gvb
Millennium Roster
Posts: 1,408 
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Post by gvb on Nov 3, 2023 16:35:53 GMT -6
The Gym
October 23rd, 2023
6:52 AM
Another early morning workout for the Academy’s student Deyanira Connolly, caught in the gym kicking the heavy bag. There’s something different in her training, it’s not the usual flurry of kicking combinations she’s throwing at it, nor she’s trying any of the fancy kicks her educated feet are known for.
No, these look more like kicks driven by pure frustration, a means to just blow off steam and the anger that has been boiling inside her. Her bare feet connected hard against the sack, over and over again, more and more frequently and with increasing strength. This volley of mindless, furious strikes lacking any sort of discipline to them came to an abrupt end when an ill-timed kick connected with the bottom of the sack, hurting her foot.
Deyanira Connolly:
FUCK!
The Colorado native yelled out as she crouched and massaged her bruised foot.
Marissa Kanensson:
Well, you know why that happened, don’t you?
Came the voice of the multi-time MMA champion and combat sports veteran Marissa Kanensson. She had been watching Deyanira from afar, likely from the doorway, slowly making her way towards the student as she spoke.
Marissa Kanensson:
Use passion, and you’ll lose precision.
Immediately recognizing her team leader's voice, Deyanira instantly lowered her eyes, focusing the gaze on her sore foot, likely feeling ashamed about this whole situation.
Deyanira Connolly:
I know, you're right. It's just...
She was struggling to find the words, afraid of what her coach (and one of her absolute idols) would think about this outburst and the reason behind it.
Deyanira Connolly:
I still can't believe I lost.. And in such a stupid way too! It's so frustrating!
Not very accustomed to losing, she didn't take the loss well, despite that being only the second wrestling match for her. Marissa nods as she listens to her first overall pick, letting her vent a little before replying.
Marissa Kanensson:
I don’t disagree, it was a very tough way to lose - but let’s remember that this isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. There will be plenty more opportunities for you to take advantage of, so for now, think of it as a learning experience. You had the match won, all that you missed was another look around to see where Chance was - it’s such a little thing, but that’s the sort of fine margins in a multi-person match that make it so dangerous. You got caught out once, but once you’ve tasted how bitter that sort of defeat feels, you’ll do everything in your power to never let it happen again, right?
The student pushed up to her feet, assuming her fighting stance, determined to resume her training.
Deyanira Connolly:
Yeah, I wish it was that easy. Not only I disappointed myself and those who believed in me, I also disappointed you, and I disappointed… My family…
Her voice lowered as she mentioned her family, inadvertently highlighting that as the major issue.
THUD!
Another kick to the heavy bag, although this didn’t carry the same anger and frustration as the previous ones. Marissa folded her arms as she watched Connolly deliver another kick that sent the heavy bag swinging. She stayed silent for a moment, just observing, allowing the girl some time to dwell on her thoughts before she responded.
Marissa Kanensson:
And you’ll continue to let everyone down if you can’t move past this. Everyone loses some time. I lost my first amateur fight, then I didn’t lose until my 13th pro fight. Losing that amateur fight was the best thing for me - I came in as a highly touted prospect, fresh off an Olympic medal in 2008 and I got choked out and embarrassed.
Kanensson chuckled to herself as she reminisced, shaking her head.
Marissa Kanensson:
Channel all of that anger, frustration and embarrassment in making sure it never happens again. That doesn’t mean kicking a heavy bag until you can’t walk properly.
At that point, Deyanira finally stopped that sequence of kicks, and you could see the wince of pain on her face as she put weight on her foot. Breathing heavily, she stared at Marissa for a few seconds, reflecting on her words. And eventually that tension on her face melts away, making way for a slight smile.
Deyanira Connolly:
Yeah, not the best idea, I know. But… I didn’t know how to deal with these feelings, and kicking stuff usually worked pretty well for me.
She then stood to attention, her arms perfectly aligned to her sides as she bent forward, taking a deep bow as customary in martial arts.
Deyanira Connolly:
Thank you, Marissa.
Marissa returns the gestures, patting Deyanira on the shoulder comfortingly.
Marissa Kanensson: No problem, that’s what I’m here for. My door’s always open if you need anything else. Trust me, by the end of the year, you’ll see that this was a blessing in disguise. It’ll only be a negative if you let it be a negative.
With that Marissa smiles at her student, nodding before moving past her and exiting the area, allowing Deyanira some time alone.
Singles Match
Lucas Donaldson VS Hikari Sakazaki VS Gardiner Eden
- The opening match started with the three competitors circling around, studying each other. Hikari was the first to strike, firing a stiff kick to Gardiner knocking her on her ass. Lucas quickly took advantage of the situation, blasting the Japanese from behind with a clothesline and attempting a quick cover, obtaining a count of one.
- While definitely "green", more so when compared to Hikari, Lucas showed that he worked hard in the past few weeks to improve his skills, dropping Sakazaki on the canvas with a body slam and following with a running knee drop. Once again he hooked her legs for a cover but Gardiner broke up the pin.
- Eden herself looked highly motivated, pulling out an impressive performance to catch the attention of the team leader, or more likely of "someone else". Just like Lucas, she targeted Hikari, perhaps seeing her as the easy target in this match, due to her shy and reserved character. After hitting the japanese with a long striking combination, Eden lifted her upside down and dropped her onto her knee with a knee drop brainbuster, another page taken from her idol Echo's book. She douldn't get anything more than a two out of it.
- Hikari may not be much of a talker, but she let her kicks speak in her behalf. After being targeted by the two opponents, the Japanese passed on the counterattack, swiniging those kicks to Gardiner and eventually throwing her over the top rope with a roundhouse kick. Donaldson tried once again to catch her by surprise but he ate a boot as Sakazaki floored him with a superkick.
- Hikari seemed to have entered some sort of frenzied state, hitting the opponents with surgical precision and showing her talent with a series of arm drags to Lucas, leading to a running knee strike that knocked Donaldson flat on her back. Hikari hooked the leg and made the cover, but Gardiner was right there to make the save.
- With Lucas out of the ring, recovering after getting spiked on his skull by a vicious DDT, it all went down between Gardiner and Hikari. Eden attempted once again to connect Echo's Reverb, but Hikari was able to use the momentum to her advantage and roll the opponent over with a sort of crucifix pin, obtaining the win with that.
WINNER: Hikari Sakazaki
BY: Pinfall (Crucifix Pin), 10:07 |
Singles Match
Hannah Rae Callum VS Diego Hernandez
- The Salvadoran showcased his impressive lucha abilities right off the gate. He initiated the action with running toward the opponent, ducking her clothesline attempt and perform a cartwheel to bounce off against the ropes and bounce back with a beautiful roundhouse kick, catching Hannah right on the head.
- Using his speed to his advantage, Diego was surely putting a lot of pressure on Queen Cringe, scoring a few near falls with a springboard crossbody and a reverse hurricanrana, but both times Hannah was able to kick out in time.
- Finally Callum was able to land some strikes as well, dropkicking Diego against the corner and hitting him with a running hip attack. He looked dazed after the impact but Hannah didn't capitalize on that, taking a little too longer and got quickly rolled up by Diego with a cradle. Luckily, they were too close to the ropes and as her hand grabbed the bottom rope the referee stopped the count.
- Back on the attack, Diego planted HRC with a satellite DDT and then followed with a standing moonsautl, but once again Hannah got her shoulders up.
- This seemed to be one of the most one-sided matches in recent memory, up until the moment when Hannah suddenly found a second wind and turned the whole situation upside down in a shocking way. She blocked Diego's kick to her side and flipped him over with an exploder suplex. She instantly got up to her feet with a kip up and charged toward him, blasting him with a vicious shining wizard for another near fall.
- Another impressive sequence from Hannah got her another near fall thanks to a well executed cradle DDT. But just like earlier, she got distracted and hesitated on following up to that, giving Diego a chance to recover and hit her with another high kick to the head. Still dazed from the DDT, he crawled on top of the opponent and looked just as surprised as everyone else when that basic kick was enough to keep Hannah down for the count of three.
WINNER: Diego Hernandez
BY: Pinfall (High Kick), 12:30 |
Singles Match
Jaime Idol VS Bennett Chance
- Jaime Idol was already inside the ring when the Gold Star walked out, title around his waist and his confidence through the roof. Idol ironically applauded him, his eyes locked on the Gold Star. The title was not on the line tonight but coming from a wrestling family, Jaime knew pretty well what a win against Bennett tonight could imply. He complimented the Acid Grap, even offering him a handshake to congratulate him. As soon as their hands clasped, Idol kicked the opponent in the stomach and quickly dropped him with a snap DDT, getting the first two count of the match.
- Bennett surely didin't appreciate being fooled by Jaime like that, and he fired away at his midsection and took him down with a series of arm drags followed by a big boot that sent Idol to the floor. He rolled out of the ring, hoping to catch some sort of break but Chance was right back on him with a cannonball senton from the apron.
- They fought outside for a little bit, Bennett even sliding in to restart the count and lay some more punishment down on Jaime with kicks against the barricade. He finally decided to bring the fight back in the ring, pushing Idol under the bottom rope and climbing on the apron. Jaime grabbed him by the back of the head and pulled his neck down across the top rope, leaving Bennett coughing as he took a sprint on the opposite side of the ring to kick him down with a big boot.
- Chance was able to beat the ten count, getting welcomed by a series of furios stomps from Jaime as he made it back inside the squared circle. Idol then picked him up for a suplex, turning it into a brainbuster at the last moment and getting another near fall out of it.
- For every pinfall attempt failed, Jaime grew more and more frustrated. The eagerness to end this and coming out on top led him to make a mistake, missing completely with the frog splash from the top. This was the opening Bennett needed to turn the tide, starting with a brutal running knee strike that would definitely give Idol a headache in the morning.
- Chance was now in full control, looking to finish his opponent and keep his undefeated streak going. But as he attempted to lift Jaime for a suplex, his attempt was blocked by Idol who then went for a quick roll up, holding on the Gold Star's tights to steal the win.
WINNER: Jaime Idol
BY: Pinfall (Roll-Up), 14:17 |
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