Post by Rose City Staff on Aug 2, 2018 18:33:18 GMT
The first shot we see is of the fans wildly cheering as April Takahashi stands in the center of the ring, alongside Stacy Deville and Marilyn Lee Cross. April thanks the fans for coming to Sakura Pro's rebirth, promising that the same action they saw back in late 2017 will continue throughout 2018 and beyond. April also announces that the partnership between Rose City and Sakura will continue, as April and the rest of the Sakura Pro executives will be in attendance for Rose City Wrestling's #Chapter23 Anniversary Show! The fans cheer as April welcomes them to Sakura Pro!
As The Wind Rises
Sakura Pro Freedom Title Match
Sloane Weber (c) vs. Jazmin Davis
Sloane received a hero's welcome to Sakura, the Freedom champion all smiles as the bell rang. Sloane and Jazmin shook hands before locking up, the two putting on an impressive display of chain wrestling to start off. Sloane looked a little more comfortable out in front of the Sakura fans, no longer the first year rookie but a strong competitor as she fought to defend her title. But Jazmin wouldn't go down without a fight, the second generation star using her instincts to stay in the game and avoid Sloane's bigger hits. An attempt at the Blonde Blizzard (Sunset Flip Powerbomb) was countered into a belly to back piledriver for a close two, though it gave Jazmin a target to work on.
For the next several minutes Jazmin looked to weaken the neck, softening Sloane up for her Jazzy Tunes finisher. Sloane continued to fight, managing to temporarily gain the advantage before a Syncopation sling blade looked to spell doom. Grabbing Sloane by the neck, Jazmin went for Jazzy Tunes (Sliced Bread #2), only for Sloane to counter by tossing her onto the mat. Seeing her opening, Sloane charged with a sliding clothesline before a cover only got two. Looking to keep the pressure up, Sloane connected with a chokehold STO before delivering the Insult to Injury. With Jazmin down, Sloane climbed the turnbuckle, leaping off with From Baltimore With Love (Rounding Moonsault). Jazmin was able to get the knees up just in time, knocking the wind right out of Sloane. Jazmin made it to her feet, still feeling the effects of Sloane's earlier attacks. Pushing through, Jazmin lifted Sloane up, only to be surprised as Sloane reached out and began to choke her! Panicking, Jazmin managed to break the hold before firing off a surprise Bebop superkick that left Sloane stunned. Seeing her chance, Jazmin grabbed Sloane before connecting with Jazzy Tunes (Contra Code) for the pin!
WINNER: Jazmin Davis (Jazzy Tunes)
Jazmin seemed genuinely surprised as the ref presented her with the Freedom Title. Jazmin held the title high to cheers from the fans as Sloane made it to her feet, slowly accepting what had just happened. The two came face to face, a tense moment passing before Sloane offered her hand. Jazmin shook it without second thought as the fans cheered, having seen a tremendous match take place.
Welcome to Sakura
Lucie Taylor vs. Arabella
This was Lucie Taylor's debut in Sakura, as the young rookie looked to impress the San Francisco fans after a strong showing with Japan's Kamikaze Pro. She faced a tall task in Arabella, the Sakura stalwart looking to get the first win of the new era. Lucie was quick to show the fans her Muay Thai skills, initially frustrating her opponent. While in the clinch once more, Arabella managed to to counter a knee, grabbing it at the last second before flinging her with a dragon screw.
With the knee not 100%, Lucie found herself on the defensive as Arabella looked to take it out for good. A variety of attacks left Blind Fury gritting her teeth in pain and anger, struggling to keep a solid base underneath her. Still, Lucie fought back as well as she could, ducking underneath a clothesline attempt before wrapping Arabella up in a tiger suplex! Lucie was unable to keep the bridge, clutching her leg in pain. Fighting to her feet, Lucie was met with a kick to the gut as Arabella looked to finish her off. Sensing danger, Lucie fired several forearms to the midsection before shoving Arabella off, catching her with the Ace Marks (Roundhouse Kick)! Lucie crawled into the pinfall, getting the win.
WINNER: Lucie Taylor (Ace Marks!)
Welcome to Sakura
Jellyfish Cho vs. Ruby
The match starts with a handshake between the two masked ladies, the fans applauding the sportsmanship as the ladies circled one another. Very quickly it became apparent that these ladies were more comfortable flying through the air than exchanging holds, as an impressive sequence saw backflips, headscissors, counter-headscissors, and a dropkick from both that left them in a stalemate. Ruby looked to regroup, circling once more before closing the distance quickly. Firing several strikes, Ruby bounced off the ropes, only to be sent to the outside after Cho connected with a counter hurricanrana.
Back in the ring, Ruby and Cho locked up once more, showing another lucha-inspired sequence before Cho finished with a sunset flip for two. Cho pressed the advantage, managing to overwhelm Ruby before dropping the OG of PG with a backdrop driver. Working over the neck, Cho looked to finish things off after an impressive slingshot DDT drew a close two. Drawing support from the fans, Cho positioned herself on the apron, measuring her opponent. Springboarding off the ropes, Cho looked to connect with her Sting (Springboard Double Foot Stomp), only to roll through with the move as Ruby rolled out of the way. Ruby managed to duck underneath underneath a clothesline attempt before grabbing the outstretched arm, backflipping into a DDT! From there, Ruby connected with For Flip's Sake (Canadian Destroyer), getting the pinfall victory.
WINNER: Ruby (For Flip's Sake)
Backstage, Miss Fortune is standing with the Sakura Pro Championship on her shoulder. She starts by recalling when she first joined Sakura Pro, and that night when she defeated Sloane Weber in her debut. Miss Fortune laughs at the memory of that night, knowing she's still a step above Weber even now. She continues, talking about how she continued her winning ways as part of GBH, defeating the Satsujin Triad and Heaven Sent before finally - FINALLY - getting that shot at Adeline LaRoux.
That night nobody thought Miss Fortune could get the victory...or more, they didn't want her to. But throughout her career, in SCCW, NKP, Sakura Pro, WXW, even the appearances in places like FGA and Underground, nobody has wanted Miss Fortune to succeed. Ever. But since that night last year when she won the Hudson Cup, Miss Fortune has continued to push forward. Capturing the SCCW Tag Team titles, becoming WXW Pure Gold Champion, and above it all - she became the Sakura Pro Champion. So now that Sakura Pro has reopened its door, Miss Fortune says she's ready to continue carving her path of dominance through the competition here. She holds the belt up high as she says this title will never leave her side. Especially not for someone like Emevlas Stasias...
Sakura Pro Tag Team Title Match
Sign of the Cross (Marilyn Lee & Ashley Cross) (c) vs. Stacy DeVille and Kem Dynamo
Marilyn and Stacy were the first to start for their team, sharing a handshake before locking up. Fans were treated to an incredible technical display between the two, with Stacy managing to get the better of it after connecting with an overhead belly-to-belly that sent MLC to her corner. Tagging herself in, Ash was met by the outstretched hand of Stacy, looking for another handshake. Ash merely glared before grabbing the hand, turning into a wristlock before smoothly transitioning into a hammerlock clothesline that got a two.
Ash continued to be the aggressive one in the match, at times ignoring the outstretched hand of her sister in favor of inflicting punishment. This strategy backfired strongly once Stacy was able to make the tag, with Kem catching a charging Ash with a spinebuster. Kem and Stacy swung the tide in their favor, punishing Ash with double team maneuvers over the next few minutes. MLC could be seen wincing in pain as Ash went through the wringer, including an impressive Flying Knee/STO combo that nearly put Ash away for good. It was as Kem went for her Bad Luck Charm (Running Enzuigiri) that Ash saw her chance, ducking underneath the kick before delivering a double stomp to Kem's lower back. Still feeling the effects of the past few minutes, Ash slowly made the crawl to her sister, making the tag as Kem tagged in Stacy.
Marilyn entered the ring, taking Stacy down with a back elbow before catching a charging Kem with a dropkick. Stacy looked to surprise her with the hip attack, but MLC impressively countered it into a high-angle German Suplex, sending the Mama Bear into the corner. Ash made it back to her feet, throwing caution to the wind as she went for a crossbody on Kem, who caught her. This wouldn't last as MLC connected with a dropkick, knocking Kem down and to the outside. Ash made her way up to the turnbuckles, flying off with a huge crossbody that laid both of them out. MLC looked on in disbelief before turning around, catching the full brunt of another hip attack for a close two! Stacy pounded the mat before picking MLC up, looking for the DeVille Driver. As she lifted MLC up, MLC countered with a small package that only got a two count. Getting to their feet, Stacy went for a Superkick, only for MLC to catch the leg before countering with a spinning backfist. MLC lifted Stacy into position for the Criss Cross as Ashley made her way onto the apron, signaling to move closer. Ash leapt to the top rope, springboarding off for a Super Criss Cross (Indytaker)! Ash dove out of the ring onto Kem once more as Marilyn made the cover, getting the win in a terrific contest!
WINNERS: Sign of the Cross (Super Criss Cross)
The fans applauded as MLC and Stacy laid on the mat, both exhausted after the match. Ash slid in the ring to check on Marilyn as Kem gingerly made it to her feet, going in to check on Stacy. The Cross Sisters were presented with their titles as Stacy slowly made her way to her feet, holding her head as Kem continued to check on her. The Cross Sisters approached the duo, shaking hands with Stacy and Kem as the crowd cheered once more.
Sakura Pro Championship
Miss Fortune (c) vs. Emevlas Stastias
The tension was palpable as Emevlas Stastias took center stage, reveling in the boos from the Sakura fans. While Miss Fortune was normally not a favorite, the fans began to support her in the face of a common enemy. Em seemed unphased, even cracking a grin at the crowd's reaction. Fortune simply shook her head as the bell started, only to be surprised as Em connected with a running forearm. Em continued to unload on Fortune, pausing only to turn to the fans and demand they watch as the new champion be crowned. This fired up Fortune, who tackled Em to the ground before firing off several punches and forearms.
The next several minutes saw less of a match and more of a brawl, the two ladies more comfortable throwing hands than trading holds. The fight spilled over to the outside as the two continued to brawl, Fortune whipping Em into the barricade before charging in, only to be backdropped over the barricade and into the crowd. Em followed her into the crowd, tossing her into a several rows of chairs as the ref struggled to regain control. Em grabbed Fortune, only for Fortune to turn the tables on her and launch her into the barricade. Em hardly had time to register the pain before Fortune came charging in, clotheslining her over the barricade and back to ringside.
Fortune and Em continued to brawl around ringside, neither willing to back down from each other. Em whipped Fortune into the ringpost, only for Fortune to reverse at the last second and send her face first into the cold metal. Rolling Em inside, Fortune took no chances with her stunned opponent, delivering a ripcord rolling elbow before pulling her into position for the Psycho Driver (Over the shoulder belly to back piledriver). From there the pinfall was academic, bringing an end to a chaotic brawl.
Miss Fortune made it to her feet, holding the title high in the air as the women of Sakura came out to the stage to applaud. Emevlas chose to ignore these proceedings, pushing Marilyn Lee Cross out of the way as she went to the back. Fortune looked out into the crowd and the roster before declaring that no matter how much time has passed, she would remain as champion!
WINNER: Miss Fortune (Psycho Driver)
Miss Fortune made it to her feet, holding the title high in the air as the women of Sakura came out to the stage to applaud. Emevlas chose to ignore these proceedings, pushing Marilyn Lee Cross out of the way as she went to the back. Fortune looked out into the crowd and the roster before declaring that no matter how much time has passed, she would remain as champion!
(c) 2018
