Sanae Saitou vs. Alizeh Midori II: Submission Match

[CaptainL]

Continued from here

Match Type: Submission Match
Rules: Victory by submission only. Completion will count to each participant's required Apex Qualifier matches.

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This was going to be an important match for Sanae - she could already tell that. As she hung backstage, her heart was beating with the anticipation of the moment her name would finally be called, and she would step out to the ring. When she would, it would be to prove herself - not just to the fans, or even to the judges who were watching at ringside to determine if she was to advance to contention for the Openweight Title. Not even to her opponent - someone who she had faced before, and who had given her a match that truly tested every ounce of her ability and forced her beyond her limits in the name of living up to the bar she set. No, Sanae was also out to prove herself to Toshimi Minami, the Venus of Submissions herself, who had seen her previous victory over Morgan Romero and questioned if she had what it took to stand on her own. Sanae had always vowed she was going to reach for the top, to take whatever means were necessary in order to achieve her dreams. If it was going to take a match like this - putting Sanae not only against a skilled opponent, but one who excelled in submissions, which the match stipulations revolved around, and who was hand-picked by a legendary wrestler renowned for her skill in holds herself - for Sanae to prove she belonged, then she was going to do it!

"Coming first to the ring, from Itoshima, Japan! At 5'2, weighing 115 pounds, SANAAAAAE SAITOU!!"

Spoiler

The music and lights that accompanied Sanae's entrance got her a cheer from the fans from the moment they hit. But this time, Sanae wasn't going to get caught up in her usual routine of playing to the fans, dancing around, exchanging high-fives, and posing for photos. She lifted a fist in the air as she made her way to the ring, determined as ever to do her best, but tonight, she was doing this all for herself - and for Minami, who she knew was watching her closely. By the end of it, she thought, there would be no one who thought she was still getting by on luck! That was what she was out to prove!

As she came to the ring, Sanae climbed up on the apron before rolling through the ropes. She proceeded to her corner, cracking her knuckles and rolling out her neck, before she glared back out at the ramp with a stony look of defiance. "Alizeh..." she began, "you might be my friend, but don't think for a moment I'm going to go easy on you. I can't! Not like this!!"

[Bare]

Alizeh took a deep breath backstage as she slipped on and tightened her orange white wrestling boots. The rest of her outfit secured and ready to go as she stood up, checked her arm sleeves before heading to the gorilla position. Sporting a stony look of determination as she walked it hid the feelings of uncertainty that Alizeh was feeling right now. Tonight she was facing one of her best friends in LAW, Sanae Saitou in a long awaited rematch that doubled as an apex qualifier for the both of them. But what should have been a momentous and grand moment felt... tainted by the circumstances of how it came to be. Namely by the cruel and twisted actions of Toshimi Minami, the wrestle angels veteran that had called out Sanae, disrespecting her and Alizeh, before challenging the girl to face opponents of her choosing to meet her at Apex... and Alizeh was one of them. "Damn it." Alizeh said, clenching her fists tightly as she walked to the entrance ramp where her music started and she would make her entrance. But not to the same enthusiasm and energy she normally did. Similar to Sanae Alizeh merely raised her arm up as she walked down the ramp to the ring.

Spoiler

Spoiler

'I don't like this.' Alizeh thought to herself as her eyes focused on Sanae while making her way to the ring. She didn't like that this match came about at Minami's machinations. Nor did she like that they were essentially being forced to fight each other. Worse yet... Alizeh couldn't help but have flashbacks of her battle with Marzia Servelli, another friend of Alizeh's with whom Alizeh had a tainted rematch. One that ended their friendship. It was a ordeal Alizeh had gotten through by hardening her resolve. But she and Sanae were far closer than she was with Marzia, and even if this match was a result of someone else's manipulation, it just did't help that this was the way they were getting this bout.

Entering the ring Alizeh would turn her attention to Sanae and immediately march right up to the girl, staring into her eyes with a look of pure resolve on her face... Before reaching forward... and swallowing Sanae in a tight hug, pulling the girl against her chest while bending down to her ear. "No matter what, lets promise this match won't change anything between us ok?" Alizeh whispered into Sanae's ear, pulling away softly and holding onto the girl's shoulders as she waited for a response from her.

[CaptainL]

The moment she saw Alizeh emerge from the curtains, Sanae's heart rate jumped in her chest. She went tense as she stood up straighter, and her fingers coiled tighter around the ropes at her sides. She'd gone over this moment, and the leadup to it, many times in her head ever since the match was announced, and she thought that by this point she'd be prepared for it. But she thought wrong. She began to pant for breath, her heart pounding and a sweat running down the back of her neck as her eyes focused in on Alizeh. She didn't want their friendship to hold her back, if this match meant this much for her career and her respectability - and, conversely, she didn't want their friendship to end because she was being put up against Alizeh either. All Sanae wanted was to show Minami, and anyone else who might have doubted her, that she really did have a future; that she wasn't just some idol wannabe who got lucky a few times. She just wished she wouldn't have to take on Alizeh to do so...

Regardless, though, Alizeh seemed to feel the same way. Even as Sanae pushed herself off the ropes, holding her fists balled tightly at her sides and her back straight to face the advancing middleweight down with a cold stare, Alizeh wasn't deterred - she threw her arms around Sanae, pulling her into an embrace. At once, everything changed. The rigidness in Sanae's body began to loosen, and she settled in against Alizeh, circling her arms around her sides to guide her closer as she gave her a firm squeeze. Now, she knew there was nothing to fear. Even with her head pressed into Alizeh's chest, she nodded to her. "Even if I'm going to be your opponent, Alizeh...I don't want to be your enemy. Just like last time...let's let the better woman win, yeah?" When Sanae looked back up at Alizeh, it would be with a warm smile between good friends. But at the same time, Sanae knew, she couldn't hold back. There was too much on the line!

[Bare]

Entering the ring and immediately pulling Sanae into a hug almost immediately took a weight off of Alizeh's back. All the worries and stress she felt about what this match could do to her and Sanae's friendship and the hurt feelings that could happen as a result... All gone once she pulled her tag team partner in and hugged her tight, exchanging words of assurance to let eachother know everything would be fine.

It was what Alizeh needed and by the sounds of it, something Sanae needed as well. Still standing close to each other Alizeh would take a deep breath before nodding to Sanae with a soft smile. "Of course. I wouldn't have it any other way." Alizeh said before getting a more determined gaze in her eyes as she then stepped forward, closer to Sanae again. Rather than hug the girl again though Alizeh only intended on pressing her chest against Sanae in a show of dominance.

"Hope you're ready to give it all you got." She said in a soft, low husky voice. It was Alizeh's way of saying that the parter gloves were off, now that they were sure their friendship wouldn't be affected it was time to get in eachothers faces and win, or in Alizeh's case, press up against eachothers busts while looking down on Sanae due to her height. Either way it was on now and the ref, seeing this would just immediately go and ring the bell, officially starting the bout!

[CaptainL]

As soon as Sanae's arms dropped from Alizeh's waist, the lightweight took a step back, where her eyes once again narrowed into a determined glare. Alizeh was one of her closest and dearest of friends, and she would never forget that - neither would Alizeh herself. But there was too much at stake now to let that get in the way. Sanae was out to prove herself - she needed to show the world she had what it took to earn her place in the ring, and to belong up there among the greatest in the promotion! No matter who she had to go up against to prove that, she would do it!

She, too, nodded; in a single gesture, she confirmed her eagerness to meet Alizeh on her challenge head to head. She might have been the shorter of the two girls, but she still pushed her chest into her opponent's own as she looked up to lock her eyes on Alizeh, her gaze never wavering. She wasn't about to let anything keep her down!

*DING DING DING*

With the sound of the bell, Sanae was ready to spring into action! She would quickly reach up to grab onto Alizeh by the collar and elbow to enter a lockup, but no sooner had she done so that she would also kick up her leg and a couple of knees against her side - she wanted to establish from the moment the match began that she wouldn't let herself fall behind for anything!

[Bare]

Alizeh had confirmed the two would be ok going forward regardless of how this match went, and for Alizeh that was almost more important than winning said bout. Almost. Despite the fact that Sanae was her friend, this was still a match, an apex qualifier no less. Even if it wasn't Sanae standing in front of her she had to give it her absolute best, otherwise nothing would matter once she got to Apex.

So once things were hashd out Alizeh immediately stepped forward into Sanae's space, making the challenge known, and ready for whatever would come first. Evidently once the bell rang that first thing coming would be Sanae reaching up to grab Alizeh in a collar elbow tie up. 'Not bad but-' "Ngh!" Grunting in pain as a knee hit her stomach Alizeh had to halt her train of thought to come up with a counter.

For a grappler like Alizeh however it didn't take her long. Reaching up and snapping her arms around Sanae's head Alizeh would drop low and twist, pulling her arms around Sanae's head to try and pull the girl in closer, attempting to reverse the situation by trapping Sanae in a side headlock takeover! "Take this!" Alizeh would yell, not even a minute into the hold before running forward and leaping up, trying to land a running bull dog on Sanae!

[CaptainL]

It was clear in how she met Alizeh head-to-head that Sanae had no shortage of respect for the more experienced middleweight. In going for the lockup, she put herself and Alizeh on equal footing, both of them seeming just as likely to overtake the other from a seemingly neutral position. Sanae trusted Alizeh, but she was also convinced that no matter what her opponent had to throw at her, she could handle it just fine! Sure enough, as soon as she and Alizeh had moved into close quarters with one another, Sanae was off like a rocket, launching her knee upward to land a hard strike against her opponent's gut. A loud crack rang out, and Sanae grinned a little wider with the knowledge that so far, she was keen on controling the action!

It wouldn't last long, however, before Alizeh pulled Sanae downward. In an instant, the look on the aspiring idol's face turned from a cocky, assured grin to a wide-eyed gasp, as she was overpowered before she knew what hit her! Her head was pulled down, pressed against Alizeh's side, and when the girl ran forward, Sanae let out a cry of shock before her face was slammed into the canvas with a thud! Reeling from the blow, Sanae groaned, rolling over on her back and clutching her head. Nevertheless, she would try to roll onto her knees and crawl away to create more distance - around Alizeh, she knew, she couldn't stay down for long!

[Bare]

Things had started out fast and strong between Aizeh and Sanae, neither girl wanting to go easy on the other, nor should they have. Both doing everything they could to try and gain the upper hand early on in the bout. In Sanae's case she actually managed to get Alizeh down early with some well placed knee strikes to the side. Something she'd be sure to praise the aspiring idol for later. But Alizeh wasn't content to just let Sana beat on her non stop in this bout. So with a quick reversal Alizeh turned and caught Sanae in a side head lock before running forward, managing to bash Sanae's face hard into the mat with a running bulldog!

Unfortunately despite the successful impact Sanae was already on her knees, trying to get away to erase any chance of Alizeh capitalizing. 'I don't think so.' Alizeh thought to herself, knowing how devastatingly fast Sanae could be if she had the time to get up and react. So Alizeh resolved to not give the green haired girl that chance period. Getting back up to her own feet Alizeh would dash forward to Sanae and bend down, trying to wrap her arms around the girl's waist before she could fully stand. If successful Alizeh would try and use all her strength to pull back, trying to lift Sane off the mat to try and land a deadlift german suplex!

[CaptainL]

Sanae might have gotten some well-placed hits in on Alizeh right from the start of the match, but it wouldn't be long before her opponent would look to turn things around. The bulldog had brought the momentum back into Alizeh's court, leaving Sanae groaning and dizzied on the mat. The lightweight picked herself up as she panted for breath, looking to crawl out of the way - but Alizeh was still one step ahead of her, as she snatched Sanae up by the waist to lift her off her feet!

Suddenly finding herself high above the mat, Sanae let out a gasp, her eyes wide and her legs kicking at the air as she frantically struggled for freedom, but to no avail! With Alizeh's greater size, Sanae was no match for her German suplex, and she came crashing down hard onto her shoulders! The ring rattled beneath her landing, and her hips bucked upward in the air before she came to settle into a heap with a pained moan, folded over in half with her legs dangling down to her shoulders. Her head was spinning, and she was going to need some time to bounce back from that!

[Bare]

It was on, the rematch Alizeh and Sanae had been waiting for. It may not have came about in a way either liked, but it was happening, and neither would be backing down. No offering any time to get up, no tips or advice mid match. No this would be one hundred percent right off the bat, no mercy and no patience. So after dropping Sanae with a bulldog Alizeh was quick to capitalize, knowing that Sanae couldn't be allowed to have time to get back up and rally.

So dashing forward Alizeh had caught Sanae's waist and pulled her back into a massive german suplex that left Sanae folded over on the mat and the fans Oooohing at the impact. But Alizeh wasn't done yet. "That was just the start!" Alizeh would shout as she suddenly swiveled her hips to get back into a standing position, holding onto Sanae's waist as she did so.

Immediately the crowd recognized what Alizeh was doing and began cheering as Alizeh attempted to pull Sanae back in a second german suplex! A move that if successful Alizeh would proceed to then swivel her hips once more, getting back into a standing position once more before she would then try to bring Sanae back up for a third and final time, trying to send her tag partner flying with a release german suplex to complete the three amigos!