Teddy Cat Hori vs. Valley Doll - The Cat Came Back

Off the top of Valley's head, she couldn't remember when she'd done a Sliced Bread last. Not since she'd come to the AFW, she was sure on that, and never as a counter like that. It worked well enough, though there was a part of her that wished it hadn't. That part happened to be on her chest.

"Damn it..." She sat up on her knees and weakly pumped her fist to the crowd with one hand, while she used her other to cradle her aching breasts. A brutal reminder of just why she'd avoided using that move for so long. But it was a desperate time, so she used a desperate measure. Couldn't argue with the result.

Teddy looked out of it, but all the same, Valley figured it wouldn't kill her to be thorough. Why leave it to the countout? She hurriedly hopped forward, wrapped an arm around the napping catgirl's leg, lifted it up and pressed down on her chest for the pin.

The referee - who looked exhausted enough to have gone through a match of her own - dropped down and counted it off. "1...!"

Teddy only groaned in response, head rolling to the side as the count continued.

2...!"

"3...!"

"Finally!" Valley threw her hands up and flopped down on the canvas, as the crowd roared all around them. You would've thought they'd just wrestled the main event of the evening instead of just opening the second hour, and that was exactly how Valley felt. Tired. Hurt. Ran ragged.

She looked up at the ceiling and smiled. God, it felt good to enjoy wrestling again.

She sat up and nodded at Teddy's fallen form, glancing between her and the audience. They were clapping, and even though her opponent couldn't hear it, Valley knew the applause were for them both. The catgirl had heart. It was a weird, silly, crazy little heart, but it was strong all the same, and Valley sincerely doubted this would be the last time they crossed paths. A wrestler like this wouldn't be going anywhere for a while.

She looked Ace's way, motioned to the back with a sly smile on her face, and rolled out of the ring. There was a little limp in her step and she couldn't help but rub her chest every few seconds, but all the same, she had her head held high and a proud stride as she moved up the ramp. Calm. Serene. Satisfied.

Valley's music was still playing, the girl having left the ring already when Teddy finally started to get back up, the back of her head throbbing, while the rest of her body ached. With the referee's help, she managed to get back to her feet and, after another couple minutes to catch her breath, managed a brief wave to the crowd, who gave her a polite applause for her effort, before starting to limp to the back.

While disappointed she had lost, Teddy was also rather excited. Her first match in years, and while she hadn't managed to get the win, she had done extremely well, given it her all, and came within seconds of victory against one of AFW's regular talent.

Before this match, she was afraid she would be seen as just some has been who couldn't cut it anymore. Now though, she could leave the ring with her head held high, knowing that, with some more time and experience, she was sure to be a force to be reckoned with. There would be more matches, more opponents, and Teddy was going to show them all just what she was made of!

Valley Doll wins via Pinfall (Avalanche Shiranui)