Ryu Hiroshi vs. Valley Doll III - Smells Like Teen Spirit

[BlackAkuma]

***

Match Type
Standard
Victory Conditions
Pinfall, Submission or KO.

***

”So you studied up on him, right?”

”Yeah. Looked over everything you sent me.”

”Not too intimidated, are you?”

”Not really. He’s good, sure. But I know I can beat him.”

”Do you ‘know’ that or do you ‘think’ that? Because those are two very different things, dear.”

Valerie exhaled, a long sigh, as she looked over to her mother - or, more accurately, the picture of her mother on the phone, coming through on Facetime with questionable clarity. Even through the phone, she could see that look in her mother’s eyes - that concerned, serious look, the one she got anytime she was worried one of her children was getting in over their heads. Which was too often, with Garfield in the mix.

Today, though, she had good reason to worry. Valerie wasn’t just anywhere, she was in the backstage of LAW during one of their shows. She wasn’t just here for any reason, but to participate in a wrestling match, her first match for the promotion. And she wasn’t up against just anyone, she was set to do battle with Ryu Hiroshi. In an untelevised dark match before the actual show started, but still.

It was one heck of a way to start, and she was highly cognizant of that fact. She wished her parents could’ve been there, but they’d thrown her on the card at the last minute, and scheduling conflicts muddled things up.

”I know, Mom.” She gave her a quick nod, then went back to her current task, making sure that her boots were properly laced. These were different shoes than the ones she wore when amateur wrestling, and the absolute last thing she needed was to trip on her shoelaces in her debut. This was more than just an exhibition. Upper management would be watching her, evaluating her, seeing if she was everything her mother hyped her up to be. She couldn't afford to miss. Not here. ”Really, Mom, I appreciate the concern, but-”

”I get it, honey. Trust me, I get it.” There was a warmth in her mother’s voice, the kind and caring tone that she’d come to crave growing up, and as much as she would’ve loved to just sit there and revel in it, she knew better. This wasn’t the time to reminisce, it was the time to focus. ”And I know how you are. I’m glad you’re serious about this, but don’t get too serious okay? It’s an important match, but don’t let that get to your head.”

Too late, and they both knew it. ”I won’t, Mom. It’s just a match, I know. I’ve had plenty of those.” With her laces secure, she stood up and rotated her shoulders, getting the kinks out. ”No pressure. No pressure.”

”No pressure.” Her mother blew her a kiss, smiled, and gave her trademark wink. ”I love you. Go do your thing, Valley Doll.”

It might not have been much, but those words stuck with Valerie as she made her way out of the curtain, coming out on the stage while her theme music blared all around her. The audience’s reaction was tepid at best, with many of the seats empty. A good chunk of the audience hadn't even shown yet, and that made sense. They weren’t here to see her.

VDIII

That was just how she wanted it. If she was going to do this, she was going to do it right, starting at the bottom and working her way up. She wasn’t going to hide from her name, but she wasn’t going to throw it in everyone’s face, either.
Never one to wait long, Valley made her way down to the ring and promptly slid in under the bottom rope, popping to her feet and throwing her fist out to the crowd. She contemplated doing a little more to get them on her side and inject some life into the stands, but she nixed the idea and made her way over to her corner, instead. Better to keep her mind on the task at hand, save her showboating for after she won. If she won.

Valerie leaned against the pads, grabbed the ropes, and gripped them tight, waiting for her music to die down and her opponent’s to begin. Ready to go.

♪So are you gonna die today or make it out alive?
You gotta conquer the monster in your head and then you'll fly
Fly, phoenix, fly
It's time for a new empire
Go bury your demons then tear down the ceiling
Phoenix, fly♪

[Teenwrestler]

Tonight was an interesting night for the Dragon himself. The veteran of the ring, Ryu Hiroshi, was sitting on a bench in his locker room while looking at himself in the mirror. He had a stoic look on his face, he took this time to remember his own humble beginnings and what he had achieved in his illustrious wrestling career. Now, at 40, at the tail end of his wrestling career there was nothing more he could do to elevate his wrestling career but instead keep going as he had done so in the past for a steady end of his career. That is all what a wrestling legend would want, an end that would befit their glorious wrestling career but here he was....sitting and waiting for a untelevised wrestling match a nineteen year old rookie wrestler.

He had already changed in his wrestling gear and was so deep in thought he almost did not hear the knock on his door to signa that it was his time to head out. Letting out a heavy sigh he would get up and grab his wrestling boots, putting them on and lacing them up. Normally, he would never even accept a match against someone he thought he was so green but there was something different, something special about this one. She was not just your ordinary young wrestler but behind this opponent was a legacy. The legacy of Valley Doll.

Ryu Hiroshi

Ryu was quite aware of Valley Doll II and her accolades, a wrestler that he very well respected and thought highly of. However, he was not going to let the girl before him piggy back off the success of her mother and claim to be a big shot without having earning it herself. The Dragon would be her first test to see if she had the grit and fortitude to carry forward the legendary name that was handed to her. There was no easy paths and Ryu was going to make sure that if she was not ready for this, she was going to get a huge reality check.

After Valley's music faded away, Ryu's theme would cue and the Dragon made his entrance to the ring. Many recognized the veteran wrestler as he made his way down the ramp, rolling his shoulders while maintaining his serious, stoic look. Stepping up the ring apron, he would enter the ring and quickly make his way to the corner to grab the ropes and use them to stretch them downwards while he did some squats to limber up. Finally, he would turn his attention towards the blonde as he made his way to the middle of the ring.

"Valley Doll. I hope you won't let that name get to your head. You haven't earned the respect of anyone here and don't think that name is going to get you any either. I will not lose to a rookie no matter what legacy they carry" he would say, lecturing her.

[BlackAkuma]

”Okay.”

It might not have seemed like much of a response to what this man just said, essentially accusing her of coming into this business and trying to coast by on nepotism, but Valerie decided it was about all that his little speech deserved. She had already made peace with the fact that she would be viewed as a third generation talent, that people would accuse her of skating on nepotism, and that a certain segment would be against her from the start.

She did wish it wouldn’t come from the likes of Ryu, but here they were. She was fully aware of the man’s pedigree, knowing that she would have her work cut out for her tonight. Experience, powerful, and not so old that his body had started to fail on him, he would’ve been a challenge for any worthy wrestler. For someone just starting out? A daunting task. But then, she hadn't come to LAW to take it easy. She wanted real competition, and here it was.

Bemused, she stepped to the middle as well, nodded his way, then dropped into her grappling stance. Arms out, knees bent, bouncing on her heels, ready to go at a moment’s notice.

”I’m good to begin, Hiroshi-san.” She took a deep and locked eyes with him. ”Unless you had more you’d like to lectur me on, first. It’s up to you.”

[Teenwrestler]

Her response was something that he totally did not expect. It took a moment for him to even gather his thoughts on what just happened. There was no resistance, no back talk, no denial or even snappy comeback. Instead, the young wrestler would look back at him and would respond with simply "Okay". Whether that was an acknowledgment of what he had just said or just a quick brush aside on his lecture to get down to business was not known to Ryu which is why he took some time to understand what her true intentions were with that simple yet vague response.

He was going to, however, give her the benefit of the doubt and took her response at face value without attributing any disrespect aimed at his direction. His belief was further solidified when she would make her way out of her corner, walking to the middle of the ring while nodding at his direction. She used the proper honorifics and addressed him with respect which, in return, made the veteran respect her internally but would not show it outright.

"Hmm" he silently stared at her, watching her get ready into her grappling stance. Without a word, he would mimic Valley's stance and then suddenly charge at her aiming to engage the blonde in a grapple battle. His aim was to power though her, locking up in the clinch and trying to push her back into the same corner she came out of.

Her test had begun, could she weather the storm?

[BlackAkuma]

Valerie was, needless to say, glad that he didn’t take her up on the offer to keep talking. Not that she couldn't have thrown plenty back at him if she’d been so inclined to verbally spar, but she had little patience for that sort of competition, even if she could win it. Whatever opinions the man had on him, she wouldn’t dispel them by engaging in a conversation that 99% of the audience would never hear. She would prove him wrong by pinning his shoulder to the mat for three seconds.

Or making him submit, alternately, though she was less confident in that route.

The bell rang and Ryu came her way straight on, meeting her in a lock-up and throwing some real power into it. Valerie was no weakling, strong for her weight class, but there was just no competing with a man of his size. She put up some resistance at first, but it only held for a couple of seconds before she was inexorably forced back towards the ropes.

It wasn’t the place where she wanted to be, but that wasn’t to say she was out of options. She waited until they were with spitting distance of the corner, then threw herself to the side, abandoning the tie-up altogether and falling to her side. She threw her legs out as she tumbled, caught Ryu’s calves between them, twisted to the side and tried to make him trip up and fall into the turnbuckle with a drop toehold.

[Teenwrestler]

There was going to be no more talking, at least for now. Valerie had earned a little bit of respect from the Dragon who was going to now see if she was ready to take on the wrestling world with the shadow of her legacy looming over her. Truth to be told this was a double edged sword. With a wrestling lineage came endless opportunities and a head start over the rest but it also came with the heavy weight of expectation set by the same legacy. Ryu was going to test her resolve, her determination....whether she was up for the task.

For that reason, he would charge head on towards her and engage in a rather aggressive grapple testing if she would rise up to the challenge or fall. She had a decent start, meeting him in the lock up and pushing back. For a few seconds, there was a stalemate between the two but that was soon ended when he began to assert himself in the grapple and began to push her back inch by inch. She was closing down on the turnbuckle now, almost being pushed back against it when suddenly she broke up the tie-up and threw herself to the side.

"Tch, N-Nani?!" he gasped, suddenly found himself being tripped up by her drop toehold maneuver. His back smacked against the turnbuckle and he gripped the ropes to either side of the turnbuckle to prevent from falling down completely. Ryu gritted his teeth, showing a hint of anger and frustration.

[BlackAkuma]

That takedown was textbook, and there were a lot of ways Valerie could’ve capitalized on it. She could’ve shot her foot out and smashed his face against the pads. She could’ve caught him from behind and thrown him with a suplex. She could’ve pulled him into a chokehold and worn him down.

Instead, she gave his back a quick pat and moved away, back towards the center of the ring, giving him all the space he could’ve asked for to get back up.

To the naked eye, it likely looked as if she were taunting the man, and that wouldn’t be completely untrue. But, really, it was more a matter of wanting to get his full measure. She wasn’t ready to commit to anything serious yet, knowing that he might punish a big mistake. A little catch-and-release to start with, just warming up, feeling him out.

She made her way back to the center of the ring and dropped back into her stance, motioning for him to try her again. Ready to go once again, she stayed light on her toes, keeping a sharp eye out for his next move.

[Teenwrestler]

With a gasp and yelp of surprise, the Dragon was pushed into the turnbuckle thanks to that clever little drop toe hold by his opponent. She used her legs to trip him forward but he managed to grab onto the ropes to the side to protect him for a bump. He maintained composure and his footwork by staying up on his feet but had his back turned towards the rookie wrestler. He braced for impact but oddly enough, it never came. Instead, he felt a light pat on his back and nothing else. "Huh?" he was surprised and quickly turned around, facing Valley who had backed up towards the center of the ring.

He raised his eyebrow and began to stretch his neck, roll his shoulders to get the kinks out while walking back to the middle of the ring. "Why?" he asked, raising his arms up and bending low to match Valley's stance. He wasn't mad or felt humiliated, he also did not feel any intention of dis-respect from Valley when she did that but he was still curious as to why she chose to do what she did.

Getting in closer, he lunged in for what seemingly another lock-up, but this time he would instead try to slip behind her and feign the grapple. If he managed it, he would try to wrap his arms around her waist from behind and squeeze to trap her in a waistlock.

[BlackAkuma]

Valerie focused on Ryu as he came her way, looking more determined than before, and perhaps a bit flustered. Neither of which were bad things, in her estimation. She wanted him to take her as a serious threat, and if he was a bit riled before they even locked horns, that would leave openings for her to exploit.

More than anything, he seemed curious, still trying to figure her out, which she took as a good thing. She had every intention of keeping him guessing all the way to a three count.

Ryu came in with arms ready, looking to lock up again, and she was all-too willing to meet him head on once more. This time, however, he had something special to go along with it, though, as he moved around her with surprising quickness and caught her with a waistlock.

Not bad, not bad, but Valerie didn’t panic. First, she kept her legs wide, creating a good base. With that established, she pushed against Ryu’s grip, trying to break it. As soon as she was free, she’d spin around, get behind him and apply a waistlock of her own, gripping him tight and pressing against his back.

[Teenwrestler]

He was still trying to figure her out and it was no surprise that she would not give him an answer. She wanted to keep him guessing as to why she did what she did. The Dragon also pondered on her wrestling style, it was not the same as her mother which made him think who was her trainer? He came out of the corner towards her, focused on her stance. She did not back down, instead she looked ready to lock horns against him once more. She had already lost the first grapple battle yet here she was, ready to accept his challenge again once again head on. That made him respect her internally, she chose her own wrestling style which showed signs that she was her own wrestler.

Lunging at her, he skipped the head on grapple and went for a waistlock. He squeezed hard and pressed against her back, immediately noticing that excellent from she took by widening her stance and quickly grabbing his hands to push them down and eventually break it. Impressive! What was even more impressive that she spun around and trapped him in the waistlock, now the tables had turned.

Ryu would not panic either, he grabbed her wrists and began to push back into her so that she would be pressed against the turnbuckle and be sandwiched against the corner and Ryu's body. He continued to push back into her, grinding his back against her front while looking to break out of the grip. By this time, the referee would get next to them and encourage to break it up and move away from the corner.

For such a young wrestler, she was showing experience beyond her age.