Show respect for your opponent.

Just before the defeated and degraded Kayla could retreat under the bottom ropes and seek refuge backstage, you kneel down and grab her shoulder.

Instinctively, she goes to wave your hand off but you’re not that easy to shake off.

“Hey, I think your fans still want to see you,” you tell her, gesturing towards the many in attendance standing in appreciation not just for your performance, but hers as well.

She raises a skeptical eyebrow. “What do you mean? You won.”

“C’mon.” Helping her up to her feet, you guide her back towards the middle of the ring, where the audience is visibly applauding both of you.

Chants of “Kayla” and “John” could be heard throughout the entire arena as nearly every spectator is on their feet.

“Pretty sure we both won,” you tell her with a grin, giving her a friendly pat on the shoulder.

Soaking in the moment, she turns back to you with a small grin of her own.

“You know, you’re a lot better than what people say backstage,” she reluctantly concedes to you, the act of just forming those words obviously tough to say for a veteran like her.

“I’m good because sexfighters like you push me that way,” you smile back at her, offering your hand in good sportsmanship.

Looking up at you, she accepts your gesture with an appreciative twinkle in her eyes.

Letting the moment linger a moment longer, you quietly make your exit through the ropes as Kayla now looks at you not as an overconfident rookie who started the match, but at long last…

As an equal.