L.A.W. - League of Anime Wrestling

With over three decades worth of professional experience, more if one counted her time as a child amateur, Tiki Lowell was well familiarized with the feeling that came with waiting backstage before a title fight. But for Tiki, nothing was ever quite business as usual with LAW. They had to do things differently. Where any other fighting organization in the world had the simple formula of "win the title fight, become champion," Apex functioned differently. In Apex, every match was a potential title match, and whoever was the winner of whichever match LAW's judges liked the most would become the first Openweight Champion.

Also relevant to Tiki, the Middleweight Title was now up for grabs at Apex. And she had no idea how that happened. Tiki just saw a posting one day saying that Lillian Byrnes was no longer Champion, and that the next belt holder would be determined at Apex. The veteran still had no clue how that even happened, or why they were using the Openweight tournament to decide the Middleweight champion. But Tiki did know that she would take advantage of this opportunity to the best of her ability.

Tiki had a number of "issues" with LAW, to put it mildly. But she also recognized how the company's unorthodox nature set it apart and made it successful. It was anything but run of the mill, and incredibly exciting for the spectators, even if it meant jerking the talent around more than Tiki would like. But even as a wrestler, Tiki couldn't say that being in LAW wasn't interesting. It's what she stuck around for. And it's why she's here, standing in front of the door leading to the ring as the announcer was about to introduce her.

"AND NOW... THIS MATCH'S FIRST CHALLENGER FOR THE APEX OPENWEIGHT TITLE, ENTERING THIS MATCH AS A LAW ABIDER... SHE'S A MIDDLEWEIGHT FROM MANCHESTER ENGLAND COMING IN AT 6 FEET TALL AND 160 POUNDS WITH A RECORD OF 10 WINS AND 2 DEFEATS... "THE ORACLE" TIKI LOWELL!"

Music

Tiki

Tiki walked down the ramp towards the arena, trying to imagine how she would make the match look good to score more points with the judges. Or if it was even worth it to worry about that when she was going up against a belt holder in a match that she still had to win before anything. Tiki decided that she would try to make the finish memorable if she was able to control the match well enough, but first and foremost, Tiki had to win. She couldn't become the champion of anything by losing.

Here it was.. Apex. All Raina needed to get to it was the belt currently around her waist. Granted winning the title had practically been handed to her on a silver platter but that didn't matter much to Raina. All that mattered was that she was able to take it and turn it into a golden ticket for Apex. Better yet Raina had done so at the tail end of the event. Meaning she would have a pick of opponents that were desperate for that last match and hopefully not in the right headspace to fight in such a grand battle. Or rather, fight and win against a calm, collected powerhouse such as herself.

Rolling her neck in preparation backstage wearing her usual gear with the LAWless title over her shoulder Raina would nod to herself as her music began to start meaning it was time for her to make her entrance. Tossing her hair back Raina would take one more calming breath before walking forward to the entrance ramp. Giving one quick peek to either side to make sure she wouldn't be ambushed Raina would nod to herself before coming out and posing proudly for the fans around her while holding the LAWless belt above her head, though she also received some boos for the rather.. conservative approach Raina had taken to the title.

It didn't bother her though, all it meant was that Raina had been the one to outsmart and stay away from anyone that could actually take this belt from her. Making her way down the ramp Raina would take an in person look at her opponent, 'The Oracle' Tiki Lowell. Raian had actually done her research for this match and of course, knew a fair bit about the woman, and what Raina perceived to be her weakness. Stepping into the ring and holding the LAWless belt up proudly for everyone one more time Raina would drop down and hand the title off to the ref before turning to Tiki with a smug smirk. "Heh ya know I'm curious Ms.Dragon, am I the first person to totally outclass you physically? You must be nervous about that." Raina said, wanting to try and get inside Tiki's head before the match could start.

Tiki watched as Raina came down the ramp, LAWless Belt displayed for the crowd. Since Raina was the LAWless Champion, there was technically a third belt on the line in this match that Tiki could win. Plus, unlike the Apex Titles, LAWless was a standard "beat the champ to become the champ" belt. The only stipulation was that the champion had to be defeated specifically by pinfall to claim the title.

So Tiki found it rather funny that she was so disinterested in the LAWless Title that she would refuse to claim it even if she did beat Raina by pinfall. Because the simple fact of the matter was that the LAWless Champion was actively in danger during the course of an average day. With how some of the women on the LAW roster were, Tiki would not be surprised if somebody ran her down and hit her with a car while she was on an exercise run so they could get out and pin her for the belt. Not something that Tiki wanted to deal with.

When Raina first spoke to Tiki, it was clearly done as an attempt to rattle the veteran. Something that Tiki had very little problem brushing aside. "Ms. Dragon," she parroted back, mulling over the name, and acting as if she hadn't even heard the more provocative portion of Raina's words. "I don't believe I've been called that before, but honestly I think I like it better than Oracle. It's not as if I ever actually use that ring name anyhow."

"And as for your question," Tiki continued. "While it's true you're the biggest wrestler I've fought at LAW, you're certainly not the biggest I've ever fought, or beaten as a wrestler. However old I may look to you, know that my wrestling career spans more years than your entire life. Though I admit that I'm more used to outclassing than being outclassed, I'm well accustomed to either scenario." Tiki then took a moment to look over Raina, thinking back on what she had seen from her match film. "Although to be honest, 'totally outclassed' isn't how I'd compare us, despite the size difference," she said. "Stronger, sure, I'll give you that. But are you faster? More durable? Better conditioned? I have my doubts there. And of course, focusing on physical traits leaves wrestling skill out of the equation entirely." Tiki almost kept speaking, but closed her mouth. "And skill is my greatest strength," were the words that she left unsaid. Both wanting to avoid coming off as boastful or overconfident, as well as not wanting to give Raina a useful tidbit of information in case she didn't already have it.

Raina stood before Tiki in a almost cocky manner, trying to get her way inside Tiki's head, key word being trying. But it looks like she wasn't making much of a dent in that regard going by the unimpressed look on the older woman's face and the comments she made afterwards. 'Well shit that didn't work. Well got one more thing I can try.' Raina thought to herself while keeping her confident smirk on her face. "Yeah yeah I know. You're way older than you look and have a lot of experience." Raina said in a almost dismissive response to Tiki.

Stretching her arms over her head and 'unintentionally' flexing them to show just big her muscles were Raina would look Tiki in the eyes. Trying to make sure this next part hit as hard as possible. "But like I said I've seen you're matches here. You really only seem all that good when against jobbers. Anyone with even a remote level of skills seems to give you trouble. Cept that Niko chick who kinda wiped ya for a bit hehe." Raina said chuckling from that last part.

Dropping her arms from her impromptu stretch Raina would stand proud with her hands on her hips. "Point is, I got real skill too, you may dwarf me in experience, but besides wrestling I also could have gone pro in basketball, so trust me my conditioning and speed are up there along with my strength." Raina said boastfully before putting her arms up. "In other words you may be old and got more experience, but in every other field I got ya beat lady." Raina said confidently as the bell rang officially starting the bout!

As the bell had yet to ring, Tiki simply continued to watch and listen as Raina tried to shake and intimidate her. The Heavyweight flexed her muscles as she continued to demean Tiki, this time by bashing the veteran's past. Tiki let the first part of Raina's comment pass. Karla Reinhardt had stolen a win from an otherwise dominant Tiki through nothing more than blatant cheating. Misaki Toyoda had beaten Tiki fairly, but she was as viable a contender for the Middleweight Belt as anyone else. A loss to her, especially one that easily could have been a draw had Tiki been willing to take a more gutless yet smarter path at the end of the match, was nothing to be ashamed of.

But the comment about Niko Tomiji wasn't one that Tiki could let go silently into the night. "Ah, the Niko fight," she said. "What with how much and for how long I had to carry the kid throughout our fight for it to make the necessary time requirement as an Apex Qualifier, it honestly stuns me that people think that more than 10% of that was real. She's actually a lot stronger now though," said Tiki, intending to throw a verbal jab back before the start of the match. "Maybe she'll steal LAWless from you on your way out later tonight once I'm done with you in the ring. I think I spotted her in the crowd earlier, but who knows for sure."

Tiki smirked internally as Raina made boasts of her speed and stamina. Is that so, the veteran thought. She didn't speak aloud as she wanted to avoid being drawn further into Raina's smack talk. Either LAW's wrestler profile on you is lying, or you are, but as Tiki's train of thought continued, the internal smirk quickly faded. With the track record that Tiki and LAW had together, the veteran wouldn't be surprised at all if she was matched with an opponent whose abilities truly did outstrip her file.

Left on that sobering thought, the bell rung. But Tiki quickly brushed it aside, confident that she would come out victorious regardless of Raina's physical capabilities. "You've talked a big game, let's see how well you can walk it," said Tiki as she raised her arms to match Raina and closed in. The veteran wrestler knew that Raina was a power wrestler. Proud of her strength and happy to take advantage of opportunities to use it. Tiki fed into this with her words and actions with the intent to take an early advantage in this match with one of the very tools she had just taught to Niko not even two weeks ago: The fake out lock up.

Tiki was leaned forward with her arms extended and her hands only a couple inches from Raina's, but before contact was made, the veteran wrestler would pull back her hands and body, instead kicking out her right leg with the intent to drive her heel into Raina's unguarded solar plexus and force the larger wrestler to double over. Then Tiki would plant her kicking foot as she grabbed Raina's head with the intent to pull it down into the left knee that was quickly coming to meet it. Then continuing the flow of one strong blow into the next, Tiki would take the leg she had just struck with and use it to step into a right hook across Raina's jaw as she reeled back from the knee. Tiki would then attempt to finish her opening combination by lowering her shoulder into Raina's chest, wrapping her arms around the younger wrestler's body, and charging forward until she drove Raina into her own corner. If all went to plan, Tiki would leave Raina with two big shots to her head, two big shots to her body, and two big shots to her air supply.

'Trash talk didn't work as expected.' Raina thought to herself after trying and failing to intimidate her more experienced foe. That was fine though. Raina was confident she could outmatch the woman in every other way that mattered, the physical difference between them being the biggest advantage she had and the one she needed to push the most. Although... her game plan thoughts would be interrupted once hearing what the green haired woman had to say about Niko. 'Shittttt I didn't even think about that fuck.' Raina thought trying not to let that worrisome thought show to much on her face, but definitely giving an extra look over her shoulder to try and spot Niko in the audience but she couldn't.

Turning back to Tiki with eyes narrowed into a glare Raina knew it was just about time to start and would raise her hands in preparation. "I won't just walk, I'll run it." Raina said, making one more big promise before the bell rang, officially starting the match between Tiki and the LAWless champion Raina!

Seeing Tiki in a similar position to Raina the ebony beauty naturally thought the older woman was going to go for a traditional lock up, after all the difference in power between them was well talked about by now, so surely Tiki would wanna test that out fro herself right? Well so Raina had thought at least. Unfortunately Raina would be wrong with that assumption and before she could even grasp at Tiki the woman would change gears, delivering a strong kick to Raina's solar plexus! "OOF!" Raina gasped out from sudden sharp pain and new lack of air. Something that made her an easy victim for Tiki as she began to bombard her with a series of blows, all of which connected before getting tackled and forced back into a corner! "Ngh!" Raina groaned out in pain, trying to push back against her opponent, but with the lack of air it was hard to muster her full power!

Tiki couldn't help but smirk when she caught Raina checking over her shoulder when she mentioned Niko. Nor could Tiki help but keep that smirk on her face when her opening tactic worked to pure perfection. A loud, meaty thump when Tiki's foot found Raina's midsection. Two sharp cracks as knee and knuckles from the veteran wrestler met her opponent's face. And the sound of Raina's body crashing into the post as the finale to the combo.

But just because Tiki's combo was done, it didn't mean that Tiki was done. With Tiki having Raina cornered with her shoulder buried into the Heavyweight's gut, she was in a great position to keep pouring on the damage and get out to a massive early advantage. What's more, for all of Raina's boasting about her strength, Tiki was the one with the power advantage right now. The greenette could feel Raina trying to push her away and push herself out of the corner, but Raina was in such a weak position that Tiki could still hold her there regardless of the Heavyweight's size advantage.

When Tiki put her next attack into motion, she began by wrapping one arm around Raina's thighs, just underneath her butt, and the other arm around Raina's back. Then Tiki would lift Raina up and turn around to face away from the corner. The veteran wrestler showing off her own strength in the process to lift up the Heavyweight. Next Tiki would throw Raina down hard, slamming her back first down onto the mat while Tiki herself stayed standing but bent forward.

Then with the sure handedness and speed of a decades practiced master, Tiki would reach down and grab Raina's legs as the pink haired Heavyweight bounced slightly up off the mat from the impact of the slam, and wrap her legs around Raina's in the set up for a Figure Four Leglock that left the Heavyweight with practically no time to disrupt it. Then Tiki would drop down to her back and drive up her hips to secure the hold. "I hope you didn't think that just because your strong, that I would be weak," said Tiki.

Tiki's confidence grew as she controlled the start of the match. Even if Raina managed to beat her Leglock, Tiki wasn't worried because she had thrown in a clever catch to the hold with how it was positioned. Setting Raina up to be as far away from the ropes as possible before putting her in a hold was the obvious part. But if Raina managed to get one over on Tiki and reverse the Figure Four Leglock, the veteran would already be right in the corner for an instant rope break. The Heavyweight would get nothing out of a reversal beyond escape. Now Raina could use her strength to drag herself out to the middle of the ring before trying to reverse. But if Raina wanted to take the time, effort, and pain to do that when there wasn't even any guarantee that she would be able to get the reversal once they were in the center of the ring, then it would be fine by Tiki. Let her try, she thought.

Raina grunted and groaned as she was backed up into the corner and, with Tiki's shoulder driven into her gut the LAWless champ was unable to get the oxygen needed to power out of her opponent's grasp! 'Great I talked all that talk just to get dommed at the start. Not great.' Raina thought to herself as she then felt her leg grabbed and a arm loop around her waist as she was lifted up and thrown down to the mat hard with a spinebuster!

"Gah!" Raina yelled out in pain as she bounced off the mat before her legs were grabbed and picked up by Tiki, the limbs being crossed by the woman before before she fell back, locking in a figure four leg lock by the older woman! "Gahhh!" Raina yelled out in pain once again, this time much more prolonged given the sustained strain of the leg lock as well as Tiki's raised hips!

'Damn it!' Raina thought to herself knowing she had to do something to try and fight her way out of it. Looking around with gritted teeth Tiki saw how far she was from the ropes, as well as how close TIki herself was. 'So rope breaks and reversing are out. Not unless I drag myself away but screw that.' Raina thought to herself as she sucked a deep breath in to tighten her focus before suddenly placing her palms down on the mat before dragging herself and Tiki back an inch. Something that was easy for Raina given the raw power she had, especially since she was able to breathe again.

However the pull back wasn't to try and take Tiki farther from the ropes and Raina wasn't going to be going further back. Instead Raina just needed a little bit of space to get her rear end under her before trying to sit up. "Don't think that cause you got one over on me that I'm done!" Raina said as she swung her fist down on Tiki's leg, again and again, clubbing the woman's legs and, if Raina could manage the momentum she'd pull her arm back and swing it forward to slam a punch into Tiki's stomach to make her let go!

Tiki's Figure Four Leglock had Raina screaming in short order. But the Heavyweight still had plenty of fight left in her, as was to be expected. No one in their right mind would give up in a match and moment this big this early. At first it looked like Raina may just try to drag Tiki back and reverse like the veteran had been considering, but the Heavyweight was only propping herself up for how she would actually try to break free.

Raina's plan was to bash Tiki's leg until the greenette released the Leglock on her own. But Tiki wouldn't acquiesce so easily. After this, any advantage Tiki may have gotten from Raina underestimating and overlooking her would almost certainly be gone. So Tiki needed to milk as much as she possibly could out of her current advantageous position. Considering the Heavyweight could only muster a fraction of her strength to punch with since her lower body was restrained and unable to generate power for her blows, Tiki reasoned that Raina's leg was currently taking more damage than her own from the Leglock. So while the two wrestlers were trading damage, it was a trade in Tiki's favor. So the veteran was more than happy to hold on through the pain in her leg.

Tiki noticed Raina pull her body and fist back a bit more on one of her punches. Then when she saw Raina aiming not at her leg, but her body, the veteran wrestler tensed her abs to absorb the blow. But the Heavyweight's fist came up short of it's intended target. But this would actually turn out to be a stroke of luck for Raina. As what her fist did hit was a much better target: Tiki's crotch.

"AHH!" Tiki yelped as her hands went between her legs. The veteran's experience gave her the presence of mind to untangle her legs from Raina's to avoid giving her an extremely easy reversal. Tiki rolled onto her side for a moment, but then forced her body to stand as quickly as it could so she would have a better chance at defending herself once Raina assuredly went on the attack. Tiki was in pain and vulnerable, but the blow to her crotch had not rendered her immobile or incapacitated for Raina to simply impose her will on.

Raina had managed to escape Tiki's figure four relatively quickly. Not as quickly as she liked, but enough given the circumstances, although it wasn't exactly as planned. After all Tiki getting a low blow from Raina was definitely not what the larger woman had wanted... but she also wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth as she scrambled back and got her feet under her to get up to her feet.

Very quickly Raina realized that despite boasting Tiki was definitely going to be a hard opponent to defeat. Someone that would require some finesse and work to beat down enough to win. But that was fine with Raina, given her lazy nature people had tended to assume she couldn't handle such situations, but no, Raina absolutely could, especially when a title was on the line as big as the world championship.

So seeing Tiki up on her feet despite the low blow told Raina that she wouldn't be a damage sponge just yet.. after all to do anything but write in pain from a blow to the crotch was impressive, but to get up to your feet showed incredible resolve. But just as Raina had underestimated Tiki physically, the brawny girl was thinking that Tiki was likely underestimating Raina herself mentally...

Dashing forward Raina made it seem like she was going for a full frontal assault, arm reared back for a punch and everything! If Tiki played into this and readied for a frontal attack than Raina would look to surprise the older woman by ducking low, past whatever defense Tiki would try to get behind her and, if successful pop up to a full standing position before firing her arm back to drive that reared back arm of hers elbow first into the back of Tiki's head!

Should this move connect and stun Tiki then Raina would look to grab hold of Tiki's jaw while bracing the woman's back against Raina's shoulders before standing to bring Tiki off her feet! If successful Raina would aim to grab hold of Tiki's thigh as well, grabbing it and pulling down as well as her head in order to lock in a torture rack on the veteran! "One good submission deserves another? Don't ya think?" Raina asked mockingly if she got the move locked in, bending Tiki rather aggressively over her shoulders in the process!