CELESTIAL CORTEX ARENA, KNOWHERE
POST-MATCH INTERVIEW AREA
Lady Arachna stumbles into camera view, leaning on the backdrop as she just…slumps seated onto the floor.
“You mind if we do this down here? No? Great. C’mon, Narita-san.” She motions the cameraman to lower the shot a bit.
“You all saw what went down out there. I lost. It sucks. But the better woman won.” She spares a glance at the press conference room door where Dokugumo was just ushered into moments ago, already laughing it up as she celebrates the win.
“I was outmatched, and that’s okay. My neck feels like it’s about to file a separation from my body and leave my head rolling down the hall…that’s less okay, but I’ll live.” Leaning onto the backdrop, she taps the InfiPro logo sat among all their sponsors.
“I gave it my all. For that, I have no regrets. I’ll keep giving this company everything I have, and mark my words, I’ll take that crown again.” Determination, tempered with a bit of spite. Quite the drug.
“But I think it’s time for a change. Stay tuned, everyone. If you can count on me to do something, it’s to get back up. No matter what. Lady A, out.”
Reaching for a chair, she helps herself up and shuffles out of camera view.
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YOKOHAMA BUDOKAN
A FEW WEEKS LATER
“And his opponent…”
The lights dim just before the music kicks in, this drum line punctuated with the plucking of shamisen, leading into a track that’s equal parts metal and matsuri.
“From Tokyo, Japan…”
Spotlights shine on the white, red, and gold-clad figure standing atop the ramp, carrying a banner on a pole bearing the symbol of a golden Spider. Back turned as she holds the web-fingers up high.
“The Amazing, Sensational, Spectacular…LADY ARACHNA!”
On cue she turns around to a burst of golden pyro. Her new gear is equal parts toku character, equal part superhero, all flash. With a new mask covering her full face, Lady Arachna saunters confidently into the ring.
“We’ve been waiting for her comeback for weeks, Jameson. She promised a change and this seems to be that change. Look at that purpose in her walk.”
Staring directly at Scorpion as she drapes the banner over the middle rope, before she does a standing somersault into the ring, landing in a three-point stance.
“Uatu, the only changes I see here are a flashy new outfit and less flippy [BLEEP]! Looks like she’s lost her nerve after that beatdown by Dokugumo. Or maybe she’s just hiding a nagging injury? One way to find out.”
As the two competitors face off, the bell rings and immediately, Lady A rushes in, ducking a stinger swipe from Scorpion and catches the base of the appendage, flipping him into a judo-style toss.
“And a great opening gambit from Lady Arachna! New look, maybe a new style? One way to find out indeed, Jameson, as we get underway…”
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“…Scorpion’s putting up a very good fight all match, using his stinger to keep our former champion at bay. She’s pulled out new and old tricks alike, so it seems like she’s learned a thing or two from her time off.”
Locking horns once more, Scorpion takes the advantage this time, using his stinger to pick the Spider’s ankle, allowing him to grapple her into the ground and into what can generously be described as the unholy lovechild of a Boston Crab and a Fujiwara armbar.
“Yeah, but looks like she’s gonna have to learn to get out of the Scorpion’s Den! This one’s put away a lot of people, and she’s a mile away from the ropes! Not that she’s got any limbs free for a break, look at her hogtied like that!”
While that might be true, she’s nothing if not innovative. Fighting through the potential muscle tears, Lady A inches herself like a 200-kilo snail towards the ropes. If she can just…reach her head out, crane her neck…and THERE! Head leaning against the bottom rope as the referee calls for the break.
As the referee counts to 4.5, Scorpion finally lets go and steps back as he’s being admonished. Precious few seconds to recover.
When Scorpion comes back to continue the offense though, a drop toe hold sends him landing on the second rope throat-first. Lady A wastes no time running to the opposite rope…
“And a tiger feint kick sends Scorpion stumbling to the center of the ring! Can Arachna capitalize?”
Capitalize she does, rushing to the corner to shoot a pair of webs out, catapulting herself into a big somersault flash kick, sending Scorpion soaring into the air.
“This might be it, Jameson…she’s told me about something new coming…”
Following Scorpion up with a web-zip, she webs up the tail tight to his form and grabs hold of him into a double underhook hold. With a jerk of her body she stands his wriggling form upright like a nail, head down.
“She calls this one…”
Applying a dizzying amount of spin, Lady A falls to the mat, the impact of his neck and back hitting the reinforced canvas shaking the entire arena, followed by equal parts gasps and cheers.
“The SPIDER-DRIVER!”
Folding him up into a pin…
1!
2!
3!
“Your winner…LADY ARACHNA!”
With her hand raised in victory, the Spider savors that win before motioning the ringside crew for a mic.
“Buenas noches…YOKOHAMA!”
She calls out to the raucous cheers of the gathered faithful.
“Pretty hot main event if I do say so myself! It’s so, so good to be back here between these ropes. You missed me? I missed you too!” She calls out in response to one of the kids decked out in her merch in the fifth row.
“I know, I’m pretty mad about Contest of Champions too. But credit where credit’s due, I lost fair and square. No good in sulking and wallowing in defeat, though. Gonna pick myself back up and work my way to a title shot again.”
Fiddling with the mic as she thinks, Lady A leans on the ropes, facing the ramp.
“Oi, Dokugumo. Infinity Grand Prix season’s closing in. When I run that entire gauntlet and grab the contract, you might as well count your days. Clock’s ticking, champ. Tick-tock.”
As the mic hits the mat, Dokugumo walks out from behind the curtain, scowl on her symbiotic mask. Holding her title in the air.
“In your dreams!” Dokugumo calls out as Lady A makes a gesture of a belt around her waist.
“A blazing-hot main event, a new attitude from Lady A, and the very first competitor to declare for this year’s Infinity Grand Prix. What a way to end the evening! I’ve been Uatu the Watcher and on behalf of J. Jonah Jameson, tune in next time for more action, here on InfiPro!”