May 24, 2022
Toulouse, France
Somewhere backstage, Ichiko Oda has found a space to be alone with her thoughts for a while. All of the faces around here are new to her so she’s not even sure who she’d talk to if she felt like socializing. Ultimately it was better to mind her own business for now and collect her thoughts ahead of her upcoming fight. So she’d gotten into her gear and then found a spot where no one else was likely to bother her. Tonight was a change for her and she wanted that space to think over what she was up against.
Her return to an international ring had been against another Joshi wrestler, which had been a useful way to dip her toes back into those waters. Stylistically the business cat isn’t too different from the high flyers you could find in every promotion back home. Throughout the entire match Ichiko knew what to expect and she was able to dictate the pace and style accordingly. This time she faces her first western opponent in eight months. Quite the change indeed! Having never heard of Edda Wilcox before, the Wild Heart has spent time watching recent matches her opponent’s had on First Class.
She’s seen what Edda can do and prepared herself accordingly to counter the ground based technical style her opponent uses. Beyond that Ichiko has been thinking about her return match in more detail. In all honesty she knows she could have finished the cat off much faster than she did. Ring rust didn’t really cut it as an excuse when Ichiko has been active back home for five months. What is it then? What caused that match to last longer than it needed to? What she’s come back to is the simple fact that she hasn’t rid herself completely of the Sukeban. There’s still that bad girl in her who just likes hurting people. Prolonging a fight allows her to play with the hapless victim a bit more. Cause them more pain and suffering, humiliate them more.
That’s not who Ichiko wants to be though. The Sukeban’s mindset is one that will only serve to get Ichiko badly hurt or worse. So Ichiko turned to her girlfriend for support, to work through that lingering lust for violence. Sawa didn’t seem to have noticed, but was supportive of Ichiko’s desire to avoid it. Together they have a plan for Ichiko to steer clear of it. Part of that is not prolonging things in the ring - do what’s needed to win the match, but then stop. This is part of what’s led to Ichiko abandoning her old submission based offense as well. Relying on breaking down her opponent and causing them increasing agony just feeds into the side of herself she wants to bury. Instead, she trains hard to use high impact grappling and strikes to put away opponents. It’s not perfect, but it’s a start.
She stops pacing and takes a deep breath before repeating what Sawa reminds her to do, “Win the match, but remember it’s not a war.”
No reason to inflict more pain than you needed to get the job done. She wasn’t that angry little girl anymore. Now she’s a matured, better rounded athlete who could win matches in any number of ways. Tonight will be her next chance to show that growth to the word. Ichiko takes a deep breath as she clears away fleeting thoughts of working over Edda’s arms extra to prevent Edda from locking in her own submissions. Also to make the Ambition’s End hold that much more painful when Ichi locked it in. Wash those away with the blood the past Ichiko had on her hands. Just work on mitigating Edda’s ability to take the advantage and look for the right opportunity to strike her down for the three count. Further contemplation is prevented by the arrival of Nyssa Laurie, holding a mic and looking for an exclusive scoop with the Wild Heart.
Nyssa: Ichiko! Do you have a minute?
Ichiko looks off to the side as she thinks about it, but then nods her assent to be interviewed. There’s a slight delay as the cameraman catches up with Nyssa and gets set up for filming. The Wild Heart looks up and tries to put on her most photogenic face; she can’t scowl at the camera all the time now. That’s the expression of a sullen girl who wants to cripple people. Try as she might, though, Ichiko can’t quite get herself to smile in a pleasant manner. Sawa is the true master of that art. After a few botched attempts that see the corners of her mouth twitch, Ichiko just settles for a small grin. It’s just in time as Nyssa begins filming.
Nyssa: “I’m joined live here backstage at the Zenith de Toulouse by none other than the Boss of Them All, Ichiko Oda. Ichiko, welcome back to First Class.”
Ichiko nods in appreciation, but says nothing as the fans echo the sentiment with chants. After a few moments, Nyssa proceeds on with the interview.
Nyssa: “You won your first match outside Japan in almost eight months on the last First Class. How did it feel to not only be back in a First Class ring but also to come out on top?”
Ichiko: “No lies, it felt great to be back in the west. I have a lot to prove here in First Class, a lot of unfinished business that I’m gonna take care of. Beating the cat was the first step on that journey, and honestly.. I could do better than I did. I won, but I didn’t win the way I know that I can. So tonight I want to go beyond that and go at this match at full force!”
Nyssa: “Tonight you’re facing Edd Wilcox for the first time ever. How do you prepare yourself for someone you’ve never shared a ring with?”
Ichiko puts her hands on her hips as she replies.
Ichiko: “Yeah, it’s the first time I’ve fought her and she’s got a very different style from the salary cat. She likes to work a ground game, break you down and force you to tap out to the pain from her holds. I used to fight like that myself, so I get where she’s coming from. And she’s been in this business for a while so she knows what she’s doing. If she hadn’t gotten attacked by cowards like that last show, she still would have won. So I can’t take her lightly even though she’s gonna be hurting from that attack. But there’s also something I want to tell her before we lock up tonight.”
Ichiko pauses, looks down the corridor as if gazing at some unseen item or prize. Her grin widens as she delivers that message.
Ichiko: “I don’t have anything against you, Edda. You’re doing things the right way overall, and I look forward to the challenge of fighting you. But you’re the next person to stand before the Wild Heart. You’re the next woman to get in the way of my ambition and my vision. When that bell rings I’m coming at you at full force. You work a good ground game, but I hit harder than anyone else you’ve ever fought. My precise offense is going to shatter your gameplan and overwhelm you before you can wear me down. Tonight the Daimyo continues her conquest and her ascent to that crown, no matter who it is that holds it. Tonight i’m going to put your lights out so that everyone knows just how good I am. And to send a message to the less respectable women in this locker room that the Daimyo is coming for them too. This is my ascension, and you will not stop me, Edda. I’m a changed woman, and I’m going to be a champion everyone I’m fighting for can be proud of!”
She starts moving down the hallway, stopping only to gaze down the camera once more and offer her parting words.
Ichiko: “Let’s make it wild!”
