"Great, I’m up against one of the Australians again…" winced Axel, Nervously waiting for his first bout to be announced.
"You lost to Colin last time as I recall." Murmured Dai, "He's very presumptuous…. Although Sullivan does have a bit of a height advantage over you…. Why not imagine your fighting Ruffert !!"
"Ummm, Thanks," gulped the Mawashi clad Racoon, as his name was announced, he swept the curtains aside and strolled towards the ring before his friends could offer him any more advise or wish him luck.
His opponent, Sullivan. Arrived in the Ring before him and stood, defiantly with both hands rested lazily on his belt. The unkempt Dingo simply glared at Axel as he walked up the steps into the ring.
"I guess Dai's right in a way…." The Racoon thought to himself as he gave his opponent the customary bow, which was promptly returned, "He "IS" a Canine, and about the same build as Ruffert….."
"Whotcha' Mate" rasped the Dingo, raising one eyebrow in contempt, as he crouched down. Axel, straight faced, mirrored the manoeuvre…..
THE SIGNAL WAS MADE
They flung their arms around each other at the same instant, grasping firmly on each others belts, it became a literal "tug of war", Sullivan heaved his shoulders up and began leaning into the sweaty Racoon, attempting to force him to the ground.
Axel steeled his legs against the assault, both their bodies staining against each other. Then in desperation, Axel used all the strength in his right arm to yank the Dingo towards him, darting quickly out of the way…
The gamble paid off!!, as the startled Dingo toppled out of the ring.
"Streuth, Sullivan!, what kind of bout was THAT!!" scorned his self-appointed team captain, as the Dingo returned backstage, with his tail between his legs.
"Knock it off, Col'" Defended Ralph,{The Kangaroo} swishing his large tail angrily behind him, as much as his massive mawashi would allow. "You're
due up to fight, next"
Colin swaggered upto the ring with his normal, self assured air, Lyro just sneered at him. Looking down his muzzle at him as if he was dirt. The Koala reflected the sentiment with his best "Sumo face" But the Black Wolf gave a rye smile as they grudgingly bowed to each other and crouched down.
THE SIGNAL WAS MADE!!
Lyro towered above the shorter, stocky Koala, and lent into him as Sullivan had done previously.
"If I just…" though Colin, in a heartbeat, attempting to copy Axel's manoeuvre. As he did so, the Sinuous Black Wolf drew back, Colin insinctfully span around before his own momentum sent him out of the ring, and flung himself at his opponent, reaching for his belt. BUT IT WAS TOO LATE, as Lyro raised both his arm's bringing them crashing down between his shoulder blades, Colin felt the clawed fingertips dig into his flesh, then oblivion as he toppled like a tree onto the hard ground.
"What's that?, those two German's aren’t competing?" Whispered Mush.
Dai' nodded, with a solemn expression on his face, "Didn't I tell you?, the TV Wrestling show that sent them here was cancelled, and their "Boss" ordered them to fly back early….."
"Well, they're about to announce my first bout…" Swallowed Mush, full of apprehension.
"You’ll be fine, once this one’s over it comes easy !!" Chirped Ruffert, massaging the Husky’s shoulders to relieve his tension.
"Sound’s like a bit of a Freudian slip…." Sneered Morgan, who stood within earshot. Ruffert span round to face him and gave him a withering stare, Just as Mush’s name rang out over the loudspeaker system and he started walking towards the ring.
"Don’t think I’m going to be soft with you…." Hissed Rusty, as he bowed to his familiar opponent.
"I wouldn’t expect you too be…"
A slight smile spread across the Foxes face, and he nodded his understanding. With a dignified bow, they both crouched down in the starting position.
The Two friends collided shoulder to shoulder, Rusty dashed behind the Black and White Husky and surged forward, attempting to force him out of the ring. Mush hastily sidestepped him, but before he could counter attack, the Fox had recovered, and made a low sweeping grab for his opponent's belt. Using all the strength in his arms, Rusty swung Mush out of the ring.
Startled at having lost, Mush composed himself and bowed to his adversary, who returned the gesture with a slight smile. Mush smiled inwardly at that, he couldn't stay mad at his English Fox friend for long, he was just to sweet natured and an outrageous flirt.
NEXT BOUT, SULLIVAN V'S RUFFERT !!
"Will you stop hassling me, Morgan!!" growled Ruffert,backstage.
"Look, we know you're nervous, he’s just…" whispered Dai’ in his usual carming, Fatherly tone.
"Acting like he’s my Mother !!!" snapped the German Shepherd, finishing his sentence for him. "You're SO bloody possessive, Morgan!! I’m sick of it !!"
The Brown Bear looked hurt as Ruffert, indignantly barged past him,towards the ring.
"Many a true word is spoken in anger" Whispered the Giant Panda to his crest fallen friend. "I think we both know what he meant by it….."
Morgan looked sorrowfully at his feet, he wanted to talk with Dai’ about it, but couldn’t. What with all the other Wrestlers around them, some of which they knew and others they didn’t, some they’d never even seen before.
The German Shepherd strolled angrily towards the ring, he hated the way Morgan was so "Clingy", sure, they'd started out in Sumo together, and there was that shared experience in the Sauna at their first ever weekend training session…But he wanted something more, he thought he found it with Randell, but he was too much for him…..Now there was Mush, he was almost the opposite….
Eventually it was the penultimate bout, Mush had won one more bout than Rusty, and the Fox wandered over to congratulate him.
"I lost my last bout through a stupid misjudgement…I’m glad you’ve done this well" he reached across and shook the black and White Huskies hand.
"Only you know that Lyro will……"
"Hey, he’s got a great teacher !!" beamed Jasper, laying a large hand on his Canine prodigies shoulder.
"I don’t do such a bad job, myself !!" Scoffed Dennis, Pretending to take Jaspers comment as an insult, and draped a muscular Black arm across Rusty’s shoulder. The Fox nuzzled up against his friend and partner.
"You know who your up against, don’t you ??" wined Ruffert, weaving through the huddle to stand face to face with Mush. The Husky forced a grave smile, and gently brushed the German Shepherd aside, as his name rang out over the loudspeaker.
"I know what's going on, you’re going to throw this fight aren’t you ?!" snarled Mush, in a barely audible, low growl, as he confronted his opponent.
"If I don’t lose too you…I’ll simply let my…"
"At least put up a decent fight…" demanded Mush.
"The pleasure of defeating you, isn’t mine to take, I’ve had my orders!!" Lyro snapped back. Narrowing his eyes and wrinkling his muzzle.
"So, why fight at all?" Questioned Mush, but the Wolf ignored the comment.
The Black and White Husky swallowed as discreetly as he could and got into the starting position.
"Wow, no surprises their!!" Chorused his friends, as he returned victorious, backstage. Mush acknowledged Rusty with a nod.
"I didn't get a chance to warn you…."
"I knew what to expect….." he sighed "and I'll be up against…."
"RANDELL V'S MUSH !!" Boomed over the loudspeaker.
"You made it this far then?" hissed the Muscular Grey Wolf, "I was afraid you'd have got tied up or something…"
"Enough taunting! Let's just get on with it, yeah !?" Breathed Mush.
Randell flashed him a steely gaze, the Husky averted his eyes to the floor momentarily, knowing what he'd be faced with.
"You'll be biting dust soon enough, but then, being a pillow biter I expect you'll be used to it….submissive little shit !!" Snarled the heavily Muscled, sinuous Grey Wolf, spinning on his heel and flinging his arms wide, encouraging an admiring roar from the crowd in his favour.
Mush suddenly felt very small, momentarily wishing Rusty was here in his place, swallowing hard he bowed and got into the starting position. His opponent sensed this and slowly turned around, mirroring him, with an inexorable smile on his face.
THE SIGNAL WAS MADE
Mush desperately surged forward, but was stopped by the referee. He had made a false start as Randell had [intentionally] not placed both knuckles on the ground. The indomitable Wolf drew himself up to his full height, once again playing to the crowd and then resumed the crouched starting position.
"He did that to psyche me out !!" Mush wrestled with his conscious, "He'll not risk doing that again…it's now or never this time!!"
"BBBAAMMM!!" The two Canine bodies collided with tremendous force, Mush felt his whole body shake with the impact, and Randell's clawed fingers rake down his sides, grasping firmly onto his belt!.
The Huskies eyes darted to make eye contact with his adversary, and he instinctually reached for his belt, but the sinuous Grey Wolf spread his elbows wide making it hard for him to do so. Mush endeavoured to reach it as it was tantalisingly out of reach, but the uncompromising Wolf violently shook him from side to side trying to get him out of the ring.
Valiantly the Husky stood his ground, then gave up all resistance hoping to gain some kind of advantage or hopefully overbalance his aggressive opponent, but it was too late as he felt himself falling, crashing to the edge of the ring onto his breast bone, winding himself.
A self-satisfied smirk spread across Randells, as he was once again, the undefeated lightweight champion!
"Get up and bow to me, you filth!!" sneered the victorious Wolf, amidst the roar of the crowd, "Then you can limp back to your Bear buddies, before they get their arse's kicked!!"
"Mush, Mush… are you alright?" squealed Ruffert, as the Husky staggered back, behind the curtain.
"Y..Yeah…Just..got the…breath knocked…"
"shussh now!" whispered Jasper, drawing up a nearby chair, and offering it to his teammate.
"Jasper's right!" advised Dai', "You should relax!, you did very well considering who you where up against!". The Husky nodded, begrudgingly.
"You'll keep an eye on him won't you?" Jasper, the muscular Polar Bear, smiled to Ruffert, as the heavyweight Wrestlers surged forward to be nearer the curtain. Ruffert nodded eagerly, then glanced at the floor avoiding Morgan's gaze as he swaggered past.
"Go for it you guy's!!" called Rusty, to Dai', Morgan, Dennis and Jasper.
THE FIRST HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT IS TO BE….
VALDIS V'S JASPER !!!
"That's me!" beamed the Snowy White Bear, hearing the announcement,
"He's that Russian "First timer" isn't he ??"
"Don't be overconfident !" Warned Daikonran, "He's been trained by Rasputin, remember……"
"…Now let's start with this tree here!, Low gear, High gear!!" Babbled Dennis, getting disconcerted looks from his Bear friends.
"It's a "Umjammer Lami" quote, sorry…I come out with a lot of crap when I'm nervous, Kind of got level five's tune stuck in my head" continued the Badger.
"It's Jasper's turn to be nervous at the moment, my friend" breathed Dai' as the Bear in question strolled confidently out towards the ring.
"We've ALL got things on our minds, and we have to bury our feelings deep down…" Dennis noticed a faraway look on the stocky Panda's face, as he said that, and they huddled around to watch Jaspers bout.
"This is your first bout!, now I DON'T want you to disgrace me, or our "Mother Russia"….." Rasputin warned Valdis from the entrance on the opposite side, "You are to fight that Canadian Bear, HURRY NOW! He's already walking towards the ring…..". Valdis looked up at his mentor, his face a mixture of admiration and fear. "He only has "Ringtime" advantage over you….I'm confident you can do it…" The massive Grizzly added in little over a whisper as the Black Bear headed out to confront his opponent.
Valdis apprensifully walked the short distance to the ring, it felt like an eternity to him, he could feel the crowd checking him out as he was the newcomer up against an established Wrestler. As he cautiously walked up the few steps to the ring he caught his first glimpse of Jasper. Who stood proudly with one hand resting on the belt of his Red Silken Mawashi. His muscular build was similar to Rasputin's as far as he could tell, although the Polar Bear had thicker fur so it seemed less prominent. The two Bear's nodded the customary bow to each other and slowly lowered themselves into the starting position, their unblinking eye's transfixed on each other, searching for a weakness. THE SIGNAL WAS MADE !!.
Valdis leapt at his opponent with great gusto, Jasper stood his ground as the slightly shorter, Black Bear seized his belt. The Polar Bear instantly did the same, pulling savagely on his opponent's belt hoping to topple him, but the Black Bear stood firm. "You're good!" Breathed Jasper, into the twitching Black ear near his face.Valdis didn't reply, digging his heels into the ground he manovered forward slowly, with grim determination. They remained in a deadly "stale mate" in the centre of the ring for an agonising few seconds, then with an ear splitting roar, Jasper tore at his belt and flung him bodily out of the ring.
"Who's that I'm up against??" questioned Morgan, as his and an unknown opponents name were announced over the loudspeaker system.
"That's that Gorilla guy I took on last time!" Puffed Jasper, soaked in sweat, as he ducked under the backstage curtain. "That Russian Black Bear's tricky alright!!" he added with a relived sigh as he wiped the sweat from his brow. "Same with him, Morgan…Watch out, yeah?"
Morgan trotted out to the ring, he remembered watching the Great Ape fight Ralph the Australian Kangaroo last time, The Ape was strong!, he knew that and he had a tremendous reach and powerful forearms, he also had quite a low centre of gravity. Once they reached the ring, they customary bowed to each other and crouched down. Morgan stared at his opponent, doing his best to hide the anticipation he felt. The Silver back Gorilla glared back at him with his beady eyes and furrowed his large eyebrows.
THE SIGNAL WAS MADE
Morgan seized his opponent's belt within seconds, and the great Ape did the same.
"I'm going to have too…" Morgan thought to himself, tightening his grip on the Gorillas belt, he used his bodyweight to throw himself to the left. The Ape wobbled on the spot, and Morgan desperately surged forward. His opponent stepped back to gain a better footing. But it was to late as he'd put a foot out of the ring.
Forcing a smile, the Great Ape, nodded a bow to Morgan, "Why'd I keep losing?" he sighed to himself. "Maybe I should put on weight…"
Morgan felt a pang of pity for his opponent, "It's not just that," he whispered, "It's practice and technique…."
"It's easy for you to say that," Breathed the Gorilla, "You've got team mates to practice with…"
"Well done, Morgan!" his friend's congratulated him, as he ducked back under the curtain. Morgan nodded slowly. "Who was that guy I just wrestled?" he muttered.
"Umm, his names, Morita and he's from Africa,….he's the only one representing his country as far as I can remember!" answered Dai'
"It's my turn to take on the might of Russia!" Joked Dennis, doing his best to disguise his apprehension after Jaspers warning.
"I thought you liked big powerful bears?" chided Rusty, who'd wandered over to wish him luck.
"It could be worse, I could be up against Rasputin, although I doubt I'll get that far!" he snorted, and brushing the curtain aside, headed out to the ring.
Valdis had reached the ring before him, and stood proudly waiting for his opponent to confront him.
"He's been trained by Rasputin, alright!" Dennis thought to himself, "He's got that overconfident/arrogant air about him!". Fixing his best indifferent Sumo sneer on his face, the Badger strode the few steps and stared straight into his opponent's eyes, hoping to intimidate him. A fight could almost be decided in the psychological warfare, before the bout itself. Begrudgingly they nodded a quick bow to each other, and crouched down..
THE SIGNAL WAS MADE!!
The two burly, muscular Black and White furred bodies collided with a tremendous thud!.
"AAACKK!, Jasper was right!, this ones no Cub!!!" Dennis thought to himself, as the Black Bear, savagely grabbed hold of him by his belt and yanked it left and right, in an effort to overbalance him. The Badger held his ground and got an underhand grip on him opponent's belt, hoping to pull him towards himself and down onto the ground. Valdis pulled back!. Dennis went wide-eyed through fear of being slapped down, and released his grip.
As the two of them straightened up, and began to anticipate the others next move, Valdis desperately charged at his opponent, unprepared for the full impact of the blow, the Badger wavered on the spot, and toppled out of the ring.
"I'm "Due up" again?" Groaned the Badger,
"Yeah!, theirs been a few other bout's and now it's you against Ralph"
Smiled Rusty. Dennis got up wearily from where he'd been sat cross-legged on the floor. "AH NO!! I fought "Bigfoot" last time….." Bemoaning his fate, he headed back out into the arena.
Both Kangaroo and Badger arrived in the ring at the same time, and began staring each other out….
"We meet again!?" sneered the 'Roo, breaking the uneasy silence.
Bearing his teeth slightly, Dennis just sneered at him. They bowed, and together they crouched down.
"You'd better pray your psyching did something!!" Dennis thought to himself, remembering his previous loss to the sinuous Ralph.
In a heartbeat, the signal was made, and the two bodies collided, Ralph immediately began utilising the tremendous strength in his legs, pushing the stocky Badger towards the edge of the ring. Grimacing, Dennis desperately tore himself free and darted behind the Kangaroo, and put all his bodyweight into one mighty shove!!!. It didn't work as Ralph counterbalanced with his tail and swung back around to confront him. The startled Badger instinctually seized his opponent's belt and yanked it towards himself and down.
IT WORKED!! And the large 'Roo toppled, chin first to the ground.
"Check me out!" beamed Dennis, "I didn't think I'd win that one!!" He announced gleefully as he returned his circle of friends.
"You should always think positive, and believe in yourself" Breathed Rusty, Dennis wondered why they were all huddled around Jasper.
JASPER V'S RASPUTIN
"Jeez! You're up against HIM!!" Gasped Dennis, as he heard the announcement. He mentally slapped himself for his earlier outburst.
"You're as strong as he is? you've got a good chance, right??"
"….Only I beat his team-mate, so he's probably got it "in" for me!!" Sighed the Polar Bear, getting ready to go.
"Anger can lead to rash mistakes, my friend! Be wary!!" advised Daikonran as the white Bear headed out, he paused momentarily, looked over his shoulder and flashed them a brave smile before continuing on his way.
"Rasputin! Ra, Ra, Rasputin !!!!" cheered the exuberant crowd, as Jasper walked practically unnoticed towards his formidable opponent. Rasputin loved the attention he was getting, beaming an evil smile he flexed and unflexed his muscles to a flurry of camera flash bulbs. Eventually the two Bear's were face to face in the ring.
"Well, well, well…." Hissed Rasputin, "Look's like I'm up against the one who defeated MY partner….do you think you can defeat me??"
Jasper knew not to answer, instead he just gave the stalwart Grizzly a supercilious look. Rasputin responded with a guttural snarl and they begrudgingly nodded a quick bow to each other.
THE SIGNAL WAS MADE!!
As they dived towards each other, Rasputin, lay his large hands on Jaspers upper chest with a thunderous slap. Jasper wheezed and squinted his eyes in pain, fighting to keep his composure. The Polar Bear lent into his burly opponent, being sure he had a good footing. Both pair's of arms went for the other's belt.
The crowd went into an apprehensive hush, as both Bear's squared off against each other in the centre of the ring. Neither of them giving an inch!.
Jasper could see Rasputin's eye's grow wide with anger and frustration,
"I'm NOT losing, to you!!!" snarled the Grizzly, with a voice that would peel paint from a wall.
Jasper felt himself shudder, and in that split second, Rasputin violently yanked on the right hand side of the Polar Bear's Red Mawashi, with his stronger right arm. Caught off guard, Jasper's right leg twisted awkwardly underneath him and he crumpled out of the ring.
Jasper tried to stand but an agonising pain shot up his leg! "I musta' landed on it funny!" he thought to himself, his face screwed up in pain. He could hear the crowd cheering for Rasputin, who stood victorious in the ring, glaring down expectantly at the injured Polar Bear. "Uhh, I..I..gotta.." winced Jasper, balancing on his left leg as well as he could, he turned and bowed to his tempestuous opponent, before hobbling backstage.
Shortly it was to be the deciding bout, the Wrestlers who'd won the most bouts where to fight each other, the judges discussed it and announced…
DAIKONRAN V'S JASPER, WINNER TAKES ON RASPUTIN!
"Well, it's come to this" Dai' smiled gravely,
"These thing's happen, although I'm not going to be much good with this sprained ankle…you might as well go up against that big lug now!"
Jasper looked mournfully down at the heavy bandaging that the medics had done to support it.
"Come now, don't be like that, Please don't just give up after you've come this far!" Pleaded the wizened Panda.
"Yeah, you did that to me last time, and didn't you hate yourself for it afterwards???" insisted Morgan.
"You're right…I suppose!!" The Polar Bear heaved a great sigh, lifting himself out of the same chair he had sat Mush down in earlier. He bit his lip as he cautiously placed his weight on his right foot, again a sharp searing pain shot up his leg and he collapsed back into the chair. "No….no it's no good! I can hardly walk on it!!" He wheezed.
"WHAT'S GOING ON !?!!!" Mr Kuma suddenly appeared, flanked by one of the medics.
"My ankles too bad, Sir! Your Son will just have to go right ahead and Wrestle Rasputin…." Jasper nodded a polite bow to Mr Kuma "I just can't walk on it….."
The elder Panda grabbed his started son's arm and pulled him to one side, snarling angrily at him in their native language, after a few seconds he stormed off leaving Daikonran visibly shaken. His Friends looked on afraid to question him on the matter.
"He has to have them announce this bout has been called off, owing to Jasper's injury, and that I'm to Wrestle Rasputin…."
"There's something more isn't there?" Whispered Morgan…
THE HEAVYWEIGHT FINAL IS ONCE AGAIN….
DAIKONRAN V'S RASPUTIN !!!!
Daikonran hurried out towards the ring before his friend could question him further, a heavy burden on his mind, The Giant Panda did his best to compose himself as he headed to the ring, amongst the tremendous roar of the crowd, both in his favour and Rasputin's.
"We meet again!!" Sneered the stalwart Grizzly who stood defiantly in the ring with both his arms folded across his broad chest, as Dai' walked up the few steps to confront his familiar opponent. "I've been training really hard this past year! So be warned!" he continued.
"Yes, one of my friend's has a sprained ankle back there to prove it!" Announced Dai' unintimidated by the Muscular Bear's boasts.
"It probably would have been a sham match if it went ahead anyway!" Scoffed the Grizzly. " 'It would look bad for your "Daddies" firm, if you lost, wouldn't it?..but now it's just you and me up here!! Come on! Come and fuck with me!!!" snarled Rasputin, viscously.
He bowed to his opponent who did the same and together they sank down into the starting position for what would be the final and deciding match.
TO BE CONCUDED!!