Astrid Ostberg vs. Kathleen Hendricks - Rushing Tides

[TickTock]

Kathleen knew damn well this was more than just an average match. It wasn’t a match where one needed to win — it was one where one couldn’t afford to lose. No glamorous title was on the line, no singular accolade. It was all internal, all about pride and self-worth, to the point where a loss could be crushing. All because of Kathleen’s words, how they addressed Astrid, and about how if Astrid didn’t win, she was a failure. But in the same way, if Kathleen didn’t win, she herself was a failure. Unable to back her word. She had defeated Tina Armstrong at Apex, but there was still so much more hinged onto her self worth, her image. Kathleen wasn’t satisfied with just beating the best - she wanted to be the best! And if she couldn’t stand up to Astrid… could she reach that barrier? Rose Gold and Alaina Sandra-Haines had already showed it to be possible and… damnit, she wanted to be held in that exact same regard!

Which added to the viciousness of each move she did, the desperation of each defensive maneuver she managed. And why Kathleen’s grip on Astrid’s attire was practically enough to tear it off the heavyweight’s body with the force she yanked on it. Attempting to spear the blonde right through the ropes and send her into the ring post, and it looked as though it’d be a success as the heavyweight couldn’t scramble out of the hold.

Yet, just as she released her, Kathleen felt a mighty shove against her hips. Like a catapult springing her off the mat, she was airborne, and flew right over the ropes! A scream of bewilderment and terror echoed over her sudden launch, with the ground outside rapidly closing in. All she could do was do her best to brace herself, putting her hands and legs out, hoping to cushion her fall.

*SPLAT!*

Kathleen landed hard. Her hands and feet were able to impact first, but her side still landed with an audible smack against the barely covered concrete, sending pulsating pain through her ribs and hip. Once more, she was grounded by an amazing show of power by Astrid, laying on the floor, eyes wide open, shaking. First in shock and pain… then in rage. The match had been back-and-forth so far, with each attempt Kathleen made to control it stifled, and Astrid’s attempts to run over the Queen being cut short. And now, both were laid out on the outside, the referee’s call echoing throughout the arena.

“One!”

And that infuriated Kathleen. She… she should be in control of this! Yet Astrid was acted like a brick wall to her each time so far, meanwhile the Queen had only been able to survive on pure will, being overpowered and manhandled. In close proximity to the barricade, the middleweight lifted a hand and grabbed ahold of it, her grip making the padding crease underneath her fingers, and attempting to use it as leverage to pull herself up. Her body was in deep pain, her hip screeching; breathing reaching near hyperventilation levels.

”Two!” The referee’s call echoed again.

Yet, she could think about now, was destroying Astrid. However she could, by whatever means.

[CaptainL]

It wasn't like Astrid to do this. She had always emphasized the importance of respecting the rules of wrestling, and abiding to the code of honor that entailed - to Astrid, it meant far more to prove onesself within the boundaries of the rules than to defy them. One could be a strong rulebreaker, yes, but to succeed while taking the limitations of the rules seriously was a sign of true skill and accomplishment. To that end, she preferred to keep the action inside the ring. But that didn't mean that her hand couldn't be forced...and right now, Kathleen was certainly forcing her hand. Astrid knew, as she was hurled straight toward the cold, unforgiving steel of the post, that she had no other choice. If she didn't fight back, Kathleen was going to destroy her. So if it meant dragging herself to Kathleen's level...then so be it; she would do whatever she needed in order to survive! Astrid knew that the landing was going to hurt...but at least it would hit Kathleen just as hard!

With a twist of her body, Astrid hurled Kathleen out of the ring, just as she went through the ropes! With a loud thump, the Norsewoman came down against the mats. Her face contorted in pain, and a shudder ran through her from head to toe; her back arched up from the ground on impact and she grabbed at her head to try and dull the throbbing sensation that pounded through her temples, throwing herself from side to side and gnashing her teeth. But she knew that, at least, Kathleen had been brought down with her - and now, the Queen was just as vulnerable. Astrid had one chance, and she wasn't going to waste it. She had to make Kathleen pay!

The referee was counting, but Astrid wouldn't let it slow her down, not even a little! Pushing herself back up onto her knees, she took a moment to shake herself out and roll her shoulders. After taking a few breaths, her eyes locked onto Kathleen, and there, her body grew tense. She knew what she had to do. It couldn't stop here. She couldn't slow down!

"Three!!"

Not even the rising count could give Astrid pause. Grabbing at the mat to drag herself forward, the Norwegian looked to pull herself into range with Kathleen - where, letting out a battle cry, she would swing her elbow through the air, intent on bringing it down hard over her opponent's head!

[TickTock]

To do whatever it takes to win. That was what Kathleen did in every match. Skirting the rules, if not outright breaking them if necessary, and holding no mercy for her foes for they were mere gatekeepers on her path to glory. If Astrid was only now realizing she had to do that to achieve victory, she was an utter fool. And while getting the former champion to compromise on her morals was what most consider a small victory, the Queen didn’t take that approach. There were no “small” victories in wrestling. The only victory that mattered was hearing your name announced as the winner of a match. So even as Astrid needed to break her own rules, Kathleen would only celebrate that fact if she’d win. If she didn’t…

No matter. Kathleen couldn’t think of that. Her mind is solely set on the heavyweight’s destruction, which is why she forced herself to rise — even when it was clear that she was moving too quick. For once she used the barricade to reach her feet, her body stumbled backwards, legs unable to support herself with the excruciating pain going through her torso. All the way until she laid her upper half on the apron, refusing to collapse again, but… just needing some damned support for a second…!

Yet through her black mane covering her head, she could see Astrid, a walking tank, marching towards her. Even after her fall, she looked as though she could go for hours more, which was a dreadful thought. Because it was clear Kathleen was tired, having never faced someone who made her exert herself this much early on in the match. She needed to get some edge, some advantage, because she couldn’t afford going 50/50 like that with Astrid much more, as it was clear who’d be able to get up first after all of it. A part of her, a tiny tiny part, even entertained the idea of… giving in… but the mere thought disgusted her, and even acted as fuel to try and push herself forward.

Easier said than done however, leaning up against the barricade, and Astrid in perfect position to knock her lights out with that elbow. Hanging over Kathleen’s head like an executioner’s axe, all it’d take is one blink of the eye, and it’d crush its target, making the rest of the match a formality. And as she swung it down, Kathleen braced herself…

*BAM!

… and push herself out of the way, leaving that elbow to strike nothing but the hard, unpadded wood of the apron! Now just a foot away, Kathleen gasped for air, having avoided a knockout blow, but knowing she couldn’t just sit there!

”FOUR!”

The call of the referee was a reminder of where they were, how close they were to the match ending. And it hatched an idea. If Astrid wanted to compromise her morals by choosing to fight on the outside… then Kathleen would make her pay for that!

Firing forward a kick to the gut of Astrid’s, she just hoped she still packed enough power for it to make a dent in the heavyweight’s armor, and get her to bend over just a little bit, to allow the Queen to seize her head underneath her arm… and fall backwards, in an attempt to plant Astrid head-first onto the barely padded concrete for a sickening DDT!

[CaptainL]

Kathleen might have scrambled to the barricades, but Astrid was going to give her no quarter. She was weary and still staggered from her landing, but that meant nothing to the Norsewoman - Astrid had no mercy to spare! As she hauled herself to her feet, her eyes fixed on Kathleen with a heavy glare, and her teeth clenched in a grimace. If Kathleen thought that she could taunt Astrid like this, if she thought that she could threaten her self-respect and drag her down even lower, when she was already at her lowest...she was sorely mistaken. Astrid believed in honor, but even she had her limits. And what Kathleen was showing her was not deserving of her mercy.

Astrid didn't just have the endurance to shrug off such punishment - she could deal it out, too. A fact that she was about to prove to Kathleen, as she brought her arm down right onto her head! Or at least...she was going to do that. Astrid had been so dead-set on her goal, so obsessed with the thought of giving Kathleen the punishment she had so richly earned, that she had seen it as inevitable; she hadn't even dared to entertain any other outcome. But that was still very much a possibility. And it was a possibility that blindsided Astrid the moment her elbow slammed into the barricade instead, with Kathleen darting out of the way!

"AARGH-!!" The moment her elbow came crashing down onto the barricade, so too did the pain surge through Astrid's body, causing every muscle to tense and shudder. Curling inward to try and shield herself from the pain, she grabbed at her elbow and rubbed it in an effort to dull the sensation. Her head was spinning; her eyes were squeezed shut to try and hold back pained tears. And because of that, she wasn't watching what was going on behind her. She didn't see that Kathleen was coming closer - that was, until she turned around to face her just in time for that kick to shoot out and catch her in the stomach!

"Guh-!" With Kathleen landing her kick, the air was driven out of Astrid's lungs; she doubled over forward, clutching at her gut. For Kathleen, that was enough. For one thing, it meant she was stunned, breathless, and vulnerable. But it also meant that she was bent over, with her head well within range of Kathleen's grasp. The Norwegian was still trying to shake the cobwebs out of her head and catch her breath when Kathleen's arm came down around her temples...and by then, it was too late. Kathleen dropped straight down...and she brought Astrid's head with her, where it met the floor with a loud and resounding CRACK!! before her arms and legs flopped limp around her!

"FIVE! SIX!"

The referee's count was getting higher and higher, but to Astrid, everything could only come through in a low, buzzing drone. She hissed and groaned, clutching at her skull; her head was pounding, and everything was spinning. Her legs kicked at the air as she flailed blindly, out of impulse more than anything else. Astrid knew she couldn't do this forever. She knew she needed to get back up; to keep fighting, to show Kathleen she wouldn't stand for this. But she couldn't find the will to do so when everything hurt!

[TickTock]

The crack of a skull meeting concrete was never a satisfying sound. It enticed cringes and gasps out of anyone nearby unfortunate enough to hear it, and it was for sure to cause great damage to anyone unfortunate enough to take it. Especially at the hands of a DDT, where the top of one's skull was precisely driven downward, prying away any possible protection one could try to muster to stop the impact. It was a sadistic move, and exactly why Kathleen went for it when she had the chance. Astrid had proven herself many times over to be someone who'd take superhuman levels of damage to keep down, though - hell, Kathleen had her doubts that a pinfall would even work in this scenario.

Doubts. She was doubting herself. At least, in her ability to get a pinfall on this beast. This was the first time Kathleen had managed to actually lay out Astrid with a clean, effective move. Yet, her first instinct was for her to doubt the effectiveness of herself? It was troubling, but it just meant that she had to put on more damage; to keep up the assault using that sickening DDT as a baseline.

"SIX!"

Yet, there was also the count. If Kathleen lingered too long, she'd be for sure counted out along with her opponent. And despite her advantage, she couldn't press it with a flurry of offense, not with the size advantage between the two and the radiating pain in her torso. Hell, just getting up after that DDT was a pain, her back not thankful for the hard impact on the concrete itself, and she had to use the barricade as her base to climb back up. But, taking a moment, she was able to connect the dots, and realize a path to victory. It wasn't one she had set out for, having a hatred for such finishes actually... yet now in her current state, she saw its merits. A tiny ping of desperation entered the Queen's mind as she looked back up at the referee, who raised their fingers up for another count.

"SEVEN!"

Pushing herself off of the barricade, Kathleen jogged and leapt her body forward to slide under the bottom rope and back into the ring, nearly tripping the referee in the process due to her recklessness. But it didn't matter, as a hand found a fistful of black and white as the Queen began to pull herself up using both the official's shirt and the ropes. "Keep fucking counting..." she snarled, pointing out at the stunned and flailing Astrid, electing to go for a count-out victory. And after a brief moment of reluctance, the referee turned back and threw up their eighth finger.

"EIGHT!"

Was it cowardly... Kathleen preferred not to answer that question. A victory was a victory. That was the justification she was using, as she stumbled back up onto her feet, clutching her ribs, and watched in deathly anticipation, as those next two seconds become an eternity...

[CaptainL]

When Astrid had come crashing down head-first into the floor, more than a few fans winced and looked away, and a few groans could be heard from the stands - the groans of fans who were dismayed by the sight of Astrid taking such a spill, and those just terrified by the thought of how hard that had to have hit. Astrid had fallen like a sack of potatoes; it was as though her whole body had gone slack then and there, and she plummeted to the ground as though laden with weights. Even after the fact, Astrid wasn't moving. All she could do was lay there, flat on her face and groaning under her breath in pain. For those fans who were brave enough to keep watching, they were glued to the edge of their seats, watching intently for what would happen next; they didn't even want to blink, lest they miss a second of the action. With Astrid down, and the clock ticking, it was all down to this - everything would hinge on whether or not Astrid would be able to make it back up in time! But could she?

Leaving Astrid where she lay, Kathleen turned to slip back into the ring - and as soon as the referee continued with the count, the stands almost immediately erupted in boos. Astrid might be reeling from an ignoble loss, but she was still a beloved fan favorite, and she was standing up against a ruthless and unscrupulous foe who needed to be punished - and that never seemed more applicable before now, when Kathleen was about to go the low road in order to make sure Astrid wouldn't make it to the ring on time! Yet, despite how loudly the fans booed her, Kathleen didn't seem remotely concerned. And despite how loudly they cheered for Astrid to get back up, to find the strength she needed in her, the Norsewoman remained motionless. Could this be the end?

Ever so slightly, too slightly for anyone to notice, Astrid's eyelids began to flutter, and she let out a faint groan. She was teetering on the very edge of consciousness. Her temples were throbbing and her ears were ringing, and her whole body felt heavy. But from far off in the distance, Astrid could still hear the fans. She could hear their boos. Even if she barely had the strength to lift her head and look back in Kathleen's direction, she knew just enough to know what this meant. Whatever Kathleen was doing, it was exactly the sort of underhanded cowardly tactics that spat on the good name of professional wrestling, and that Astrid couldn't stand to let happen! Her teeth clenched and her body stiffened. She knew she had to do something!

"NINE!"

But she didn't have much time! As the referee called out again, Astrid shook herself out, stirred back to her senses. She only had seconds to spare, and she barely had the strength to do it! But it was that rush of adrenaline - and that determination to not let Kathleen win - that spurred her on. It gave her a sense of urgency and purpose, and that was enough to give her the strength she needed to do something about it! With strength she didn't know she had, Astrid shoved herself back up onto all fours, turning around just in time to see the referee hold up a finger! Astrid knew now was the time - she couldn't waste another moment if she was going to do what she needed to!

"TE-"

"NOOOOO!!!" A loud roar cut through the air as Astrid planted her hand against the floor, leaning all her weight onto the palm of her hand. Then she pushed off the ground to lunge straight toward the ring, hoping to throw herself onto the apron and through the ropes! If it was the only thing she could do...so be it! She'd make it enough!

[TickTock]

A count-out was not her intended path to victory. Kathleen, as much as she was a despicable woman, preferred to win things in the ring. If she had to cheat to acquire her pinfall or submission... then so be it, just as long as she was atop of her opponent when the bell rung. But actively seeking a count-out victory? It was something that she was going to have to have a heavy talk with herself after. But... she had to do what she had to do. A victory was still a victory. Her body was aching in ways she hadn't felt before, and even if it was a mark of shame on herself to try this... she could only imagine the shame Astrid would feel if she lost in such a way. All that talk, all that bluster, and instead of putting away the Queen like she said she would, she lost in such an inglorious fashion.

After the referee resumed counting, Kathleen stumbled to the side, leaning her body against the ropes while clutching her ribs, using the count as a chance to catch her breath. In her mind, she did her best to ignore the nagging for even attempting this, and instead focused back on her gameplan. In the worst case scenario, that Astrid did meet the count, Kathleen at least had gotten a rest, rejuvenated to continue the match on top. That's what she told herself, yet as the referee counted nine, and there was not an inch of movement from Astrid, her breath hitched. It was as if time slowed as the referee went to raise their hand for the final count.

Yet, in just that moment, a roar that ripped through the arena came through, and suddenly, there was movement. Not just movement, but motion. Meaningful motion. From being as still as a statue to lunging through the air, it was... impossible! Just as the referee's hands counted ten in the air, Astrid... dove under the ropes and into the ring! Kathleen's eyes were as wide as plates, turning to the referee, who after a brief hesitation, signaled Astrid safe! She made it in time! The crowd erupted in cheers, yet adulation was the furthest thing from her opponent's mind.

"What?!" Kathleen yelled, immediately grabbing onto the referee's shirt and backing them into a corner. "You had her counted out! You stopped! What kind of referee are you?!" she shouted right into the official's face, and it was likely fear as the sole factor for them not disqualifying the Queen for putting her hands on them and barking at them. Before, she tried to be rational and formulate a gameplan for if Astrid did make back in time, but in that final moment, when the referee was about to count 10... she thought she had it won. Rational emotion escaped her, and now to have her victory robbed from her by a split-second call... it enraged her!

Yet, as blinded by rage as she was, Kathleen still had enough of a mind to know that... unfortunately, the match was still going. And she needed to direct this fury elsewhere. Somewhere that would help her win. And the heavyweight laying in the ring after just barely making it into the ring would have to take that fury.

Releasing the referee without a word, Kathleen turned her attention back to Astrid and ran towards her. Unleashing a flurry of stomps down onto the back of her head, she wasn't even thinking about how she had targeted the head of the blonde's before to little effect, having more violent reasons for why her boot was rapidly bashing down - or at least attempting to - against the skull of the woman's. Then falling down to drop her elbow right between the shoulder blades of Astrid's, her eyes locked on another place she was targeting: the arm of Astrid's. And in a rare position so far in the match where the heavyweight was firmly grounded, Kathleen sought to take advantage, kneeling down over the body of the woman's, her knees planted against the mat and against the center of her back for a mix of balance and pinning down her foe, she gripped one of those muscular arms... and attempted to wrench back on it for a sickening armbar!

Spoiler

[CaptainL]

It had only been by a narrow stroke of fate that Astrid had been able to dive back into the ring at the last moment - so narrow, in fact, that she barely believed she had really made it herself. When she came to a stop in the middle of the ring, and the referee called a stop to the count, Astrid fell face-first against the mat, panting for air. It almost felt like a dream at first - to think that she had found the strength in her to make such a move just in time felt almost too good to be true. But she had made it - and with that realization, a cool sense of relief washed over her from head to toe.

But Astrid wasn't done yet. Her whole body felt stiff and sore, and she could barely move; she was sure she needed more time to get the air back in her lungs - but when she looked up to see Kathleen threatening the referee, that made something tighten inside Astrid's chest. No - no matter how sore she was or how tired she was, Astrid knew she couldn't allow Kathleen to get away with this. It was one thing to get this angry about failing to count Astrid out - but if she was going to threaten innocent bystanders in the process, Astrid knew that she had to be stopped. That was one transgression she could never allow!

"Enough!! Let her go!" Astrid roared. She balled a fist and slammed it down against the mat. Just moving caused an ache to ripple through her back, but she just grit her teeth and shook that thought out of her head, grabbing at the mat to try and drag herself closer. One way or another, she needed to get in between Kathleen and the ref. It didn't matter if it hurt or not. But Kathleen had other intentions. And all Astrid was doing was putting herself in the line of fire.

Suddenly, Kathleen raised her foot, and stomped it down right against the back of Astrid's skull! The Norsewoman was thrown face-first into the mat, where her head bounced up on the rebound. And then came another, and another! Every one of Kathleen's stomps landed with a crack, and the sound of Astrid's screams ripped through the air, causing no small amount of onlookers to wince at the thought of what she was enduring. She was already hurting, and now, it felt like her head was going to split open from the throbbing soreness in her temples! Powerless against such an onslaught, Astrid went limp and began to sink lower against the mat. Which only meant that she was open for the next trick up Kathleen's sleeves, as the Queen grabbed her arm and twisted it into an armbar!

Astrid thought she had grown numb from the repeated stomps to the head. Everything around her had faded into a haze, and all she could do was lay there panting. But when Kathleen yanked her arm, it sent a shock of pain straight through her system that brought everything back into clarity! Astrid threw back her head, letting out a shrill scream. Everything hurt. She could feel the rush of blood pounding past her ears, drowning out everything else. There was only one thing she knew, though - Kathleen had still crossed a line. Now more than ever, Astrid knew she couldn't lose. Not if it meant Kathleen would get away with this!

Gnashing her teeth, Astrid snorted a gout of hot air out from her nostrils. She had to steel herself any way she could - she had to find the strength to resist! With her free hand, she stretched her arm out as far as it could go, reaching forward with every joint in her arm and grasping for the canvas. If she could get a good grip, she'd try to haul herself toward the ropes - all the while, her legs kicked behind her, hoping she might be able to build up enough force to throw off Kathleen's balance even a little!