as she vied for control in the intense exchange. Each moment was a test of strength and skill, but Ellie was determined to prove herself worthy of the championship title, pushing herself to the limit in pursuit of victory.

This was always the part of the match that Risako relished the most: the beginning. The collision of two wrestlers in a head on grapple. The initial moments where you could immediately tell what your opponent was like-- their fighting style, their personality, how they viewed you in turn as an opponent. Everything would usually coalesce around those initial few seconds, and the tempo of the match would be decided from there. And in these first few seconds, Risako immediately had figured Ellie out: she was a lot stronger than she looked, and not afraid to take her opponent on head-on. She was liking this girl more and more already.

And then the British girl drove a hard boot into her midsection.

"HHHRK!" Risako grunted as she doubled over. She had not gotten to where she was, however, without learning to take a few bumps: with a pained smile, she straightened up: Ellie's kick had managed to force Risako back a few steps, but she quickly dug her heels in to put a stop to that. "Not...bad..." she hissed through clenched teeth, still smiling. "Smart. Not relying only on physical strength to win this contest."

And without a moment's further hesitation, Risako would suddenly drop down onto her back, pulling Ellie down with her, and kicking both of her knees up to drive them upwards into her falling opponent's chest or midsection! If Ellie was going to come into this match looking to deliver some strikes, then she needed to be able to take them as well.

Ellie was still coming into her own when it came to off-the-cuff thinking. For her whole life she had been a meticulous planner, someone who had a twelve-step solution for everything she tried to tackle that needed to be followed. Her early days in AFW had been a harsh teacher of the dangers of that sort of rigidity due to ever-changing variables within the ring.

She had only started to come into her own and explore what she was capable of when she was no longer held back by trapping herself within the confines of “the plan”.  She had never really believed her tag partner when Lyla told her the secret to her own skill had been simple gut feelings, but after her encounters with Rose and Rachel, she had started to open up to how liberating that actually was.

No perfect opening presented itself and deadlocked as they were, all it would take was a momentary lapse of balance to hand herself up to risako on a silver platter. There was never going to be an easy route or a safe bet here though. Risako was a champion, a veteran of several leagues with more experience in her pinkie than the British rookie had in her entirety. So she had to take the plunge and just act.

She thrust herself forward, hiking up a leg to drive it up into Risako’s midsection, and managed to land a solid blow. The dull muted slap of her knee striking Risako was followed by a push, driving the champion back to gain ground and leverage the moment further to start to force the other woman down.

“No time for games with stakes this high,” Ellie responded with an unchartered coolness, the sort that if she had witnessed might make her question if it had been her speaking at that moment. She couldn’t help but flash a small smirk, the compliment making her feel like she might have had Risako on the ropes…

Then her push seemed to work too well as her opponent dropped to the mat and Ellie, overextended as she was, fell forward being dragged down with Risako. The champion's knees slammed into the rookie’s chest, getting a surprised yelp from the girl as the lockup snapped apart, sending Ellie flopping backward onto the mat, clutching at her chest with a howl of agony.