Post by kjcasey42 on Aug 6, 2021 19:12:41 GMT
(NOTE FROM THE WRITERS: This match is presented as the main event of an independent show, separate from FAWN, to introduce the readers to Ariane Sophie Jones. Hope y'all enjoy it! ^^ )
The lights in the arena dim as music begins and an announcer starts speaking. "Welcome to the crossover event of a lifetime! Tonight we will have FAWN superstar Kanako Akiyama going up against ANDW superstar Ariane Jones in a 30 minute Ironwoman match!" 'Thank God I'm a Country Girl' begins coming from the loud speakers as the lights dim. The audience starts roaring, as Ariane Jones, the Country Cowgirl appears at the top of the stage dressed in her short denim shorts, cowboy boots, hat, and jacket.
THANK GOD I’M A COUNTRY GIRL: youtu.be/w1P76BZfgn8
ARIANE SOPHIE JONES:
"Coming all the way from South Dakota. Standing five foot, seven inches and one hundred fifty pounds...she is “The Country Cowgirl”...ARIANE SOPHIE JONES! Ariane nods her head along to the music before giving a big, "YEEEEEHAW!" as pyro flares around her. Running towards the ring, she jumps over the top rope, then heads to the ring ropes to wave to the cheering crowd. She gets to her corner and makes a show of flinging her hat onto the turnbuckle before sliding off her gloves and jacket, revealing her tied off black and red flannel top to the crowd.
...And then the lights went out.
The crowd buzzes as an air raid siren fills the arena and a pair of red searchlights scan the crowd. When they finally halt their search, having found their target at the top of the stage. As the sirens die down, a petite figure with her back to the crowd pulls on a pair of mma gloves as “Black Vultures” by Halestorm blasts over the loudspeakers. The figure then turns to face the audience, revealing Kanako Akiyama as the lights come back up, wearing a black leather jacket and a kabuki mask, wielding her shinai.
BLACK VULTURES: youtu.be/rwHXqeYhtZI
KANAKO AKIYAMA:
“And her opponent, from Los Angeles, California...She stands five feet, two inches tall and weighs in tonight at one hundred eighteen pounds...She is the Modern Day Ronin, this is...KANAKO AKIYAMA!!!”
Kanako marches to the ring, slapping hands with fans at ringside. She then sets her shinai down against the ring steps before ascending them and climbing to the top rope. After a pregnant pause of looking out at her fans, she takes the mask off and flings it into the crowd like a frisbee. She then launches herself into the air, doing a backflip and landing with the point of her toes in the center of the ring.
Ariane smiles over at the impressive display of athleticism by her opponent. When she'd agreed to this match between brands, (and especially after learning it was the main event no less!) she'd done some research on Kanako, but all the videos failed to really show how athletic she was. This is gonna be a tougher match than I reckoned it would be… Ariane thought as she jumped back onto the ring apron from the side and slid between the ropes to re-enter the ring. She gave Kanako a once-over and smiled. Yep, this will definitely be a good match.
Ariane heads over to the center of the ring after Kanako's entrance completed, holding out her hand. "You are even more impressive than I reckoned y'all to be. Let's make this a good match for the crowd, yeah?"
Kanako smiles and takes Ariane’s hand, giving it a firm shake “Absolutely. Let’s give ‘em something to remember!”
Ariane grins. "Sounds like a plan." She walks back to her corner, hopping up onto the second rope and giving a loud "Yeeeehaw!" to the crowd, who roars back with the same chant.
Kanako smirks as she watches Ariane, nodding appreciatively at her voluptuous frame. Shaking her head, she unzipped her jacket as she retreated to her own corner. She whips the jacket off to reveal her ring gear of a black and red striped halter top that shows off her chiseled , Bruce Lee-esque abs, with matching bikini bottoms and a black thigh-high skirt.
Ariane stretches in the corner and watches Kanako carefully, noticing just how firm her six pack appears. 'The videos didn't show how defined she was...' she thought while listening to the referee giving instructions on the match, readying herself in her corner.
Kanako stretches, pulling against the ropes and jumping up and down
DING DING DING
Ariane hears the bell and starts forward cautiously. She watched Kanako do a final jump, ending with her stomping her feet on the mat to fire herself from her own corner. Ariane circled around, holding a hand out towards her opponent. Kanako came to a halt as she watched her opponent raise a single hand out to her. She tilted her head, curiosity piquing her interest at Ariane circled her, challenging her to a test of strength.
“Really?”
Ariane shrugged. "I see how defined you are, so how about a wager. We've got 30 minutes."
“I’m listening...” Kanako answered as she inched closer, cautious of the bigger girl. She’d been tricked before, and wasn’t going to be tricked by such a strong, obviously powerful, opponent.
Ariane stuck her hand out. "You can trust me. I ain't one to break my word. I just want to see how strong y'all are."
Kanako smiled, interlacing her fingers with Ariane’s. “You said something about a wager?”
Ariane began to push against Kanako's hold, the test of strength beginning. "Sure, what would you like if ya win this? And what could I win?"
Kanako struggled against Ariane. Despite the clear size difference, Kanako was holding her own surprisingly well. Is she holding back or doesn’t think I’m worth her full strength? Kanako pushed back harder at the thought. “Loser buys drinks?”
Ariane laughed, momentarily pushed back by the sudden exertion from Kanako before halting the advance before it could go too far. "I don't drink, but we can work something out." The cowgirl doubled down, eventually able to take a step forward while pushing Kanako back. Kanako grunted and dug in. But inevitably, Ariane’s greater size and strength was overcoming Kanako’s tenacity, and the Modern Day Ronan began to give ground.
Ariane was surprised she was having as tough a time in pushing Kanako back, but grinned more at the challenge as she started gaining speed in pushing Kanako towards the ropes until Kanako's back was against them.
"Y'all a tough one now. I'll give ya that,” Ariane said through a slight grimace as Kanako gained several inches back away from the ropes before getting pushed back onto them.
“Thanks,” Kanako said through gritted teeth as she tried in vain to get off of the ropes a second time. “And you’re as strong as an ox!” They struggled against each other for a little longer before the referee stepped in to separate them.
Ariane took a few steps back, deciding what to do next as Kanako was off the ropes now. Might as well surprise her Ariane thought, before rushing the raven haired wrestler for a spear attempt.
Kanako blinks in surprise, but her martial arts-honed reflexes allow her to sidestep the attempt, sending Ariane tumbling through the ropes and crashing to the outside. Ariane can only let out a surprised gasp before she hits the ground, tumbling to avoid landing face first but smashing her back into the barricade. At least it's padded and not just fencing... the redhead thought as she scampered to her feet, and looked up to where Kanako would be.
She saw her sitting on the middle rope, holding the ropes open for her. “Come on,” the modern day ronan said, motioning for Ariane to join her back in the ring
Ariane blinked then grinned. Accepting the invitation, from a standing position she jumps up onto the ring apron, then slides through the ropes and heads off a ways to give Kanako some time to prepare. And a moment for herself to think of a strategy to combat Kanako's impressive swiftness.
Kanako smiled, shaking out her limbs out before resuming her stance and circling the Rapid City Wrangler anew.
Ariane circled opposite of Kanako, slowly moving forward as well as to the side, trying to trap Kanako into a corner. But as soon as she was close enough, Ariane threw repeated roundhouse kicks at her opponent.
Kanako grunts with each kick, but stays in the pocket so that she can respond in kind, retaliating against every blow with a kick of her own to the bigger girl’s thigh and side.
Ariane took the hits in stride, wincing slightly at the reply kicks, which, again, she didn't expect to be as painful. After four kicks, Ariane drops down and sprints forward, clasping her arms around Kanako's waist and lifting her up for a side scoop slam.
Kanako yelps twice in short order. Once in surprise at being lifted up so swiftly, then again in pain at being slammed down just as quickly, her back arching off the mat upon impact.
Ariane knows it's a crapshoot, but she believes that keeping Kanko wondering what will come next is the best way to win this ironwoman match, so she hooks Kanako's leg and goes for a quick pin.
Kanako kicks out at barely a one with force, shoving Ariane off of her and rolling away to create separation so that she can get to her feet without Ariane smothering her with her superior size and strength. The Southern Spitfire let out an "ooof" at how she was easily thrown off by Kanako. She scampers to her feet and starts back towards Kanako, hoping to keep up the pressure, trying for a backhand across Kanako's upper chest, hoping it connects.
Kanako yells out in pain at the stinging chop, but quickly rears back and throws a pair of forearm shots to Ariane’s chest to keep her on her heels.
Ariane is forced to stumble back on the first forearm shot due to overextending herself with her chop, losing her feet and is sent spinning around by the second. Kanako quickly seized the opportunity provided, grabbing Ariane around her waist. Popping her hips, Kanako hefted the Badlands Beauty up and over with a released German suplex.
The cowgirl felt herself getting lifted and readyed herself for impact, bouncing off the mat onto her front. Shaking her head, she got up to her hands and knees after a shaky moment to collect her bearings.
It’s been all nice and friendly up till now. But at the end of the day, they’re competitors and they have a match to win. Kanako quickly clambered to her feet, dashing towards Ariane, delivering a running penalty kick to the cowgirl’s ribs worthy of Man U.!
"OOOOOFFF!!!" The wind got knocked out of Ariane faster than a spinning tornado, physically lifting her off the mat. She landed roughly on her shoulder, rolling under the rope onto the ring apron. She grabbed a hold of the ropes, breathing deeply, sucking in air as she started to pull herself up on the apron.
Kanako wasted little time, running at the opposite ropes to build up speed. Upon approaching Ariane, she launches herself into the air, flying over the top rope. Twisting in midair, she grabs Ariane by the neck and drives her down to the floor with a breathtaking Blockbuster!
Ariane wass almost fully to her feet when she feels Kanako's arms grasp her neck and yank her off the apron. She flails in the air before hitting the ground hard on her back. She arched in pain. Letting out a scream as she rolled onto her front, pounding the mat with a closed fist while holding her back with her other hand.
Kanako also screams in pain, rolling onto her stomach and kicking her legs. Sometimes her impulsive recklessness pays off, but it almost always comes at a cost.
It took a moment, but Ariane slowly got back to her feet, grasping at her back until she heard a satisfying pop. Looking over, she spies Kanako still on the floor. Stumbling over, the Country Cowgirl hauls her to her feet before laying in several chest chops on her.
Kanako grunted at being yanked to her feet, then yelped as her chest was peppered with stinging chops, each one knocking the petite Japanese girl back a little towards the barricade. Ariane pushed her back into the barrier, laying some kicks to Kanako's gut. Kanako cried out as the bigger brawler battered her tummy until she had no choice but to double over to try and catch her breath. Ariane then landed a double axe chop to Kanako’s back before catching her breath as her opponent collapsed to the ground.
Kanako grunted in pain when Ariane brought the hammer down across her back, knocking her down to the floor. She realized that the cowgirl was running her over, and she needed to push through the pain and fight back or she would be overwhelmed before she could even get out of the gate! With that in mind, she threw a hard right hand to Ariane’s breadbasket from her knees
Ariane was going to pick up the smaller fighter, when a punch caught her right in the gut, doubling her over and gaining a pained grunt from her. She grabbed hold of the barrier to keep from falling over, gasping slightly. Dang her punch is strong!
Kanako saw Ariane using the barrier to keep her up and proceeded to press her advantage. She quickly swept Ariane’s legs and followed it up with a Pele kick as the redhead fell. The buxom beauty barely caught her breath when she felt her legs get swept from under her, then saw a leg crash into her nose. Ariane heard a crunch as her head slammed into the barricade, as she slid down against it, groaning in pain and grabbing her nose. Nothing broken but dang did it hurt!
Kanako scrambled to her feet and grabbed Ariane by the arm, looking to Irish whip the redhead into the far barricade while her adversary was still bleary eyed from the pele kick. Ariane felt herself tugged up and tossed forward. She managed to turn just before hitting the barricade, hitting it back first as she eyed Kanako running towards her.
Ariane glowered at her opponent and at the last second when she saw Kanako launch herself into the air for a double dropkick, she swiveled so that Kanako flew past her, before sending an elbow crashing down onto the poor Japanese girl’s side and stomach.
Kanako cried out as she’s swatted out of the air like a mosquito on a hot August night.
"Enough of them ninja moves," Ariane growled before picking up Kanako by the legs. "Time to fly for real, girl!" Kanako struggled against Ariane’s grip, but it was no use. The Badland Beauty hefted Kanako with ease, the cowgirl swinging her literally from pillar to post, first smashing her into the barricade, then slamming her into the ringpost, ripping pained cries from Kanako with each impact. Ariane slammed the Modern Day Ronan once more into the ring apron, before flinging her out into the crowd where she crashed into an unsuspecting fan, spilling them out to the floor, leaving Kanako to mutter a low “Sorry” as she struggled to get to her feet.
Ariane huffed in annoyance as she walked over to the barricade, grumbling about 'ninjas' and 'joshi stars' as she started climbing over the barricade, getting one leg over before she saw movement. Suddenly, Kanako surged forward, catching Ariane flush on the chin with a superkick that echoed through the arena. Ariane didn’t even see the super kick before it felt like her jaw had been shattered; the kick so powerful it flung her head over heels, rolling her in a very unflattering upside down position against the ring apron.
“What was that?” the Tokyo Tiger growled as she climbed over the barricade after the slumped over Ariane. “Hard to hear you talking trash with my foot in your mouth!”
Kanako huffed as she hopped over the barricade. “She seemed so nice, too...” she muttered to herself as she gathered Ariane up and rolled her back into the ring. She then rolled in herself and took up position, crouched behind her target, waiting patiently for her to rise. When Ariane did get up and turn to face Kanako, the Japanese girl would uncork one of the biggest weapons in her arsenal: her devastating spinning back fist, the Uraken!
Ariane felt herself rolled into the ring. Still slightly groggy, she slowly got to her feet, catching her breath while trying to figure out a good strategy against this Japanese hurricane. She shook her head then turned around to face Kanako...only
to see a backhand coming at her faster than a wild stallion, slamming into her face with such force that it completely spun her around, her body bouncing off the mat as she landed on her back, her eyes looking slightly glassy as she let out a whimper.
Kanako wasted no time as she vaulted to the top rope with a single leap. Taking a moment to steady herself as she rose on her perch, she then launched herself into the air looking to finish things off with her graceful yet brutal Run Her Through finisher!
Ariane was far too out of it after the punch to the noggin, thinking she spied multiple Kanakos climbing the turnbuckle. An attempt to get up failed, as the multiple figures leapt off the turnbuckle, landing right on her stomach. Her mouth opened wide in a silent scream before she fell to her side, clutching her stomach.
Kanako scrambled to make the cover, making sure to hook the leg and blushing slightly as she lays across the curvy redhead’s body.
"One!”
“Two!....."
The crowd was going crazy! FAWNatics were going nuts while the ANDW fans were crying for their Rodeo Queen to kick out.
Three!"
DING DING DING
Ariane heard the bell and kicked out a second too late to stop the pin.
“Ariane Sophie Jones has been pinned!” The ring announcer tells the half cheering, half shouting crowd. “Kanako Akiyama leads one fall to none...there will be a three minute rest period before the match resumes!”
Kanako quickly got off of Ariane, heading to a neutral corner to rest and re-gather her strength, her eyes watching her bigger opponent intensely.
Ariane woke up slowly. She didn’t even bother with getting into a corner, just sat where she was. A minute into the break she jolted the crowd, slamming the mat in frustration several times before getting up and walking slowly to her corner, staring at the corner post for the remaining two minutes.
While she appreciated the view with Ariane’s back turned towards her, Kanako didn’t allow it to distract her. She knows that Ariane is frustrated, and while it can cause one to make mistakes, it can also provide singular focus. She’s felt the cowgirl’s power now, and she knows that if the rodeo queen turned wrestler gets a hold of her, she could very well tear her apart.
DING DING DING
The bell rang, restarting the match at seven minutes into the thirty minute match. Ariane showed no signs of moving, though, from her corner post. Kanako cocked her head, curious, but she does nothing more than coming out of her corner, eyes fixed on the cowgirl.
Ariane stomped the mat twice, giving Kanako pause, before turning around slowly to face the Tokyo Tiger, staring hard at Kanako before speaking so softly only Kanako could hear.
"Y'all awakened a sleepin' giant, hun."
Kanako met Ariane’s intense gaze with one of her own “That mean you’re done with the quasi-racist trash talk, and are going to take me seriously?” she growled.
"Oh, I have taken ya seriously, Kanako. I've researched ya, watched your videos and all that. And I don't mean to be disrespectful. So please forgive me for that. Them flippy moves just rile me up faster than a coyote in a chicken coop. Can’t do none of that so I get a bit...testy. My apologies, ma’am."
Kanako maintained eye contact with Ariane, considering her words. Finally, she sticks out her hand. “Fine. Apology accepted.”
Ariane quickly shakes the offered hand, before backing up a few steps "Y'all best get ready. I'll give ya five seconds."
Kanako plants her feet and adopts a fighting stance, “Bring it...”
Ariane nodded. "Alright then. Five...four..."
Kanako traces a line in front of her with her foot and motions for Ariane to come to her.
Ariane looks at the line while still counting "...three...two...one..."
Ariane blitzed forward, going for a chokehold, hoping to grab the smaller girl before Kanako could react.
Kanako was ready, although not exactly expecting a goozle. Her fast reflexes allow her to dodge the grasping hand and retaliate with an open palmed strike to the bigger woman’s sternum. Though to her shock, Ariane absorbed the hit without pause, grabbing Kanako's arm in the process. Before Kanako could go on the offensive, Ariane then again grasped her by the throat with her other hand before lifting her up into the air, her legs dangling beneath her as she grasped at the American’s arm. In a fluid motion, Ariane released the arm then grabbed Kanako's shorts near her thighs, moving her up until she was above her head.
Kanako was not so fortunate this time and she flails as Ariane lifts her up, yelping a little at the minor wedgie. Ariane let loose a mighty warcry, before running towards the corner post, slamming Kanako into the turnbuckle upside down.
Kanako let out a shout of pain as she’s slammed into the corner. Wasn’t expecting that… she thought as she slowly slid down to the mat in a heap.
Ariane didn't give her any time to recover though. The Country Cowgirl ran at the corner. Grabbing the top ropes, she leapt up into a vertical pose, feet straight above her, before slamming down on Kanako in a pendulum bronco buster she called, “The Country Ride”.
Under less violent circumstances, Kanako might not have minded the proximity to Ariane’s crotch. As it was, though, she did not find the bronco buster very fun at all, grunting upon each impact.
Ariane repeated the bounces multiple times before letting Kanako slump to the mat. "We ain't done yet, partner!" she whispered as she pulled Kanako up by her shorts and arms, putting her up in a torture rack on her shoulders, the Rodeo Wrestler then beginning to stretch Kanako back and forth like an accordian upon her shoulders.
Kanako screamed in agony as Ariane bounced her up and down across her trapezius muscles, but showed no sign of surrendering under the grueling, torturous hold. After what felt like several stanzas worth of accordian squeezes, Kanako was dumped unceremoniously to the mat as Ariane went for a pin, hooking a leg while pressing down against Kanako’s chest with her own bosom.
Kanako grunted as she was dumped onto the mat. She was in too much pain to enjoy the boob-on-boob contact, but nonetheless, she had enough presence of mind to realize the predicament she was in.
“ONE”!
“TWO!!”
Kanako spasms at two and a half, shooting her arm off the canvas to appreciative applause from the audience.
Ariane is jolted by Kanako's move, then let out a slow, deliberate deep breath as she grabbed a hold of Kanako's head to lift her off the canvas. "I admire your spunk, Kanako...wish I was more like you..." she whispered into Kanako's ear as she hauled her backwards over to the corner. She shook her head at what she wanted to try next. "So I'm sorry for what I'm about to do to ya...but I can’t lose another match."
Ariane placed Kanako’s head between her thighs, then hefted her up into a powerbomb position before slowly, but surely, taking a step up the ropes at a time until she was at the top of the turnbuckle.
Kanako was still shaking the cobwebs while Ariane was putting on this impressive display of strength. It was when she had finished her climb to the top rope that Kanako suddenly woke up and realized that she was in big trouble. Thinking fast, she closed her legs, squeezing around Ariane's head and flipped over, throwing the shocked cowgirl to the mat with a breathtaking top rope frankensteiner!
Ariane let out a cry of surprise before faceplanting hard on the mat. She grasped her chest as her 'ladies' absorbed most of the landing, wheezing hard as she got to her knees in the center of the ring. Dang it!
Kanako herself landed face down on the mat, and was taking the opportunity to catch her breath and recover from Ariane's relentless attack. However, slowly but surely, the Modern Day Ronin got to her feet before Ariane and backed into the corner waiting for her rival to rise.
Ariane was feeling the pressure and pain as the ANDW fans in the crowd were cheering her on, though the FAWNatics seemed to be drowning them out immensely. "Gotta turn this...around..." she muttered. Sensing Kanako already up behind her, she did the one thing she didn't like to do... Ariane rolled out the ring and retreated to the outside.
Unfortunately for the cowgirl, anywhere closer than the seventh row wasn't safe ground for the busty redhead. Kanako saw Ariane's retreat and immediately formulated a plan. Breaking into a dash, Kanako leaped from the mat to the second rope, to the top turnbuckle. "HEADS UP!!!" she shouted at Ariane before launching herself at her target with a beautiful somersault plancha!
Ariane watched the asian bombshell propel herself into the air and over the ropes at her. "NOT TODAY!" Ariane had enough time to steady herself and as Kanako descended towards her, she grabbed the beauty out of the air and propelled her forward momentum in an alternate direction...down, smashing her onto the mat hard with a powerbomb.
Kanako yelled in pain as her back hit the thin padding protecting the wrestlers from the concrete floor. Luckily, as soon as she realized she'd been caught out, she managed to tuck her head to make sure she didn't suffer any serious head trauma. Nevertheless, the Japanese girl was indeed splattered on the floor after Ariane's impressive heads-up move.
Ariane breathed in heavily a few times. It took a fair amount of her strength reserves to perform that move. I'm running out of big moves to put her down. I don't want to hurt her... Shaking her head Ariane pulled Kanako up by her top and shorts and tossed her into the ring before rolling in after her.
"Why not..." she shrugged before dropping on top of her opponent to go for another pin attempt.
ONE!
TWO!!
Kanako kicks out right at two, even stronger than at Ariane's first pin attempt.
Ariane knew the pin attempt wouldn't have worked, but was still bummed out that it hadn't. "Well, I know she won't submit, but there's always a first for everything..." Ariane walked over top of Kanako before flipping her onto her front. She then reached behind her and pulled Kanako's legs up in a reverse scorpion hold.
...and then began to pull with all her might.
Kanako screamed in agony as Ariane bent her back in a way that nature never intended “FUUUUUUUUCK!!!” she shouted, pounding the mat in anguish and frustration, but quickly noted to the referee that she was NOT tapping out!
Ariane continued with bending the lovely asian sensation in half, watching the timer on the match hit the ten minute mark. Noting the time remaining and feeling a rising sense of panic as the match was already a third over.
“Sorry, Kanako,” Ariane said as she pulled Kanako back into the center of the ring after she had nearly crawled to the ropes. “I really need a win. No hard feelings…”
She then yanked harder than before until the screams doubled in pitch.
Kanako’s screams grew louder and echoed off the walls. She began scrabbling at the mat to try and pull herself to the ropes, only making marginal progress.
The roar of the arena grew as Kanako's fans screamed for her to escape while Ariane's shouted for a submission. Though Kanako's screams were messing with Ariane. Two minutes passed and Ariane shouted for Kanako to submit all the way through minute three. By the fourth minute Ariane couldn't take it anymore. She dropped Kanako's legs and dropped to her knees. She rolled her over and with tears in her eyes, pulled up the leg for a pin while reaching around to give her a hug with her other arm. "I'm sorry, Kanako. Forgive me."
Kanako was thankful for Ariane’s show of mercy, and felt bad that her defiance was making her feel bad as well. But she had to stay true to her beliefs, and that included never giving up
“One!”
“Two!!”
Thr-NOOO!!! Kanako manages to kick out just in the nick of time.
Ariane felt Kanako kick out and pounded the mat in frustration. "I don’t want to hurt you but you're not giving me a choice, girl! I need this win but not if it hospitalizes ya!" Ariane picked Kanako up and began a furious bombardment of punches and chops to Kanako's face and chest. After she had thoroughly beaten her opponent to a bleary mess, she then tossed Kanako against the ropes, readying to lift her up into the air on the rebound for her biggest finisher....the Country Kick.
Kanako was on her last legs as Ariane hauled her up to her feet and sent her into the ropes. She was only barely able to shake the cobwebs again when she was launched into the air
Ariane prepared herself and at the right moment, performed her Country Style, a popup roundhouse kick that connected directly to Kanako's face.
Please let this work
Kanako is caught flush with the kick from the Country Cowgirl, collapsing in a heap, all but out. Ariane quickly went for a pin, hooking both legs and sitting on Kanakos chest looking down at her face, hoping this was enough.
Kanako’s low groans indicate that she’s only dazed, not completely unconscious.
“One!”
“Two!!”
...
“Three!!!”
“Kanako Akiyama has been pinned!” The ring announcer bellowed. “Ariane Sophie Jones is now tied with Kanako Akiyama at one fall apiece. There will now be another three minute rest period.”
Kanako blinked rapidly, flat on her back and sucking wind, unable to even move to get to a neutral corner as a shadow loomed over her.
Ariane quickly dismounted from Kanako, getting close to her face, touching her cheek to see if she was awake. "You alright there? You okay?" She turns to the ref and began barking orders. "Don't start the three minute clock until she's on her feet, ya hear?"
The referee shrugged, but nodded, as Kanako struggled to roll to her side
Ariane helped Kanako sit up. "You okay, girl? Sorry about the kick. Dumb question, but...can you continue? Most can't after that but, it is you we’re talking about..."
Kanako cracked her neck as it looked like she was coming around. “Yeah...yeah, that three minutes should be all I need, thanks.” She looked up at Ariane, smiling. “Hell of a kick you got there! I might have to show you mine and compare notes!”
Ariane laughed, glad that Kanako was well enough off to be cracking jokes. "I'd rather not see it but I got the feeling I will tonight." Ariane helped the Tokyo Tiger to her feet, then gave her a hug. "Glad you're okay, hun. I hate doing that move but ya left me no choice."
Kanako was a little surprised, but she hugged back. "Thanks. We still got a lot of match to go; I'm not out yet!"
"Ariane looks back over her shoulder* "We have 13 minutes left. Anything could happen."
"Damn right!" she said cheerfully, seeming to be almost back to normal. "Let's finish this! Loser buys the drinks after!", she offered, along with a fistbump.
Ariane returned the kind gesture. "Sounds good to me. Ref, start the timer. We're good."
Kanako smiled and backed herself into the corner, keeping her eyes on the curvy cowgirl as the referee started the rest period.
Ariane, as soon as she reached her corner, took the time to rest completely and literally, slumping into the corner and quickly falling asleep within seconds.
Kanako blinked as she watched Ariane fall into what looked like a peaceful slumber. "Is...is she asleep?" she said to herself. Apparently the audience, mostly FAWNatics who weren’t familiar with Ariane’s napping techniques, began to murmur in the crowd while ANDW fans laughed lightheartedly.
Meanwhile, the Badlands Beauty was lightly snoring, sitting in her corner, chest rising and falling with her breaths.
Kanako puts a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles as she watches Ariane nap. What I wouldn’t give for a camera right now!
DING DING DING
The referee rang the bell at the end of the three minutes, waking Ariane from her power nap. The cowgirl sprung up and stretched her arms before drawing them up in a boxing stance as she looked at Kanako. "Ready for round 3?"
Kanako shook her head, smiling, while adopting a martial arts stance. "Ready when you are!"
Ariane cautiously approached Kanako, wondering if she should go for a grapple or go for some strikes.
Kanako similarly circled Ariane, willing to react to Ariane's first move."
Ariane chuckles "Wanna grapple again?"
"Not gonna lie, I wouldn't mind getting close to you again," Kanako teased, trying to flirt with the cowgirl. "But I have a feeling that you'd just toss me around some more. Hmmm...". She pauses and thinks for a moment. "Aw, what the hell!" She locked up with the bigger girl with a smile.
Ariane grinned back as they locked up again. She's glad for the feeling of struggling to overpower the smaller woman, as it was a rarity for somebody to resist her strength. Though again, she slowly pushed Kanakos arms backward, her own arms starting to shake, until she's literally bent over the smaller woman.
Kanako grunted in exertion as the bigger girl predictably pushes her down and back. She did a picture perfect bridge, up on her tiptoes as she continued to struggle against her opponent to get back up.
Ariane grunted as she was starting to get pushed back. Suddenly worried about losing the test of strength, and putting her years of square dancing into practice, she quickly revolved her arms, turning Kanako around so the Rapid City Wrangler had the Modern Day Ronan’s arms wrapped around her stomach, then performed a German suplex to the athletic asian wrestler.
Kanako yelps at the sudden move, but recovers from her shock quickly enough to flip out from the suplex. Landing on her feet, she turned to the crowd with a sly grin, waggling her finger before turning her attention back to Ariane. Ariane was shocked looking back and above her to see that Kanako had reversed her Country Hug, and scrambled to her feet, putting on a burst of speed to charge her opponent, only to walk right into a single-booted dropkick, which slammed her to her back and left her seeing more stars than a night out in a North Dakota summer.
Kanako's impressed that the dropkick only staggered the bigger girl, but she knows she has to follow-up quickly. She closed the gap between them and threw a quick palm strike to Ariane's gut before grabbing her arm to do a judo-style throw to send her down to the mat.
Ariane may have been seeing stars, but still had enough of her wits about her that when she felt her arm grabbed, she responded by grabbing Kanako with her free arm and lifting the girl up. An awkward position for sure, but it beat getting slammed again. Ariane began shaking Kanako, hoping to have her arm released as the awkward positioning was the most comfortable on either gal.
Kanako yelped and kicked her legs as Ariane lifted her off the ground. Realizing that she'd better do something before she was lawn darted again, she threw a series of back elbows at Ariane's head to ‘politely’ convince her to let her go.
Ariane was hit by one...two...three elbows to the face in quick succession. Finally the fourth elbow jarred her enough to let go of Kanako, the redhead stumbling back until she was resting against the ropes, shaking her head to clear her vision.
Getting another bright idea (similar to her earlier blockbuster), Kanako quickly dashed to the opposite ropes to build up speed. Upon reaching a few feet in front of Ariane, she launched herself at her with a cross-body aimed at her midsection.
Ariane's vision cleared just in time to feel Kanako hit her with the crossbody, the cowgirl sent spiraling straight over the top rope and crashing to the ground for the second time in the match. She landed semi on her feet, stumbling into the announcers table, catching herself on it as she sucked in deep breaths.
Meanwhile, Kanako flew between the top and middle ropes, hitting the floor rolling. "Fuck!" she muttered to herself. "I really need to think these things through better!" She then saw Ariane's predicament and leapt into action. Clearing off the announcer’s table and barking at the announcers to move for their own safety, she then hit Ariane with a hard clothesline to lay her out on top of the table. A trio of heavy forearms to her prominent chest ensure that she stayed in place while Kanako quickly ascended to the nearest top turnbuckle. Wasting no time, since she rightly figured she didn't have time to spare, and as soon as she was in position, she leapt into the air once more, looking to crash into Ariane with her Gravity Falls shooting star kneedrop aimed for the rodeo queen’s torso.
Ariane recognized what Kanakowas doing as she cleared the table, but had no oxygen left after the gut check she’d taken being sent out of the ring. She took the clothesline and rolled onto the table, crying out in pain from the battery of blows to her chest. She whimpered in pain and tried to sit up, when Kanako's knee drop landed on her stomach, crushing both her stomach and the table in a tremendous ‘CRUNCH’ that had all the fans in the arena on their feet, screaming for their favorite.
Kanako rolled away from the destruction, taking a moment to catch her breath. The adrenaline pumping through her body was keeping the pain at bay, and she knew she had to act fast before it wore off. She moved into the mangled wreckage of the former table, gathering up the larger woman's limp body up in a fireman's carry position to carry her and deposit her back into the ring. After doing so, she rolled in herself and quickly made the cover, hooking the leg nearest the ropes.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Thre-no a kickout!"
Ariane weakly kicked out, pushing up a shoulder barely in time to prevent getting pinned a second time.
Kanako shook her head in disbelief, but stayed focused on her opponent. Knowing that the clock was ticking and she thus doesn't have time to wait for Ariane to get to her feet on her own, the Japanese girl hauled her up gently by the hair, then dashed into the ropes, making a full pass before pulling up to try and deliver a running palm strike to her opponent’s chin!
The Country Cowgirl probably would have stayed out of it mentally if not for one thing. Kanako pulling her up by her luscious locks had Ariane awake instantly as she let out a shrill shriek of pain as she was stood up. Eyes now ablaze, Ariane took two big steps forward as Kanako bounced off the ropes, lifting her foot for a Big Boot to Kanako's face.
Kanako's eyes go wide as she spots Ariane's boot seconds away from her face. As it connects, she lets out a pained cry as she's turned inside out, flipping a full 360 degrees before falling to the mat in a light daze.
Ariane pants after the boot connects, thankful that it laid Kanako out completely. She knows better than to try a pin though, knowing it would somehow be a kick out. She needed something more...
"Up you go..." Ariane said as she picked Kanako up and placed her head between her thighs and walked backwards towards the ropes, preparing for another Barnburner attempt.
If she were more lucid, Kanako might not have minded her position. As it is, the petite woman is pretty easily carried over to the corner turnbuckle for whatever it was Ariane was planning
Ariane took a few deep breaths before hauling Kanako up into a powerbomb position, holding her tight in front of her head as she shakily climbed up to the top of the turnbuckle, one step at a time, as the crowd was sent into a frenzy.
Kanako woke up once Ariane got to the top. "Awwww, shiiiiit..." Kanako groaned. "No chance I can talk you out of this?"
Ariane shook her head between Kanako's thighs. "Nope, not taking a chance with you, Little Miss Kickout." Ariane took the final step to the top rope and let out a massive yeehaw as she prepared for the massive powebomb insane elbow combo she liked to call...the Barnburner.
The banter and the battle cry was enough of a delay to allow Kanako to try and reverse the powerbomb again, clamping down on Ariane's head with her thighs and flipping over to throw her down...
...though as soon as Ariane felt the sudden movement forward, she braced herself on the ropes.
"Not this time!!"
Ariane halted the hurricarana, then lifted Kanako back up once more before slamming her down into the center of the mat. With another massive Yeehaw, the former rodeo queen jumped off the turnbuckle, plunging her elbow deep into Kanako's gut, then wrapping up a leg for an pin attempt with just four minutes left on the clock.
ONE!
TWO!!
...
THRE-NOOOOO!!! Kanako sprung to life, shooting a shoulder off the mat at 2.9!
Ariane shook her head as she fell off Kanako onto her back starting to laugh. "Y'all are the queen of kicking out, ya know that?"
Kanako chuckled painfully as she lay flat on her back as well. "Well, you know...I'm as stubborn as a mule! Don't have the good sense to know when to quit!"
"Same here..." Ariane rolled onto her front, crawling to the ropes to pull herself back up. Noting the timer clicking down further with only three minutes left, Ariane pulled herself up for a final push to win.
Kanako likewise kipped up and readied herself for the home stretch.
Ariane was in complete shock as she watched her opponent kip up like she wasn’t tired at all. "How on earth did you do that?"
Kanako looked slightly confused. "Uhm...You just kinda jump from your back? I can show you how later, if you want?"
Ariane shook her head. "No, I meant how do y'all still have energy to do that just now?"
Kanako giggled "If you ever get to know me, you'll find out just how deep my well of energy is!"
"Alright," Ariane nodded, then walked forward, tossing a few punches to try and connect on her opponent.
The first one connected, but Kanako recovered and cuts off the next one with a punch of her own, the two women trading punches back and forth with increasing intensity to the building roar of the crowd.
Ariane’s lip was split halfway through the exchange, but the redhead didn’t seem to notice, or care, as she kept raining wild punches down like a Kansas hailstorm. Eventually she spied the clock and gulped.
Two minutes left.
She tried for a lariat on Kanako...
...only for Kanako to duck under and run the ropes again, looking to cut Ariane down with a clothesline of her own.
After the failed attempt, Ariane ran the ropes herself , two meeting in the middle with dueling clotheslines!
The two women meet in the middle, nailing each other in the chest with their respective clotheslines with a mighty clapping sound. They both hit the mat like a ton of bricks, chests heaving and gulping for air. Almost simultaneously, they both rolled onto their stomachs, digging into their final reserves of energy to get themselves up to all fours.
Ariane continued gasping for breath as she slapped out at Kanako while pushing to one knee. Maybe if I try another Country kick I can get a KO pin in?
Kanako likewise struggled to her feet. She knew time was running out, so she needed to hit something big and fast! She retaliated to the slap with a forearm to Ariane’s chest.
Ariane stumbled back...
90 seconds left...
The Badland Beauty slapped out one more time before shakily getting to her feet, preparing for a Cowgirl Kick to end the match.
Getting to her feet herself, Kanako took the slap and threw a straight right to the gut.
The crowd was whipping itself into a frenzy.
Ariane nearly crumbled from the gut check, but lashes back with a wild kick at Kanako's stomach to make room so she could do her cowgirl kick.
Kanako let out a gasp as the air was expelled from her lungs with Ariane’s kick. She could tell she was trying to create separation between them. Little did the redhead know that Kanako had a similar idea.
Ariane finally found herself with the room she needed. Here goes nothing! she thought, as she readied to let loose the most devastating Cowgirl Kick she could muster.
Unfortunately for the cowgirl, Kanako had the same idea and the faster Japanese girl beat her to the punch...er, kick. Surging up, she turned and swung her right leg, catching Ariane flush on the cheek with a devastating Black Mass!
The crowd went silent as the crack of the Black Mass kick connected with Ariane's face. The towering cowgirl spun 360 and looked to fall until she put a foot forward, catching herself. The ANDW fans breathed a sigh of relief for only a moment, which then turned to shocked horror as the country cowgirl's eyes rolled back and she fell backwards like a towering oak cut by Paul Bunyan himself. She landed with a heavy thud, bouncing once off the canvas before falling still to the utmost shock of her fans, and delight of the FAWNatics.
Kanako also fell backwards after the kick. Partly from the force she put into the kick, but also from her adrenaline starting to wear off and the grueling pace of the match taking its toll. She saw that Ariane was out like a doused campfire, though, and time was almost up. With all the strength she could muster, she slowly crawled over to the redhead to make the cover. Ariane’s fans screamed at her to wake up yet their cries went completely unheard while the seconds tick down…
Finally, Kanako made it over to Ariane, managing to drape an arm across her opponent’s massive chest.
This was it!
ONE!
TWO!!
..........DINGDINGDING!!
Ariane groggily woke up. Her head a mass of pain as she heard a bell ringing. Instinctively she kicked and bucked her shoulder, hoping she kicked out of whatever was happening in time.
Kanako, meanwhile, still has her arm draped over Ariane even after the bell and the (late) kickout, completely spent, although she was actually cognizant of what was going on.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the thirty minute time limit has expired,” the announcer began as the crowd murmured its confusion at the ending of the match. “With the match at one fall apiece, the referee’s decision: A DRAW!”
Ariane blinked as she heard the announcer's final words... "A draw?" she tried to lift her head but immediately lowered it as pain shot through her like a lightning bolt. "Ow...."
Kanako managed to roll off of Ariane and onto her back. For a long time, only the rhythmic up and down movement of Kanako’s chest indicated that she was still conscious. Meanwhile the crowd booed the unsatisfying decision.
*Ariane couldn’t move either, but could hear the boos coming from the crowd. "Can I have a mic?" she yelled at the referee.
He nodded and retrieved it for her.
The referee placed the mic next to her. Before the referee could even move a step away Ariane was already shouting into it. "Y'all can shut your pie holes!! I don't want ta hear a single complaint about this match!! Ma' friend Kanako and I just had the best match I can recall, so y'all should be applauding and if'in ya ain't, then once I'm standing I'll be coming for ya!!"
"And if y'all want a rematch between the both of us one day, we'll make it a no holds barred cage match where the winner is the one who leaves. How do y'all like the sound of that?"
Kanako blinks as she hears this “Wait, what?”
She struggled to sit up. “Ariane, they weren’t booing us.. they were booing the fact that there wasn’t a winner!”
Ariane tried to sit up but fell back down. "Sorry...I just heard them boo’s and didn’t want them booing ya. You're the best opponent I've ever had and I dont want em disrespecting ya.” She paused to take a breath before continuing. “With how ya fight, I think you would have won this hands down if no time limit was in place."
Kanako smiled and offered Ariane her hand. “Thank you. You’re a damn good opponent too! You’re tough as nails and strong as an ox! Also, it’s nice having an opponent where I don’t have to watch out for dirty tricks.”
Ariane took her hand and used as much strength as she could to stand. "Thank you kindly...and yeah, I ain't one for cheap tricks to win a match. Unless they do it first. So I want to thank y'all for not trying to split me in half between the legs like one of my last opponents."
Kanako smirked and nodded knowingly. “Yeah, been there. So! Neither of us won, so who buys the drinks?”
Ariane chuckled weakly. "We could split the tab. But right now, I could use a trip to the spa or a jacuzzi or I'll bruise worse than corn in a hailstorm from your kicks."
Kanko just smirked. “Tell you what...let’s sleep off the beating we just gave each other, then tomorrow we can have a spa day, on me, where we can get to know each other, what do you say?” She stuck out her hand.
Ariane gladly took the offered hand, shook, then raised it for the crowd. "I like this idea a lot, Kanako."
The Tokyo Tiger smiled as the crowd roared its approval of their show of sportsmanship “I’m glad,” she pulled Ariane in for a hug to even more applause and a few whistles. “Come find me backstage later, I’ll give you my cell number so we can hook up tomorrow.”
"Sounds...good." Ariane barely prevented herself from passing out as her vision blurred. "I think I'm gonna get the doc to check me out first. That last kick was just...but yeah. Phone numbers after doc."
Kanako chuckled and put a hand on her new friend’s back. “Come on, let’s get you looked at.” She helped Ariane out of the ring and together, they headed up the ramp and backstage to the infirmary.
The lights in the arena dim as music begins and an announcer starts speaking. "Welcome to the crossover event of a lifetime! Tonight we will have FAWN superstar Kanako Akiyama going up against ANDW superstar Ariane Jones in a 30 minute Ironwoman match!" 'Thank God I'm a Country Girl' begins coming from the loud speakers as the lights dim. The audience starts roaring, as Ariane Jones, the Country Cowgirl appears at the top of the stage dressed in her short denim shorts, cowboy boots, hat, and jacket.
THANK GOD I’M A COUNTRY GIRL: youtu.be/w1P76BZfgn8
ARIANE SOPHIE JONES:
"Coming all the way from South Dakota. Standing five foot, seven inches and one hundred fifty pounds...she is “The Country Cowgirl”...ARIANE SOPHIE JONES! Ariane nods her head along to the music before giving a big, "YEEEEEHAW!" as pyro flares around her. Running towards the ring, she jumps over the top rope, then heads to the ring ropes to wave to the cheering crowd. She gets to her corner and makes a show of flinging her hat onto the turnbuckle before sliding off her gloves and jacket, revealing her tied off black and red flannel top to the crowd.
...And then the lights went out.
The crowd buzzes as an air raid siren fills the arena and a pair of red searchlights scan the crowd. When they finally halt their search, having found their target at the top of the stage. As the sirens die down, a petite figure with her back to the crowd pulls on a pair of mma gloves as “Black Vultures” by Halestorm blasts over the loudspeakers. The figure then turns to face the audience, revealing Kanako Akiyama as the lights come back up, wearing a black leather jacket and a kabuki mask, wielding her shinai.
BLACK VULTURES: youtu.be/rwHXqeYhtZI
KANAKO AKIYAMA:
“And her opponent, from Los Angeles, California...She stands five feet, two inches tall and weighs in tonight at one hundred eighteen pounds...She is the Modern Day Ronin, this is...KANAKO AKIYAMA!!!”
Kanako marches to the ring, slapping hands with fans at ringside. She then sets her shinai down against the ring steps before ascending them and climbing to the top rope. After a pregnant pause of looking out at her fans, she takes the mask off and flings it into the crowd like a frisbee. She then launches herself into the air, doing a backflip and landing with the point of her toes in the center of the ring.
Ariane smiles over at the impressive display of athleticism by her opponent. When she'd agreed to this match between brands, (and especially after learning it was the main event no less!) she'd done some research on Kanako, but all the videos failed to really show how athletic she was. This is gonna be a tougher match than I reckoned it would be… Ariane thought as she jumped back onto the ring apron from the side and slid between the ropes to re-enter the ring. She gave Kanako a once-over and smiled. Yep, this will definitely be a good match.
Ariane heads over to the center of the ring after Kanako's entrance completed, holding out her hand. "You are even more impressive than I reckoned y'all to be. Let's make this a good match for the crowd, yeah?"
Kanako smiles and takes Ariane’s hand, giving it a firm shake “Absolutely. Let’s give ‘em something to remember!”
Ariane grins. "Sounds like a plan." She walks back to her corner, hopping up onto the second rope and giving a loud "Yeeeehaw!" to the crowd, who roars back with the same chant.
Kanako smirks as she watches Ariane, nodding appreciatively at her voluptuous frame. Shaking her head, she unzipped her jacket as she retreated to her own corner. She whips the jacket off to reveal her ring gear of a black and red striped halter top that shows off her chiseled , Bruce Lee-esque abs, with matching bikini bottoms and a black thigh-high skirt.
Ariane stretches in the corner and watches Kanako carefully, noticing just how firm her six pack appears. 'The videos didn't show how defined she was...' she thought while listening to the referee giving instructions on the match, readying herself in her corner.
Kanako stretches, pulling against the ropes and jumping up and down
DING DING DING
Ariane hears the bell and starts forward cautiously. She watched Kanako do a final jump, ending with her stomping her feet on the mat to fire herself from her own corner. Ariane circled around, holding a hand out towards her opponent. Kanako came to a halt as she watched her opponent raise a single hand out to her. She tilted her head, curiosity piquing her interest at Ariane circled her, challenging her to a test of strength.
“Really?”
Ariane shrugged. "I see how defined you are, so how about a wager. We've got 30 minutes."
“I’m listening...” Kanako answered as she inched closer, cautious of the bigger girl. She’d been tricked before, and wasn’t going to be tricked by such a strong, obviously powerful, opponent.
Ariane stuck her hand out. "You can trust me. I ain't one to break my word. I just want to see how strong y'all are."
Kanako smiled, interlacing her fingers with Ariane’s. “You said something about a wager?”
Ariane began to push against Kanako's hold, the test of strength beginning. "Sure, what would you like if ya win this? And what could I win?"
Kanako struggled against Ariane. Despite the clear size difference, Kanako was holding her own surprisingly well. Is she holding back or doesn’t think I’m worth her full strength? Kanako pushed back harder at the thought. “Loser buys drinks?”
Ariane laughed, momentarily pushed back by the sudden exertion from Kanako before halting the advance before it could go too far. "I don't drink, but we can work something out." The cowgirl doubled down, eventually able to take a step forward while pushing Kanako back. Kanako grunted and dug in. But inevitably, Ariane’s greater size and strength was overcoming Kanako’s tenacity, and the Modern Day Ronan began to give ground.
Ariane was surprised she was having as tough a time in pushing Kanako back, but grinned more at the challenge as she started gaining speed in pushing Kanako towards the ropes until Kanako's back was against them.
"Y'all a tough one now. I'll give ya that,” Ariane said through a slight grimace as Kanako gained several inches back away from the ropes before getting pushed back onto them.
“Thanks,” Kanako said through gritted teeth as she tried in vain to get off of the ropes a second time. “And you’re as strong as an ox!” They struggled against each other for a little longer before the referee stepped in to separate them.
Ariane took a few steps back, deciding what to do next as Kanako was off the ropes now. Might as well surprise her Ariane thought, before rushing the raven haired wrestler for a spear attempt.
Kanako blinks in surprise, but her martial arts-honed reflexes allow her to sidestep the attempt, sending Ariane tumbling through the ropes and crashing to the outside. Ariane can only let out a surprised gasp before she hits the ground, tumbling to avoid landing face first but smashing her back into the barricade. At least it's padded and not just fencing... the redhead thought as she scampered to her feet, and looked up to where Kanako would be.
She saw her sitting on the middle rope, holding the ropes open for her. “Come on,” the modern day ronan said, motioning for Ariane to join her back in the ring
Ariane blinked then grinned. Accepting the invitation, from a standing position she jumps up onto the ring apron, then slides through the ropes and heads off a ways to give Kanako some time to prepare. And a moment for herself to think of a strategy to combat Kanako's impressive swiftness.
Kanako smiled, shaking out her limbs out before resuming her stance and circling the Rapid City Wrangler anew.
Ariane circled opposite of Kanako, slowly moving forward as well as to the side, trying to trap Kanako into a corner. But as soon as she was close enough, Ariane threw repeated roundhouse kicks at her opponent.
Kanako grunts with each kick, but stays in the pocket so that she can respond in kind, retaliating against every blow with a kick of her own to the bigger girl’s thigh and side.
Ariane took the hits in stride, wincing slightly at the reply kicks, which, again, she didn't expect to be as painful. After four kicks, Ariane drops down and sprints forward, clasping her arms around Kanako's waist and lifting her up for a side scoop slam.
Kanako yelps twice in short order. Once in surprise at being lifted up so swiftly, then again in pain at being slammed down just as quickly, her back arching off the mat upon impact.
Ariane knows it's a crapshoot, but she believes that keeping Kanko wondering what will come next is the best way to win this ironwoman match, so she hooks Kanako's leg and goes for a quick pin.
Kanako kicks out at barely a one with force, shoving Ariane off of her and rolling away to create separation so that she can get to her feet without Ariane smothering her with her superior size and strength. The Southern Spitfire let out an "ooof" at how she was easily thrown off by Kanako. She scampers to her feet and starts back towards Kanako, hoping to keep up the pressure, trying for a backhand across Kanako's upper chest, hoping it connects.
Kanako yells out in pain at the stinging chop, but quickly rears back and throws a pair of forearm shots to Ariane’s chest to keep her on her heels.
Ariane is forced to stumble back on the first forearm shot due to overextending herself with her chop, losing her feet and is sent spinning around by the second. Kanako quickly seized the opportunity provided, grabbing Ariane around her waist. Popping her hips, Kanako hefted the Badlands Beauty up and over with a released German suplex.
The cowgirl felt herself getting lifted and readyed herself for impact, bouncing off the mat onto her front. Shaking her head, she got up to her hands and knees after a shaky moment to collect her bearings.
It’s been all nice and friendly up till now. But at the end of the day, they’re competitors and they have a match to win. Kanako quickly clambered to her feet, dashing towards Ariane, delivering a running penalty kick to the cowgirl’s ribs worthy of Man U.!
"OOOOOFFF!!!" The wind got knocked out of Ariane faster than a spinning tornado, physically lifting her off the mat. She landed roughly on her shoulder, rolling under the rope onto the ring apron. She grabbed a hold of the ropes, breathing deeply, sucking in air as she started to pull herself up on the apron.
Kanako wasted little time, running at the opposite ropes to build up speed. Upon approaching Ariane, she launches herself into the air, flying over the top rope. Twisting in midair, she grabs Ariane by the neck and drives her down to the floor with a breathtaking Blockbuster!
Ariane wass almost fully to her feet when she feels Kanako's arms grasp her neck and yank her off the apron. She flails in the air before hitting the ground hard on her back. She arched in pain. Letting out a scream as she rolled onto her front, pounding the mat with a closed fist while holding her back with her other hand.
Kanako also screams in pain, rolling onto her stomach and kicking her legs. Sometimes her impulsive recklessness pays off, but it almost always comes at a cost.
It took a moment, but Ariane slowly got back to her feet, grasping at her back until she heard a satisfying pop. Looking over, she spies Kanako still on the floor. Stumbling over, the Country Cowgirl hauls her to her feet before laying in several chest chops on her.
Kanako grunted at being yanked to her feet, then yelped as her chest was peppered with stinging chops, each one knocking the petite Japanese girl back a little towards the barricade. Ariane pushed her back into the barrier, laying some kicks to Kanako's gut. Kanako cried out as the bigger brawler battered her tummy until she had no choice but to double over to try and catch her breath. Ariane then landed a double axe chop to Kanako’s back before catching her breath as her opponent collapsed to the ground.
Kanako grunted in pain when Ariane brought the hammer down across her back, knocking her down to the floor. She realized that the cowgirl was running her over, and she needed to push through the pain and fight back or she would be overwhelmed before she could even get out of the gate! With that in mind, she threw a hard right hand to Ariane’s breadbasket from her knees
Ariane was going to pick up the smaller fighter, when a punch caught her right in the gut, doubling her over and gaining a pained grunt from her. She grabbed hold of the barrier to keep from falling over, gasping slightly. Dang her punch is strong!
Kanako saw Ariane using the barrier to keep her up and proceeded to press her advantage. She quickly swept Ariane’s legs and followed it up with a Pele kick as the redhead fell. The buxom beauty barely caught her breath when she felt her legs get swept from under her, then saw a leg crash into her nose. Ariane heard a crunch as her head slammed into the barricade, as she slid down against it, groaning in pain and grabbing her nose. Nothing broken but dang did it hurt!
Kanako scrambled to her feet and grabbed Ariane by the arm, looking to Irish whip the redhead into the far barricade while her adversary was still bleary eyed from the pele kick. Ariane felt herself tugged up and tossed forward. She managed to turn just before hitting the barricade, hitting it back first as she eyed Kanako running towards her.
Ariane glowered at her opponent and at the last second when she saw Kanako launch herself into the air for a double dropkick, she swiveled so that Kanako flew past her, before sending an elbow crashing down onto the poor Japanese girl’s side and stomach.
Kanako cried out as she’s swatted out of the air like a mosquito on a hot August night.
"Enough of them ninja moves," Ariane growled before picking up Kanako by the legs. "Time to fly for real, girl!" Kanako struggled against Ariane’s grip, but it was no use. The Badland Beauty hefted Kanako with ease, the cowgirl swinging her literally from pillar to post, first smashing her into the barricade, then slamming her into the ringpost, ripping pained cries from Kanako with each impact. Ariane slammed the Modern Day Ronan once more into the ring apron, before flinging her out into the crowd where she crashed into an unsuspecting fan, spilling them out to the floor, leaving Kanako to mutter a low “Sorry” as she struggled to get to her feet.
Ariane huffed in annoyance as she walked over to the barricade, grumbling about 'ninjas' and 'joshi stars' as she started climbing over the barricade, getting one leg over before she saw movement. Suddenly, Kanako surged forward, catching Ariane flush on the chin with a superkick that echoed through the arena. Ariane didn’t even see the super kick before it felt like her jaw had been shattered; the kick so powerful it flung her head over heels, rolling her in a very unflattering upside down position against the ring apron.
“What was that?” the Tokyo Tiger growled as she climbed over the barricade after the slumped over Ariane. “Hard to hear you talking trash with my foot in your mouth!”
Kanako huffed as she hopped over the barricade. “She seemed so nice, too...” she muttered to herself as she gathered Ariane up and rolled her back into the ring. She then rolled in herself and took up position, crouched behind her target, waiting patiently for her to rise. When Ariane did get up and turn to face Kanako, the Japanese girl would uncork one of the biggest weapons in her arsenal: her devastating spinning back fist, the Uraken!
Ariane felt herself rolled into the ring. Still slightly groggy, she slowly got to her feet, catching her breath while trying to figure out a good strategy against this Japanese hurricane. She shook her head then turned around to face Kanako...only
to see a backhand coming at her faster than a wild stallion, slamming into her face with such force that it completely spun her around, her body bouncing off the mat as she landed on her back, her eyes looking slightly glassy as she let out a whimper.
Kanako wasted no time as she vaulted to the top rope with a single leap. Taking a moment to steady herself as she rose on her perch, she then launched herself into the air looking to finish things off with her graceful yet brutal Run Her Through finisher!
Ariane was far too out of it after the punch to the noggin, thinking she spied multiple Kanakos climbing the turnbuckle. An attempt to get up failed, as the multiple figures leapt off the turnbuckle, landing right on her stomach. Her mouth opened wide in a silent scream before she fell to her side, clutching her stomach.
Kanako scrambled to make the cover, making sure to hook the leg and blushing slightly as she lays across the curvy redhead’s body.
"One!”
“Two!....."
The crowd was going crazy! FAWNatics were going nuts while the ANDW fans were crying for their Rodeo Queen to kick out.
Three!"
DING DING DING
Ariane heard the bell and kicked out a second too late to stop the pin.
“Ariane Sophie Jones has been pinned!” The ring announcer tells the half cheering, half shouting crowd. “Kanako Akiyama leads one fall to none...there will be a three minute rest period before the match resumes!”
Kanako quickly got off of Ariane, heading to a neutral corner to rest and re-gather her strength, her eyes watching her bigger opponent intensely.
Ariane woke up slowly. She didn’t even bother with getting into a corner, just sat where she was. A minute into the break she jolted the crowd, slamming the mat in frustration several times before getting up and walking slowly to her corner, staring at the corner post for the remaining two minutes.
While she appreciated the view with Ariane’s back turned towards her, Kanako didn’t allow it to distract her. She knows that Ariane is frustrated, and while it can cause one to make mistakes, it can also provide singular focus. She’s felt the cowgirl’s power now, and she knows that if the rodeo queen turned wrestler gets a hold of her, she could very well tear her apart.
DING DING DING
The bell rang, restarting the match at seven minutes into the thirty minute match. Ariane showed no signs of moving, though, from her corner post. Kanako cocked her head, curious, but she does nothing more than coming out of her corner, eyes fixed on the cowgirl.
Ariane stomped the mat twice, giving Kanako pause, before turning around slowly to face the Tokyo Tiger, staring hard at Kanako before speaking so softly only Kanako could hear.
"Y'all awakened a sleepin' giant, hun."
Kanako met Ariane’s intense gaze with one of her own “That mean you’re done with the quasi-racist trash talk, and are going to take me seriously?” she growled.
"Oh, I have taken ya seriously, Kanako. I've researched ya, watched your videos and all that. And I don't mean to be disrespectful. So please forgive me for that. Them flippy moves just rile me up faster than a coyote in a chicken coop. Can’t do none of that so I get a bit...testy. My apologies, ma’am."
Kanako maintained eye contact with Ariane, considering her words. Finally, she sticks out her hand. “Fine. Apology accepted.”
Ariane quickly shakes the offered hand, before backing up a few steps "Y'all best get ready. I'll give ya five seconds."
Kanako plants her feet and adopts a fighting stance, “Bring it...”
Ariane nodded. "Alright then. Five...four..."
Kanako traces a line in front of her with her foot and motions for Ariane to come to her.
Ariane looks at the line while still counting "...three...two...one..."
Ariane blitzed forward, going for a chokehold, hoping to grab the smaller girl before Kanako could react.
Kanako was ready, although not exactly expecting a goozle. Her fast reflexes allow her to dodge the grasping hand and retaliate with an open palmed strike to the bigger woman’s sternum. Though to her shock, Ariane absorbed the hit without pause, grabbing Kanako's arm in the process. Before Kanako could go on the offensive, Ariane then again grasped her by the throat with her other hand before lifting her up into the air, her legs dangling beneath her as she grasped at the American’s arm. In a fluid motion, Ariane released the arm then grabbed Kanako's shorts near her thighs, moving her up until she was above her head.
Kanako was not so fortunate this time and she flails as Ariane lifts her up, yelping a little at the minor wedgie. Ariane let loose a mighty warcry, before running towards the corner post, slamming Kanako into the turnbuckle upside down.
Kanako let out a shout of pain as she’s slammed into the corner. Wasn’t expecting that… she thought as she slowly slid down to the mat in a heap.
Ariane didn't give her any time to recover though. The Country Cowgirl ran at the corner. Grabbing the top ropes, she leapt up into a vertical pose, feet straight above her, before slamming down on Kanako in a pendulum bronco buster she called, “The Country Ride”.
Under less violent circumstances, Kanako might not have minded the proximity to Ariane’s crotch. As it was, though, she did not find the bronco buster very fun at all, grunting upon each impact.
Ariane repeated the bounces multiple times before letting Kanako slump to the mat. "We ain't done yet, partner!" she whispered as she pulled Kanako up by her shorts and arms, putting her up in a torture rack on her shoulders, the Rodeo Wrestler then beginning to stretch Kanako back and forth like an accordian upon her shoulders.
Kanako screamed in agony as Ariane bounced her up and down across her trapezius muscles, but showed no sign of surrendering under the grueling, torturous hold. After what felt like several stanzas worth of accordian squeezes, Kanako was dumped unceremoniously to the mat as Ariane went for a pin, hooking a leg while pressing down against Kanako’s chest with her own bosom.
Kanako grunted as she was dumped onto the mat. She was in too much pain to enjoy the boob-on-boob contact, but nonetheless, she had enough presence of mind to realize the predicament she was in.
“ONE”!
“TWO!!”
Kanako spasms at two and a half, shooting her arm off the canvas to appreciative applause from the audience.
Ariane is jolted by Kanako's move, then let out a slow, deliberate deep breath as she grabbed a hold of Kanako's head to lift her off the canvas. "I admire your spunk, Kanako...wish I was more like you..." she whispered into Kanako's ear as she hauled her backwards over to the corner. She shook her head at what she wanted to try next. "So I'm sorry for what I'm about to do to ya...but I can’t lose another match."
Ariane placed Kanako’s head between her thighs, then hefted her up into a powerbomb position before slowly, but surely, taking a step up the ropes at a time until she was at the top of the turnbuckle.
Kanako was still shaking the cobwebs while Ariane was putting on this impressive display of strength. It was when she had finished her climb to the top rope that Kanako suddenly woke up and realized that she was in big trouble. Thinking fast, she closed her legs, squeezing around Ariane's head and flipped over, throwing the shocked cowgirl to the mat with a breathtaking top rope frankensteiner!
Ariane let out a cry of surprise before faceplanting hard on the mat. She grasped her chest as her 'ladies' absorbed most of the landing, wheezing hard as she got to her knees in the center of the ring. Dang it!
Kanako herself landed face down on the mat, and was taking the opportunity to catch her breath and recover from Ariane's relentless attack. However, slowly but surely, the Modern Day Ronin got to her feet before Ariane and backed into the corner waiting for her rival to rise.
Ariane was feeling the pressure and pain as the ANDW fans in the crowd were cheering her on, though the FAWNatics seemed to be drowning them out immensely. "Gotta turn this...around..." she muttered. Sensing Kanako already up behind her, she did the one thing she didn't like to do... Ariane rolled out the ring and retreated to the outside.
Unfortunately for the cowgirl, anywhere closer than the seventh row wasn't safe ground for the busty redhead. Kanako saw Ariane's retreat and immediately formulated a plan. Breaking into a dash, Kanako leaped from the mat to the second rope, to the top turnbuckle. "HEADS UP!!!" she shouted at Ariane before launching herself at her target with a beautiful somersault plancha!
Ariane watched the asian bombshell propel herself into the air and over the ropes at her. "NOT TODAY!" Ariane had enough time to steady herself and as Kanako descended towards her, she grabbed the beauty out of the air and propelled her forward momentum in an alternate direction...down, smashing her onto the mat hard with a powerbomb.
Kanako yelled in pain as her back hit the thin padding protecting the wrestlers from the concrete floor. Luckily, as soon as she realized she'd been caught out, she managed to tuck her head to make sure she didn't suffer any serious head trauma. Nevertheless, the Japanese girl was indeed splattered on the floor after Ariane's impressive heads-up move.
Ariane breathed in heavily a few times. It took a fair amount of her strength reserves to perform that move. I'm running out of big moves to put her down. I don't want to hurt her... Shaking her head Ariane pulled Kanako up by her top and shorts and tossed her into the ring before rolling in after her.
"Why not..." she shrugged before dropping on top of her opponent to go for another pin attempt.
ONE!
TWO!!
Kanako kicks out right at two, even stronger than at Ariane's first pin attempt.
Ariane knew the pin attempt wouldn't have worked, but was still bummed out that it hadn't. "Well, I know she won't submit, but there's always a first for everything..." Ariane walked over top of Kanako before flipping her onto her front. She then reached behind her and pulled Kanako's legs up in a reverse scorpion hold.
...and then began to pull with all her might.
Kanako screamed in agony as Ariane bent her back in a way that nature never intended “FUUUUUUUUCK!!!” she shouted, pounding the mat in anguish and frustration, but quickly noted to the referee that she was NOT tapping out!
Ariane continued with bending the lovely asian sensation in half, watching the timer on the match hit the ten minute mark. Noting the time remaining and feeling a rising sense of panic as the match was already a third over.
“Sorry, Kanako,” Ariane said as she pulled Kanako back into the center of the ring after she had nearly crawled to the ropes. “I really need a win. No hard feelings…”
She then yanked harder than before until the screams doubled in pitch.
Kanako’s screams grew louder and echoed off the walls. She began scrabbling at the mat to try and pull herself to the ropes, only making marginal progress.
The roar of the arena grew as Kanako's fans screamed for her to escape while Ariane's shouted for a submission. Though Kanako's screams were messing with Ariane. Two minutes passed and Ariane shouted for Kanako to submit all the way through minute three. By the fourth minute Ariane couldn't take it anymore. She dropped Kanako's legs and dropped to her knees. She rolled her over and with tears in her eyes, pulled up the leg for a pin while reaching around to give her a hug with her other arm. "I'm sorry, Kanako. Forgive me."
Kanako was thankful for Ariane’s show of mercy, and felt bad that her defiance was making her feel bad as well. But she had to stay true to her beliefs, and that included never giving up
“One!”
“Two!!”
Thr-NOOO!!! Kanako manages to kick out just in the nick of time.
Ariane felt Kanako kick out and pounded the mat in frustration. "I don’t want to hurt you but you're not giving me a choice, girl! I need this win but not if it hospitalizes ya!" Ariane picked Kanako up and began a furious bombardment of punches and chops to Kanako's face and chest. After she had thoroughly beaten her opponent to a bleary mess, she then tossed Kanako against the ropes, readying to lift her up into the air on the rebound for her biggest finisher....the Country Kick.
Kanako was on her last legs as Ariane hauled her up to her feet and sent her into the ropes. She was only barely able to shake the cobwebs again when she was launched into the air
Ariane prepared herself and at the right moment, performed her Country Style, a popup roundhouse kick that connected directly to Kanako's face.
Please let this work
Kanako is caught flush with the kick from the Country Cowgirl, collapsing in a heap, all but out. Ariane quickly went for a pin, hooking both legs and sitting on Kanakos chest looking down at her face, hoping this was enough.
Kanako’s low groans indicate that she’s only dazed, not completely unconscious.
“One!”
“Two!!”
...
“Three!!!”
“Kanako Akiyama has been pinned!” The ring announcer bellowed. “Ariane Sophie Jones is now tied with Kanako Akiyama at one fall apiece. There will now be another three minute rest period.”
Kanako blinked rapidly, flat on her back and sucking wind, unable to even move to get to a neutral corner as a shadow loomed over her.
Ariane quickly dismounted from Kanako, getting close to her face, touching her cheek to see if she was awake. "You alright there? You okay?" She turns to the ref and began barking orders. "Don't start the three minute clock until she's on her feet, ya hear?"
The referee shrugged, but nodded, as Kanako struggled to roll to her side
Ariane helped Kanako sit up. "You okay, girl? Sorry about the kick. Dumb question, but...can you continue? Most can't after that but, it is you we’re talking about..."
Kanako cracked her neck as it looked like she was coming around. “Yeah...yeah, that three minutes should be all I need, thanks.” She looked up at Ariane, smiling. “Hell of a kick you got there! I might have to show you mine and compare notes!”
Ariane laughed, glad that Kanako was well enough off to be cracking jokes. "I'd rather not see it but I got the feeling I will tonight." Ariane helped the Tokyo Tiger to her feet, then gave her a hug. "Glad you're okay, hun. I hate doing that move but ya left me no choice."
Kanako was a little surprised, but she hugged back. "Thanks. We still got a lot of match to go; I'm not out yet!"
"Ariane looks back over her shoulder* "We have 13 minutes left. Anything could happen."
"Damn right!" she said cheerfully, seeming to be almost back to normal. "Let's finish this! Loser buys the drinks after!", she offered, along with a fistbump.
Ariane returned the kind gesture. "Sounds good to me. Ref, start the timer. We're good."
Kanako smiled and backed herself into the corner, keeping her eyes on the curvy cowgirl as the referee started the rest period.
Ariane, as soon as she reached her corner, took the time to rest completely and literally, slumping into the corner and quickly falling asleep within seconds.
Kanako blinked as she watched Ariane fall into what looked like a peaceful slumber. "Is...is she asleep?" she said to herself. Apparently the audience, mostly FAWNatics who weren’t familiar with Ariane’s napping techniques, began to murmur in the crowd while ANDW fans laughed lightheartedly.
Meanwhile, the Badlands Beauty was lightly snoring, sitting in her corner, chest rising and falling with her breaths.
Kanako puts a hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles as she watches Ariane nap. What I wouldn’t give for a camera right now!
DING DING DING
The referee rang the bell at the end of the three minutes, waking Ariane from her power nap. The cowgirl sprung up and stretched her arms before drawing them up in a boxing stance as she looked at Kanako. "Ready for round 3?"
Kanako shook her head, smiling, while adopting a martial arts stance. "Ready when you are!"
Ariane cautiously approached Kanako, wondering if she should go for a grapple or go for some strikes.
Kanako similarly circled Ariane, willing to react to Ariane's first move."
Ariane chuckles "Wanna grapple again?"
"Not gonna lie, I wouldn't mind getting close to you again," Kanako teased, trying to flirt with the cowgirl. "But I have a feeling that you'd just toss me around some more. Hmmm...". She pauses and thinks for a moment. "Aw, what the hell!" She locked up with the bigger girl with a smile.
Ariane grinned back as they locked up again. She's glad for the feeling of struggling to overpower the smaller woman, as it was a rarity for somebody to resist her strength. Though again, she slowly pushed Kanakos arms backward, her own arms starting to shake, until she's literally bent over the smaller woman.
Kanako grunted in exertion as the bigger girl predictably pushes her down and back. She did a picture perfect bridge, up on her tiptoes as she continued to struggle against her opponent to get back up.
Ariane grunted as she was starting to get pushed back. Suddenly worried about losing the test of strength, and putting her years of square dancing into practice, she quickly revolved her arms, turning Kanako around so the Rapid City Wrangler had the Modern Day Ronan’s arms wrapped around her stomach, then performed a German suplex to the athletic asian wrestler.
Kanako yelps at the sudden move, but recovers from her shock quickly enough to flip out from the suplex. Landing on her feet, she turned to the crowd with a sly grin, waggling her finger before turning her attention back to Ariane. Ariane was shocked looking back and above her to see that Kanako had reversed her Country Hug, and scrambled to her feet, putting on a burst of speed to charge her opponent, only to walk right into a single-booted dropkick, which slammed her to her back and left her seeing more stars than a night out in a North Dakota summer.
Kanako's impressed that the dropkick only staggered the bigger girl, but she knows she has to follow-up quickly. She closed the gap between them and threw a quick palm strike to Ariane's gut before grabbing her arm to do a judo-style throw to send her down to the mat.
Ariane may have been seeing stars, but still had enough of her wits about her that when she felt her arm grabbed, she responded by grabbing Kanako with her free arm and lifting the girl up. An awkward position for sure, but it beat getting slammed again. Ariane began shaking Kanako, hoping to have her arm released as the awkward positioning was the most comfortable on either gal.
Kanako yelped and kicked her legs as Ariane lifted her off the ground. Realizing that she'd better do something before she was lawn darted again, she threw a series of back elbows at Ariane's head to ‘politely’ convince her to let her go.
Ariane was hit by one...two...three elbows to the face in quick succession. Finally the fourth elbow jarred her enough to let go of Kanako, the redhead stumbling back until she was resting against the ropes, shaking her head to clear her vision.
Getting another bright idea (similar to her earlier blockbuster), Kanako quickly dashed to the opposite ropes to build up speed. Upon reaching a few feet in front of Ariane, she launched herself at her with a cross-body aimed at her midsection.
Ariane's vision cleared just in time to feel Kanako hit her with the crossbody, the cowgirl sent spiraling straight over the top rope and crashing to the ground for the second time in the match. She landed semi on her feet, stumbling into the announcers table, catching herself on it as she sucked in deep breaths.
Meanwhile, Kanako flew between the top and middle ropes, hitting the floor rolling. "Fuck!" she muttered to herself. "I really need to think these things through better!" She then saw Ariane's predicament and leapt into action. Clearing off the announcer’s table and barking at the announcers to move for their own safety, she then hit Ariane with a hard clothesline to lay her out on top of the table. A trio of heavy forearms to her prominent chest ensure that she stayed in place while Kanako quickly ascended to the nearest top turnbuckle. Wasting no time, since she rightly figured she didn't have time to spare, and as soon as she was in position, she leapt into the air once more, looking to crash into Ariane with her Gravity Falls shooting star kneedrop aimed for the rodeo queen’s torso.
Ariane recognized what Kanakowas doing as she cleared the table, but had no oxygen left after the gut check she’d taken being sent out of the ring. She took the clothesline and rolled onto the table, crying out in pain from the battery of blows to her chest. She whimpered in pain and tried to sit up, when Kanako's knee drop landed on her stomach, crushing both her stomach and the table in a tremendous ‘CRUNCH’ that had all the fans in the arena on their feet, screaming for their favorite.
Kanako rolled away from the destruction, taking a moment to catch her breath. The adrenaline pumping through her body was keeping the pain at bay, and she knew she had to act fast before it wore off. She moved into the mangled wreckage of the former table, gathering up the larger woman's limp body up in a fireman's carry position to carry her and deposit her back into the ring. After doing so, she rolled in herself and quickly made the cover, hooking the leg nearest the ropes.
"One!"
"Two!"
"Thre-no a kickout!"
Ariane weakly kicked out, pushing up a shoulder barely in time to prevent getting pinned a second time.
Kanako shook her head in disbelief, but stayed focused on her opponent. Knowing that the clock was ticking and she thus doesn't have time to wait for Ariane to get to her feet on her own, the Japanese girl hauled her up gently by the hair, then dashed into the ropes, making a full pass before pulling up to try and deliver a running palm strike to her opponent’s chin!
The Country Cowgirl probably would have stayed out of it mentally if not for one thing. Kanako pulling her up by her luscious locks had Ariane awake instantly as she let out a shrill shriek of pain as she was stood up. Eyes now ablaze, Ariane took two big steps forward as Kanako bounced off the ropes, lifting her foot for a Big Boot to Kanako's face.
Kanako's eyes go wide as she spots Ariane's boot seconds away from her face. As it connects, she lets out a pained cry as she's turned inside out, flipping a full 360 degrees before falling to the mat in a light daze.
Ariane pants after the boot connects, thankful that it laid Kanako out completely. She knows better than to try a pin though, knowing it would somehow be a kick out. She needed something more...
"Up you go..." Ariane said as she picked Kanako up and placed her head between her thighs and walked backwards towards the ropes, preparing for another Barnburner attempt.
If she were more lucid, Kanako might not have minded her position. As it is, the petite woman is pretty easily carried over to the corner turnbuckle for whatever it was Ariane was planning
Ariane took a few deep breaths before hauling Kanako up into a powerbomb position, holding her tight in front of her head as she shakily climbed up to the top of the turnbuckle, one step at a time, as the crowd was sent into a frenzy.
Kanako woke up once Ariane got to the top. "Awwww, shiiiiit..." Kanako groaned. "No chance I can talk you out of this?"
Ariane shook her head between Kanako's thighs. "Nope, not taking a chance with you, Little Miss Kickout." Ariane took the final step to the top rope and let out a massive yeehaw as she prepared for the massive powebomb insane elbow combo she liked to call...the Barnburner.
The banter and the battle cry was enough of a delay to allow Kanako to try and reverse the powerbomb again, clamping down on Ariane's head with her thighs and flipping over to throw her down...
...though as soon as Ariane felt the sudden movement forward, she braced herself on the ropes.
"Not this time!!"
Ariane halted the hurricarana, then lifted Kanako back up once more before slamming her down into the center of the mat. With another massive Yeehaw, the former rodeo queen jumped off the turnbuckle, plunging her elbow deep into Kanako's gut, then wrapping up a leg for an pin attempt with just four minutes left on the clock.
ONE!
TWO!!
...
THRE-NOOOOO!!! Kanako sprung to life, shooting a shoulder off the mat at 2.9!
Ariane shook her head as she fell off Kanako onto her back starting to laugh. "Y'all are the queen of kicking out, ya know that?"
Kanako chuckled painfully as she lay flat on her back as well. "Well, you know...I'm as stubborn as a mule! Don't have the good sense to know when to quit!"
"Same here..." Ariane rolled onto her front, crawling to the ropes to pull herself back up. Noting the timer clicking down further with only three minutes left, Ariane pulled herself up for a final push to win.
Kanako likewise kipped up and readied herself for the home stretch.
Ariane was in complete shock as she watched her opponent kip up like she wasn’t tired at all. "How on earth did you do that?"
Kanako looked slightly confused. "Uhm...You just kinda jump from your back? I can show you how later, if you want?"
Ariane shook her head. "No, I meant how do y'all still have energy to do that just now?"
Kanako giggled "If you ever get to know me, you'll find out just how deep my well of energy is!"
"Alright," Ariane nodded, then walked forward, tossing a few punches to try and connect on her opponent.
The first one connected, but Kanako recovered and cuts off the next one with a punch of her own, the two women trading punches back and forth with increasing intensity to the building roar of the crowd.
Ariane’s lip was split halfway through the exchange, but the redhead didn’t seem to notice, or care, as she kept raining wild punches down like a Kansas hailstorm. Eventually she spied the clock and gulped.
Two minutes left.
She tried for a lariat on Kanako...
...only for Kanako to duck under and run the ropes again, looking to cut Ariane down with a clothesline of her own.
After the failed attempt, Ariane ran the ropes herself , two meeting in the middle with dueling clotheslines!
The two women meet in the middle, nailing each other in the chest with their respective clotheslines with a mighty clapping sound. They both hit the mat like a ton of bricks, chests heaving and gulping for air. Almost simultaneously, they both rolled onto their stomachs, digging into their final reserves of energy to get themselves up to all fours.
Ariane continued gasping for breath as she slapped out at Kanako while pushing to one knee. Maybe if I try another Country kick I can get a KO pin in?
Kanako likewise struggled to her feet. She knew time was running out, so she needed to hit something big and fast! She retaliated to the slap with a forearm to Ariane’s chest.
Ariane stumbled back...
90 seconds left...
The Badland Beauty slapped out one more time before shakily getting to her feet, preparing for a Cowgirl Kick to end the match.
Getting to her feet herself, Kanako took the slap and threw a straight right to the gut.
The crowd was whipping itself into a frenzy.
Ariane nearly crumbled from the gut check, but lashes back with a wild kick at Kanako's stomach to make room so she could do her cowgirl kick.
Kanako let out a gasp as the air was expelled from her lungs with Ariane’s kick. She could tell she was trying to create separation between them. Little did the redhead know that Kanako had a similar idea.
Ariane finally found herself with the room she needed. Here goes nothing! she thought, as she readied to let loose the most devastating Cowgirl Kick she could muster.
Unfortunately for the cowgirl, Kanako had the same idea and the faster Japanese girl beat her to the punch...er, kick. Surging up, she turned and swung her right leg, catching Ariane flush on the cheek with a devastating Black Mass!
The crowd went silent as the crack of the Black Mass kick connected with Ariane's face. The towering cowgirl spun 360 and looked to fall until she put a foot forward, catching herself. The ANDW fans breathed a sigh of relief for only a moment, which then turned to shocked horror as the country cowgirl's eyes rolled back and she fell backwards like a towering oak cut by Paul Bunyan himself. She landed with a heavy thud, bouncing once off the canvas before falling still to the utmost shock of her fans, and delight of the FAWNatics.
Kanako also fell backwards after the kick. Partly from the force she put into the kick, but also from her adrenaline starting to wear off and the grueling pace of the match taking its toll. She saw that Ariane was out like a doused campfire, though, and time was almost up. With all the strength she could muster, she slowly crawled over to the redhead to make the cover. Ariane’s fans screamed at her to wake up yet their cries went completely unheard while the seconds tick down…
Finally, Kanako made it over to Ariane, managing to drape an arm across her opponent’s massive chest.
This was it!
ONE!
TWO!!
..........DINGDINGDING!!
Ariane groggily woke up. Her head a mass of pain as she heard a bell ringing. Instinctively she kicked and bucked her shoulder, hoping she kicked out of whatever was happening in time.
Kanako, meanwhile, still has her arm draped over Ariane even after the bell and the (late) kickout, completely spent, although she was actually cognizant of what was going on.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, the thirty minute time limit has expired,” the announcer began as the crowd murmured its confusion at the ending of the match. “With the match at one fall apiece, the referee’s decision: A DRAW!”
Ariane blinked as she heard the announcer's final words... "A draw?" she tried to lift her head but immediately lowered it as pain shot through her like a lightning bolt. "Ow...."
Kanako managed to roll off of Ariane and onto her back. For a long time, only the rhythmic up and down movement of Kanako’s chest indicated that she was still conscious. Meanwhile the crowd booed the unsatisfying decision.
*Ariane couldn’t move either, but could hear the boos coming from the crowd. "Can I have a mic?" she yelled at the referee.
He nodded and retrieved it for her.
The referee placed the mic next to her. Before the referee could even move a step away Ariane was already shouting into it. "Y'all can shut your pie holes!! I don't want ta hear a single complaint about this match!! Ma' friend Kanako and I just had the best match I can recall, so y'all should be applauding and if'in ya ain't, then once I'm standing I'll be coming for ya!!"
"And if y'all want a rematch between the both of us one day, we'll make it a no holds barred cage match where the winner is the one who leaves. How do y'all like the sound of that?"
Kanako blinks as she hears this “Wait, what?”
She struggled to sit up. “Ariane, they weren’t booing us.. they were booing the fact that there wasn’t a winner!”
Ariane tried to sit up but fell back down. "Sorry...I just heard them boo’s and didn’t want them booing ya. You're the best opponent I've ever had and I dont want em disrespecting ya.” She paused to take a breath before continuing. “With how ya fight, I think you would have won this hands down if no time limit was in place."
Kanako smiled and offered Ariane her hand. “Thank you. You’re a damn good opponent too! You’re tough as nails and strong as an ox! Also, it’s nice having an opponent where I don’t have to watch out for dirty tricks.”
Ariane took her hand and used as much strength as she could to stand. "Thank you kindly...and yeah, I ain't one for cheap tricks to win a match. Unless they do it first. So I want to thank y'all for not trying to split me in half between the legs like one of my last opponents."
Kanako smirked and nodded knowingly. “Yeah, been there. So! Neither of us won, so who buys the drinks?”
Ariane chuckled weakly. "We could split the tab. But right now, I could use a trip to the spa or a jacuzzi or I'll bruise worse than corn in a hailstorm from your kicks."
Kanko just smirked. “Tell you what...let’s sleep off the beating we just gave each other, then tomorrow we can have a spa day, on me, where we can get to know each other, what do you say?” She stuck out her hand.
Ariane gladly took the offered hand, shook, then raised it for the crowd. "I like this idea a lot, Kanako."
The Tokyo Tiger smiled as the crowd roared its approval of their show of sportsmanship “I’m glad,” she pulled Ariane in for a hug to even more applause and a few whistles. “Come find me backstage later, I’ll give you my cell number so we can hook up tomorrow.”
"Sounds...good." Ariane barely prevented herself from passing out as her vision blurred. "I think I'm gonna get the doc to check me out first. That last kick was just...but yeah. Phone numbers after doc."
Kanako chuckled and put a hand on her new friend’s back. “Come on, let’s get you looked at.” She helped Ariane out of the ring and together, they headed up the ramp and backstage to the infirmary.
