Big Fight Feel

Why was Carmen Rodriguez in a Fiction ring?

That was the million dollar question at the moment, as she stood in the middle of the ring. While this wasn’t her first time showing up on this brand, it had been many years since her last foray, so long that there were those who’d forgotten or never knew about her time there. She had racked up a considerable reputation as a Tension talent, taking on numerous opponents through her tenure and securing a legacy as one of the longer running 24/7 Champions. She’d fought multiple opponents and beaten them handily, and while she had been on something of a hiatus in the recent year, it was clear that she hadn’t slacked on her training - she stood in the middle of the ring in fine form, wearing her typical attire, always a towering figure.


It hadn't been an easy process for Carmen to get here, either. She’d called ahead to Friction to let them know what her intentions were, but just letting her on the program proved to be an exercise in frustration. There was some consternation about a Tension talent like herself appearing on Friction. While that sort of thing wasn’t a rarity, it was something they wanted to cut down on, especially with their more visible stars. Setting it up required a little legal maneuvering, something she took no pleasure in.

Then there was the ride here, which required her to take the train. Not too pleasant. She had to go incognito, not just because she was something of a well-known commodity, but because her looks made her stand out in a crowd. Blending in and making it to Friction without causing a social media buzz took a lot of stealth and sneaking, made what should have been an easy day trip into a stressful, hectic affair.

Then came the setup at the Friction arena itself. Talking to the right people, making sure everything in place, making sure that her spot was reserved, that the person she’d come for was in the building and that she wasn’t doing all of this for nothing. Lots of minutiae, lots of annoying details.

But in the end, it had all been worth it. She stood in the middle of the ring, surrounding by thousands of curious fans with a microphone in her hand. After they’d settled down from her entrance, she brought it up to her mouth and uttered four simple words.

”I want Sachiko Kanda!”

Sachiko:

 

The night was starting to look like it would be a quiet one to Sachiko as she hung out in the back. She was dressed up in her ring gear in the event that she was called upon to fill in as a last minute replacement or in the event that there was a surprise backstage brawl to get in on, it didn't really matter as she was always ready to throwdown. But alas there was no calls to action or even a "ambush" match she had heard so much about. Sachiko was about ready to call it a night when she heard someone call her name over the arena's speakers. Naturally, Sachiko looked over at some of the nearby monitors and saw a woman standing in the middle of Friction's ring.

While she was bouncing between indie circuits Sachiko had watched some of AFW's programs, taking special note of some of it's talent and standing in the ring was one of them; Carmen Rodriguez. She was a boxer like Sachiko and was known for taking part in many intense physical matches, she was definitely someone for Sachiko to look out for.......and go a few rounds with of course. Yet here she was calling her out.......well, it was rude to keep a lady waiting. Sachiko's normally stoic face smiled as she then began to make her way to the gorilla position, grabbing a mic from a passing by stage hand and soon arrived at the curtain. "Hit my music." Sachiko ordered and soon enough it started to play as Sachiko stepped out from behind and quickly began to make her way down to the ring.

She didn't bother to acknowledge any of the her fans as from the looks of Carmen this visit was strictly business. Sachiko rolled into the ring and approached Carmen, sizing her up while keeping her guard up. "You called?" Sachiko asked as her music stopped.

Carmen was rolling the dice here, just a little. While she knew that Sachiko was in the building, that didn’t mean anything in and of itself. People typically came out when you called them, but there was no rule that she had to. She didn’t know Carmen, they had no true history, they had never crossed paths or had a single conversation. She could’ve just stayed in the back or walked off, leaving her standing in the ring like an idiot.

But that wouldn’t be the Sachiko Kanda that Carmen heard about, now would it?

No, the Sachiko Kanda that Carmen knew would definitely come out, and sure enough, theme music began to play not long after. She leaned back in the far corner as the green-haired woman approached, confidently striding down to the ring and sliding in under the rope. Right away, Carmen felt an instinct to raise her fists and start throwing blows at her. It wasn’t because of anything she said or did, no petty grudge, but the way she carried herself. Boxers just moved differently than wrestlers, had a different flavor to the way they stepped, and even though she barely boxed anymore herself, she could still pick up on it.

Carmen didn’t answer at first, taking a few moments to walk around the Wrestle Angel. While she was shorter than Carmen by a few inches, that was the only notable difference between them. Similar physique. Similar build. She had the make of a true fighter, sleek and streamlined. A well-oiled fighting machine.

The only thing that she found off was the hair. But she wasn’t one to judge with that.

”Yes. Yes, I did.” Carmen stopped in front of her and paused, turning about to look at her head on. ”Before I do, though, I need to tell you something.” Carmen took a deep breath, stealing herself before she spoke again - she’d wanted to say this for a long time, but that didn’t mean she felt prepared.

”I’ve had a great time in the AFW. I’ve made friends. Enemies, too, but even with that I had good competition. I’ve learned things about myself that even I didn’t know, I had experiences that I’ll never forget. I started a business, became a part of a new culture. Changed my entire life. And for that, for all of that, I have you to thank.”

She pointed Sachiko’s way and nodded, ready to explain her reasoning. ”If it wasn't for you, showing that a boxer could make it in this sport, I wouldn’t have tried it in the first place. Would never have even considered it. So, for setting an example and putting me on this path, I just want to say…”

She extended her hand, looking for a shake. ”Thank you.”

Sachiko watched silently as Carmen silently began to circle her, assessing her frame and build like one would a sculpture in a museum. It gave Sachiko the chance to examine her as well; Carmen may have had a few inches on her but otherwise the two of them had quite the similar build. No doubt if the two of them went at it it would be a close match. Finally, Carmen stopped in front of her and began to speak her peace.

Sachiko was expecting the Puerto Rican slugger to start laying into her about how her WA accomplishments probably wouldn't be worth squat here in AFW or how she shouldn't expect to receive any special treatment. There was always that one person in every company that felt the need to confront her about it. Sachiko wasn't expecting anything and had no intention of using her past glory in Wrestle Angels to get any leeway, she always preferred to let her fists and actions do the talking in each company she found herself in, wrestling or boxing.  

So imagine the internal surprise Sachiko felt when Carmen instead began to tell her that her whole reason from transitioning from boxing to wrestling was because of Sachiko and her own transition from boxing to wrestling. Sachiko then watched as Carmen extended her hand for a handshake, which the former WA gladly returned with a handshake of her own. "You're very much welcome Carmen. It's not often I find another person thanking me in this business. But I can't help but feel that you came all the way out here for more than just a "Thank you"." Sachiko ended the handshake and put her hands on her hips, waiting to hear what Carmen's actual reason for being here was.

Carmen grasped Sachiko’s hand and gave it a tight squeeze. Not her full strength, but she wanted to get a good feel for what this woman could do, really feeling the power in those fists. It was the kind of shake she’d given many of her fellow boxers in the gym, and she had to admit, she missed giving it out. Lorenza Saldano was a great woman to get her fix off, but there was certainly nothing wrong with having options.

”Well, you’re right.” Carmen let her hand slip free and stepped back. Folding her harms, she loomed over the small woman with a staunch posture, poised and confident.

”There’s a PPV coming up soon. It’s Friction, so I wouldn’t normally have anything to do with it, but they’re offering a spot for some Tension action, too.” She pointed between them. ”I already asked for permission. You, me, Last Woman Standing. All you’ve got to do is agree and we’re gold.”

Judging from the crowd’s reaction, they were all onboard, and with good reason.  A match between two of the best strikers in female wrestling, the kind of dream match that people rarely got the chance to see live and in person, and they wouldn’t have to wait long for it. A good deal.

But what did Sachiko think of it? That was the important thing, here, and she leaned forward as she waited on the answer, eager to hear it.

Sachiko listened intently as Carmen told her about her real reason for coming here; a challenge at the upcoming Jackpot PPV. It sounded interesting, performing in a casino themed pay-per-view and what better opponent to go up against than one of the toughest women in the Tension locker room and to top it off it was a Last Woman standing match, a match that almost turned a wrestling match into a boxing match. Besides if her grip was anything to go by, Carmen was just as, if not more excited than the crowd as they were chanting "LET'S GO GOD-san!" over and over again.

A PPV match would be just the thing to really get her into the swing of things here in AFW and show the locker rooms across all of it's brands how tough she truly was. "You know what? I'll see you there. I'll be expecting a lot from you." Sachiko declared to Carmen followed by the deafening explosion of cheers from the crowd around them. Sachiko held out her hand once again only this time curling it into a fist, Sachiko doubted that she had to tell Carmen what it was she was asking her to do.

And she said ‘yes’. Not that there was any real doubt about that, everything she knew about Sachiko told her that yes, she’d eagerly accept the challenge. But there was something so satisfying about hearing the words out of her mouth, like unwrapping a present on Christmas even when she knew it would be what she asked for.

Carmen smirked, stared at the outstretched fist for a moment, then shot out her own to meet the woman half way, putting a little force behind it for effect. ”Same. I’ve been wanting this match for almost a decade now - hoping hard it’s worth the weight.” She pulled her arm back, then stepped around Sachiko, giving her a playful bump on the shoulder as she passed. ”Train hard. Can’t wait to see what the girl they call GOD can do.”

It wasn’t in Carmen’s usual nature to skip and hop out of the ring, but that was almost what she did as she made her way up the ring, pleased beyond words at the situation. She kept her smile as she strode forward, heating up in a way that she hadn’t done in a long time. The training, the studying, the preparation, the entire process was something she’d look forward to.

Goosebumps.