History Manga / SekaiDeIchibanTsuyokuNaritai

* MadeOfIron: Every wrestler in Berserk. To enter the stable, each applicant must withstand 100 slams from their peers

* BigNO: Subverted. While Sakura does say this a lot, this isn't because something awful is happening, but [[{{Determinator}} because she won't give up]].

* TheWorfEffect: This happens to Rio a couple times. First, Moe knocks her out with one kick to show her karate strength, and then before her tiebreaker match with Sakura, Blue Panther interrupts, ambushes, and knocks her out with a sleeper hold.

* TheWorfEffect: Ironically, Rio got handed with this a lot after being shown as one of the more aggressive wrestlers in the series. First, Moe knocks her out with one kick to show her karate strength, and then before her tiebreaker match with Sakura, Blue Panther interrupts, ambushes, and knocks her out with a sleeper hold.

* TheWorfEffect: Ironically, Rio got handed with this a lot after being shown as one of the more aggressive wrestlers in the series. First, Moe knocks her out with one kick to show her karate strength, and then before her tiebreaker match with Sakura, Blue Panther interrupts, ambushes, and knocks her out with sleeper hold.
* YouAreInCommandNow: Sakura has always won the position of center vocalist in Sweet Diva, with Elena always finishing a close second. Now that Sakura has become a pro wrestler, Elena now became Sweet Diva's center vocalist.
* XPacHeat: [[invoked]] During Sakura's 50 match losing streak, fans have grown ''sick'' of her always giving up once she is put in the Boston Crab. She eventually manages to get rid of it once she becomes a {{Determinator}}.

** An inexperienced idol against someone with four years' worth of experience? The results are predictable.

** Happens in the first round of the Dream Tag Team Match special. While Misaki may be the queen of the singles events, she and Sakura are tag team newbies going up against the champs, Digger Yamamoto and Hornet. Once Misaki tags in Sakura, they dominate Sakura with a chair shot to the head, a vicious top rope groin drag into the turnbuckle, and a series of double team headbutts that actually knocked Sakura out cold for an easy three count.

** Sakura lost her first 65 matches.

** Sakura initially grasps the idea that it will take a lot of hard work to go pro, but the immense length of her consecutive losses to the Boston Crab demonstrates that she was still out of her depth in how much training was actually required.

* CoolTeacher: Sakura is mentored by Berserk's biggest wrestler, Misaki Toyoda, herself a former idol, who was in turn mentored by Jackal Toujou, formerly of the Shangri-la stable.

* AssKicksYou: Sakura hits Jackal's face with her butt during their match. Jackal does the same, but it hits Sakura in the stomach.
* BadassAdorable: Moe. She's a CuteBruiser who is a huge fan of Sakura.

** Happens in the first round of the Dream Tag Team Match special. While Misaki may be the queen of the singles events, she and Sakura are tag team newbies going up against the champs, Digger and Hornet. Once Misaki tags in Sakura, they dominate Sakura with a chair shot to the head, a vicious top rope groin drag into the turnbuckle, and a series of double team headbutts that actually knocked Sakura out cold for an easy three count.

* EarnYourHappyEnding: After a very grueling match, [[spoiler:both Sakura and Elena get what they wanted without having to sacrifice any of their dreams.]]

* StageName: Mostly averted except for Jackal Toujou, Hornet, and Blue Panther.

* RedHerring: Blue Panther's identity. After spending her time as TheVoiceless, Jackal pays a visit to the Miyabi stable, where TheAce there, Juri Sanada, openly reveals herself as the Blue Panther and it looks like she's aiming for Sakura. So Juri is Blue Panther, right? [[spoiler:Not really. While Elena reveals to Sakura that she was Blue Panther all along, Juri admits that she the only one who sabotaged the matches, which was why everybody was convinced that she was Blue Panther.]]

* {{Determinator}}: After losing over 50 straight matches, Sakura never gives up, to the point of replying to every one of the referee's questions about giving up with "[[BigNo NO!!]]"

* MaleGaze: There are plenty of ass, boob, and crotch shots,

* XPacHeat: [[invoked]] During Sakura's 50 match losing streak, fans have grew ''sick'' of her always giving up once she was put in the Boston Crab. She eventually manages to get rid of it once she becomes a {{Determinator}}.

* UnderdogsNeverLose: Adverted, Sakura is a NaiveNewcomer to the pro wrestling world and being inexperienced, she lost 50 matches straight due to her lack of ability to endure pain, and 15 more later despite being able to endure pain because of the lack of a FinishingMove before she gets her first win.

* XPacHeat: [[Invoked]] During Sakura's 50 match losing streak, fans have grew ''sick'' of her always giving up once she was put in the Boston Crab. She eventually manages to get rid of it once she becomes a {{Determinator}}.

* GenerationXerox: A former idol who easily gave up when placed in a submission hold, but became a {{Determinator}} and came to love pro wrestling: both of these things apply to Misaki and Sakura. It is also implied that [[spoiler:Juri and Elena are the same way]].

* VictoryIsBoring: How Elena feels about being Sweet Diva's center vocalist. She feels she did not really succeed as Sakura left their group to become a pro wrestler.
* TheWorfEffect: Ironically, Rio got handed with this a lot after being shown as one of the more aggressive wrestlers in the series. First, Moe knocks her out with one kick to show her karate strength, and then before her tiebreaker match with Sakura, Blue Panther interrupts, ambushes, and knocks her out with sleeper hold.
* XPacHeat: [[Invoked]] During Sakura's 50 losing streak, fans grew ''sick'' of her always giving up once she was put in the Boston Crab. She eventually manages to get rid of it once she becomes a {{Determinator}}.

* {{Ecchi}}: During to the premise, this series has a lot of fanservice.

** Sakura spends her first 65 matches 15 matches more.

* SinkOrSwimMentor: Misaki is this for Sakura as she teaches her how to endure the pain once she is put into a submission hold. In turn, this Jackal served this role for Misaki, as she had to learn the same lesson when she started wrestling.

* BadassAdorable: Moe.

* {{Ecchi}}

* GratuitousEnglish: Jackal has ''a lot'' of these.

* {{MsFanservice}}: Almost all the girls. Especially Rio and Hornet.

Sakura Hagiwara is a member of the incredibly popular idol group "Sweet Diva", along with her [[HeterosexualLifePartners good friend/rival]], Elena Miyazawa. One day, they are asked to scout the female pro-wrestling stable "Berserk" for promotional business. Unfortunately, Elena's mouth got her into trouble when she made slightly negative remarks on pro wrestling within earshot of Rio Kazama, a "heel" from that stable, who takes issue and challenges Elena to a match, mops the ring with her, and in turn insults the idol life. In order to defend the pride of idol life, Sakura also challenged Rio to a match... without knowing that whoever loses will have a TraumaticHaircut.

Needless to say, she, too, gets mopped and gets her hair cut. Still wanting to defend the honor of Sweet Diva, Sakura decides to sign up into Berserk, hoping to defeat Rio. Unfortunately for Sakura, pro-wrestling is a ''tough'' job, and she ends up saddled with a staggering ''50-game losing streak''. Sakura was on the verge of finally calling it quits, until Berserk's ace, Misaki Toyoda, also a former idol with similar story with her, dragged her into a [[SinkOrSwimMentor 'special training']] where Sakura finally starts learning about what it means to be a wrestler, learning and improving from it and it would be only a matter of time until she scored her first victory, and changing her goal from merely beating Rio into actually being the strongest in the world. And then there's the idol life she left behind, which troubles Elena...

It has an anime adaptation as an entry of the Fall2013Anime, which has quite the infamy of being peppered with lots and lots of "Owww!" moaning.

It is licensed for a home video release by Creator/{{FUNimation}}, who are also releasing it in June with an English dub.

* AchillesHeel: The Boston Crab, Sakura's ''biggest weakness'' which causes her to give up on a drop for her first 50 matches. She got over it thankfully.

* BigNO: Subverted. Sakura does say a lot of "NO!" but this wasn't because of something awful happens, but [[{{Determinator}} because she will not do a 'Give Up'. EVER.]]
* BoobsOfSteel: Tons!
* CharacterDevelopment: Sakura goes from just wanting to defend her idol's pride into genuinely wanting to be the strongest and taking pro-wrestling seriously. Her skills also develop from that. And she also goes from declaring "Give Up" at the drop of a hat into replying to offers of 'Give Up' with '''"[[GratuitousEnglish NO!!]]"'''.

* CoolTeacher: Sakura is mentored by Berserk's biggest fighter, Misaki Toyoda, herself a former idol, who was in turn mentored by Jackal Toujou, formerly of the Shangri-la stable.
** SinkOrSwimMentor: Apparently, Sakura and Misaki's problems were the same (giving up too early), so Misaki/Jackal had to put Sakura/Misaki into a submission hold and not take 'Give Up' for an answer; if Sakura/Misaki didn't make a rope break, they were going to leave with broken bones.
* CurbStompBattle: An inexperienced idol against someone with four years' worth of experience? The results are predictable. Then there's Sakura's 50-match skid. Then Blue Panther induces this. Although averted with Sakura vs Jackal -- the latter could've ended the match this way, but decided to give Sakura a fighting chance to test her mettle.
** Happens in the first round of the Dream Tag Team Match special, Misaki may be the queen of the singles events but Sakura and her are tag team newbies going up against the champs, Digger and Hornet. Once Misaki tags in Sakura, they dominate Sakura with a chair to the head, a vicious top-rope groin drag into the turnbuckle and then a series of double-team headbutts that actually knocked Sakura out cold for an easy three count.
* CuteBruiser[=/=]PintSizedPowerhouse: Moe, who instantly takes down Rio with a single kick on her first appearance.

* DefeatEqualsFriendship: [[spoiler: When Sakura finally defeats Elena, Elena admits the only reason why she wanted to become a pro wrestler was to get Sakura back to Sweet Idol by any means necessary, and after realizing she, too, enjoys being a pro wrestler, makes amends with Sakura.]]
* {{Determinator}}: After losing over 50 straight matches, Sakura never gives up, to the point of replying to every one of the referee's questions about giving up with '''"[[GratuitousEnglish NO!!]]"'''.
* {{Eagleland}}: Rather subverted with Jackal. She uses an American stage name, and has a very American 'feel' to her (Cowboy hat and {{Stripperiffic}} Wild West-themed clothes), and is also blonde, but she originated in Japan, having been one of Berserk's top wrestlers (and her last name is clearly Japanese). At any rate, she's totally Type I, as she serves as an AllAmericanFace and is a nice woman both in and out of the ring.
* EasilyDistractedReferee: In episode 11, the referee just stands there gawking until Sakura reminds her that she's supposed to count the pinfall. The commentator even says that if she'd started counting immediately, the match may well have been over.
* EarnYourHappyEnding: After a lot of struggle and beatings to the head, both Sakura and Elena get what they wanted without having to sacrifice any of their dreams.

* [[spoiler:FaceHeelTurn: Elena, sort of.]]
* FinishingMove: Sakura's Sakura Special, a backflip kick. Also, Misaki's Misaki Special, a modified half-chicken wing, bridging German suplex.
* FlashStep: In a series largely devoid of supernatural elements, Moe oddly can pull this off. It works great against Sakura initially, but using it tires Moe out quickly.
* GameBreakingInjury: Misaki was scheduled to have a match against Jackal for the latter's comeback, but she fell off a ring post to the ground and sprained her ankle, so Jackal had to find a replacement (she picks Sakura).

* GroinAttack: Sakura is on the receiving end of a double-team version from Digger and Hornet. The two of them drag her crotch first along the top ropes, giving her a nasty friction burn between the legs before ramming her crotch into the turnbuckle. This attack leaves Sakura on the ground, holding her groin.
* GenerationXerox: A former idol who easily gave up when placed in a submission hold, but became a {{Determinator}} and came to love pro wrestling: both of these things apply to Misaki and Sakura.
** Also it was inferred that [[spoiler:Juri and Elena are the same way]]
* {{Heel}}: [[MalevolentMaskedMan Mostly if you got a mask]] or face paint. Another way to spot one is if you use your 'assistant' to disrupt matches in your favor, or use 'tools' to enhance your move (like a shinai for a Camel Clutch). Subverted for Rio, who wears a mask during her intro, but then tosses it away for the match and mostly uses Face-style wrestling (although she's very aggressive and prone to [[TrashTalk Trash Talking]]).

* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Rio is extremely aggressive, and even her intro had her wear a mask like a {{heel}} (but tosses it away for the match). But she's also capable of being a good sport and off-ring is a decent woman ([[BerserkButton unless]] [[SeriousBusiness someone insults wrestling]]).
* {{Jobber}}: How Sakura spent her first 50 matches. She still had to job about 15 matches more, but no longer because of the Boston Crab.
** Her Mentor, Misaki was the same (Only with a Figure 4 Leg Lock)

* MadeOfIron: Every wrestler in Berserk. To enter the stable each applicant must withstand 100 slams from their peers. Slams include Power Bombs and German Suplexes.
* MaleGaze: Ass shots, boob shots, crotch shots, there's a lot of these!
* MasterApprenticeChain: Jackal > Misaki > Sakura > Moe
** [[spoiler:There is also Jackal > Juri > Elena]]

* NaiveNewcomer: Played with. Sakura initially grasps the idea that it will take a lot of hard work to go pro, but the immense length of her consecutive losses to the Boston Crab demonstrates that she was still out of her depth in how much training was actually required. Moe Fukuoka is another example, not only is she naive when she starts out but also arrogant due to being the World Karate Champion. She finds out ''literally'' the hard way that wrestling is ''nothing'' like Karate when Sakura and the girls show her the ropes during her training.
* ProfessionalWrestling
** ProWrestlingIsReal: There's no such thing as kayfabe here, everything about wrestling, injuries and such are treated for as real as possible and there's no made-up kayfabe 'story arcs'.
* [[spoiler:RedHerring: Blue Panther's identity. After spending her time as TheVoiceless, Jackal pays a visit to the Miyabi stable, where TheAce there, Juri Sanada, openly reveals herself (and Jackal rightly guesses) as the Blue Panther and it looks like she's aiming for Sakura. So Juri is totally Blue Panther, right? So Sakura and Panther meet in the ring... when suddenly... Juri appeared in the same room as Jackal, watching the match and Panther removes her mask and wig and reveals herself as... ''Elena''!?)]]
** [[spoiler: Subverted. Turns out that Juri was the one who attacked Rio and challenged Sakura. However, the role of the blue panther always belonged to Elena, and Juri did so in Elena's behalf. this was all part of Elena's plan of bringing Sakura back to Sweet Diva.]]
* RetiredBadass: Wrestling news reporter Kanae Fujishita is implied to be this, as Jackal referred to the three of them (Misaki, Kanae, and herself[[note]]She actually meant[[/note]]) as "The Golden Age Girls" when they meet in a hotel during episode 7 and also asked whether or not her back is better, hinting of [[GameBreakingInjury a back injury that forced her into the sidelines]]. Misaki's flashback in the same episode shows Kanae wearing a Berserk jersey.
* TheRival: Elena. she and Sakura always competed for the center vocalist position in Sweet Diva (which Sakura always won). Although Sakura treated it as a friendly rivalry, Elena did not, although she was still good-natured about it. [[spoiler:It was the idea that Sakura would never return to being an idol that made Elena take up the persona of Blue Panther, in the hopes of bringing Sakura back to Sweet Diva by force.]]
* SeriousBusiness: Rio takes professional wrestling seriously. Insulting her sport is a one-way ticket to a world of hurting, as Elena learned the hard way.

* ShoutOut: Sakura's long run of losses before notching her first win is remeniscent of Japanese wrestling legend Wrestling/KentaKobashi's - in fact, it took her two more matches than him (65 losses as compared to Kobashi's 63)
** Rio's Shame Hold looks very similar to [[RumbleRoses Candy Cane's Humiliation Move]]

* StageName: Mostly averted... except probably Jackal Toujou ([[WhoNamesTheirKidDude "Jackal" can't be her birth name]]) and Blue Panther.
* {{Stripperiffic}}: It's a female pro-wrestling anime.
* TakeAThirdOption: [[spoiler: After defeating Blue Panther (who's revealed to be Elena) in a retirement match, Elena still tries to get Sakura back to Sweet Diva as the group is going to go global and Elena can only truly be herself when Sakura is there. Then the rest of the group and a horde of Diva fans call out to Sakura to rejoin the group. Sakura is stuck as she truly wants to become the strongest in the world, but she still loves the idol life and can't abandon her old friends and fans. Finally Jackal breaks the impasse, she offers Sakura a place in Shangri-La so she's not stuck in Japan and tells her to be like Elena and be both an idol and a wrestler. She then offers Elena a place in Shangri-La as well.]]
* ThisIsUnforgivable: Sakura calls out Blue Panther like this for the latter's brutal CurbStompBattle, this apparently impressed Jackal enough that she picks Sakura as Misaki's substitute for her match.
* TookALevelInBadass: Sakura, as part of her CharacterDevelopment. [[spoiler: Elena too: In the first episode she got her ass miserably handed to her by Rio. When she faced Sakura in the final episodes however...]]
** [[spoiler: Subverted: Sakura still be beat her in the end, but it took ''everything'' she had to do so]].
* TrainingFromHell: Comes with the territory in pro-wrestling. Sakura and later Moe are put through this when they join Berserk. [[spoiler: Also, given that Elena was able to match, and in some cases even ''surpass'' Sakura, it's almost certain that she was put through some hellish training of her own by Juri at Mayabi]].

* UnderdogsNeverLose: Adverted, Sakura is a NaiveNewcomer to the pro-wrestling world and being inexperienced, she lost 50 matches straight due to her lack of ability to endure pain, and 15 more later despite being able to endure pain because of the lack of a FinishingMove before she gets her first win.

* [[WhiteHairBlackHeart White Hair, Aggressive Heart]]: Rio is so far the only white haired cast member, and while she's not blackhearted, she's seriously aggressive in wrestling.
* [[YouAreInCommandNow You Are Center Vocalist Now]]: Sakura has always won the position of center vocalist in Sweet Diva, with Elena always finishing a close second. Now that Sakura has become a pro wrestler, Elena now became Sweet Diva's center vocalist.

* TheWorfEffect: Ironically, Rio got handed with this a lot after being shown as one of the more aggressive wrestlers in the series. First, Moe knocks her down with one kick to show her karate strength, and then before her tiebreaker match with Sakura, Blue Panther interrupts, ambushes and knocks her out with sleeper hold.
* XPacHeat: Happens in-universe, during Sakura's 50-losing streak as fans grew ''sick'' of her always giving up on the Boston Crab. She only manages to get away with it and turns the Heat into something more positive once she becomes a {{Determinator}}.

* ShoutOut: Sakura's long run of notches before notching her first win is remeniscent of Japanese wrestling legend Wrestling/KentaKobashi's - in fact, it took her two more matches than him (65 losses as compared to Kobashi's 63)

* {{Fanservice}}: Every girl.

* DefeatByModesty: Rio's Shame Hold invokes this, as it's not a physically damaging hold, but a emotionally damaging one as Sakura finds out the hard way.

* AssKicksYou: Sakura hits Jackal with her butt.

* ShoutOut: Sakura's long run of notches before notching her first win is remeniscent of Japanese wrestling legend KentaKobashi's - in fact, it took her two more matches than him (65 losses as compared to Kobashi's 63)