Main Event: Astrid Arvidsson (c) vs Astrid Ostberg for the LAW World Openweight Championship

[winner3]

Russian Chain Match for the LAW World Openweight Championship: Victory awarded via pinfall, submission, or knockout. The wrestlers are connected by a 15-foot steel chain secured to their left wrists. There will be no disqualifications.
The winner will become or remain LAW World Openweight Champion

[CaptainL]

When Astrid Ostberg heard the newly-crowned champion welcome her to the ring only moments before, she nodded her head in agreement, a smile coming to her face. The match hadn't even begun - Arvidsson hadn't even declared the stipulations - and yet, already, there was no one watching who didn't know this was going to be an unforgettable match. It was true that a bout between the two Astrids had long been a hot topic of conversation among LAW fans - and not just because the two women shared the same name, but because they also shared a skillful command of power moves and a burning passion to the sport, always striving to do their best and to carve out a place for themselves in the history books. A match between them could only bring out their ever-present desire to outdo themselves, and challenge the two of them to new heights.

It wasn't just the fans who knew this, either - chief among them all was Ostberg herself. She knew her fellow countrywoman had worked hard not just to cement herself as the first World Openweight Champion, but as a top contender by any metric. Even without the title on the line, Arvidsson was the sort of opponent she would have loved to face. But because that title was on the line, this match meant so much more. Astrid sucked in a breath as she thought about it - this was her chance to take back her good name and her glory, to prove to the world that losing the Heavyweight Championship was little more than a setback in the grand scheme of her career. At the same time, it would put all the more pressure on her to succeed. Arvidsson, no doubt, would be just as motivated to hold onto her newfound status, and she wouldn't give up the title without a fight. Ostberg tried to remind herself that, win or lose, it was already a great honor to know that LAW management still considered herself worthy of being the first contender to the Openweight Championship - if they thought she had a fighting chance of beating Arvidsson, they recognized her as being at the top of her game. But in her mind, that was a burden as much as it was a point of pride. It gave her a standard she had to hold herself to. She had to win this match - to do any less was to let herself down.

Nevertheless, the former Heavyweight Champion sucked in a breath as she stepped closer to meet Astrid Arvidsson eye to eye. "From all the cheers I'm hearing," she said, "I don't think you're alone in wanting this match!" Indeed, that statement only garnered more cheers from the fans. "And neither are they - because when I see the importance you place on your title, and the fervor with which you pledge to defend it, I'm only all the more reminded that you're the sort of opponent I could only hope to meet!"

Arvidsson's words as she accepted the challenge only confirmed what Astrid thought - that the newly-crowned champion was fully prepared to defend her title as though it was as important to her as life itself. On one hand, it cemented that she truly was the right choice for the honor. But, on the other, it would mean Ostberg had all the more work cut out for her. It would be a tough order for her determination to reclaim her status and honor the position she'd been given to overcome Arvidsson's determination to retain. She sucked in a breath, her muscles tensing; her eye twitched just for a moment, but she knew better than to show any sign of weakness. No matter how hard it would be, though...it was a challenge Astrid was going to accept!

When Arvidsson named the stipulations for her first defense, however, that made Ostberg's eyes go a little wider. A few fans gasped; they didn't need to see the look on Astrid's face to know where her trepidation came from. Astrid had never been one for hardcore matches. She had always championed pure wrestling and the value of sporting, standing up for fair play and accomplishment through deserving effort. To her, using weapons or breaking rules was enough to poison any victory; so much so that even when she'd needed to go for cheap shots herself, it felt like a failure on her part. Arvidsson, on the other hand, was far more permissive of such things. Already, the odds seemed to be stacked in Arvidsson's favor. But Ostberg wasn't going to contest it. Just as quickly, she puffed out her chest, leaning closer into her opponent's face to meet her head-on!

"A Russian chain match, you say? Very well - I accept!" The crowd cheered even louder, excited both at the thought of what was sure to be a thrilling match, but also at the thought of seeing a new side of Astrid Ostberg! "I know what you're all thinking - yes, I'm not one to typically deal in such matters. But that isn't out of fear - and that's a fact I intend to prove to you, when I give this match my all! The match you've agreed to will be fierce, and it will be brutal. It will test the limits of our endurance, physically and mentally alike! But...if I'm to take part in a match for the World Openweight Championship, I wouldn't dare to ask for anything less! A title with such a lofty place in the company deserves a champion willing to drag themselves through hell to set the standard for what it means. And I have no doubt that one of us will be that champion - so I'm ready for it!"

Astrid slammed her fist into her chest, drawing yet another burst of cheers. With Dan doing the honors in announcing this as the main event, it was official. Ostberg could feel her heart pounding in her chest. What happened next could only be imagined. She knew it was going to test her; it would take her out of her comfort zone, and it would push her to the brink. With everything going into this match, it just might be the biggest challenge of Astrid Ostberg's life. But if that was what it took to be Openweight Champion...Astrid was there for it!

The referee soon came with a chain, and Ostberg extended her arm, flexing it at the bicep to show off her physique to the fans and to Arvidsson alike. The official began to wrap the chain around her forearm. And the whole time, her eyes were fixed on her opponent's, never once looking away. One thing was for sure - Ostberg had to give this her all. She couldn't let anyone down. Especially not herself!

[skip-stop]

Indeed. If Astrid had only aspired to fame and money, then a few years ago she would have made a completely different decision. She had the opportunity to sign a contract with the largest MMA promotion, but instead she chose to go to Japan. She knew that in LAW she would never have seen as much money as she was offered there. However, here she could get something much more valuable. Here she could become a legend.

And although she was honored to be chosen as the First Openweight Champion, she had to prove that the management had not made a mistake in her. The woman standing in front of her was without a doubt the most formidable opponent the Golden Dragon had to face in a fight. Perhaps only one woman from the list of those with whom the descendant of the great Vikings fought had the same status as Astrid Ostberg. When the blonde thought about it, she felt a strong stab in the heart area, because she perfectly remembered how this meeting turned out for her. Still, today it wasn't enough to create doubts in her heart. Not today.

Astrid nodded respectfully at the other Astrid's words. Given her experience with literally every previous rival, it was still hard for her to believe that she was hearing something respectful towards herself. Nevertheless, she heard the sincerity in the words of the former heavyweight champion. And no doubt they shared respectful feelings towards each other. And perhaps even this was enough to say that today they are waiting for a truly great match.

When the Golden Dragon let everyone know what kind of match she wanted, she noticed how her opponent's face changed. Yes, she was well aware of what kind of approach the other Astrid has to matches. But, contrary to everything, the descendant of the great Vikings chose such a tough match not because she hoped to gain an advantage over the former champion in this way. Without a doubt, many people use hardcore matches solely in order to be able to use the dirtiest methods or in order to satisfy the need for blood.

There is one woman in their team who loved hardcore even more than she did. Funny or not, this woman is her best friend. Astrid even turned her head to the side and briefly looked at Nerissa, noticing a wide smile on her face. They both considered hardcore not a legal way to break the rules, but a way to test their strength to the maximum. Therefore, the former champion should not have worried that Astrid intends to use her principles against her, not at all, she just wanted them to find out in this match what they are really ready for for the sake of the golden belt on the waist of the Golden Dragon.

Not a muscle twitched on the blonde's face at the moment when Ostberg approached her and they were face to face. The audience felt that the air had become heavier and there was no doubt that the reason for this was two powerful women who were eager to test each other. Each of them had a certain reputation and the very thought of what they would have to drag each other through in a match found trepidation.

The Golden Dragon bared her teeth when Astrid Ostberg accepted her challenge, which caused deafening applause from the audience. And when the other blonde added a few words over her consent, the Golden Dragon was even more convinced that they were not only rivals, but also like-minded people. The former champion said literally what the Golden Dragon felt. She believed with all her heart that the audience deserved a champion who would not flinch before such a tough test.

"That's what I wanted to hear, huh!" Said the blonde, following her opponent slightly tilting her head forward, which is why their foreheads almost collided.

The tension between them was so great that some even thought they were ready to start the match both without ringing the bell and without a metal chain. However, of course, the General Manager did not let this happen. Instead, Dan honored them by officially announcing that their match would be the main event. Accompanied by shouts and applause, the referee girl got into the ring, holding a metal chain with leather cuffs at each end.

In order to create some space between them, the Golden Dragon took a short step back from her rival. The striped shirt came up to Ostberg and prepared to fasten the cuff on her left wrist. However, in order to impress both the descendant of the great Vikings and the audience, the former champion bent her arm at the elbow and flexed her muscles. The right corner of Astrid's lips lifted in response to her rival's gesture. The Golden Dragon didn't expect that the other Astrid would so obviously try to tease her, but it definitely showed that Ostberg was serious.

In order to return the courtesy, the Norwegian woman also bent her left arm at the elbow at the moment when the referee approached her. Yes, she was indeed a little behind her rival in both height and weight. But when she strained her arm, she made it possible for everyone to see that not only her arm, but almost her entire body consisted of muscles, which she was very proud of. To the cheers of the audience, who clearly liked this little show, the cuff on the Golden Dragon's left wrist was fastened.

Now it remained to do the most important thing, which the blonde was reminded of by the referee, who remained standing next to her. The Golden Dragon even had to make some effort not to take a deep breath, she didn't want anyone to get a hint of the feelings that surged through her. However... she doubted that anyone would have been able to understand her at that moment. With a heavy heart, she took off the golden belt from her waist and handed it to the referee.

Yes, there was no doubt in her heart. Yes, she was as focused as possible. Yes, she never doubted her abilities. However, she knew perfectly well that perhaps the ten minutes that this belt stayed on her waist were her first and last minutes when she had the right to call herself an Openweight Champion. Astrid Ostberg was a truly outstanding fighter, and therefore the Golden Dragon could not deceive herself. It was not a fact that she would leave this arena with the belt that she had just handed over to the referee.

However, Ostberg was right. One of Astrid will definitely leave today with that belt. And there was only one way to find out which one of them it would be. The striped shirt lifted the Openweight Title over her head, showing everyone what is at stake today. The walls of the arena literally shook because of the noise, because this was definitely the moment that everyone was waiting for so much. Astrid Arvidsson, the First Openweight Champion, who wants to prove that she deserves the right to be on top of LAW. Astrid Ostberg, the former Heavyweight Champion who wants to prove that she took a step back only to take two steps forward. The intensity of passions has reached its apogee. And although hardly anyone was brave enough to guess how this match would end, everyone was sure that the main event of We Are LAW 6 would definitely find a place on the pages of history.

"It's a pity Dan beat me to it, but I'll say it anyway, huh..."

Her eyes were directed at her rival's eyes. And Ostberg could see in those eyes what the Golden Dragon felt at that moment. Many of Astrid's rivals were able to see it, but only few were able to understand it. Astrid's eyes showed how much she wanted to know which one of them was better. All her life she aspired to fight with the best of the best. She adored the feeling that arises only when there are two worthy opponents in the ring and when neither of them intends to retreat. Astrid wanted to know if she was capable of defeating such an outstanding woman as Ostberg. For many, a match against a former champion would seem like a death sentence. But the Golden Dragon was ready to accept this because she was sure that only through matches like this she would be able to find out what she was truly worth.

"May the best Astrid win!"

With these words, she intended to clench her right fist and put it forward, offering the former champion to bump with their fists as a sign of respect. The Golden Dragon thought that such a gesture was much better suited to warriors like them. Yes, she was sure that a lot of blood would be shed today. Yes, she was sure that they would have to go through a real hell. But at the same time, she knew who the winner of this match would get the indisputable right to be the best in LAW.

If Ostberg had accepted her offer, the Golden Dragon would have nodded to her opponent, and then took three steps back so that they could start the match properly. Looking at her left wrist, she would make a few circular movements with her palm, and then clench her fist. This time Astrid did not take her classic boxing stance, instead she only put her right foot back a step in order to take a more confident stance. For some reason, she knew for sure how exactly this match would start.

"And now! The main event!! Astrid Arvidsson versus Astrid Ostberg!!! A Russian Chain Match for the LAW Openweight Title!!!!"

Louder than the ring announcer were only the audience who seemed to have lost their minds because of the approaching moment, which they so wanted. The Golden Dragon felt her heart begin to beat faster. Everything depended on her now. In every match, she fought for the right to be on top. And now that she was there, she had to defend her rightful place. She was willing to do anything for this. And whatever was waiting for her ahead, she intended to give her rival everything she had without a trace.

The referee waved her hand and the thing swept through the arena that marked the beginning of the match, which some had been waiting for for almost a year and a half.

Ding-Ding-Ding.

[CaptainL]

Whatever thoughts went through the heads of the two women in the ring right now, whatever they believed would come of this match, and wherever they suspected the others' motives lay...in just a moment, none of that would matter. Once the bell rang, everything else would fall by the wayside. The one thing here that was most important was that both Ostberg and Arvidsson were ready to fully commit themselves, in mind, body, and spirit. This was only the first time the World Openweight Championship had ever been defended, but the hype and buildup it had seen over the last year was more than enough to cement it as the most prized honor in the entire company. And when it was here, placed before two contenders who in every match and at every moment strived with all their hearts to achieve the highest levels that could ever be possible for them, there was no question that both were willing to put forth a match well worth the reward. A title as exclusive and as elite as the World Openweight Championship could only go to the most capable of all wrestlers - and both Astrids were willing to do whatever they needed to prove themselves worthy!

When Ostberg saw Arvidsson nod in agreement to her speech, she smiled a little wider - she knew the two were on the same wavelength; that both were committed and determined to giving this match and this title the effort it deserved. If both of them were as spirited and as dedicated, then they could only elevate one another to the heights of their potential! But even when the two women knew they were in agreement, the tensions between them were rising even now. It showed in how they held themselves - in the tension that took hold of their muscles; in how their unblinking eyes locked on one another; and in how their heads butted up against one another, forehead grinding against forehead as the two women deepened the gaze they held on one another. It showed, too, as Ostberg flexed a bicep, and Arvidsson responded in turn; not only were they sizing each other up, comparing their well-sculpted physiques and feeling out their strengths in preparation for what was to come, so too were they issuing a challenge to one another before the bell had even rung, struggling to one-up each other and to declare superiority. There wasn't one part of them that either woman was willing to let come in second.

When Astrid Ostberg felt the metal chain being wrapped around her wrist, coiling tighter and tighter, and bringing her that much closer to her opponent, her breaths slowed and deepened, and her heart raced in anticipation. In just a few short moments, she knew, she would be facing what was perhaps the greatest challenge of her life. If she won, it would be a vindication, a sign that she had been right all along, and a redemption that would make all her struggles, fears, and doubts worthwhile. If she lost, it would be a sign of the inevitability of her slide downward into shame and dishonor. Astrid truly couldn't afford to lose this match, she told herself. But perhaps more relevant...she couldn't afford to do any less than her best.

Arvidsson said as much - it was up to the best Astrid to win this match. And the burden was on Ostberg to prove herself the best Astrid! She nodded her head in agreement, lifting her fist to press her knuckles against Arvidsson's own. "Yes," she said in confirmation, "may the best Astrid win!"

Even before the bell rang, the crowd was going wild - the energy leading into this match was electrifying, and the commitment to victory was shining bright on Ostberg and Arvidsson alike. But it was when the bell rang that the whole arena was truly kicked into gear - everyone cheered and applauded the fact this match was happening at all! Ostberg's teeth clenched, and her fist balled tighter as she watched her opponent through narrowed eyes. She knew everyone was counting on her to do her best, and she was going to do right by them. But more importantly, she was going to do right by herself.

"Haah..!!" Ostberg wasted no time. Roaring out a battle cry, she pulled back at one arm; the one to which she was tethered to her opponent via the chain. In this way, she hoped to reel Arvidsson inward. Yet at the same time, she took a lunge forward, closing in the distance - and whipping her arm out in an arc to try and slam a forearm against her fellow Norwegian's chest! If all went well, Astrid hoped to hit with even greater momentum, using the force with which she pulled her foe closer to fuel her!

[skip-stop]

The match started amid a hubbub of applause, which once again made the Norwegian woman feel the importance of this event. In fact, not much water has flowed since she stole the match from Cecilia and thereby already in the debut match made it clear to everyone that she was here to go over the heads of the best of the best. She was true to her words and literally in every match she fought with honored veterans in order to prove that she would never stop. Nevertheless, for the Golden Dragon, this was by far the biggest match of her career. Today she had the honor not only to be chosen the First Openweight Champion, but also to lead the largest LAW event in the year. Because of this, her soul trembled.

Literally immediately after the bell rang, Ostberg let out a battle cry and strained her left arm. If the Golden Dragon had the time, she would surely have smirked, because she was right about how exactly this match would start. The other Astrid abruptly pulled her left arm back in order to pull the champion to her, but the Golden Dragon wasn't going to let her opponent dictate the pace of this match so easily, which is why she made sure in advance that her stance was firm and confident.

At the same moment, Astrid strained both her left leg and her left arm. She felt all the wild power that Ostberg possessed. And even despite her best efforts, she moved half a step forward. However, she managed to loudly declare that the former champion should not count on complete superiority in pure physical strength, because the descendant of the great Vikings did not allow her rival to reduce the distance between them as quickly as she wanted.

In order to give the other Astrid a decent resistance, the blonde bent her left arm at the elbow. The tension in her muscles was so great that some could see how much her veins were swollen. There was no doubt in anyone's mind that if she had relaxed even for a second, Ostberg would surely have pulled the Golden Dragon to her. However, those who closely followed Astrid's career were well aware that in order to surpass her in pure physical strength, it was necessary to make truly titanic efforts. Only a few managed to do this, and certainly not at the very beginning of the match.

Watching this, the audience gasped loudly as they were undoubtedly impressed by this forceful confrontation between two women, neither of whom was going to give up an inch of space to the other. There was nothing to hide, Astrid was also impressed. She had never been so narcissistic as to call herself the strongest in terms of pure physical strength. However, the fact was that few people could compare with her in this. And now, when she faced a rival no less strong than her, there was respect and excitement in her eyes.

"Raaahh!!!" She returned the favor to her rival by roaring her own battle cry.

The Golden Dragon intended to throw her right hand forward in order to grab the stretched chain. And as if it were a tug of war, the descendant of the great Vikings intended to bend both legs at the knees, lean back slightly, and then use her steel muscles to pull both arms back in an attempt to pull Ostberg towards her! And if she had succeeded, she would have removed her right hand from the chain, but only in order to first bend her right arm at the elbow, and then try to send this very elbow into her opponent's jaw and check how well Ostberg would cope with a powerful elbow strike!

[CaptainL]

At every moment leading up to this match, the tension between the two heavyweights was so thick, one could cut it with a knife. With so much anticipation and emotion going through the arena - not only in all of the fans but in the two competitors themselves - no one could ever doubt that when the match opened, it would be suddenly, explosively, and with great force. And when the match did start, those first few seconds certainly did live up to expectations! Astrid Ostberg, determined to take back her good name and to set the record straight about where she belonged and what she was capable of, made her move right out of the gate - her teeth clenched, her eyes narrowed in focus, and her muscles all pulled taut to draw on all the energy she had stored up in order to fuel one hard yank backward. She was trying to reel Arvidsson toward her, into the path of her incoming clothesline. But even when she tried to lash out at her opponent a moment later, it would land just short of its target. Ostberg had hoped to hit her opponent as she was being drawn into range - but thanks to Arvidsson using all her strength to anchor herself in place, flexing her arm into position, she wasn't going anywhere. As her forearm hung in midair, Ostberg's jaw dropped in a gasp to see Arvidsson firm and umoving. She could hardly believe it was really happening - not only that her plans could have failed her, but that Arvidsson was strong enough to resist the force to begin with!

Of course, Ostberg wouldn't have much time to contemplate such turns of fate. The reigning champion would make that clear only a moment later, as she too pulled at the chain, trying to reel Ostberg into the path of a strike of her own! Astrid sucked in a gulp, and she tried to dig her heels into the mat, doing all she could to root herself in place just as Arvidsson had done. She too reached out to grab onto the chain, her knuckles going white from the sheer force of her grip, in a desperate attempt to halt its movement. But when Arvidsson had already caught her off guard, it was too late. She'd let a few seconds slip by where she wasn't fighting with every ounce of effort she had to resist, and for Astrid Arvidsson, that was enough. Ostberg was dragged right into the path of an elbow strike - and with the sound of a crack, her head went whipping back in an arc as she reeled away from the blow!

For a moment, Ostberg's knees buckled and her stance wavered; she threatened to lose her footing altogether. But it seemed the chain that linked her arm to her opponent's would save her - it pulled taut, and with Ostberg clutching the chain for support, she was able to hold herself steady, dragging herself to a halt. As she began to straighten herself to her feet, her eyes met Arvidsson's, and there they narrowed in a glare; her teeth clenched in a snarl as her body grew taut. Her face was still sore and numb where the hit had landed, but Ostberg wasn't going to allow that to slow her down - she had to fight back! If Arvidsson was going to use the chain to her advantage, so too would the former Heavyweight Champion!

Astrid reached a little further up the chain, going for a firmer grip of its length. Hissing through her teeth to draw on the effort she needed, she gave it another firm yank back! Once again, she was trying to unsteady Arvidsson's center of balance, but she had already learned her opponent wouldn't be so easy to move. So she would lend herself a hand - she swung her leg at the fellow Norwegian's knee, trying to take her footing out from under her! If that worked, Ostberg would try to swing her weight over to the side, to hurl her opponent into the canvas; hopefully, that would be easier if her stance was already compromised! She was sure the chain would pull her own body back that way, too - but if she did, she would just lift her arm so that she'd land on Arvidsson with an elbow drop!

[skip-stop]

The moment Astrid saw the surprise in her rival's eyes, she got a reason to be proud of herself. Ostberg certainly counted on the fact that she would be able to pull the Golden Dragon thanks to her outstanding muscles. But when the first openweight champion used her own strength to stay in place, the other Astrid clearly realized that in this match her advantage in strength wasn't that obvious.

Taking advantage of Ostberg's confusion, Astrid grabbed the chain and pulled her opponent towards her with such force that even though the former champion tried to stop, it was already too late for her. With righteous fury in her eyes, the Golden Dragon swung her right arm, and then sent the elbow to her opponent's head. For one brief second, the arena was filled with the sound of bones colliding, and then that sound was replaced by loud screams from the audience.

Ostberg staggered back, and her legs gave way. For a moment, the Golden Dragon thought that her opponent would fall. She would definitely be able to write it down in the list of her achievements without remorse, because not everyone gets the opportunity to knock Katherine Hart out and knock Astrid Ostberg down with just one blow. However, such development was too good to be truth. The Golden Dragon was left without a new achievement on the list.

The contender grabbed the stretched chain and thereby was able to force herself to stay on her feet. Ostberg looked at Astrid with cold fury, at which the Golden Dragon's eyes narrowed slightly. Well, if the other Astrid needed a few more strikes in the face to fall, she intended to give her that.

However, the openweight champion clearly underestimated the endurance of her opponent. Despite the fact that Ostberg remained on her feet, the descendant of the great Vikings counted on the fact that bells would sound in her rival's head for at least a few more seconds. However, as soon as she took a step towards her, Ostberg immediately took advantage of the chain in her hands, pulling it back sharply. The Golden Dragon was surprised that her opponent moved so confidently, but although the distance between them was smaller this time, she intended to use her strength again to disrupt Ostberg's plans.

Yet, as soon as the descendant of the great Vikings strained her arms and legs in an attempt to stop, it became clear that the former champion drew conclusions from her previous failure. Yes, Astrid managed to stop, but before she could do anything else, the other blonde's foot crashed into her knee. She had steel muscles that could protect her from low kicks in most cases, but there were no muscles that could protect the Golden Dragon in the joint that Ostberg attacked.

"Ghhhh!!" Came out through clenched teeth.

Astrid's right leg involuntarily bent, which caused her stance to cease to be firm, leaving the champion vulnerable. All that remained for the contender to do was to pull the chain again with force, as a result of which the Golden Dragon fell hard on the mat. It would hardly have been a big problem for her in most other situations, but Ostberg had truly impressive strength. Thanks to this, the descendant of the great Vikings fell at such a high speed that she did not have time to group and this led to the fact that she hit the back of her head.

"Gm!" She groaned in displeasure.

Just for one second, but a white mist appeared before her eyes. It disappeared right after she blinked. It seemed that this second did not play any role. But for Ostberg this second was more than enough to push off from the mat and take a horizontal position. Astrid's eyes widened when she realized that right now her opponent was falling on her. She mentally gave herself the command to jerk to the side. But it was too late.

"GUUAA!!!"

The contender's elbow crashed right into Astrid's chest. The Golden Dragon's upper body lifted for a moment, and then she turned on her right side, wrapping her arms around her chest. It was as if a flame had lit up in her lungs. Every time she tried to take a breath, she felt a burning pain inside. Ostberg's strength and weight are clearly not things to be trifled with. Astrid had known this before, but now she was convinced of it by her own experience.

[CaptainL]

Both champion and challenger were well-accomplished power wrestlers who had proven their might in no shortage of impressive feats over the courses of their careers, but now, in each other, they found themselves evenly matched. No matter how hard Astrid Ostberg tried to move her fellow countrywoman, Arvidsson stayed rooted to the ground - she wasn't going to budge that easily! Ostberg grit her teeth in frustration - but then again, there was a bright side to this. If Arvidsson was strong enough to hold firm despite Ostberg's best attempts to unbalance her, then the opposite was surely true as well. And that was something the former Heavyweight Champion would soon demonstrate - when she dug her feet into the canvas and grabbed a hold of the chain, rooting herself in position!

The mere fact that Ostberg could keep herself still against such incredible encroaching force was, in and of itself, a sight that drew cheers from the crowd. But she was far from done. In grabbing the chain, she'd won some leverage over her foe, and she knew that she needed all the help she could get if she was to overpower her! Now, all she needed to do was kick Arvidsson's leg out from under her. As she teetered, her balance was compromsed, and the tension of the chain would do the rest. As Ostberg clenched her teeth, gripping the chain even tighter and flexing her biceps taut as she gave a firm yank backward, the Golden Dragon was pulled forward and off her feet. Being able to bring Arvidsson to the mat was an achievement already, and one that won Ostberg some cheers. But she was far from done yet, and if she was going to be chained to her opponent, she was going to make the most of it.

The same chain that tethered Ostberg and Arvidsson together now snapped back, drawing Ostberg in closer to her foe - and as she descended, she kicked off the ground, landing atop her opponent with a thump! She would turn all that momentum into a well-placed blow against Arvidsson! Her elbow cracked against her foe's chest, and the canvas rumbled against their weights. Arvidsson needed to roll to the side, shielding herself against further damage. But as long as she was chained to Ostberg, she couldn't go far. And Ostberg was willing to take advantage of that!

"Not so fast!" As Arvidsson rolled away, the traction on the chain pulled Ostberg a little closer to her, and the Norsewoman pulled back her arm at the same time to tug her opponent closer. In doing so, she aimed to bring the champion's chained arm into reach. If she could get a hold of it, she would twist it behind Arvidsson's back, bending it at the elbow and at the wrist as she pinned it in place between her shoulder blades, to bear down the pressure of a hammerlock!

[skip-stop]

Lying on her right side and hugging her chest, the Golden Dragon understood that time was not on her side. If she didn't want to let her opponent continue the onslaught, then she had no more than a few seconds to recover her breath and roll aside. Although, of course, because of the wild pain in her chest, it was not so easy to do this, she was ready to admit that she did not expect that the first attack of the other Astrid would have such a significant impact on her.

"Move..." she mentally ordered herself.

Right. Even though her breathing was knocked out, she could still use the remaining oxygen in her lungs to create distance between them. Therefore, the blonde tried to put aside thoughts of pain and jerked to the side. When her body made a full roll, it might have seemed that she would be able to get away to a safe distance from her rival, but then Ostberg used the chain again.

Before the Golden Dragon could finish what she had started, the challenger pulled her towards herself, as a result of which Astrid found herself in the same position as a second ago. And considering that she was lying face down, her situation got even worse. The best proof of this was that Ostberg immediately grabbed the left hand of the descendant of the great Vikings, and then twisted it behind her back, fixing Astrid's wrist between her shoulder blades.

"Ghhhh!!!" She groaned through her teeth.

Someone might even find it funny, because at that moment the champion looked like a criminal who was caught by a valiant policewoman. If it had been a handcuffs match, then at this point Ostberg would probably have tried to get the victory. But even without the handcuffs, it was clear that the Golden Dragon was trapped, because she was lying on her belly, pressed against the mat, and her left arm was completely disabled.

"Shit..." flashed through her mind. "Pull yourself together..."

Despite the residual pain in her lungs, the champion took a deep breath, and then used her free hand to place her palm near her head. Straining both her right arm and legs equally, Astrid intended to rise above the mat. Yes, to do it with only three limbs was far from the easiest task, given the strength of her opponent. However, the champion had no desire to concede to the other Astrid, she was too stubborn for that.

Having created a little free space between her body and the mat, the Golden Dragon was going to sharply bend her right arm at the elbow, and then, as if she was not a dragon, but a snake, turn over on her back with one deft movement. She was fully aware that this movement would not be enough to throw Ostberg aside. But she wasn't going to do it. All she wanted was to be face-to-face with her opponent in order to clench her right fist and send a right cross into Ostberg's face, being sure that this would most likely be enough to make the contender stagger back a few steps.

[CaptainL]

Astrid Ostberg might not have been the type to approve of these sorts of matches, necessarily, but it didn't take long for her to realize she could utilize the chain tethering her to her opponent for her own purposes. Arvidsson might have tried to roll one way, but the chain would pull Ostberg back toward her, guiding her into a position from whence she could strike! And, as Ostberg grabbed her by the wrist, she twisted it behind her back, putting some added force on her muscles and ligaments as she forced her opponent to hold the position!

Gritting her teeth, the former Heavyweight Champion began to muscle her way toward Arvidsson, crawling across her back with one shimmy of her hips and then another. Her brow was pouring with sweat, and her muscles had gone tense as she focused on her foe with an unblinking stare, her breaths coming in hot and heavy through her clenched teeth. She couldn't let Arvidsson out of her sights - she knew she needed to achieve nothing less than total domination! If Astrid Arvidsson had made it this far, and established herself as the top champion in all of LAW, then Ostberg was up against perhaps one of the greatest challenges of her life. Arvidsson was a danger she had to take with the utmost seriousness, and she couldn't afford even the slightest failure!

Her knuckles went white under the pressure as Ostberg shoved down harder at Arvidsson's wrist, keeping her arm anchored in place behind her back. Panting and groaning from the exertion she was putting upon herself, her muscles shook from soreness and fatigue, but she wouldn't back down, even as the sweat dripped off her face and fell onto her opponent. But for as determined as Ostberg was to hold her position and maintain her dominance over the champion, so too was Arvidsson every bit as motivated to fight back. As she got her palm against the mat, she managed to push up, lifting herself little by little. Ostberg pushed her hips down against Arvidsson's to try and weigh her down, and her fingers remained latched around her wrist as she fought back with everything she could. But the champion's determination was here on full display - and it would fuel her forward as she spun around in place, forcing her arm to slip through her fellow Norwegian's fingers. And before Ostberg could so much as make a grab for her arm to regain control, Arvidsson had already smashed her fist straight into her face!

Coughing and sputtering, the challenger's head turned to the side like the crack of a whip, a trail of saliva running from her teeth. As she was thrown back from Arvidsson, the momentum was enough to force her to rise to her feet, and she took a few staggering steps back, pulling the chain taut in the process. It was, once again, only thanks to the chain that Astrid managed to catch herself and regain her balance. But when she felt the tug on the chain against her arm, she was reminded once again of how she could use it. Balling her fist tighter, she gave a firm yank on her arm, attempting to swing the chain to the side in the hopes she could bowl Arvidsson over and off her feet in the process! Astrid's impressive strength might have allowed her to pull off her famous power moves, but she could use it here too!