The arena was buzzing with energy.

  The Rookie Open was packed, filled with young, hungry scrappers and their teams. Some were nervous, some excited, but all of them had the same goal—get ranked.

  Johnny “Blood” Hanes stood near the edge of Mat 4, shaking out his arms, trying to focus. This was it—his first real match. His pro debut.

  Across from him, Jean “Sex Machine” Polnareff was already on the mat, bouncing lightly on his feet. He was lean and wiry, with long blond hair tied into a ponytail and an arrogant smirk spread across his face. His singlet was bright purple, which somehow made his whole Sex Machine persona worse.

  Johnny tried to ignore it.

  “Blood!”

  He turned to see Coach Doug standing beside him. Doug put a hand on his shoulder.

  “First match. How you feelin’?”

  Johnny exhaled sharply. “Like I wanna throw up.”

  Doug grinned. “Good. Means you’re awake.”

  Johnny swallowed hard. “I can beat him, right?”

  Doug’s expression turned serious. “Yeah. But you gotta wrestle smart. You’re faster. You’re sharper. Just don’t let him set the pace.”

  Johnny nodded.

  Doug gave him a light slap on the back. “Go scrap.”

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  The Match Begins

  Johnny stepped onto the mat and met Jean in the center.

  The ref glanced between them. “Ready?”

  Both nodded.

  The whistle blew.

  Jean moved first, circling fast, his eyes locked onto Johnny’s legs.

  Johnny lowered his stance, keeping his hands in front of him. He’s looking for a shot…

  Jean suddenly lunged for a sweep single.

  Johnny reacted instinctively. Instead of sprawling, he sat to his butt, wrapping both arms around Jean’s ankle.

  Jean tried to drive through, but Johnny hooked his far leg and yanked.

  Jean lost balance.

  Johnny scrambled up, sliding behind him for control.

  Three points.

  The scoreboard flashed: Johnny 3 - Jean 0.

  The crowd let out a murmur.

  On the sideline, Danny jumped up. “WOOO!! BLOOD’S ON THE BOARD, BABY!!”

  Jack grinned. “Alright, alright, he can wrestle.”

  Doug just nodded. “Good.”

  Back on the mat, Jean didn’t panic.

  He immediately worked his way back to his feet, peeling at Johnny’s hands.

  Johnny squeezed tight, trying to drag him back down.

  Jean suddenly burst forward, shaking free.

  The ref threw up one finger.

  One point escape.

  Johnny 3 - Jean 1.

  Jean turned back and smirked. “Nice one, kid.”

  Johnny stayed locked in.

  Jean started bouncing again, then shot in hard—this time for a double-leg.

  Johnny’s brain screamed: Here’s my chance.

  As Jean drove forward, Johnny reached over his head and locked his hands tight around Jean’s neck and arm.

  The cement mixer.

  Jean realized too late.

  Johnny twisted hard, rolling Jean over himself.

  Jean hit the mat flat on his back.

  The ref dropped to the ground.

  Johnny drove his weight down, squeezing.

  Jean thrashed.

  The ref raised his hand—then slammed it down.

  PIN.

  The whistle screeched.

  Match over.

  Silence.

  Then, an explosion of cheers.

  “OH MY GOD, HE PINNED HIM!!”

  “FIRST MATCH, FIRST ROUND PIN!!”

  Danny lost it. “BLOOOOD!! LET’S GOOOOO!!”

  Jack was laughing. “Bro just wiped him out.”

  Doug crossed his arms, nodding. “Atta boy.”

  Johnny let go and shot to his feet, his heart hammering.

  Jean laid on the mat for a moment, staring at the ceiling in shock.

  Johnny did it.

  He won.

  Not just won—he pinned him.

  In one round.

  The ref raised his hand. “Winner by pinfall—Johnny Hanes!”

  The crowd roared.

  Jean finally sat up, shaking his head. Then, to Johnny’s surprise, he grinned. “Damn, kid. Not bad.”

  Johnny smiled back. “Thanks.”

  Jean stood up and offered a fist bump. Johnny took it.

  “Good luck in your next matches,” Jean said. “Just try not to make me look too bad, alright?”

  Johnny chuckled. “No promises.”

  He walked off the mat, and before he could even breathe, the team swarmed him.

  Danny nearly tackled him. “BRO!! FIRST MATCH, FIRST PIN!!”

  Jack was laughing. “Dude, you cooked him.”

  Nod nodded approvingly. “Cement mixer was clean.”

  Kent just patted him on the back. “One down.”

  Johnny turned to Doug.

  Doug smirked. “Told you to pin him.”

  Johnny grinned.

  He was rankless no more.

  End of Chapter 12.