Chapter 13
*Team Spirit title celebration*
After the shocking conclusion of the last match, the crowd had been looking forward to something cheerful. And who was better to bring the cheer than the new tag-team champions, Team Spirit? The teen wrestlers pranced across the ramp with their belts in hand. They entered the ring where the staff gave Starla a microphone. She passed it to Isebella as they agreed that she would address the crowd first.
"When we were kids, Starla and I liked to hang out and watch TV and play video games. One of the best things we liked to watch were superhero movies, where ordinary people would rise above expectations against those who were once thought to be the superior force. Spider-Man. Captain America. The Flash. Those were the kinds of heroes we looked up to."
Starla was given the microphone. "The best thing about these heroes were the services they do for others and the evils they thwart. We longed to be just like those beloved superheroes. Now, we're superstars and your heroes. And we're proud to stand at the top because of your support."
"Yeah!" Starla said as she was given back the microphone. "You people were our rock through thick and thin! We've risen above the Killer Kitties because of you! And now, we've taken the belts from the Daughters of Darkness! And as for this team of Diana Diaz and Poison who have declared war on us champs, we'd just like to say…"
"We're not scared!" the two of them cheered at once.
"If incredible size and brute strength were everything, we'd be done and over with a long time ago!" Starla continued. "But we all know the story of David and Goliath!"
"And as for Poison," Isebella said, "She deserves to spend the rest of her life in jail! And if she crosses us, she'll wish she was!"
"Give it up to your top tag team in Xtrema, Team Spirit!" they both shouted.
The crowd gave their loudest cheer toward the two. When they were done, the titantron turned on with a screen of ocean wave paired with tropical music. Team Spirit looked to the stage and saw two new wrestlers standing on there. Everyone knew them as Amazon Aqua and Calypso, also known as the tag team, Atlantis Force. Amazon Aqua had her own microphone which she spoke into.
"Very well done speech, girls. I'm telling the truth. It's really inspiring. My partner and I almost decided not to come here."
"But then," Calypso said speaking into her own microphone, "You went and called yourselves the top tag team in Xtrema! That is something that needs to be corrected! You see, how can you call yourselves the best when you haven't even faced Atlantis Force yet?"
"So we challenge you to a match!" Amazon Aqua issued. "Not tonight, of course! We don't want to end your moment in disappointment! If you win, you get bragging rights over beating us! But if we win, then we get a shot at your belts!"
"What do you say?" Calypso asked.
Starla and Isebella exchanged smiles before giving their answer in unison.
"Challenge accepted!"
Nothing was left to say. The crowd roared in applause at this display of competition. When it was over, the two teams left the staging area for the next match.
*The Skunk vs Cleopatra*
The Skunk swayed her hips as she walked down the ramp. The crowd cheered as they watched her proudly shake her butt left and right. The Skunk raised her fake tail to give the audience a better view. She climbed through the ropes and gave one last shake before settling on her corner. She removed her tail and passed it to the ring staff.
With an aura of Egyptian music, Cleopatra came in with her Egypt-themed wrestling gear covered with Egyptian symbols. She had on an Atef on her head while carrying a crook and flail in her hands. Once she went into the ring, she removed her crown and gave it and her crook and flail to the staff.
"This is bound to be quite a match folks! With Cleopatra's famous submission techniques, she could have the advantage! However, along with her habits of embarrassing her opponents, the Stinker of the Ring could very much win as well, or at least, leave the Pharoah of Submissions with a humiliating moment! Only one way to find out!"
DING-DING!
Cleopatra ran out of the ring towards her opponent, and the Skunk took a few steps and stuck her head through the top and middle ropes. The referee stopped Cleopatra from attacking the Skunk, who turned herself around and shook her rump at the Egyptian making her mad.
Slowly, the Skunk moved away from the ropes, which gave Cleopatra the chance to grab her. The Skunk tried to run back to the ropes, but Cleopatra placed both her hands on her shoulders before she could touch them. She raised her back up and pushed her down by her shoulders. Cleopatra wrapped both of her tanned legs around the Skunk's head and trapped her with a scissors hold. She hooked her ankles around each other for extra effect.
"Skunk, give up?" the referee asked.
"No!"
The Skunk reached out her leg and placed it onto the bottom rope. The referee called a rope break and Cleopatra released the Stinker's head. The Skunk picked herself up using the ropes. Cleopatra pulled her away from the ropes and trapped her in a full nelson. The referee was about to ask if the Skunk gave up, but before she could, the Stinker of the Ring pounded on the Pharoah's body with just her butt. She did it again making her let go. While Cleopatra was bending down to recover, the Skunk sent an elbow on her back making her fall face-first.
The Skunk dragged Cleopatra to the very center of the ring before dropping her butt right on top of her back. She then grabbed placed the Egyptians arms over her legs and pulled her head back in a camel clutch hold. Cleopatra was struggling to breathe.
"Next time, don't interrupt another woman's stinkface. At the end of this match, you're paying with interest."
Cleopatra tried to crawl to the ropes, but she couldn't even move underneath the Skunk's weight on her back. She was forced to use her flexibility.
Cleopatra leaned herself down to give her legs better momentum to get to the Skunk. Luckily, her feet managed to reach out back enough to just barely cover the Skunk's face and pull her off.
"Maybe next time, you learn not to make a big deal out of it!" Cleopatra warned.
The Skunk got back up on her feet and bounced off the ropes. She jumped and turned around hoping to launch her butt at her, but Cleopatra dodged making her butt slip right through the top and middle ropes trapping her there. The Skunk was vulnerable when Cleopatra put her in a headlock and flipped her over.
"You call that a camel clutch?" Cleopatra taunted. "Here's a special one called the Sphinx's Riddle!"
Cleopatra sat on the Skunk's back placing her in her own camel clutch. This time, she placed herself further down her opponent's back and pulled her head up so high, her abdomen wasn't touching the mat.
"Skunk, give up?" the referee asked.
The Skunk gave no answer. The referee asked again. Still nothing. In a minute, the Skunk closed her eyes and they didn't open.
"Cleopatra, ease up!" the referee asked. The Egyptian let down her signature and watched the referee grab the Skunk's hand. She let it go and it fell to the mat.
1…
She raised it up again and dropped it. It hit the mat like before.
2…
The referee raised the hand again. If it fell right on the mat again, the match would be over and Cleopatra would be declared the winner by knockout. However, that wasn't the case.
Right before the hand reached the mat, it stopped and clenched a fist. The Skunk opened her eyes and put on a proud smile.
"Gotcha!" she called out. She immediately swung her hand back hitting Cleopatra in the face. She was thrown right off of the Skunk's back.
The Skunk returned to ther feet and went to the nearest corner. She removed the top turnbuckle cover while Cleopatra was climbing back up to her feet. While the Skunk was done, Cleopatra ensnared her with a sleeper hold. She was using all of her strength hoping this would make the Stinker of the Ring either pass out or tap out.
The Skunk turned herself and Cleopatra around and jumped backwards. Cleopatra's back made direct impact with the exposed turnbuckle. Cleopatra felt the sting so hard, she let go of the Skunk's head. The Skunk turned around and kicked Cleopatra in the face. The Egyptian fell into a sitting position on the corner, which is where the Skunk wanted her to be. She went to the center of the ring and shook her rump in Cleopatra's direction.
"Time to pay!" she declared. The fans cheered as she stepped backwards and covered Cleopatra's face with her butt. She shook it around for extra effect. The referee made her remove it… but the Skunk applied it again. Cleopatra was feeling embarrassed having to experience the stinkface twice in a row.
"That's the interest!" the Skunk said. She removed herself making Cleopatra fall to the ground. "And now, for the coup de tat." She turned Cleopatra to her back. She then climbed up to the middle rope and posed for the crowd. She bounced on the rope once before landing a senton bomb on Cleopatra's face. She hooked both of her legs for the referee.
1… 2… 3!
DING-DING!
"What an upset, folks! Cleopatra was clearly superior in the ways of submissions, but with some sneaky planning, the Skunk managed to pull off her signature moves and pin the Pharoah of Submissions in the end!"
The Skunk went to the announcer's table and took a microphone. The announcer was about to protest, but no words came out after the Stinker spoke out.
"It's my turn to speak! After that display of victory on my part, I am ready to send my message… to the Wrestling Underdog, Kaito Marx! Now, recently, you've won your first championship even though you've never beaten anyone in your career! That… makes me feel very excited! I remember when you made your debut match and you were against me! Oh, don't get me wrong! You put up a fight in your own way, but in the end, I had loads of fun placing your face in my ass! Since then, you've been a very amusing game! But now, you come with your own prize! Watch your back, Marx! That belt of yours can be taken anywhere anytime, and you are on my list! I'll beat you so hard, you'll be the first to submit to my rump!" She placed the microphone on the table and walked away. She passed by the reporters who stared at her leaving.
"Suddenly, I'm getting worried about Marx." Kanae said.
"Really?" Natsuki asked. "'Cause I know about five guys who'd pay to be in the position he's gonna be in."
*Neko Girl (with Mewlie) vs Carly X (with Thunder Mana)*
Lastly came the main event. The Killer Kitties jumped to the ramp and prowled to the ring. Mewlie stayed at ringside while Neko Girl climbed up gracefully and landed right at her corner. She then perched herself on the top rope laying across it.
It was Carly X's turn to make her entrance. With her trainer, Thunder Mana, behind her, Carly X marched to the ring with a smile on her face. She kept her eyes on Neko Girl and didn't lose break contact as she climbed inside and went to her corner. Thunder Mana stood as her second. Neko Girl removed herself from the top rope and was checking on her claws.
"This is our main event! The Princess of Catfights, Neko Girl, has declared war with the Stylish Tiger, Carly X! Those teenage spitfires had a scuffle during the Scramble and by audience demand, they're continuing their feud now! How will these two close out the match!"
DING-DING!
Carly and Neko Girl circled around each other like ferocious felines trying to make the other their prey. The two of them met up in the center of the ring and caught each other in a collar-and-elbow tie-up. The two girls growled at each other trying to gain the advantage. After a moment of an intense staredown, they broke the tie-up and exchanged blows to the head. Carly was about to hit Neko Girl, but the kitten ducked and countered with a reverse STO.
Neko Girl gripped Carly X's hair and threw her to the corner. The kitten then jumped on Carly X before flipping her over to the center of the ring. Neko Girl stood on her own feet and posed for the crowd.
"No wonder WWE kicked you out!" Neko Girl taunted. "You're a terrible wrestler! Even a kitten like can beat a pussycat like you!"
Carly X didn't like that tone. She stood back up to her feet and tackled Neko Girl. She sat over her pinning her arms to the mat.
1…
Neko Girl quickly removed one of her hands and grabbed Carly's head. She slammed it to the mat and rolled back up to her feet. She gestured her hand taunting Carly to return to her feet.
Neko Girl ran to grab her, but Carly X ducked and countered with elbow strikes to the chest. After one strong strike, Neko Girl fell backwards and rolled right to her mother.
Carly stayed in the ring while the referee started her count. Mewlie lifted her daughter back to her feet.
"You can beat her." Mewlie reassured. "You're the Princess of Catfights. This half-pint is nothing compared to you. So here." Without anyone else seeing, she pulled out a set of brass knuckled and slipped them into her daughter's tights. Neko Girl grinned wickedly.
"Loud and clear, mom."
The referee just counted to six when Neko Girl went back inside the ring. She adjusted her tights so the brass knuckles were harder to see.
"Who's the pussycat now?" Carly asked mockingly. "I'm going to throw you and your mom into the nearest kennel!"
Neko Girl had an idea. She knew what to say. "At least my mom is here? Where is yours? If you believe the rumors, she's the real trash in the wrestling world?"
Suddenly, Carly's eyes turned red. She was deaf to everything. She charged at Neko Girl and tackled her to the ground. She straddled her chest and sent a series of angry blows to her face. Neko Girl had her arms up to protect her face and soften the blow.
"Carly, stop!" Mana shouted. "This is what she wants!"
Her words fell on deaf years however. All Carly had in her head was how much she wanted to make Neko Girl hurt for insulting her mother. At that moment, Mewlie climbed up to the apron getting the referee's attention.
"What are you doing?" the referee asked.
"That's my daughter being assaulted there!" Mewlie cried out with a worried tone. "I can't just stand here!"
"Yes, you can! Now, get back down!"
While the referee was distracted, Neko Girl saw her opportunity and raked her claws over Carly's face. While Carly yelled and tended to her eyes, Neko Girl pushed her off. The kitten stood back up and found her opportunity. She pulled out her brass knuckled, put them on, and delivered a punch to Carly's stomach making her spit out saliva. Thunder Mana tried to call out the cheating, but the referee was still arguing with Mewlie.
Neko Girl pulled her brass knuckles back and sent another blow right to Carly's head sending her straight to the mat. She saw that the referee had made Mewlie get back on the ground and removed her knuckled before throwing them out of the ring. All the ref saw was Carly X laying on her back and Neko Girl hooking her leg for the pin. She didn't question anything and began counting.
1… 2…
Thunder Mana was about to do something, but at that moment, surprisingly, Carly X lifted her shoulder up. Neko Girl was surprised by that. Angrilly, she flipped Carly on her stomach, grabbed her hair, and scrubbed her face on the mat.
"Give up, Carly!" Neko Girl commanded. She then got up to stomp on her, but Carly caught the foot.
Carly stood on her feet still with Neko Girl's foot in her hands. She tugged on it making Neko Girl land with her legs split stunning her.
"Ooh! Not used to being that flexible, are you?" Carly taunted. "Here. Let me help you!"
She sent a strong kick to Neko Girl's chest making her fall backwards breaking the split. Thunder Mana clapped at her student. Carly X looked up and climbed onto the top rope. She then jumped from it landing a diving leg drop on Neko Girl's chest. She then covered her for the pin.
1… 2…
Neko Girl kicked out and then rolled out of the ring. She rolled over the floor looking for the brass knuckles she threw away. But then, she came face to face with Thunder Mana who stood in front of her with her arms crossed. Neko Girl chuckled while taking a step back.
"You know, I still haven't forgotten how you and your mother ambushed me in the parking lot." Mana said. "Someone's going to have to discipline you."
"Hey, take it easy." Neko Girl said nervously as she slowly walked backwards. "If you hit me, Carly's disqualified! You can't risk…"
She suddenly felt someone behind her. Carly surprised her by grabbing her and throwing her to the ring steps. The referee had already reached the count of six when Carly returned to the ring and Mana ran back to her corner. At seven, Mewlie ran to her daughter and helped her up. And at eight, Mewlie threw Neko Girl back into the ring. That's when Carly went to Neko Giirl's body and dropped on elbow on her. She hooked the leg in for the pin.
1… 2…
Mewlie was just within reaching distance to help Neko Girl touch the ropes letting the referee break the count. Having enough, Thunder Mana ran and hit Mewlie with her signature spear. During that altercation, Carly went to lift Neko Girl up, but the kitten countered by scratching Carly's stomach. The Stylish Tiger winced in pain and placed both her hands at where she was scratched.
Neko Girl jumped and landed with her signature pounce. Once she landed on Carly's body, she sent a strong slap across her face. She then lifted her into a seated position and applied a sitting abdominal stretch combined with a stomach claw. Carly was gritting her teeth in pain trying not to tap out.
Then, Carly fell backwards placing both of Neko Girl's shoulders onto the mat.
1… 2…
Neko Girl released the hold and kicked out. The two girls got back up and gazed at each other. Recklessly, Neko Girl ran to attack Carly again, but the Stylish Tiger was prepared. At the right moment, Carly sent a big boot to Neko Girl's face sending her flying backwards. She covered her again.
1… 2…
Neko Girl kicked out again. Carly X was sick of it and she was too exhausted to use her finishing move. So, she had one last plan. She crossed Neko Girl's legs and applied a figure-four leglock. She then bridged her body making it a figure-eight leglock. Neko Girl screamed from the top of her lungs. She couldn't take it anymore. She furiously tapped out onto the mat. The referee called for the bell.
DING-DING!
Carly X released the hold and stood up onto her feet taking in the applause of her victory. Thunder Mana ran in and held her protégé's arm up.
"Now, that was exciting! It was clearly a brutal match between the two, but in the end, the Stylish Tiger herself used an advanced submission technique (no doubt in tribute to WWE's Charlotte Flair) to secure a win! Carly X has won the main event and…"
Neko Girl was furious. She reached underneath the ring and pulled out a kendo sword. She ran back into the rind swung it at Carly's position. Thunder Mana saw the strike coming and jumped into the way.
CRASH!
The kendo stick broke in half once it hit Thunder Mana's back. But surprisingly, Thunder Mana didn't go down. It was like it didn't faze her. She and Carly turned back to Neko Girl with mad looks on their faces.
"Were you aiming that at me?" Carly asked.
"…No?" Neko Girl asked. The two in front of her took a step closer. "Yes."
Thunder Mana raised her leg and kicked Neko Girl across the ring. The kitten rolled out of the ring and lifted up her mother.
"Feel that?" Thunder Mana asked. "That's what honesty feels like."
The Killer Kitties furiously ran backstage vowing that it wasn't over. Carly X took a microphone and gave it to her mentor.
"Your turn." Carly said.
Thunder Mana accepted the microphone and spoke into it. "Attention, everyone. We've had an exciting night. Some matches were more exciting than others. But now, it is time to call it a night. But before you all get up from your chairs, drive home, and post on your online forums what you thought of the night, I'd like to say something and I need everyone to hear me.
"Some of you know who I am. You know where I used to work. GWM may not have the best reputation, but it's one of the top wrestling companies in Japan. And a long time ago, I was at the top of their women's division. Queen Elizabeth. Payne Fox. Dynamite Rin. Eihmir. Aoife Leavy. I fought them, and I defeated them. I became GWM's longest-reigning champion. But after my injury, I spent months in physical therapy. It was long and arduous, but in the end, the doctors cleared me for ring duty. Unfortunately, the GWM staff was not convinced. They didn't let me join back in. But now, I'm determined to prove them wrong. I joined Xtrema, a fast-trending wrestling company, so that I could prove my mettle.
"Unfortunately, there's something in my way. When I joined, I thought I would be the ace. But that position was filled by Queen Bee. I may be one of the top-ranked wrestlers, but I don't feel satisfied until I am the champion. So Queen Bee, if you're getting this, my time is long overdue. I challenge you to a match. It'll be a simple exhibition match, but if I win, we have another match. This time, for the Xtrema Championship. I expect your answer by the next show."
Thunder Mana dropped her microphone and walked out with Carly X beside her. The crowd cheered as they watched them leave. Meanwhile, Natsuki and Kanae wrote in their notepads reviewing each match.
"Not gonna lie. This was epic." Natsuki said.
"Glad you think so." Kanae said. "I think so too. Now don't forget. We've got to cover the Berserk show in two days."
"You can count on me."
It was a good night. Despite its downs, it had its fair share of ups too. That's what Sayuri Rogue believed. She sat in her office watching her night wrap up. That's when she got a phone call. She answered it and heard a familiar woman's voice.
"Hello, Sayuri."
"Miss X. I assume you've called with an answer."
"Yes. I've pitched your idea to Mr. X, and he said he'll help contribute to this Pandora Project of yours."
"Really? I thought it would be harder to convince."
"Mr. X is a man of business. If this helps promote GWM the way you said it would, he's willing to let it happen."
"Good to know. By the way, did you by any chance catch the main event of my show tonight?"
"…Yes. Believe it or not, I liked what I saw. Good night." She hung up quickly before Sayuri could say any more.
"Well, that seemd… ambiguous." Sayuri said raising an eyebrow.
"I'm gonna head on home now." Mana told Carly as she finished putting on her casual wear. "See you at the gym?"
"For sure." Carly answered still changing outfits. "See ya later."
Mana walked out of the stadium and into the parking lot. But before she could open the door to her car, she felt something buzz in her pocket. She pulled out her phone and noticed a text message from someone she didn't think would text her.
"From X:
Keep up the good work"
Mana was stunned. She didn't expect that from her old boss, especially since Carly was the one who won the main event. What would this mean for her in the future?
Author's Note: This set of matches, I was pretty proud of, especially the main event. It was slightly inspired by Tiger Mask W Episode 18, specifically the fight between Spring Tiger (later Springer) and Miss X/X Woman. If you have any comments or match requests you'd like to see in the next match card, let me know.
For those of you who didn't expect the Skunk to win, let me assure you that I did it for an upcoming storyline.
Thunder Mana got a congrats message from Miss X. What would that lead to?
Any and all comments are welcome.