His Cross to Bear: Alexios vs. Nash Cross

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios, Titan of the Sea, vs. Nash Cross
Rules: Standard Match for one fall
Victory condition: Pinfall, submission, or knockout

Spoiler

Alexios Laskaris waited in the Face tunnel right outside of the gorilla position. He proceeded to shadowbox and keep limber while waiting for his cue. Upon being given the signal, Alexios marched out of the tunnel to the sound of his music.

Spoiler

Alexios walked down the entrance ramp, entered the ring, and raised his arms in a triumphant pose before waiting for his opponent.

[Shadowheart]

Nash leaned against the monitor backstage, arms crossed, a smirk spreading across his face as he watched Alexios make his grand entrance. He had to admit, the guy was a beast - built like a damn tank, with that massive, chiseled physique and his gear, he looked like he'd stepped right out of a gladiator pit. But Nash wasn't intimidated. If anything, he was entertained.

As soon as the music cut, signaling Alexios had reached the ring, Nash straightened up, rolling his shoulders. "Alright… showtime," he muttered to himself, his lips curling into a cocky grin. His own entrance music blasted through the arena a few moments later, and that was his cue.

"And his opponent, making his debut tonight, standing at 6'2", weighing in at 160 pounds… Nash Cross!"

Spoiler

The skater then strolled out onto the stage, hands casually stuffed into the pockets of his black pants, eyes scanning the crowd with a playful, almost lazy grin. The crowd's reaction was all over the place - cheers, boos, curious looks - but he loved it. The mixed energy, the unpredictability, it was like the streets all over again. He took his time down the ramp, head nodding along to the beat of his theme song, giving a few fist bumps to the audience on his way.

Reaching the ring, he hopped onto the apron in one fluid motion and slipped through the ropes. He tossed a quick wave to the crowd before finally locking eyes with Alexios, sizing him up. "So… this is what I'm up against, huh?" he drawled, eyes flicking over the other male's gladiator-inspired outfit. "Nice skirt, dude."

With that, he turned his back on Alexios, sauntering over to his corner with a casual shrug while waiting for the match to start.

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios crossed his arms at Nash's comment. The vampiric looking man was not the first to make that comment. Nor would he be the first to come to regret it. As the announcer introduced him, the two men stared each other down and sized each other up. Nash was slightly taller but with a leaner build compared to the stocky Alexios. The Greek Olympian figured he would have to use his strength to achieve victory. When the bell rang, Alexios silently raised his arms, inviting Nash to lock up in a test of strength.

[Shadowheart]

As Nash strutted into his corner, he half-expected Alexios to throw some kind of jab or flex those gladiator muscles in an intimidating show. But… nothing. Instead, the guy raised his arms, motioning for a test of strength the second the bell rang. A quiet, smug chuckle slipped past Nash's lips as he tilted his head to the side, his golden eyes glinting with mischief.

"Not much of a talker, huh?" he drawled, his tone slow and slightly cocky. Raising his own arms to meet the challenge, Nash’s movements were unhurried, almost playful while he closed the distance between them. A test of strength was the classic way to kick things off, but against a walking mountain like Alexios? Let's be real - Nash wasn't delusional. Did he think he could outmuscle the big guy? Not exactly. But winning wasn't just about strength - it was about brains, and Nash had tricks for days.

"Alright, big man," Nash taunted with a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, "Let’s see what all that muscle’s good for." Then, with zero hesitation, he lunged forward, locking up with Alexios in a powerful clash. Flesh slammed against flesh, and the crowd exploded with energy! Nash gritted his teeth as he dug in, pushing back against his opponent and trying to gain ground.

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios was glad the young rookie accepted his challenge. The two men locked up and vied for advantage. They pushed against each other chest to chest. Nash really dug in his heels and pushed hard. Alexios held his ground, but the two were evenly matched. Alexios then decided to switch up and rely more on technique and experience.
”You’re strong, I’ll give you that. Let’s see how skilled you are.”
Using Nash’s momentum against him, Alexios turned and attempted to hip toss Nash. If successful, he would lock in a headlock for a textbook headlock takeover.

[Shadowheart]

Nash was honestly quite shocked that Alexios hadn't immediately overpowered him in the test of strength. With muscles like that, the guy looked capable of snapping steel beams, let alone pushing him back with ease. Yet here they were, evenly matched, for now at least. Nash was throwing everything he had into it, his arms trembling under the sheer strain. Veins visibly popped along his biceps and forearms as they flexed, his bare chest heaving against Alexios's in their struggle for control.

"Come on... get back...!" Nash growled through gritted teeth, his eyes narrowed into slits as he bore down with every ounce of strength he could muster. Sweat was beginning to bead on his skin, and his legs dug into the mat for stability. But just when it seemed like the skater was holding his ground, his opponent suddenly shifted his stance and before Nash could react, the big man used his own momentum against him, flipping him up and over with a hip toss!

"Whoa - gah!" Nash could only let out a yelp as he felt the world flip upside down, his legs flailing wildly in the air. He hit the mat with a thud that slightly shook the ring a second later, with a grunt escaping his lips. But Alexios wasn't done as those massive arms coiled around his head and locked him into a crushing headlock!!

Panic flashed across Nash's face as his hands instinctively shot up, clawing and pawing at Alexios's arms. His legs kicked at the mat, his entire body writhing as he desperately fought to break free. "Damn it!" he hissed through clenched teeth, really feeling the pressure bearing down on his skull.

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios held the rookie in the side headlock as Nash kicked out in frustration.
”I could have wasted so much energy pushing you back. Look how much easier this was.”
Alexios rolled to the side and turned Nash over. He then deftly slipped behind the skater and attempted to wrap him up with a rear waistlock. If successful, Alexios would hug Nash close before launching him overhead in a German suplex.

[Shadowheart]

Nash could barely catch a glimpse of Alexios' face through the thick wall of muscle squeezing his head, his vision obscured and his skull feeling the full force of the man's headlock. "You… just wait 'til I get my hands on you!" he growled back at his opponent's taunt. His fingers clawed and dug desperately into Alexios' arms, nails scraping across those muscles as he twisted and struggled, determined to wriggle free.

Nash thought he had it for a quick moment - just needed to push a little harder, turn his head slightly more, and slip out… But Alexios had other plans. Before the rookie could even adjust, the powerhouse suddenly shifted, flipping Nash onto his stomach with a swift and controlled motion. The skater barely had time to let out a grunt of protest before he felt those enormous arms encircle his waist from behind as Alexios slowly yanked him back up like he weighed nothing, and the next thing he knew, he was being thrown overhead for a picture-perfect German Suplex!

A panicked and accidental yell tore from the skater's throat as the world spun around him, the arena a blur before his body finally slammed into the canvas. His shoulders and back took the brunt of the fall, the ring shaking beneath them as Nash cried out in pain. The impact sent him flipping onto his stomach in an ungraceful sprawl, his chest heaving as he groaned through the ache. He writhed against the mat with a pained grimace plastered across his face, telling the crowd just how much that move rattled him.

[ScylliasExoter]

Alexios felt it wasn’t time for a pin. Nash was still thrashing about wildly. So he delivered a few swift stomps to subdue his opponent. The Greek man then lifted Nash up. Hooking his left arm under and around Nash’s right arm, Alexios would try to lock in an abdominal stretch to wear Nash down further.

[Shadowheart]

Nash was too busy squirming on the mat, pain radiating through his entire body from that sudden suplex, to really notice Alexios closing in. By the time he realized, it was already too late and the man's boot slammed down on his body, drawing a sharp grunt from the skater’s lips, but he didn’t have a chance to recover before another stomp crashed into him, then another, and another one after that! The stomps had him flinching and twisting on the mat, unable to mount any sort of defense - and they kept coming until Alexios apparently had his fill and reached down, effortlessly yanking Nash back up to his feet.

Still trying to catch his breath, the rookie barely had time to process what was happening before the Greek moved behind him, hooking one of Nash’s arms under his massive one and twisting Nash’s torso to the side to lock him into a tight abdominal stretch!

A guttural cry tore from Nash’s throat the second his body was bent and the muscles in his midsection screamed in protest under the strain. His head snapped back, golden eyes squeezing shut while his free hand stretched out in a futile attempt to reach the ropes, but they were far out of his grasp. At that moment, Alexios had full control; twisting and bending Nash as the crowd's cheers echoed through the arena, reveling in the sight of the skater trapped and completely at his mercy.