A Valiant Debut: Belinda Northman vs Makie Akamatsu (D)

[Underdoggo]

In the change room, Makie Akamatsu took a deep breath. This was it: her grand debut in LAW.

She had been training to be a proper wrestler for more than a year now, and had done well in quite a few practice matches. She had even tagged briefly with Kyo back when he had been in one of the indy leagues. But this was different: not only was this her first, proper match, but it was headlining as part of a match league like LAW. To say that she had butterflies in her stomach was an understatement.

You'll do fine, she told herself. You're ready for this. You know what you're doing, and you'll be ready for whoever they pit against you. Somehow, Makie had difficulty believing herself.

She didn't have time to dwell on it much further, though: her music suddenly started outside, signalling that it was her time to enter the arena. With a deep breath, she strode out into the spotlight.

Spoiler

With "Lotus" by Dir en Grey began to play in the background, Makie strode down the ramp, and was greeted by the cheers of the fans at the sight of this relative newcomer. A lot of the other fans didn't seem to know what to make of this new girl, what with her red outfit, spiked black and white hair and slight frame, but Makie responded to the applause all the same with enthusiastic energy. Clapping her hands back at the fans, she strode down the ramp, hi-fiving people at the edge of the railing as she walked past. As she reached the ring, she broke into a run, and athletically backlipped up onto the ropes and, just to show off. The fans seemed to like that even more.

Slipping down into the ring, Makie realized her heart was pounding. It felt exhilarating, hearing a crowd of people she didn't know cheering her. Before she even realized it, she was smiling. This was why Kyo loved this sport so much, she knew. And it was why their dad had as well. A small part of her hoped that somewhere out there, her dad could see her now, in the ring, following in his footsteps.

Her attention snapped back to reality. She still had no idea who she was facing: she had told the management that she was ready to take on anyone in the roster, no matter how big, or skilled or experienced they were, she was not going to back down from a match. Now, standing in the center of the ring, she could feel an undeniable apprehension as she waited to see who her opponent was...

[Devastated]

While it wasn't often that it happened, Belinda was slated to face off against a newcomer today. It was rare but not unheard of, at this point the blonde had built up a pretty impressive career and record and could easily be considered a top contender in LAW. Though she had yet to get her hands on gold, she was fairly well known. Not just because of family, but she was really starting to carve out a reputation of her own! While some wrestlers in that level of play as Belinda was in might feel slighted at being thrown against a newcomer, Belinda herself found it quite exciting. She was given the chance to test out the new talent and maybe discover something new, perhaps even make a new rival! If there was one thing Belinda believed strongly in, it was that her rivals were what had pushed her to improve as much as she had since she came to LAW.

Spoiler

Following Makie's entrance was Belinda's! The crowd would cheer as her music started to play out of the speakers and with it Belinda appeared on the top of the ramp. Dressed in her blue and white two piece attire, with that crop-top jacket of hers. The hood was up and covering her head, as she would take to a sprint down the ramp. Going full speed down and then jumping up and diving into the ring between the middle and bottom ropes. She rolled up onto one knee and pulled her hood off, rising to her feet and throwing her right hand up into the air.

Walking around the ring as the crowd continued to cheer for the arrival of the fan-favorite baby-face wrestler, Belinda would finally end off her entrance by standing in the middle of her ring with her hands on her hips, turning around to face her opponent Makie. " You're the newbie? Girl, you don't look it. Can't wait to see what you've got." Belinda responded with a cheerful tone and a friendly smile on her face, she'd extend her rigth hand and offer a handshake to Makie.

[Underdoggo]

For a few seconds, the apprehension that Makie had been feeling grew and grew as she waited for her opponent, steadily transforming from apprehension to an anxiety that she found herself trying very hard to hide. She suddenly became conscious of just how many people were in this arena, and how many eyes were on her. Stop it Makie, she thought angrily to herself, her face reddening slightly to match her outfit. You've fought in an arena before. This is no time to be experiencing a little stage fright!

Yes, it was true she had fought in arenas before. Just...never any that were this big, or had this big of an audience, and never in a league with the brand name recognition that LAW had. Her heart was suddenly beating that much harder in her chest. I'm not ready for this, the voice of panic cried in her head. ImnotreadyforthisImnotready--

Ironically enough, the one thing that prevented a full blown panic attack in Makie at that moment was the timely arrival of her opponent.

Familiar music suddenly played, and then suddenly the audience burst into enthusiastic cheers as hooded newcomer came striding down the ramp. Said newcomer suddenly came bounding down the ramp, enthusiastically hi-fiving the fans, before rolling into the ring and pulling her hood down. It was only then that Makie realized, to her shock, just who she was fighting.

When she had told the management she was willing to take on anyone, no matter how tough they were, she hadn't expected them to pit her against Belinda Freaking Northman.

Belinda was one of LAW's superstars, of that there was no question. Makie had even followed a few of her matches, and had a lot of admiration for the hard-hitting Swede. And now here she was, about to face one of LAW's most celebrated wrestlers in her debut match. To say her heart was racing right now was an understatement.

And then Belinda was turning to face her. Even though Belinda wasn't exactly the tallest girl in LAW, it was still plain to see that her stature was greater than Makie's. At first, the rookie wrestler had no idea how to react as Belinda gave her a friendly welcome, complimented her, and extended her hand.

Shake it,idiot, she thought to herself. Don't lose face in your debut match!

For a brief moment, Makie's doubts were gone. Belinda's friendly tone did a lot to put them at ease, if Makie was honest. With a confident smile, she gripped Belinda's hand firmly. "Heh...don't worry, I plan showing you!" she replied, meeting Belinda face to face without faltering.

[Devastated]

Belinda tilted her head a bit as it seemed as if Makie might not accept her handshake. It took her a few seconds to make up her mind. Maybe she was thinking about cheap shoting her? Belinda couldn't really tell. Though the newcomer finally raised her hand and accepted Belinda's handshake. The Swedish-American would smile and nod her head in an approving fashion.

"Good! Let's make this a great match." The blonde spoke as she gave Makie a firm handshake. Belinda would break the handshake after a couple of seconds and then back off. Letting the referee call for the bell and start the match.

*ding ding ding ding*

Now that the bell had rung, Belinda would bend her knees, dropping down lower in her stance and raising her arms up. She'd begin to circle the ring and her opponent. She'd move forward, offering to start things up with a collar and elbow tie up.

[Underdoggo]

Makie kept up her confident smile even as she and Belinda shook hands. Inwardly, though, she was taking deep, steady breaths. The fact that Belinda was so affable and friendly, evenagainst a newcomer she probably felt she could easily defeat, did a lot to put Makie's mind at ease. With all that being said, she was still painfully aware that she was about to face one of LAW's superstars in her debut. Against anyone from the lower tiers, she might have stood a chance: against someone like Belinda, she had no chance of winning.

No, she told herself, that wasn't true. She absolutely had a chance of winning. She was going to make her friends and trainers proud of her in this match. She was going to make Kyo proud. And, if they were watching, she was going to make Mom and Dad proud. And even if she didn't win, she was going to make sure that Belinda remembered this match.

As Makie thought all of this, Belinda broke off the handshake, and the bell rang. Makie suddenly found herself automatically circling Belinda, and she focused on the match, watching her opponent's movements. The smiling Swede offered a lockup: grinning, Makie eagerly accepted.

Lunging in, Makie would aggressively push and tie against Belinda for a few seconds, gritting her teeth as she pitted her strength against that of the taller girl. After a few seconds, though, she would try to spin around behind Belinda and lock her arms around her toned waist, her chest pressing against her foe's back as she tried to squeeze Belinda from behind and unbalance her!

[Devastated]

The two wrestlers stepped forward and it looked as if Makie was going to accept Belinda's offering of a collar and elbow tie up. From the looks of it her opponent was rather eager to get this match going and Belinda wasn't about to hold it off any longer. When Makie lunged forward with that aggressive push of hers, the slightly bigger wrestler, Belinda would hold her ground. She grit her teeth and grunted out a bit as Makie pitted her strength against her. Though the blonde wasn't about to be pushed back, when that much seemed clear to the raven haired newcomer, Makie decided to change her tactics.

Suddenly the lock-up was broken off and her opponent swung around behind her. Her arms snapped around Belinda's waist and locked in a tight waistlock from behind. With Makie's breasts pressed against Belinda's back as she felt her foe shove against her and squeeze upon that waist of hers. Belinda grit her teeth, releasing a slight wince...then moved her hands down and looked to grab at Makie's arms. Grabbing by Makie's wrists and then sliding her hands up those hands, trying to pry that grip apart.

Relying on what she assumed to be her greater strength to try and break Makie's grip on her, if it worked out Belinda would quickly try and turn so her side was facing Makie and try to swing her arm up around Makie's head. Trying to pull the fellow short-haired wrestler's head right in under her armpit and go for a side-headlock, where Belinda would try and flex her arm and put a tight wrenching onto that cranium.

[Underdoggo]

Makie had been hoping to force Belinda down to her hands and knees, and maybe from there go for an armbar or something similar. Instead, however, just as before, the tall Swede just would not be budged. Makie gritted her teeth, putting all of her strength into trying to unbalance her foe...but then, slowly but surely, she felt her wrists being unwound from around Belinda as slowly pulled her arms apart.

And then, with alarming suddenness, Belinda swung her whole body around. The next thing Makie knew, Belinda's arm was clamping around her head and grinding it against her side in a headlock! Makie gasped, pawing at Belinda's arm, her faced going a deep shade of red from both the pressure around her skull and from the way the side of Belinda's chest was rubbing against her cheek.

Breathing through clenched teeth, Makie would grab for Belinda's wrist with both hands and twist sharply, hoping to unwind Belinda's arm or at the very least create enough space for her to slip her head free. If she managed that, then she would twist at Belinda's arm in a standing arm wringer, before trying to use her wristlock to flip Belinda down onto her back, hoping to drop down and latch her legs around the Swede's arm in an armbar!

[Devastated]

The blonde was able to pry apart Makie's grip of her waist and then quickly pulled away, slipping in beside Makie and then snapped her arm around the shorter wrestler's head. Pulling her into a tight headlock where she would clamp down with an impressive amount of force. After all, Belinda wasn't about to go easy on this newcomer, that wouldn't do her any favors.

She felt Makie try and alleviate the pressure, then suddenly she began to twist at the wrists of the blonde. Clicking her tongue, Belinda felt how her grip slipped enough for Makie to pull her head out from her headlock and freed herself. The blonde then got her arm twisted up into a painful armwringer, once more Belinda clicked her tongue. Yet, when she felt Makie try and guide her down, Belinda would try and use that to her advantage.

Belinda would swing forward and into a roll, trying to roll her arm out of the painful twist. Then suddenly swinging around still down on the mat, Belinda would try and snap her legs down around Makie's and go for a drop-toe takedown! Trying to pull Makie down onto the canvas on her front and hopefully pull herself up towards Makie's face where she'd try and snake her arms in under Makie's chin, keeping her hold of Makie's shin with her own legs as she'd attempt to go for an early STF submission hold!

[Underdoggo]

It was one thing to watch Belinda in the ring: it was another entirely to fight her in person, and get a sense of just how strong she was. Makie was certainly getting a sense of that as the Swede squeezed her in a headlock, making her feel like her head was going to pop any minute now. Even so, Makie barely suppressed a grin as she slipped free, turning the tables on Belinda with an arm wringer! Capitalizing on her position, Makie tried to flip Belinda to the mat...

...only to gasp in surprise as Belinda quickly turned the table on her, tripping her legs and causing her to fall forward! Makie barely managed to bring her arms up in time to catch her fall, but a second later Belinda was leaning against her, pinning her down against the mat, with her leg now trapped, and wrenching back on her chin! "NNngh...ttchhh..." Makie's teeth gritted as she pawed at the Swede's arms, trying to get free. It was early in the match, and she was not about to let herself be subjected to a debilitating submission hold now.

Grabbing for Belinda's wrist, Makie would try to twist and yank on her opponent's wrist, unbalancing her enough that she could throw an elbow back into her face or chest. If that failed, however, Makie would have no choice but to try to crawl, slowly and painfully, towards the ropes...

[Devastated]

Makie had been showing some pretty impressive in-ring talent so far, which only made Belinda want to show her what she could do! After all she was the LAW veteran here, she had to show what LAW was capable of bringing in terms of a challenge. So she went for it, an early debilitating submission move as she snagged the legs of Makie and dropped her down onto the canvas. She snatched a hold of her in that STF hold and began to put pressure on the fellow short-haired girl.

The red-clad Makie though wasn't about to just lie down and take it. She was quick in fighting back against Belinda's submission hold. Grabbing at her arms and trying to pry her grip apart, but Belinda was only tightening the hold in response. Trying to make sure Makie felt the difference in power between them. Then came the elbow! Smacking right into her chest and the next hit her right in the jaw. Belinda grunted out, shaking her head a bit as the blow had caught her by surprise.

Slightly frustrated, Belinda clicked her tongue and would relinquish the hold. Releasing Makie's head and leg, pulling back up onto her knees. She tried to back up and give Makie a bit of distance as she rose to her feet. Rubbing her jaw a little as she did.