Emily Carter vs. Hikaru Sawazaki

[Highfly]

Match Type: Standard

Hikaru was back in action again and she was feeling bit introspective. She made it to the locker room and set her stuff down, going for a walk around the backstage area before returning, letting her mind wander.

She returned a while later, hearing up for her match. She was up against a newer woman and she was going to do her best to emerge victorious tonight. Before she k ew itnher music was playing and she began to make her way to the ring, walking down the ramp whime waving to the crowd. She made it to the ring, walking uo the ring steps to the apron before climbing through the ropes and standing in the ring awaiting the arrival of Emily.

[The_Queen]

Emily’s music hit, a bright burst of pop and energy, and the crowd immediately erupted. She strutted down the ramp, high-fiving fans along the way, her signature confidence radiating with every step. Cameras flashed as she posed dramatically, soaking in the attention—this was her element. Despite many others being nervous during their debut match, Emily was almost the complete opposite to that, but it wasn’t due for the right reasons…

But beneath the glittering show, Emily’s mind was sharp, calculating. While Hikaru had been walking around backstage earlier, Emily had slipped quietly into the locker room. There, she had hidden a miniature taser inside her top—a device small enough to go unnoticed but powerful enough to stop anyone in their tracks. She had nearly been caught when Hikaru returned, but the older woman hadn’t noticed her as she slipped away, her plan intact.

Now, Emily climbed through the bottom rope and into the ring, moving with a practiced grace that drew cheers from the audience. She casually brushed her hair back, flashed a dazzling smile, and subtly tucked the remote for the taser into her armband. Everyone thought she was just playing to the crowd, but in truth, she was biding her time, waiting for the perfect moment to tilt this match in her favor.

“Ready to light up the ring?” Emily called out to Hikaru with a wink, her tone playful but laced with a hint of mischief, as she bounced lightly on the balls of her feet, every inch the showstopper—and secretly, a cunning competitor.

Spoiler

[Highfly]

Hikaru saw Emily come down and she kept an eye on her. Hikaru was going to try to slow the pace, keep things grounded and use her grappling to control the flow of the match. Emily seemed downright jovial and ready, and even though she was much quieter Hikaru was eager to get things going.

"I am if you are." Hikaru said with a nod as she crouched low and looked ready. As the bell rang Hikaru began to circle as she moved in lunging to grapple with Emily. Hikaru was trying to get hold of Emily and grab an arm, twisting it around and maneuvering behind her to kick things off with a hammerlock to slow things and control the tempo as planned. Hikaru wasn't going to let herself lose to another new lady, she was tired of being seen as a stepping stone.

[The_Queen]

Emily met Hikaru’s stare with a bright confident smile, almost playful, but the moment the bell rang that smile shifted into focus. She circled lightly at first, shoulders loose, clearly expecting to outpace her opponent rather than outmuscle her. When Hikaru lunged in, Emily tried to pivot away, but her timing was just a beat off.

Hikaru caught her arm cleanly. In one smooth motion she twisted it around and stepped behind her, locking in the hammerlock. Emily’s eyes widened as she felt the pressure, her debut nerves showing as she let out a surprised gasp. She reached back instinctively, trying to roll her shoulder and slip free, but Hikaru’s grip was firm and practiced.

Instead of forcing it, Emily shifted her weight lower and reached back with her free hand, feeling for leverage at Hikaru’s hip while inching toward the ropes. She shook her arm again, not enough to break free, but enough to create a sliver of space. A small smirk tugged at her lips even as she winced, already planning her next move.

If Emily can make just a bit more space, she would spin under the trapped arm and snap it free, using her speed to slip behind Hikaru and shove her forward toward the ropes to get her into a position for a counter attack.

[Highfly]

Hikaru had the hold locked in but only for a moment. She felt the shift, the creation of room. Before she could react Emily was free and behind Hikaru shoving her towards the ropes. Hikaru instead went with the momentum trying to hit the ropes as quickly as she could before bouncing off with even more speed returning back to Emily. Hikaru was going to use the increased speed to try to surprise Emily as she attempted to leap in the air leading with her feet! Hikaru was aiming a dropkick right at Emily's chest as she hoped to send Emily to the mat with the impact although she understood this as a risk as Emily moving would leave her in a compromised position if such a thing did happen.

[The_Queen]

Emily had just turned when Hikaru came roaring back off the ropes, and this time there was no time to fully react. Hikaru launched herself with conviction, both feet driving forward, and the dropkick connected solidly with Emily’s chest. The impact echoed through the ring as Emily was blasted backward, her body snapping down hard against the canvas. The air was forced clean out of her lungs, her back bouncing once before she settled flat on the mat, eyes wide as she gasped for breath.

She rolled instinctively onto her side, one arm wrapped tight across her chest as she coughed and struggled to inhale properly. The crowd grew louder, clearly impressed by the force behind the strike, and Emily stayed down longer than she would have liked. Her usual confidence flickered as she dragged herself a few inches across the mat, boots scraping weakly while she tried to recover. It was a rough reminder that this was her debut match, and Hikaru’s speed and timing had punished her hard for even a moment of hesitation.

[Highfly]

Hikaru's dropkick landed and she felt her confidence growing. Now Emily was still down on the mat. Hikaru now had Emily where she wanted her to lock in some holds. Hikaru was not trying to be fancy, she was trying to be effective. As she got back to her feet shew as immediately moving over to where Emily was struggling and grabbed her legs. Hikaru made sure Emily was flat on her stomach when she tucked both of Emily's ankles under her arms trying to walk Emily away from the ropes a ways before locking in a Boston crab!

[The_Queen]

Emily barely had time to push up onto her hands before Hikaru was on her. She felt her legs being grabbed and let out a sharp breath as she was dragged flat onto her stomach, palms pressing uselessly into the mat. Before she could kick or twist free, Hikaru tucked both ankles under her arms and began to step backward, pulling Emily away from the ropes inch by inch. Emily reached out instinctively, fingers scraping the canvas, but the ropes were just out of reach as Hikaru sat back and locked in the Boston crab.

The pressure hit immediately and hard. Emily cried out, her back arching as the hold was cinched in deep, her hands slapping the mat once in frustration before balling into fists. She shook her head, teeth clenched, clearly feeling the damage from the dropkick combined with the torque on her lower back. Her confidence was being tested now, her debut suddenly turning into a painful lesson in control. Still, even as she groaned, her eyes darted toward the ropes again, hips shifting as she tried to crawl forward, already thinking through how she could twist her body or push up just enough to relieve the pressure and start working her way out before Hikaru could force a submission

[Highfly]

Hikaru pulled back with as much force as she could! She was applying as much pressure as possible as she attempted to get this woman to submit early. However she knew Emily was pulling them closer to the ropes again. Hikaru wondered if she had pulled Emily far enough? As Hikaru was pulling back with everything she had she soon got her answer.

"Rope break!"

The referee's shout led to Hikaru letting go of the hold immediately and backing off. She bounced foot to foot as she let Emily pull herself back up to her feet to reset honoring the rope break. Hikaru kept her eyes on her opponent as she rose, waiting and ready to engage once Emily was fully back to a vertical base.