Sumiko vs Deku - The Journey Begins

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Apex Qualifier/Standard Match: Victory to be awarded via pinfall, submission, knockout, countout, or disqualification. All standard pro wrestling rules apply. At the end of the match, the judges presiding over it will rule whether or not the match is deemed worthy of being a Qualifier Match for the LAW Apex Event.

Sumiko had been living her dream at LAW taking on opponents of all shapes and sizes and from all walks of life. In the moments before this Apex Qualifier match began, the commentators at the announce desk at ringside talked up how she had found rivals in women like Hana Harada and Stephanie Renaud "The Baroness". It was common knowledge that Sumiko was not one to shy away from competition. So, of course, she wouldn't shy away from the chance to do this Apex Qualifier against Deku or against anyone!

Like many other women on the LAW Roster, Sumiko wanted to live not just her dream, but THE dream! The dream of becoming LAW World Openweight Champion and cementing herself as one of the best! And the first step to making the dream into a reality began with her first Qualifier!

Sumiko

The fans cheered as Sumiko's music came in and as the lightweight powerhouse made her appearance! Win, lose, or draw, Sumiko always made it her business to give every match 110 percent! And she aimed to continue delivering on that promise tonight! She flexed and high-fived fans on her way down the ramp! Upon entering the ring, Sumiko let out a battle cry!

"I'm taking my first step towards Apex! You'd better be ready, Deku! I intend to make a strong impression!" Dreamer would boast before leaning against her corner and watching the entrance ramp expectantly in anticipation of her opponent's arrival. She paid little attention to the judges in the front row. She focused all her attention on her scheduled opponent for tonight!

[Bare]

Deku took a deep breath in anticipation. Tonight felt like a big fight night he wouldn't lie, what with this being a apex qualifier he was competing in. Granted it's not as if he was actually eligible to compete in apex itself, this was purely for his opponent. In a way however thats part of what made him nervous though. What if he under performed? What if he wasn't able to go the time necessary? This and that all making him worry.

Even if he hadn't met Sumiko before she seemed like a nice enough person from what he had heard, and the last thing he wanted to do was cost a qualifier. "Calm down.. calm down.. just focus on the match." Deku said softly to himself as he walked towards the guerilla position. He couldn't allow himself to get so worked up, but he couldn't help it, he just hoped that once the match started adrenaline would assuage his worries.

Spoiler

As his music started Deku came out with as confident a smile as he could muster on his face while waving to the fans he had managed to make while in LAW. Wearing his usual sleeveless green shirt and baggy pants with red wrestling boots Deku at least looked ready for a fight, even if he wasn't quite ready emotionally.

Spoiler

Either way he would make his way down the ramp with as close to a confident smile as he could muster right now until he made it to the ring. Hopping between the ropes and standing across from his opponent Deku would look her over carefully for a moment.

'She definitely looks confident.. and pretty in a athletic way.' Deku thought to himself before shaking his head and approaching her. "Hey. Here's to a good match." He said with a friendly smile, wanting to start this bout with Sumiko off on the right foot while holding out his hand for a handshake between them.

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Both Sumiko and Deku were in very different headspaces coming into this matchup. Both with something to prove. In Sumiko's case, her candidacy for the Openweight Title, in Deku's case, his ability to put on a good showing and to prove himself worthy of his spot on the roster and of being an opponent for Apex participants.

Sumiko reacted to Deku's entrance with a look of determination and conviction. Where Deku seemed to be struggling with maintaining an air of confidence, Sumiko met his gaze and his presence with a happy, resolute fist pump and smile!

The young man approached and offered a handshake. Sumiko would grip his hand surprisingly firmly. Noting the state her opponent was in and the soft tone he spoke with, Sumiko would try to psych him up!

"Good?! It's gonna be GREAT!" The brunette's voice boomed as she leaned her head in towards Izuku and smiled. Sumiko doubled up her fists as she tried to get some of her pep and energy to rub off on her opponent!

"People underestimate the men at LAW. No one out there is expecting you to wow them. But you're going to succeed despite all of that! You're going to them and me exactly what you're made of! Isn't that right? Izuku?" Sumiko would say with gusto as her starry eyes met Deku's own!

[Bare]

Deku had entered the ring somewhat tentatively and apprehensively. Something that wasn't exactly off brand for him given his well known confidence issues. Something that was picked up on by his opponent which of course Deku realized and expected teasing about.

In quite a contrary stance however Deku would receive the total opposite as instead he found Sumiko trying to hype him up instead! "Oh uh.. Thanks" He said with a slight blush, not actually expecting such a positive reaction from her, or such a loud one, even initially flinching from the encouragement.

That wasn't to say he didn't appreciate it however. In fact he really admired that Sumiko was willing to hype him up, or at least try too prior to their match. It was a good sign of sportsmanship and it definitely made him feel a bit better about competing in Apex, even if only as a qualifier opponent.

Taking a more ready stance he wold nod at her with a bit more confidence to his face and stance. "Yeah, I'm going to do by best period Sumiko, and I already know you will as well." He said to her, there was definitely still some hesitance from him, but he was now at least trying to match Sumiko's boundless energy while waiting for the bell to ring.

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Though she did it in her own way, Sumiko managed to perk the boy up. She hopped in place. She nodded upon hearing Deku's words. She smiled widely.

"Darn right you are!" The lightweight would keep up the boisterous attitude. She'd ready herself by getting into a stance with her feet wide and her arms in front of her, ready to grapple!

Sumiko would nod to the referee to communicate that she was ready! The moment the bell rang, the brunette curled her fingers and gestured towards her opponent to invite him to lock up with her!

"Deku! Come at me!" She'd declare!

If Deku did indeed approach, Sumiko would look to plant her feet and lunge forward to place her hands on his shoulders and attempt to push him into the nearest corner of the ring!

[Bare]

Even if it took a bit of uplifting from his opponent to get there Deku was officially fired up... Mostly. He was still definitely a bit nervous, but now he was at least more into things than before.

So bending his knees and setting one foot ahead of himself Deku would get his fists up in front of himself, ready and willing the moment the bell would ring for them to start.

The moment it did so Deku would push forward the same time as his opponent, the two meeting in the middle of the ring for the first clash between them!

"No problem!" He'd shout right back at Sumiko after her own declaration, meeting her head on, his hands meeting her shoulders the same time hers met his!

Immediately he would try and push against her, trying to overwhelm and push her back. Even as he did so though, he was finding out first hand how powerful the brunette was, because even while giving it his all he was slowly but steadily getting pushed back by her!

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The complexion of this match would be quite different if Deku had been booked against someone that was willing to exploit his doubts and uncertainties. Sumiko saw no merit in fighting someone who couldn't bring out their best. She helped perk the young man up and help him find his fighting spirit!

The bell rang and Deku had taken a fighting stance similar to Sumiko. The crowd roared as the two closed the gap between them and met in the center of the ring!

"Rrrr!" Sumiko would grunt with effort as she placed hands on Deku's chest and shoulder to try and force him back in much the same way he had pushed against her.

Sumiko was no slouch when it came to putting strength versus strength, especially for a woman in LAW's Lightweight Division! But Deku was no pushover either! With his size and weight advantage, he was able to begin forcing the brunette back! Sumiko grit her teeth and tried to stand firm, but it wasn't long before she had been pushed back near the ropes!

"Not yet!" The girl would roar as she looked to shift gears by pulling her opponent in and switching places with him! If Sumiko managed to bring Deku behind her, she'd force his back against the ropes and send him running with an Irish Whip across the ring! She'd then follow up by running after him with the hopes of meeting him in the center of the ring and lifting her knee! Sumiko would aim for the boy's chiseled midsection as she tried to floor him with a Kitchen Sink!

[Bare]

Deku had to admit he was thankful Sumiko seemed to be positive type, even if it was somewhat embarrassing to get a pep talk from his opponent, but he appreciated it none the less and he wasn't about to let that kind gesture go unthanked. So he would clash with Sumiko with all he had!

Meeting the girl in the center of the ring and testing might against one another. Shoving and jockeying for control it became apparent almost immediately that the two were near an even match in terms of power, but Deku's height at least seemed to give him just enough of an edge to push her back.

Nearly having her against the ropes Deku was already preparing for his next move, knowing he would only have a split second opportunity. Before he could take it though Sumiko acted first, suddenly switching their positions and pulling on his arm to send him running at the ropes with an Irish whip!

'Shoot!' Deku thought to himself as he went running, already knowing he wouldn't be able to slow himself down as he hit the ropes and rebounded back towards his opposition. Knowing she would likely have a plan in mind, likely a clothesline or something Deku would try and jump forwarding, hoping to instead meet her with a make do splash.

Unfortunately however Deku misjudged what she would do and rather than crash into her torso he instead made it easier for her knee to crash into his gut while providing momentum for his body to flip over her leg and crash back onto the mat with thud whilst groaning in pain from the clever move.

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Sumiko struggled with Deku for control! Though she tensed to rely on her surprisingly resilient and strong physique for her size, she took initiative here by reacting to the boy's movements and directing him to the ropes! Before Deku could make proper use of his momentum from the Irish Whip, Sumiko closed the gap and floored him with Kitchen Sink!

The crowd roared as the brunette stood over the fallen Deku! She balled her fist and raised it to acknowledge the cheers before turning her attention back to her fallen opponent.

"No rest, Deku! Not until the bell rings!" The girl would demand as she squat down to pull Deku up from the canvas.

Sumiko would straddle Deku and stand over him. She'd hoist him up by the fabric of his form-fitting top and look to turn him around so that she could try to bend him towards his side and apply an Abdominal Stretch hold! Should the momentum remain in her favor, Sumiko would bend and twist Deku! She'd add further punishment to his core by occasionally swinging her free arm in an arc to drill him with the occasional fist to the abs!

"Dig deep, Deku! Summon your strength and power out of this! Ngh!" Sumiko would stop to spur her opponent on before looking to swing at his core again while working the hold!

[Bare]

Deku had been motivated by his opponent, and given the stakes of apex, even as a male competitor, he knew she was right, he had to give it everything he had! So he would charge after her, locking up and pushing against her, doing his best to meet her in strength and gain an advantage!

But Sumiko quickly proved to be more than a gym rat with a lot of spunk. Rather she would was actually rather clever, whipping Deku into the ropes and bouncing off them before getting nailed on the rebound with a kitchen sink!

"Gah!" Deku yelled out in pain as he was dropped down onto his back. But Sumiko wasn't gonna be done just yet. Giving another motivational cry she would bend down, grabbing Deku and pulling him up to his feet before turning him at an angle, bending his body in a painful abdominal stretch! "Nghhhh! Gah! Gah! Aghhh!" The hold itself was painful enough on it own, but Sumiko would soon add to it with the occasional punch to his side which sent shockwaves up Deku's body from the pain.

'Damn it... I have to do something.' Deku thought to himself, already thinking of a plan, even without Sumiko's words spurring him to action as he thought of a plan as fast as he could.

Knowing he had an arm free he would suck in a breath and look up at Sumiko's own free arm. Watching and waiting as Sumiko swung down for another punch. Reaching up he would try and catch her arm by the wrist as she swung again, if successful Deku would then try and twist his body while pulling on Sumiko's arm in an effort to pull Sumiko over and flip her over him to break the hold!

If Deku had managed this than he would even try and make the most by throwing his legs over Sumiko's body and pulling on his foe's arm, trying to secure a cross armbreaker on his opponent!