Michiko Shimizu vs. Maria Castillo

[CaptainL]

As Maria began to get up, Michiko moved in closer, steadily and slowly going to close the distance. When Maria straightened herself, however, all bets were off. That was Michiko's cue, and she took off running, aiming to get in close to her with her arm raised to deliver a swift forearm as soon as she came within range! A confident grin crossed her face; she was sure she could do it!

However, as Michiko finally reached her target, her forearm strike only hit the air before her! This made her gasp, drawing back as her eyes went wide. "W-What..!?" she exclaimed. She let out a gasp, startled by Maria's sudden disappearance. That one move had thrown off everything in her plans! And the next thing she knew, a pair of arms wrapped around her, and hoisted her off the ground. Still reeling from the shock, Michiko was placed atop Maria's shoulders. This was soon followed by her knee kicking up and slamming straight into Michiko's skull! The lilac-haired girl's body buckled from the blow, her body lurching upwards as she cried out in pain. As Maria dropped her, she plummeted to the mat, landing face-down and with her ass sticking into the air as her knees folded beneath her. Her eyes rolled back, and her mouth lolled open with a groan. It seemed that all resistance had left her - the initial shock had weakened her defenses; now she could only feel the haze she'd been left in.

[SleeperAgent94]

The crowd was electric, Maria having nailed Kiss of the Reaper at the last possible moment! Dropping to her knees, Maria pushed Michiko onto her back, dropping on top of her body and juuuussst managing to hook a limp leg into the air. This was it! She was gonna seal her return with a hard fought win. Shatter the ring rust, silence the critics, and prove that La Parca was coming to collect!

The ref dropped down beside them, slapping her hand against he mat, calling it out for all to hear!

ONE


TWO


THREE!!!!

Maria's body finally sagged on top of Michiko, letting out the breath she didn't know she had been holding, even as the ref came to raise her arm up in victory. It took a good moment for her to get to her feet, but she celebrated, her free arm cradling her skull! Casting her eye to the booth, she gestured for a microphone, where the attendant handed one off to her. The crowd, sensing something big was coming, quieted down as Maria stood over Michiko, "Some of you....know who I am.... most do not. So I will keep this brief. I have returned from what many thought was the final bell toll. I am not so easily broken.

So line up your champions. I will cull them all. One. By. One. I will take that gold, and I will reign again." she finished, tossing it aside before looking down on Michiko. Bending over, she dragged the rookie to her feet, the crowd on the edge of their seat as to what the luchadora would do, before Maria raised Michiko's arm, slowly nodding her approval before rolling out of the ring, making her graceful exit.

[CaptainL]

Michiko had fought with all her might. Even against seemingly impossible odds, as her experience in the ring had proved that her opponent's reputation as a legend of the ring was far from being undeserved, she had kept going, refusing to give up and giving it her all. For a moment, it even looked like she might have a chance, as she hit one of her trademark piledrives with enough force to flatten the luchadora. But in the end, it wasn't so. Maria, showing a sudden burst of stamina and resistance that had floored Michiko with surprise, had gotten back up - and the violet-haired heroine, in trying to follow up, had gone right into her finishing move!

Still winded from the knee she'd taken to the face, Michiko groaned groggily as Maria pushed her over. Her body was limp, and as she dropped to her back, her limbs flopped uselessly at her sides. Her head was still in a daze, and she did little to resist as Maria hooked her leg. Even after the ref had counted the pin, and the bell had sounded, Michiko was still out. When she began to shake off the cobwebs and come to her senses, she observed Maria's celebrations through half-lidded eyes, panting for breath as she propped herself up on her elbows.

"I...lost..." she muttered to herself. Though, Michiko acknowledged she couldn't be too surprised by this. Maria was a legend, after all. She grimaced with pain as she remembered the impact of the Kiss of the Reaper, and she figured that this was just par for the course.

But what did surprise Michiko was when Maria grabbed her by the arm and hauled her to her feet! The rookie gasped as she found herself on her footing once again, but, hearing the crowd's cheers, she struck a defiant pose, standing tall and proud with her legs spread out and her other arm hoisted in the air above her head to stand alongside Maria. She could hear the crowds chanting her name, too, and she looked toward the stands with a smile at the thought. Even if Michiko had lost, she had gone toe to toe with the Reaper and lasted an admirably long time, and Maria herself was willing to recognize that! That made her smile grow even wider. To be honored by a veteran like Maria was an achievement in and of itself.

Soon enough, Maria let go of her arm, turning to leave the ring. Michiko stayed back, leaning on the ropes to watch her as she did as she tried to catch her breath. However, as the luchadora's form slipped into the shadows, something did slip from Michiko's lips in between pants. "Thank you..."

Winner by Pinfall: Maria Castillo