Sanae Saitou vs Kennedy Lee — Standard Match

[Pegasus]

Lyra hugged Sanae back and tightly as she heard their shipping name all around the arena twirling her idol girlfriend in a circle. Sure, this wasn’t the most appropriate time to do this, but it was a moment of celebration for the couple and the fans wanted them to hear it. Lyra prevented Kennedy’s rules from being enforced and she could interfere all she wanted. The referee didn’t want the Selection to come down here and deal out the consequences of going against their wishes. Lyra had planned this out perfectly and she was getting what she wanted which was helping Sanae win this match and showing she was the better partner for her than Alizeh. It was a double win for her tonight.

Sanae broke the hug and told Lyra to keep an eye on Kennedy as Lyra looked over seeing the celebrity grit her teeth in pure frustration. Kennedy would’ve never thought these two lovebirds would be able to handle the tough combination of stature and muscle that Freya and Elm brought, but it seems this washed up and repetitive true love trope just had to come save the day. Kennedy spit on the ground in disgust as Sanae went to run at Freya hopping on the middle rope and then wrapping her legs around Freya’s head teetering both women over the top rope. Meanwhile, Lyra ran at a distracted Kennedy using the top rope to vault over into a Slingshot Crossbody outside onto the Glamorous One making the crowd go crazy as both women hit the floor!

However, even though Freya was sent over the ropes and her feet hit the floor, she had recovered in the time both Sanae and Lyra went straight after her sister. Freya held onto Sanae’s thighs lifting her high on the shoulders as she ran with Sanae on the lift up launching the idol princess into the barricade with a hard Powerbomb! Freya got booed hard as she screamed at Sanae and beat her chest, but that was when Lyra got on her feet quickly seeing her girlfriend in trouble and unleashed a battle cry running for Freya at full speed as she hit a spear to Freya right through the barricade breaking out into the crowd area as the crowd gasped in shock! Lyra rolled off Freya taking a necessary breather as she laid on her right side on the concrete.

“THIS IS AWESOME! THIS IS AWESOME! THIS IS AWESOME!”

[CaptainL]

Elm had been taken care of, and that just left Freya and Kennedy. Sanae just needed Lyra to keep her eye on the latter, and she would close in on Freya while she was stunned and vulnerable. As long as the fortune teller could keep Kennedy tied down, she wouldn't interfere - and nothing would stop Sanae as she grabbed the blonde's head and threw her weight over to the side, hurling Freya over the ropes and sending her sprawling to the ground below! The crowd was cheering louder and louder, and with it came a rush that could only leave Sanae's heart beating faster and faster off a spike of adrenaline. In spite of everything the Glamorous Coalition had done to rig this match against them, Sanae and Lyra were still rising above the odds, and they were fighting hard to win it all! And the effort they were putting forth was enough to get the whole arena rallied behind them!

Sanae looked on at it all with a beaming grin. It left her so energized and encouraged that she almost didn't realize that, even after she'd slung Freya over the ropes, she had still managed to catch herself on her footing at the last minute! When she felt Freya hoist her higher, Sanae's jaw dropped in a gasp. It seemed almost unthinkable that Freya's reflexes could be this good - good enough to catch herself even with Sanae's weight stacked on top of her shoulders! But moments later, she would hurl Sanae straight down against the ramp as she dropped down for a devastating powerbomb!

The green-haired idol dropped through the air with a scream - a scream that only grew louder when she crashed into the ramp with a loud, metallic clang. All the air was driven out of her lungs, and she fell limp then and there. But Freya still wasn't going to let her catch her breath - a moment later, she threw herself down on top of Sanae to lay into her with punches, knocking her left and right! She gasped and gagged as every impact sent her reeling one way and then the other!

"One! Two! Three!"

But Lyra would soon come to the rescue, hurling herself into Freya at top speeds and tackling her through the barricade! Sanae let out a gasp as she felt the weight suddenly rise off of her. She was free! She was still aching all over, but she was free! She rubbed at her head, gasping for breath; for a moment, she looked back at Lyra, and her eyes widened as she saw her out in the crowd with Freya. Her muscles firmed up with the impulse to go in and help her - but then, she shook that thought out of her head.

Lyra wasn't supposed to be in this match, and neither was Elm. This was supposed to be between her and Kennedy, and if that was the case, it was Kennedy she needed to direct her attention toward! Sanae looked back at the self-proclaimed Glamorous Queen, and there her eyes narrowed with laser-sharp focus. She couldn't let Kennedy out of her sights if she was going to play these tricks! She needed to bring the fight to her - and she'd do just that, as she hopped up to her feet, panting and sputtering, but still rushing toward Kennedy. As she came close, she would drop off her footing, and swing both feet at the downed Kennedy's head in the process to try and hit a basement dropkick! Hopefully, it would knock her head against the apron, which could only do more damage!

Spoiler

[Pegasus]

Kennedy had her goons taken out, but Lyra took herself out as well which meant it was back to the action with the legal two women in this match. Sanae was wise to just let Lyra have her rest after helping her and now, hopefully, this match could just be how it started. Kennedy saw the idol run for her and she still had cat-like reflexes to dodge as well as her predatory instinct still intact from her days in the jungle. Kennedy waited for Sanae to slide down and moved out of the way letting Sanae crash her feet right into the steel steps! That would surely crush her little feet and Kennedy could use the apron to get back to her own.

If Sanae was incapacitated by the steps, Kennedy would grab the top half and sent them tumbling off. She smacked the bottom half grabbing Sanae up and throwing the arm over her head gripping the tights of Sanae. She would then lift Sanae in a straight line to fall her back right on the exposed steel steps!

[CaptainL]

Sanae was grateful for Lyra's help in evening the odds between her and the Glamorous Coalition, but she also couldn't forget that this match was between her and Kennedy. Elm and Freya were just there as a distraction, but Kennedy was the one she really wanted. And now, her eyes would narrow in on Kennedy as she took off across the floor to close in on her. Now, she had Kennedy in her sights. She was down, shaken, and still vulnerable. If there was ever a time to strike, it would be now - and she wouldn't waste this opportunity!

"Four! Five!"

The count wasn't going to slow Sanae down one bit. Her determination would fuel her forward in a mad dash toward her foe - and, as she came within range, she would hop up from the ground and thrust her feet forward, attempting to intercept Kennedy with a double-footed stomp! Except that didn't quite go according to plan. Right at the last second, Kennedy ducked off to the side - and Sanae's kick would only strike the steel steps, driving the soles of her feet into the unforgiving metal!

A loud clang rang out, followed close behind with a scream as Sanae dropped to the ground. A searing pain shot through her whole body. She grabbed at her feet, trying to rub the pain out of them as her face contorted in a grimace. As long as she was blinded by the pain, Kennedy had the opportunity to close in. She grabbed Sanae and hoisted her into the air, prepared to bring her down. When the green-haired girl saw the steps of the arena beneath her, she let out a gasp.

"Six!"

But just then, as she was being lifted higher, a thought suddenly came to Sanae. She couldn't let herself be taken out like this! If she let Kennedy have her way with her, she'd come out of it all bruised and battered; she couldn't keep this up for much longer. If she took this blow, she wouldn't be able to keep up the fight. But was that really the message she wanted to send, now that she knew that all her fans were here, and cheering louder than ever before? Was she really going to lie down and concede to an opponent who had done so much to demean her? No - Sanae couldn't do that! No matter how much it might hurt, she owed it to her fans to give them the victory they were counting on her for!

As she was lifted higher, Sanae would suddenly swing out with her legs, trying to swing them into place around Kennedy's head. If she could get her thighs in place, she'd throw her weight to the side to try and drag Kennedy down, hopefully dropping her head-first onto the apron with a hurricanrana! Not only was it sure to hurt, it would also let Sanae roll back through the ropes and into the ring, resetting the count!

[Pegasus]

If Kennedy could apply more pain than ever to Sanae’s back with this Suplex on the stairs, it would surely give her an easy opening to finish this brat. However, it became evident that Sanae had more heart in this fight and it was certainly her fight to lose! Sanae moved her legs making Kennedy loosen the grip and Sanae dropped her legs around Kennedy’s neck flipping back sending the heavyweight tumbling on the floor with a Hurricarana to a huge pop! Kennedy was flabbergasted groaning as her back hit the padded floor and she went on her side huffing. The crowd cheered their hearts out as Sanae was looking like she was turning things ever more in her favor. She could actually defy odds once again like she did at Apex!

Sanae saved herself rolling in at a count of eight, but the referee couldn’t count Kennedy out thanks to her rules. Kennedy got up as Elm also got back on her feet climbing the apron glaring daggers right at the pop idol. Kennedy quickly ascended the apron and lifted a hand to stop Elm as Elm stared at her boss in confusion.

“I need someone to counter if those freaks show up and you’re better off helping your sister. This little green shitstain is mine to finish!” Kennedy exclaimed.

Elm nodded as she backed up and walked around the ring running to go help Freya. However, Kennedy entered the ring and squared up to Sanae right as the lights went further into darkness! The crowd was frightened and their cheering for Sanae died down as they knew the Selection had their own stake in this match thanks to Lyra. They supposed it meant that Sanae won, but even they knew Sanae preferred doing this match herself and would probably fight off the Selection rather than accept their help. The lights came back on and they were there!

The Jackals surrounding Elm, Cecilia and Skye near the ramp, the masked figure standing in-between Sanae and Kennedy, and Kanon just standing atop the barricade making herself known as chief disciple. When their master wasn’t around, Kanon was the head leader and her orders would be what they followed!

[CaptainL]

Perched on top of Kennedy's shoulders, and about to crash down into the steel steps, Sanae only had a few short moments to make her move. But if that was the case...she was going to make her time count! Right before Kennedy could throw her off balance, the green-haired girl threw her weight over to the side, pulling Kennedy down along with her. There her head struck the apron with a loud clang, just as Sanae slipped through the ropes and back into the ring! The arena burst out into cheers - right when it seemed all was lost, Sanae had yanked herself free from the clutches of certain defeat. She'd dealt a glancing blow to Kennedy, and now she had ensured she was still in the match! She had rolled over to her side, catching her breath, but as she began to sit up straighter, a smile crossed her face. She could still win this after all! Even when Kennedy entered the ring, Sanae looked up at her with a defiant glare. No matter who stood in her way, she was here to prove she wouldn't go down that easily.

But it wasn't Kennedy that would take the wind out of Sanae's sails. It was something else entirely. Just then, the lights cut, and the arena suddenly went dark. And, at that moment, Sanae's jaw dropped in a gasp as a chill ran through her whole body. She knew exactly what this meant. This match was just supposed to be between Kennedy and herself - it was how she would prove she could stand up to her, and that she wouldn't allow the blonde to push her around any more. When Lyra entered the fray, she wasn't too concerned - she figured she was just acting as her girlfriend. But now, she knew, the Selection had set their sights on this match. And now, all bets were off. Whatever agenda they had, it was clear that Sanae's wishes weren't a priority. They were only out for themselves. Sanae might well be as much of a target to them as Kennedy was - and she did not want to wait and see what they had in mind for her.

As the lights came back on, and Sanae looked around to see the members of the Selection all around her - one of them in between her and her opponent - she gasped, shaking her head. "No...no-!" she shouted. The confidence was gone from her voice, and her whole body shuddered in terror. This wasn't what she had wanted at all. "Please, this...this isn't what I wanted! You don't have to be here!"

She tried to get a word in edgewise, but her pleas would fall on deaf ears. Kanon raised her hand, pointing a finger toward the ring as she watched with a stoic, unblinking eye. All of them understood what they were to do, without a single word being spoken. Saka and Miza struck at Elm then, both of them kicking up their legs with a simultaneous superkick, while Roxanne turned to Freya and ran after her, grabbing her head to tackle her down for a bulldog. Meanwhile, Cecilia strolled calmly up to Lyra and offered her hand. But Sanae could only look on at it all, frozen in terror. Whatever happened next...she would have no way of affecting it, or even of understanding it!