Akemi Ishikawa’s Debut: Akemi Ishikawa vs Emily Nelson

[Weonna]

The arena lights dimmed as the familiar opening notes of "Rise" by Yoko Kanno began to echo through the speakers.

Spoiler

The crowd roared with excitement, knowing they were about to witness the return of Akemi Ishikawa. After six years away from the ring, she was finally back, ready to make her debut in L.A.W., and she had issued an open challenge to anyone brave enough to face her.

Spoiler

The screen above the ramp lit up with her name, and moments later, Akemi stepped through the curtain. Her lean, muscular frame moved with confidence and purpose as she made her way down the ramp. The spotlight followed her every step, highlighting her serious expression as she took in the cheers of the crowd.

Akemi paused at the bottom of the ramp, glancing around at the audience, a subtle smile crossing her lips as she heard the chants of her name. This was her moment—one she had been waiting for ever since she announced her comeback. She could feel the adrenaline coursing through her veins as the excitement of the crowd fueled her.

Climbing up the steel steps, Akemi entered the ring with the same grace and precision that had once made her a dominant force in Japan. She stood in the center, raising one hand to acknowledge the audience's cheers before stepping back to the corner. The music slowly faded, and the energy in the arena was electric.

The last six years had been long. The transition from wrestler to instructor, raising her daughter, and the heartache of losing her husband had reshaped her life. But now, standing here, she felt like she was exactly where she belonged.

Grabbing a microphone from the ring announcer, Akemi raised it to her lips, her voice calm but strong.

"I’ve been away for a long time, but I’m back. And I’m ready to prove that I still belong in this ring."

The crowd erupted in applause, fully behind her. She lowered the microphone, her eyes scanning the entrance ramp.

"So…who’s ready to step up? Who’s ready to face me? I’ve seen the messages. I’ve heard the words. Let’s see who’s brave enough to back them up."

Akemi handed the microphone back to the official, her heart pounding as she turned toward the stage. She knew her opponent had interacted with her on social media, but that hadn’t been enough to give her a clear picture of who she was facing tonight. The anticipation hung thick in the air as the crowd buzzed in excitement, waiting to see who would emerge from behind the curtain.

Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her body primed for action. Win or lose, this wasn’t just about the result—it was about proving to herself, to the fans, and to the wrestling world that Akemi Ishikawa was still a force to be reckoned with.

Now, all that was left was to see who accepted her challenge.

[Underdoggo]

And neither Akemi nor the crowd had to wait long to see who the mysterious messenger was.

"A blaring theme"v=MqYIWGAkNkk&ab_channel=MatijaLazovic suddenly started to play in the background, and the lights suddenly went dim. The crowd burst into cheering at that moment as violet-pink lights flared across the arena, and a familiar face came striding down the ramp, lavender hair swirling behind her. Emily Nelson had arrived. Smiling, the Scotswoman brushed her hair back and strode down the ring, her eyes meeting Akemi's even from a distance.

Spoiler

Years ago, when she had still been with Wrestle Angels, there had been a lot of talk that the roster was going to be expanded. This included the possibility of bringing on veteran talent from other federations, and Akemi ishikawa's name had been tossed around. It had been then that Emily had looked Akemi up, and had learned of just how talented, skilled, and above all fearless a wrestler she had been. Sadly, Wrestle Angels had not offered her a contract...but now, by some strange quirk of fate, here she was in LAW. Emily absolutely had to have a match with her.

Sliding under the middle ropes, Emily would stand to her full height opposite Akemi; without breaking eye contact from her, Akemi would motion for the ref to pass her a microphone, before raising it to her lips. "Aye, that would be me," she replied to Akemi; for the time being, her English accent was still coming to the fore. "I was the one who challenged you, Akemi Ishikawa. I've heard a lot about you. Heck, everyone here has heard a lot about you." She gestured to the crowd, who went wild in agreement.

"You are, and always were, one of the best," Emily went on. "Or at least, that's what I keep hearing. Would you care to show me for yourself, luv?" And with that, Emily lowered her microphone and waited for Akemi's reply.

[Weonna]

Akemi stood in the ring, her eyes narrowing slightly as the blaring theme filled the arena, and the dim lights flared to life with violet-pink hues. The crowd erupted into cheers, recognizing the arrival of Emily Nelson. The Scotswoman, with her signature lavender hair flowing behind her, strode confidently down the ramp, her eyes locked on Akemi's from across the distance. There was history here, even if their paths had never crossed until now.

Akemi stood her ground, expression calm but focused, as Emily slid under the middle ropes and stood to her full height before her. The moment felt charged, the energy in the arena palpable as the crowd continued to roar in excitement.

Akemi listened intently as Emily took the microphone, introducing herself with that sharp, accented voice. The admiration for Akemi's past accomplishments was clear, but so was the challenge. There was something in Emily's eyes that conveyed not just respect, but hunger—hunger to face Akemi in the ring.

When Emily lowered her microphone, the crowd waited, buzzing with anticipation. Akemi took a deep breath, letting the energy from the audience fill her. With a slight nod, she motioned for the referee to pass her the microphone, the same calm yet determined expression still etched on her face.

"So, it’s you…"

She began, her voice smooth but carrying an underlying intensity that drew the crowd in.

"Emily Nelson, the Scotswoman who's made quite the name for herself. I've heard the stories about you too, and I can see the fire in your eyes. But you want to know if the stories about me are true?"

Akemi slowly paced the ring, her eyes never leaving Emily’s.

"I've been out of this ring for a long time. But you’re right about one thing—I was, and still am, one of the best. I don’t just say that because of what I did in the past. I say it because I have *nothing* to prove to anyone… except myself."

The crowd erupted into cheers again, feeding off Akemi's words. She paused, letting the noise settle before speaking again, her voice rising with confidence.

"But since you're standing here, Emily, since you’ve come out to face me tonight—I'll show you. I'll show you, and everyone here, that six years or six days out of the ring, I’m still as sharp, as focused, and as relentless as ever."

She took a step closer to Emily, holding the mic firmly, eyes locked with her challenger.

"You want a fight? You’ve got one. But remember this—I didn’t come back to lose. So let’s give these people something to talk about!"

With that, Akemi tossed the microphone to the side, and the crowd roared louder, feeding off the energy she exuded. She raised her arms, motioning for the audience to get even louder, and they responded in kind, the excitement in the air reaching a fever pitch.

[Underdoggo]

Emily hadn't known what to expect from Akemi and her reaction. For the most part, she expected her to be nonplussed, maybe unimpressed. Maybe she might have recognized Emily as an earnest competitor and taken her seriously, maybe she wouldn't have. But the last thing Emily had expected was that Akemi had heard of her.

But to Emily's complete surprise, Akemi apparently had heard of her. No, not merely heard of her, but also heard of her reputation. The Scotswoman's heart pulsed with excitement, and it was all Emily could do not to let the surprise show on her face like some new girl fresh out of training. It was one thing to have Wrestle Angels know of her; it was another to be recognized by a veteran like Akemi Ishikawa. She remained outwardly aloof, though, as Akemi replied to her good natured trash talk with some of her own.

And then Akemi was tossing her microphone away and motioning for the audience to cheer, which they did enthusiastically. Putting her hand on her hip, Emily couldn't help but smile, vicariously enjoying Akemi's return to the ring and her re-introduction to the crowd. The moment Akemi was done, though, and had her attention turned back to Emily, the Scotswoman start to circle Akemi, watching her intently.

DING DING DING!

The moment the bell rang, Emily would circle, Akemi, hopping lightly on her feet as she raised her arms, motioning for a lockup...

[Weonna]

As the cheers of the crowd rang out, Akemi took a few moments to pump them up even more, turning to each corner of the arena and motioning for them to chant. The audience responded in kind, the familiar roar of the wrestling fans building a powerful atmosphere. Akemi could feel herself slipping back into the groove, the rhythm of the ring and the thrill of competition already rushing back to her.

When she turned back to Emily, she saw her opponent start to circle, light on her feet and eager to begin. Emily raised her arms, signaling for a lockup, but Akemi wasn’t going to give her that so easily.

DING DING DING!

As soon as the bell rang, Akemi's veteran instincts kicked in. She moved in, ducking low instead of meeting Emily head-on. In one fluid motion, she grabbed Emily’s wrist, smoothly using her knees to pivot behind her, slipping into a waist lock with ease. Akemi’s experience showed immediately as she tightened her grip around Emily’s midsection, pulling her close.

Spoiler

Before Emily could react, Akemi executed the next move. She bent her knees, using her leverage to pull Emily off balance and take her down to the mat. The Scotswoman landed on her stomach, but Akemi maintained control, holding her there with the waist lock firmly intact!

Akemi kept the pressure on, her body moving with
She leaned in, her grip firm but not overly aggressive, her voice barely audible over the roaring crowd.

"Let’s see what you’ve got, Emily. Show me why you wanted this."

Akemi shifted her weight, prepared for Emily’s inevitable counter, knowing this was just the start of what was sure to be an competitive match.

[Underdoggo]

The moment the bell rang, Emily's heart raced. She was thrilled at the prospect of fighting an honest, straightforward and skill-based wrestler such as Akemi, and more thrilled still at the prospect of fighting someone with as much ring experience and accolades as her. Even if she lost-- though she had no intention of losing-- it was still going to be an honour in and of itself to fight her. These were the thoughts going through Emily's head, at least, as she circled Akemi.

Except, as it turned out, Akemi had no intention of grappling Emily at all. Akemi rushed low, darting under her guard. The next thing Emily knew, Akemi's arms were wrapping around her waist, pulled in close against her foe. That was before Emily felt herself being lifted off her and taken down hard onto her front! "OOOPH!" Emily grunted wincing at this simple but effective takedown. Classic, clean, technical wrestling.

"Aye," Emily breathed, "I did." Feeling Akemi pressing down against her back, Emily responded by swiveling her legs, trying to get up into a sitting position even as Akemi squeezed her midsection. Gritting her teeth, she would grab onto one of Akemi's wrists with both hands and twist sharply, trying to break her Japanese foe's grip...and if she managed that, then she would rotate her body further, trying force Akemi down onto her front and using a knee to pin her foe's shoulder to the mat as she tried to lock in a wristlock!

[Weonna]

Akemi felt Emily respond with determination, the Scotswoman not giving her any time to settle into control. Akemi tightened her grip around Emily's waist, but she could already sense the resistance, feeling Emily shift her legs and wriggle into a sitting position. For a moment, Akemi's eyes narrowed, appreciating the quickness of Emily’s movements. She could already tell that her opponent wasn’t going to go down easily.

Just as she expected, Emily grabbed onto Akemi's wrist with both hands and twisted sharply, forcing her to break the hold. Akemi grunted slightly, her teeth clenched as she felt herself being rotated, Emily’s knee pressing against her shoulder, locking her into a wristlock.

The crowd cheered, recognizing the skill Emily displayed, and Akemi, though pinned momentarily, felt a flicker of admiration for her opponent.

"She's good,"

Akemi thought, her technical mind already working to find a way out.

Akemi grimaced as the pressure from Emily’s wristlock pinned her shoulders to the mat. The Scotswoman had expertly taken control, but Akemi’s years of experience had prepared her for moments like this. With the crowd watching intently, Akemi made her move.

Using her legs for leverage, Akemi pushed her hips up off the mat, arching her back into a strong bridge. The sudden upward motion forced Emily to shift her weight, momentarily relieving the pressure on Akemi's shoulders and allowing her to initiate her escape.

With the bridge established, Akemi twisted her torso, using her momentum to rotate her body and pull herself out of Emily’s grip. The crowd buzzed in anticipation as Akemi, with cat-like agility, transitioned smoothly onto her feet.

But she wasn’t finished yet.

As soon as she stood, Akemi executed a quick forward roll, seamlessly transitioning into a series of acrobatic movements. She rolled, flipped forward over her head, then she popped up into a handstand, all In an effort to keep her opponent guessing.

Before Emily could react, Akemi grabbed hold of her opponent’s arm, twisting it into a tight hammerlock. The crowd erupted into cheers as Akemi’s series of acrobatic and technical moves left her in full control, applying pressure on Emily’s’s arm with a confident smirk.

Spoiler

"You’re good... but let’s see how you handle this."

Akemi kept the hammerlock tight, her mastery of technique and acrobatics on full display as the crowd roared in approval.

[Underdoggo]

Emily was smiling now as she managed to reverse Akemi's grapple, twisting free of her little hug to come around and lock her in tightly with a wristlock. The hiss of pain that escaped Akemi's lips told Emily that her hold had done its job, and so she tightened the hold, no doubt adding to the discomfort of her Japanese opponent. Around them, the crowd cheered, excited by this display of skill from these two veteran wrestlers.

Emily knew that Akemi would try to escape, and the other girl didn't disappoint, using her hips to arch off the mat, unbalancing Emily ever so slightly...just enough to allow Akemi to slip free. Smart: that was exactly what Emily would have done. Moving smoothely, Emily rolled back up to her knees and feet, just as as Akemi did the same.

Except Akemi did not do the same, instead flinging herself forward with a handstand that took Emily by surprise...and then another flip, and another. The next thing she knew, Akemi had slipped past her guard and was now behind her, wrenching her arm back in a chickenwing hammerlock! A sharp gasp of pain escaped Emily's lips as she clutched her shoulder instinctively, as her arm was trapped behind her back. Again, very smart: Akemi's technical skills were incredibly sharp.

Emily's response was just as quick: she reached her free hand back, trying to get a hold of the back of Akemi's head, before dropping low, aiming to flip Akemi down over her shoulder onto her butt! If Emily managed that, then she would waste no time in kneeling behind Akemi, locking one arm around her throat and trying to trap her arm with the other as she tried to trap her in a rear naked choke hold!

[Weonna]

Akemi felt the sharp tug of Emily’s arm reaching back as she expertly slipped her free hand behind Akemi’s head. The sudden drop of Emily’s body signaled the quick counterattack, as Akemi was flipped over Emily’s shoulder, landing with a soft thud on her rear. The maneuver was executed flawlessly, a testament to Emily’s own skill as a grappler.

But Akemi had no time to admire the move, as Emily wasted no time in advancing. Before Akemi could regain her footing, she felt Emily's arm snake around her throat, locking her in a rear naked choke hold. The pressure was immediate, Emily’s hold tight as she tried to secure the submission. The crowd’s energy surged once more as they watched the back-and-forth between the two competitors, with Emily now in control.

Akemi felt the pressure around her neck intensify, but her experience and instincts kicked in quickly. Though Emily had her locked in tightly, Akemi managed to keep her composure. Akemi shifted her body, trying to create just enough space to free herself.

Though it wasn't easy, Akemi managed to break some of the tension on the chokehold, using her legs to push against the mat and twist her body slightly. It wasn't a clean escape, but she had bought herself enough time and room to maneuver out of Emily's grasp.

Now partially free, Akemi scrambled to get her feet under her, hoping to reverse the momentum before Emily could reapply the hold!

[Underdoggo]

Emily was breathing steadily as she applied the rear naked choke hole to Akemi, cinching the hold tightly to effectively cut off her opponent's air supply. To her credit, Akemi didnt do what most opponents did when being trapped in a sleeper-- namely, panic, struggle to escape, and waste a lot of energy doing so. Akemi remained calm, and didn't immediately try to escape, an action that immediately spoke to her years of ring experience.

And then, quite suddenly, Akemi pushed back hard on the mat with her boots, immediately pushing Emily onto her back. The action was enough for Emily's grip to loosen, which was in turn enough for Akemi to twist free and roll out of her grip. Instinctively, Emily didn't follow up but instead rolled up to her own knees just as Akemi did the same.

She smiled, and clapped as she stood up, encouraging the audience to do the same. "Care to try again?" she asked Akemi, circling her and motioning for another grapple.