Rumiko Tamanaka

[The Arsenal]

Rumiko Tamanaka, "The Super Shooter"
Handler: D. Edward Sauve

Tale of the Tape
Hometown: Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Currently Wrestling out of: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
Height: 5'5
Weight: 195 lbs
Alignment (heel/face): Face

[The Arsenal]

Rumiko Tamanaka was the apple of her parent's eyes. A third generation Canadian, "Roo" was encouraged to do two things in life--go for her dreams, and cultivate the discipline to get there. Her grandfather Hiro (once legendary in Japan as masked wrestler Rouroni Heero) was the one who introduced her to Japan's pro wrestlers. The woman's feds in particular gripped Roo. There, women were easily capable athletes, worthy of their own fans and not just eye candy. In North American feds, where were the tough women? The ones that could hold their own? Roo started training early, and immediately realized her place as a shoot-fighter influenced technician.

At age 18, Roo's life took another defining turn. Hr grandpa, returning from a visit back to Japan, introduced her to two old friends of his-- Greek "God of Wrestling" Nico "The Olympian" Adamopolous and the Challenger, Roger York. The legendary Two Man Patheon had spent "Roni's" entire visit hearing of his talented grandchild. After seeing her at a backyard promo, York almost immediately snapped her up to join a group of students he was taking to Japan. Her ability to dish it back when someone got "stiff" with her, amazing agility, and shocking strength gained the young woman the nickname "Super Shooter". She became a go-to girl for inter-promo matches between men's and women's feds. Her plain spoken mic style was will received as well.

In Tokyo, at Six Side Wrestling, Roo met Mississauga, ON born Stewart "the Bombshell" Phelps and Vitamin G of Victoria. The Canadians in a foreign land struck up a fast friendship, and gave it their all in an honorable, playful feud to be the "number one Cannuck in Japan" (it came out with G leading by ONE). Stewart found Roo's theme song, "Super Shooter" by Rip Slyme, and G suggested she add luchadore influence to her fighting. Roo tagged with Stewart with uncanny ease, and found herself drawn to him. She kept her distance due to his then girlfriend Lisa. The three ended their stint and went to pursue different things after a drunken night of fun none of the three claim to remember-- though some witnesses claim G was the designated driver, and thus likely knows more than he lets on. W

Roo found herself pregnant soon after. She was out of the ring for her full term, and delivered an overdue, but much love boy she named Kazuo Goseki Tamanaka. Not wanting to destroy what she saw as a wonderful relationship, Roo cut ties with Stewart.

Roo loved her time in Japan, and made it to the top of 6SW's women's promo. When men's champ "Sonny" Soryo got a match with her to prove he could take out the "little mommy", he was rather handily beaten. This lead to his pressuring for Roo to be fired-- and it backfired in his face. Roo made the fed money, Sonny caused problems. Still, Roo sensed things might turn sour...

Which is when Stewart arrived at her door, sent by her beloved grandpa.

Partnered with a man she loves and respects, Roo seeks to bring female wrestlers the same credibility they have in the land of the rising sun. Her plain spoken manner and simple style hide her awesome martial prowess and stunning toughness.

[The Arsenal]

Roo is an ectomorph. Lean muscled, and very flexible, Roo packs a surprising amount of power in her lithe frame. She's not busty, and her simple attire reflects this-- she isn't one for the S-E-X clothes. But her posture, her grace, and her bearing speak of a comfortable sensuality. Her hair is black, and long. Her eyes are green, and her skin smooth. She's so undeniably "Japanese" many bigots assume she must be a first gen immigrant, and talk down to her-- only to be hit by her fluid English and light East Coast accent. No Tattoos, no jewelry-- her ears aren't even pierced. On the street, you'll see her in nice, loose but not over-sized shirts and simple jeans. In ring, a simple black athletic bra and black boxing trunks. She goes barefoot. She wears her hair braided and coiled into a tight bun in-ring.

[The Arsenal]

Shoot Fighter/ Submissionist/ Luchadore (By way of Japan)

Moves:
Rumiko is a shoot fighter. She's not afraid to kick and punch, and if you get "stiff" with her, she can dish it right back. The "Catch" Wrestling influence is there too, in her throws and submissions. Judo and Brazilian jujitsu give her most of her throws, and her command of holds (either to submit or to wear down) is amazing.

Roo's luchadore styling would have more in common with Asai (Ultimo Dragon) than Huerta (El Santo). The acrobatic, high flying moves are performed with a grace and fluidity many would envy. Her Shinobi/ Asai DDT is a thing of beauty.

Strengths

1. Doesn't look like much. Due to her slight, lean build and unassuming manner, foes tend to underestimate Roo. Even ones that should know better sink back into thinking she's a push over with time.

2. Blink and you'll get hurt. Rumiko is FAST. Her fleet feet allow a great deal of maneuverability, and she can chain together moves in a torrent of fluid combos.

3. Don't Count Her Out Yet! Roo will flag under a beating, only to find a hidden reserve of power. Whether the fans pump her up, or her attacker says the wrong thing about her kid, or she just digs deep, Rumiko can seem down and out and ready for the pin, only to kipup back to her feet. Shaun Michaels is one good example of what to go for. Hulk hogan is a bad one.

Weaknesses

1. Bites off more than she can chew. Roo can do amazing things, no doubt, but she sometimes tries that one chain move too many in a combo, or goes for one of her more elaborate moves too soon, giving her opponent an opening. Note that this can feed into Strength #3... and vice versa, of course; especially in long matches.

2. Well, if you wanna play that way... When you get stiff or shady with Roo, she feels she has permission to do it back-- and has gotten DQed more than once for this.

[The Arsenal]

Finishing Maneuver:
The Assassination
A Dragon Sleeper with legs grabbing a body scissors.

The Super Shot: Moonsault off the top rope.

Signature Moves:

F.S.C.R (Four Shots at Close Range): Roo's main momentum shift. A four strike combo of doom. Consists of a kick to the shins, two punches to the stomach, and a jump kick to the head. Roo mixes up which limb does which strike.

Extreme Prejudice: running or Slice Bread #2 Style Shinobi.

Sniper-- Missile drop kick.

Ronin Strike-- Her grandpa's old wear down move, a series of knife-hand chops to an opponent's vitals.

Pure Shinobi-- either standing Asai DDT.

OTHER:
Think holds-- not just for submission, but for wear-downs. Think targeted strikes.

[The Arsenal]

ANNOUNCER: Please welcome to the ring...

A driving beat, layered with samples and synth that is one part funk and one part speed metal starts. Rip Slyme's "Super Shooter" revs up, the female figure back lit at the entrance seems lost in the beat, shadow boxing and nodding her head. Laser beams begin to shoot across the stage and over the arena's seating.

ANNOUNCER: From Canada's East Coast jewel, Halifax, N.S.-- at 195 pounds, RUMIKO TAMANAKA, THE SUPER SHOOTER!!

As Ryo-Z and the boys start their rapid-fire delivery over Fumiya's beats, the lights spot on the petite female figure in black sports bra and boxer's trunks. Rumiko raises her arms in the shoot-fighter's classic victory pose-- but instead of fists, she's raising knife hands. She strides down the ramp toward the ring with a simple, confident stride, bumping a few offered fists.

Bathed in her "targeting" light fx, she reaches ringside and, not breaking stride, dives under the ropes. She goes to one turn buckle, matter-of-factly leaps to the top, and posses, Knife-hands raised high. She crosses the ring diagonally, and repeats, before leaping to the mat and heading to her corner.