Jackson Cane: The bell has sounded! And the 35th Women's Regal Shuffle is underway with the biggest kickoff! Aki Kanagawa and Aoi Shiranui!
Paul Marrow: OH BOY!
Aki Kanagawa and Aoi Shiranui circle each other slowly in the center of the ring. The crowd is buzzing, chanting both their names. Neither woman breaks eye contact.
Jackson Cane: No immediate contact here, Paul. Both women know the history. Both know what the other is capable of. They're sizing each other up.
Paul Marrow: This isn't just about throwing punches, Cane. This is about respect. This is about establishing dominance right here, right now, to send a message to everyone else in this match!
Aoi is the first to make a move, feigning a quick strike, but Aki doesn't flinch. Aki then takes a step forward, and Aoi gracefully sidesteps. They continue to circle, the tension almost unbearable.
Jackson Cane: Aki Kanagawa, The Empress, known for her technical precision and her devastating strikes. Aoi Shiranui, The Aerial Wizard, incredibly agile, unpredictable, and explosive.
Paul Marrow: You couldn't ask for a better start to a Regal Shuffle, honestly. This is a dream match for so many, and it's happening right here, right now!
Suddenly, Aoi lunges forward with a rapid combination of strikes, but Aki expertly blocks the first two before Aoi connects with a stiff forearm to Aki's jaw. Aki takes a step back and shakes her head, a slight, almost imperceptible smirk forming on her lips.
Aki retaliates immediately, unleashing a quick, sharp, leaping corkscrew roundhouse kick that the wind whips past Aoi's jaw. Aoi then tries to grab Aki's leg for a takedown, but Aki maintains balance.
Jackson Cane: Oh! A lightning-quick kick from The Empress! Aoi Barely got out of the way of that one!
Paul Marrow: THAT KICK! THAT'S THE "EMPRESS CHANT" RIGHT THERE, CANE! SHE PUT YOU DOWN WITH THAT IN A HEARTBEAT!
The two women lock up in the center of the ring. It's a test of strength and leverage. Aoi tries to gain an advantage with a headlock, but Aki, with immense power, shoves her off, sending Aoi rebounding off the ropes.
As Aoi comes back, Aki catches her with a sharp elbow to the face, sending Aoi stumbling back into a corner. Aki follows up, unleashing a series of rapid, precise kicks to Aoi's midsection, each one looking incredibly stiff.
Aki grabs Aoi by the hair and pulls her out of the corner, then delivers a devastating Snap Suplex! Aoi lands hard in the center of the ring.
Paul Marrow: Just like that! She's in control, Cane! She is absolutely in control! This is the first 90 seconds, and we are already seeing a masterclass!
Aki picks Aoi up, attempting to throw her over the top rope. Aoi, however, starts fighting back, throwing desperate elbows.
The countdown clock for the #3 entrant appears on the screen.
Jackson Cane: And the countdown for the third entrant has begun, Paul! What an incredible start to this Regal Shuffle!
That.. that was the first time I saw Aki move in the ring... We hold our breath as we watch them backstage; they are so exciting to watch... Of course, I'm in the Shuffle too! I entered at #15...
Jackson Cane: And that's our 15th entrant, Mylene Dawn!
Mylene rushes into the ring. She immediately showcases her beauty, perfectly executing a dropkick on almost every woman in the ring until she faces one of the largest competitors in the ring, Annie Hawkins.
The crowd cheers in support of Mylene, and she then delivers another perfectly executed dropkick to Annie. Annie took a few steps back. Mylene celebrated in the middle of the ring, thinking she had just knocked the giant Annie down. She continued to sway her hips and pose.
Paul Marrow: Oooh, please don't turn around, Mylene!
Annie was standing behind Mylene and grabbed Mylene on her shoulders. Mylene's face contorted in fear as Annie grabbed her shoulders. Suddenly, a stiff, sickening thud was heard. Annie instantly fell as a kick hit her jaw.
Jackson Cane: OH MY GOD! EMPRESS CHANT!
Paul Marrow: WHERE DID SHE COME FROM, CANE?! THE EMPRESS TOOK THE GIANT ANNIE DOWN! WITH JUST ONE MOVE!
She took her down... I bowed to her to thank her for saving me, she bowed back and smiled at me... The first time I saw her pretty smile so close...
Eliminations, surprise entrants, and hard-hitting action all over as the Shuffle continues. The commentary team has repeatedly marveled at Aki and Aoi's endurance and performance throughout the match.
The crowd was so loud as Aoi got eliminated by Aki.
Jackson Cane: OH MY GOD! AOI GOT ELIMINATED! WE'RE DOWN TO OUR FINAL TWO COMPETITORS NOW!
Paul Marrow: AKI ELIMINATED AOI WITH HER DEVASTATING EMPRESS CHANT!
Jackson Cane: She's the #2 entrant, and now she has survived 31 other women so far.
But this is not over yet, Paul.
Paul Marrow: Unbelievable, Cane! Absolutely unbelievable! She came at #2, started against Aoi Shiranui, and she has been in this match for well over an hour! What a debut performance!
(The screen briefly flashes a graphic: "AKI KANAGAWA: LONGEST TIME IN REGAL SHUFFLE - 61:31")
Jackson Cane: Sixty-one minutes and thirty-two seconds! Aki has just made history, Paul! She has officially surpassed Harley Wilson's previous record for the longest time in a Women's Regal Shuffle match! What an incredible showing in her IWF debut!
Paul Marrow: And we're down to this! The debut sensation, The Empress, Aki Kanagawa. And the multi-time champion "The Queen of Pain", Charlene Fire, one of these women, is going to Wrestling Eternal!
The two women in the ring, Charlene and Aki, were both exhaustedly pulling up their battered bodies. Face to face in the middle of the ring. A brutal exchange of forearms ensues between Aki and Charlene. Aki lands a few stiff kicks, but Charlene responds with powerful chops. The crowd is on the edge of their seats.
Jackson Cane: Both women are battered, bruised, and exhausted, but neither is giving an inch!
Paul Marrow: This is pure grit! This is what the Regal Shuffle is all about!
Charlene manages to catch Aki with a sudden Big Boot, staggering her. Aki is rocked, stumbling near the ropes. Charlene sees her opening, charges forward, and hooks Aki up onto her shoulders.
Charlene spins, and with a mighty heave, she tosses Aki over the top rope! Aki lands hard on the outside, her feet hitting the floor.
Jackson Cane: NO! AKI KANAGAWA HAS BEEN ELIMINATED! SHE'S OUT!
Paul Marrow: OH MY GOD! WHAT A HEARTBREAKER FOR THE EMPRESS! She was so close! So, so close!
Charlene's music hits, and her arm is raised as the referee confirms her victory.
Jackson Cane: And there's our 10th Women's Regal Shuffle Winner, going to Wrestling Eternal... "THE QUEEN OF PAIN", CHARLENE FIRE!
Paul Marrow: Charlene Fire does it again! But what a story for Aki Kanagawa! She didn't win, but she made a statement heard around the world! Longest time in a Regal Shuffle match! An incredible, incredible performance! We just witnessed history tonight, Cane!
Jackson Cane: Indeed, Paul. A night of triumph for Charlene Fire but a debut that will live forever in the annals of IWF history for Aki Kanagawa. "The Empress" has arrived, and the landscape of the IWF Women's Division has fundamentally changed!
I held my breath watching that last moment... Like the others... I was disappointed with the outcome... I had been longing for her to win that night.
The Aftermath of the 35th Regal Shuffle
The 35th Regal Shuffle quickly devolved into a firestorm of mixed but largely disappointed fan reactions across social media, forums, and live streams. While Charlene Fire stood triumphant, pointing to the Wrestling Eternal sign, the collective sigh of the wrestling world was almost audible.
Aki was ROBBED!": This was the immediate loudest outcry. Fans universally praised Aki Kanagawa's performance, her incredible endurance, setting a new record of over 60 minutes, her technical prowess, and her undeniable star power.
Many felt she embodied the spirit of the Shuffle, a new, exciting talent getting their moment. Her elimination by Charlene, after such a dominant debut, was seen as a missed opportunity to create a dominant debut and immediate main event star.
Fans posted:
X:
"Aki Kanagawa just had one of the greatest Shuffle debuts EVER, and they had Charlene eliminate her. IWF doesn't want new stars, huh? #RegalShuffle #AkiKanagawa"
(r/SquaredCircle): "An hour plus in the Shuffle, record-breaking performance, incredible debut... And still, Charlene wins. It's the same story every time. They had a true star right there and blew it."
Facebook:
"Not another Charlene Wrestling Eternal!
"She doesn't need to win!"
"Yeah! She's undeniably talented, the perception of her being consistently pushed at the expense of others boils my blood!"
"Did anyone actually WANT Charlene vs Stef Suron at Eternal?! This is so stale! We could have Aki vs Rhian! Or Aki vs Aoi! ANYTHING BUT THIS!"
YouTube comments on IWF's Regal Shuffle Highlights:
"Predictable. Boring. Charlene gets her spot every year. Where's the excitement?"
"Stef vs Charlene? Seriously?
The rumored Wrestling Eternal matchup between Charlene Fire and Stef Surton was met with a resounding thud. While both are talented, fans felt the match lacked the "dream match" quality that the Shuffle winner's spot usually promises, especially when compared to the fresh, exciting possibilities Aki's win could have presented, such as Aki vs. Aoi or Aki vs. Rhian Riley.
A smaller but still present segment of the fanbase defended Charlene's win, citing her undeniable talent, her "Queen of Pain" persona, and her ability to elevate opponents. They argued that she is a proven draw and a legitimate main eventer.
The "What If" scenarios spread all over, flooding the internet with fantasy bookings.
"Imagine Aki winning and challenging Rhian Riley for the Women's Global Championship. That's a true dream match!"
"Aki vs Aoi at Wrestling Eternal for the IWF Women's Championship... TAKE MY MONEY!"
"This was the perfect opportunity to create a new megastar in Aki. Instead, we got more of the same."
The 35th Regal Shuffle became a prime example of IWF opting for a "safe" and familiar main event name, leaving a significant portion of its passionate fan base clamoring for new blood and disappointed by what they perceived as a missed, historic opportunity, especially given the monumental debut of Aki Kanagawa.
"Look at this, Nera! This is what I'm talking about! The fans are outrageous!", said Mylene as she held up the tablet to Nera..
"Well, I've been with Charlene several times... We even main-evented pay-per-views... She's a legend, and for sure, she will elevate Stef's career..", said Nera.
"That's not the point, Nera! The company should have listened to the fans! They will lose interest in our biggest event!" Mylene added.
"It's not just the way IWF works, Mylene," Nera said, gently tapping Mylene's head. "IWF will choose Charlene over Aki because she is a legend and returning.."
"I just can't accept that..." Mylene said with a sad face as she sat on the couch.
"Oh, come on, Mylene! Are you an Aki fan now?" asked Nera. "You sound like the fans on the internet now.." Nera chuckles.
"I'm just expressing my thoughts about the event.", said Mylene.
"Oh, by the way.. You did great last night!" praised Nera.
"Really?!" Mylene excitedly reacts.
"Yes, of course. You see how the fans react when you deliver that dropkick to Annie." Nera added.
"Well, they all laughed when I danced," Mylene said.
"That's your unique talent, Mylene, the fans are onto you ever since you entered the ring. That means they find hope in you. You'll be a great star one day!" said Nera.
"But I only lasted about 5 minutes in the ring..." Mylene pouted her lips.
"Imagine! You just need less than five minutes to get the fans into you!" Nera teased.
"Eeeeehhhhh.... That means they don't need my presence there!!" Mylene was a bit humiliated by Nera's joke.
That night... Everyone witnessed how great "The Empress" is... Everyone is right behind her now...
The IWF Tuesday Night Inferno ended, and Aki Kanagawa did not appear in the episode. This only meant that Aki would go to Thursday Night Uprising or onto the developmental brand SUCCEED. I was a bit disappointed because I really want to work with Aki and see her join our IWF brand.. Oh, I forgot to mention... I work at Tuesday Night Inferno by the way...
February 6, Thursday Night Uprising
Jay Turner: Welcome, everyone, to Thursday Night Uprising, live from Seattle! What a weekend it's been, Will, coming off an absolutely monumental Regal Shuffle! And after her record-breaking performance, everyone is wondering where we'll see "The Empress" Aki Kanagawa next. Well, tonight, we might just find out!
Will Barlow: Indeed, Jay! Inferno had come without a trace of "The Empress", but how do we know? There's still SUCCEED tomorrow night, where she might appear.
The music for Stef Surton hits, and the IWF Women's Champion makes her way to the ring, strutting with confidence, title gleaming on her shoulder. She grabs a microphone.
Stef Surton: Ugh, like, can we even? Everyone is still talking about my incredible win over Nora Jynx at the Regal Shuffle. Did you see it? I totally slayed, and my championship looks even better on me than it does on anyone else. And honestly, I'm just here to say that I'm patiently waiting for "The Queen of Pain" to get her act together and challenge me at Wrestling Eternal. I'm literally living for that moment, but until then, I guess I'll just keep being the "Talk of the Town" and the most fabulous champion ever.
A smug smile plays on Stef's face as she holds up her championship. The crowd offers a smattering of boos and some cheers.
Jay Turner: Stef Surton, still riding high after successfully defending her IWF Women's Championship against Nora Jynx at the Shuffle. She's laying down the challenge for Charlene Fire.
Will Barlow: A very confident champion, Jay, and why not? She dispatched Nora Jynx, and now she's looking ahead to the biggest stage of them all.
Suddenly, the arena lights dim slightly, and the powerful, regal, and strained orchestral music fills the arena once more. The crowd's reaction is instantaneous and thunderous, erupting in a massive pop.
Jay Turner: OH MY GOD! IT IS! IT'S AKI KANAGAWA! SHE'S HERE ON UPRISING!
Will Barlow: UNBELIEVABLE! THE EMPRESS HAS ARRIVED ON THURSDAY NIGHT! STEF, YOU'VE GOT COMPANY, CHAMP!
Aki Kanagawa, in her elegant royal kimono, walks down the ramp with her characteristic dignified pace, her eyes fixed on Stef. She doesn't break stride, doesn't wave to the crowd, her focus is solely on the champion in the ring.
She reaches the ring, shedding her kimono with practiced ease.
Stef Surton: (A look of annoyance and a touch of surprise on her face) Ugh, like, who even are you? I don't know you, like, you don't understand how this works here, but if you're new, you fall in line. Okay? There's a pecking order, and I'm at the top.
Aki slowly, purposefully steps into the ring. She takes the microphone from a ringside official, her gaze unwavering as she looks at Stef. Her voice is calm, regal, with a subtle, dismissive edge.
Aki Kanagawa: (Speaking clearly, with a regal tone and accented English) You are.. The Champion. I.. am the Empress. And the Empress... Doesn't fall in line. Bakayaro! (She delivers the "Bakayaro" - "You Idiot!" - with a sharp, almost imperceptible smirk, a subtle but cutting jab.)
The crowd reacts to "Bakayaro" with a mix of laughter and "oohs." Before either woman can make another move, the distinct sound of Alvin Andrews' music hits, and the Uprising General Manager quickly makes his way to the stage.
Jay Turner: Here comes the Uprising General Manager! Alvin Andrews! He's going to have to sort this out!
Will Barlow: Andrews is the man to bring order to the chaos. This is a huge moment, and he knows it.
Alvin Andrews: (Microphone in hand, addressing the ring with a serious but composed demeanor) Ladies, ladies, Stef, Aki, settle down. Aki, welcome to Thursday Night Uprising. Your performance at the Regal Shuffle was nothing short of historic. Over sixty minutes in the match, a new record. That kind of perseverance... That kind of dominance... Should be rewarded.
The crowd cheers in anticipation.
Alvin Andrews: So, Stef, you want to face "The Queen of Pain" at Wrestling Eternal? We'll see about that, Aki. Next week, live on Thursday Night Uprising, you will face formidable opponents in a Women's Gauntlet Match!
The crowd buzzes.
Alvin Andrews: If you win that gauntlet, Aki.. you will become the #1 Contender for the IWF Women's Championship and face Stef Surton at Hell's Chamber!
A massive roar erupts from the crowd! Stef looks furious, while Aki simply gives a cool, almost imperceptible nod, her eyes still locked on the champion.
Jay Turner: WHAT?! A Gauntlet match next week?! If Aki wins, she goes to Hell's Chamber to challenge Stef! What a massive opportunity
Will Barlow: A truly monumental opportunity, Jay! The Empress could be challenging for championship gold within weeks of her debut! Stef's reign just got a whole lot more complicated!
Aki held Stef's gaze, a subtle, confident smirk now clearly visible on her face as Uprising goes to commercial.
That was the night Aki instantly got an opportunity... The Regal Shuffle ends... But the Regal War had just begun...