A chorus of chanting voices plays over the speakers. Chen walks out of the entranceway and onto the field to the rhythm of a drum and a loud pop from the Honiarans.
Briar Lane: On the way to the ring, from Singapore, standing 5 feet 5 and weighing in at 130 pounds, ZADIIIEEEEE CHEEEEEENNN!
Shamoon: I really want to know what she and Athiambo talked about.
A.B.: She said it politely, but it's none of our business. All that matters is that she's healthy.
Dominga: Not for long.
Chen sprints towards a trampoline near the ring, leaps onto it and is sent flipping over the top rope and into the ring, where she lands in superhero fashion. She quickly stands and bows to the fans before looking at the tunnel.
A heartbeat is heard. Slow at first, only to speed up at the sound of a distant wolf howl and faster still as growls follow, growing less and less distant. And then comes the guitar riff, fast-paced and intense, drums beating in resemblance to heavy feet hitting the floor in escape and lighter, more numerous paws giving chase.
The camera films the empty entranceway as Volkov slowly rises into view, snarling at it, her half-shaved mohawk, face-paint and black eyes giving her the visage of a warrior of the post-apocalypse.
Briar Lane: And from Tobolsk, Tyumen Oblast, Russia, standing 5 feet 9 and weighing in at 200 pounds, the Siberian Beast, SVETLANAAA VOOOOLKOOOVVV!!!
Volkov marches across the field toward the ring.
A.B.: And an accomplished one. 2 times the URPW Women's Champion in her native land, a multi-time Tag Team Champion in Joshi Star in Japan, having held their Gemini Golden Belts. She also won Joshi's top prize, the Star Power Championship. Just recently, she was tearing through Jake Frost's Pain Palace promotion in Alaska in the United States.
Dominga: The way she twisted "Lucky" Lei D into a corkscrew two weeks ago? She's powerful, skilled and full of malice. I LOVE IT!
Volkov slides into the apron, pulling herself with nothing but the strength of her arms before hopping up, throwing her head back and letting out a primal bellow.
Shamoon: Also, did I hear that right? She's 200 pounds? She was 190 when we last saw her.
Dominga: People gain weight. Who knew?
A.B.: 70 pounds and 4 inches being given up by Chen here. This is going to an uphill battle.
Shamoon: Yeah, but last week, against Moore, it was 110 and 6-
Dominga: And she lost.
Referee Atoye Bonds stands between both women. Volkov cracks her neck and crouches, her long-nailed fingers curling into claws. Chen takes a deep breath, squares her feet and brings her hands up, one below her cheek, the other slightly outstretched.
The bell rings, and the two combatants circle each other. Volkov licks her teeth while Chen narrows her gaze.
A.B.: Here we go, match-up underway. Who's going to make the first move? And it's Volkov with a first- No, Chen ducks to the right. Calf Kick.
Dominga: Volkov didn't feel it.
Shamoon: No one ever does, the first time.
A.B.: Volkov with another swing. Chen too quick. There's another kick.
Dominga: Slipper little-
A.B.: Volkov again-
*CRACK*
A.B.: And another kick from Chen! Did you hear the crack on that?
Shamoon: I think I finally saw the whites of Volkov's eyes for a second.
The Beast backs away, frowning. Chen is still as composed as ever.
A.B.: Volkov with another lunge.
Shamoon: You think she would have learned the third ti- Wait, no! She caught Chen's leg! She caught Chen's leg!
Dominga: Suckered her in!
Volkov spins Chen around and quickly picks her up for a Pendulum Backbreaker.
A.B.: Great move by the veteran Volkov. Here's the cover. Chen with a kickout!
Volkov then attempts a Grounded Headlock. Chen grabs her wrist and slips out, attempting to counter into a Grounder Hammerlock, but Volkov gets up to her feet quicker than expected and attempts a Short-Arm Clothesline, only for Chen to duck and go behind with a kick to the back of the knee and a Roundhouse Kick to the back of the head.
A.B.: Now, it's Chen with the cover. Volkov kicks out!
Dominga: WITH AUTHORITY!
Chen is sent flying, but lands with a cat-like grace on all fours. Volkov gets up and charges, only to be caught with an Arm Drag that sends the Russian tumbling into a corner.
A.B.: Chen using Volkov's momentum against her.
Shamoon: She's got her lined up.
Chen charges with a Running Knee, but the Siberian swiftly stands and slips out of the way, while in the same motion grabbing Chen and sending her into the turnbuckle knee-first.
A.B.: Miscalculation there. Brilliant reflex by Volkov!
Dominga: Gōng Nǎo? More like Gong NOPE!
Shamoon: Oh, so you can make corny jokes, but not me?
Dominga: So you admit your jokes are corny?
Chen clutches her knee, briefly standing on one leg, which Volkov kicks out from under her.
A.B.: Volkov with a Leg Drop! Bringing all 200 pounds down on Chen's face! And there's the cover! Chen kicks out at 2!
Volkov beats the mat, then grabs Chen by the hair and slams her head against the mat over and over to loud boos.
Bonds: Hey! Hey, stop!
Volkov ignores the ref and pulls Chen up. She then sticks the Singaporean's head between her legs and hooks both of her arms.
A.B.: Volkov calling for her signature Lifting Facebuster. She calls this Molitva na Prazdnik! Prayer for the Feast!
Shamoon: Doesn't matter what you call it; Chen's not letting it happen!
A.B.: Chen wisely sandbagging!
Dominga: It's crazy how the body works. So much of picking someone up is cooperation, even in a fight.
Volkov releases one of Chen's arms in order to pound on her, but Chen uses this opportunity to spin out and bring the larger woman down.
A.B.: Chen, perhaps looking for the Crossface!
Volkov only goes down to a single knee and punches Chen in the face again, making her stumble away. The Beast then stalks her from behind and grabs her in an Abdominal Stretch.
A.B.: Wolf Bite! Wolf Bite locked in! We saw this against "Lucky" Lei D two weeks ago!
Dominga: Oh, I hate this move this move so much! It hurts!
Chen clenches her teeth to prevent herself from screaming.
Bonds: Chen? Chen, do you want to quit?
The Archer shakes her head repeatedly.
A.B.: Chen with nowhere to go! And now Volkov, striking the exposed ribs while twisting her in two different directions!
Crowd: Let's go, Chen! Let's go, Chen! Let's go, Chen! Let's go, Chen!
A.B.: The Honiara faithful, trying to rally the Archer!
Dominga: Chant all you want! It's not going to do anything!
Volkov stops striking the ribs and fully locks in the hold. Chen raises her free hand.
A.B.: Chen may tap here! No! She's elbowing the thigh! She's elbowing Volkov's thigh!
The repeated sharp strikes to her leg, which is hooked around Chen's, make the Siberian buckle, allowing Chen to re-adjust her position and perform a Judo Hip Toss to a huge pop.
A.B.: Chen with a great escape! Now, trying to go for cover-
Shamoon: Volkov's already getting up!
A.B.: Volkov is already back on her feet.
Chen is still seated. Volkov tries kicking her, but Chen lies back down, then turns her body to legsweep the Russian. Chen then does a forward roll to create distance, then charges for a Running Knee as Volkov rises back up.
A.B.: Gōng- NO! VOLKOV BLOCKED IT! VOLKOV CAUGHT THE KNEE!
Shamoon: I've never seen anyone catch a Running Knee!
Dominga: She has had Chen scouted all night! And now she's got her up!
A.B.: Spinebuster! Simmons-style!
Volkov lets out another primal bellow as she stands over Chen. The crowd boos as she then grabs the Singaporean's head and pulls her to her feet.
Volkov: MOLIT'SYA!
She knees Chen in the stomach, making her double over. Volkov then sticks Chen's head between her legs once again, and once again she grabs her arms in a Double Underhook and begins to lift her off the ground.
Dominga: This time it's over! It's time to Pray for the Feas-
A.B.: CHEN WITH A HURRICANRANA!
Dominga: WHAT?!
Shamoon: She used the momentum of the lift for the Hurricanrana and spiked Volkov's head on the mat!
A.B.: A beautiful counter by Chen! Volkov is dazed! Volkov is confused! The Beast has lost sight of her quarry!
Chen stays just out of the Beast's peripherals and holds up her hands to perform an archery motion. Upon letting the invisible arrow fly, she charges for a third Running Knee. This time, Volkov is not prepared.
A.B.: GŌNG NǍO!!!!
Shamoon: Right to the chin! And there's the pin, for the win!
Bonds: 1! 2! 3! Ring the bell!
The crowd cheers as the drums and the chorus of chanting return.
Briar Lane: Here is your winner, ZADIIIEEEEE CHEEEEEENNN!
Chen slowly rises, blinking several times and letting out several sighs while clutching her knees.
A.B.: A hard-fought comeback victory for the former Blind Archer! That is exactly what she needed.
Dominga: Let's not take anything away from Volkov, though.
Shamoon: Yeah, that match could have gone either way.
A.B.: Absolutely, the Siberian Beast is going to be a problem on this brand, but for tonight, Zadie Chen was the better woman.
She straightens, allowing Bonds to raise her hand in victory.
Volkov rises, rubbing her chin and glaring. Chen stares down her opponent.
A.B.: Oh no.
Bonds tries to get between them, but Chen holds up a hand, which she then offers to the Russian.
Volkov spits on the mat and walks past, earning more ire from the crowd.
Shamoon: Oh, come on.
A.B.: Like I said. A problem.
Chen watches her exit the ring with a frown. Bonds shakes her head and raises Chen's hand in victory once more.
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