Black Diamond vs. The SoCal Connection

[Dubski]

Cheyenne Black Rock got into a three point pose, watching Ashley quietly, intensely, just waiting for the right moment to strike. Deanna Duncan meanwhile stood on the bottom rope, slumped over the top rope with a big grin on her face. "Yo Ashley! You scared!? Scared what that Native American SHE-MONSTER is gonna do to you!? Because it'll be very ugly, very nasty, and you're not gonna like it! Sounds like a real California girl. No guts! Just a scaaaaared little girl when she can't cheap shot somebody! Hey, hey, hey, hey! ASHLEY! You're a loser!" With a loud cackle, Duncan would lean back, holding onto the rope with one hand for leverage.

The Native American would wait until, hopefully, her loud-mouthed partner had Ashley even slightly distracted. And then she would charge right towards her and attempt to hit her obliterating tackle, The Stampede, hoping to run Ashley right over and leave her as easy pickings!

[CaptainL]

Ash knew she had to be cautious. With how hard Cheyenne hit, and with how she was no longer under her control, any wrong move could spell disaster for the lightweight. If Cheyenne wanted to utterly crush her, nothing was going to stop her. Ashley might normally have been wild and impulsive, but for this moment right now she needed to stay calm and prepare herself. She had to make just the right move, and she watched Cheyenne unblinkingly, her arms raised to defend herself at a moment's notice.

Of course, none of that meant anything when she had a voice barking in her ear, as Deanna had evidently appointed herself as Cheyenne's hype woman - and now, all Ashley could focus on were her heavyweight partner's achievements and credentials. She didn't doubt that Black Rock meant business, of course, but she didn't need to hear that now! As soon as she tried to tune out Deanna for one second to keep her focus on Cheyenne, she was shaken back into the reality of the situation before her as the white-haired girl's voice rose to its highest and most irritating pitch. If Deanna's loud mouth was her greatest asset, she had certainly found a place for it here.

Having her shouting in her ear was annoying as it were - but when Deanna called out Ashley's courage and confidence, that was too far! Clenching her teeth and balling a fist at her side, the redhead spun back around to shoot her opponent a withering glare. "HEY! Shut up already! I am NOT scared, and I'm NOT a loser!" It only got worse as Deanna started laughing, causing Ash to lean forward, stomping her foot. "CUT IT OUT! IT'S NOT FUNNY!"

"Ash! ASHLEY! LOOK OUT-!" Kayla called, trying to compete for Ashley's attention enough to warn the girl of the incoming collision from Cheyenne. At last, Ash looked back in her direction - right on time to see Cheyenne come forward and bowl her over with the harsh impact of her tackle! Ashley screamed in pain, the impact knocking her over to the mat with enough force to send her skidding a short distance away. Her air had been blown right out of her, and she could only lay limp and groaning at the hulking Native's feet!

[Dubski]

A tried and true strategy for the tag team. Deanna had a way of getting people off their game, especially if she could be afforded the free time to do it from the apron. And sure enough, Ashley suckered herself into it, turning to shout back at Duncan laughed at her loudly. And the moment she did, Cheyenne Black Rock sprinted towards Ashley and then plowed into her with The Stampede! The redhead was sent across the ring as the Native American stood confidently in the wake of her assault.

The Chieftess would then grab hold of Ashley's leg and then effortlessly pull her right back with a single tug away from the ropes. Deanna preened proudly and shouted, "Nice one, Chey! Pin her! Pin her!" Pounding her hand on the top turnbuckle pad, she grinned before Black Rock obliged. The heavyweight went down and then went for the pin, hooking the So Cal girl's leg for the pin as the referee went down to count the pin!

"ONE!"

[CaptainL]

If Deanna had jumped into the ring, her interference with the match would be ruled illegal and might have resulted in a disqualification, or at least a warning. But she didn't need to get through the ropes to tip the odds in her team's favor. All she needed was her mouth - and that was doing her plenty of favors when it came to throwing Ash off her game. She took her eyes off of Cheyenne enough to shout back at the white-haired girl when her banter at last became intolerable - and that was the exact moment Cheyenne needed to spring her attack.

Ashley was bowled over by the force of her heavyweight foe crashing into her at full speed, going onto the mat. She panted and gagged, staring up at the lights above her with wide and glassy eyes. It took her a moment to realize where she was and that she would need to react, but she soon shook herself back to her senses, enough to reach for the ropes. But she was a moment too late, as Cheyenne pulled her away, her fingers falling just short of touching them as her arm landed on the canvas!

"No-!" Ashley gasped, only to watch as the Native American got on top of her with her leg hooked, going for the pin. So too did the ref start her count!

"TWO!"

Looking around back and forth hopelessly, Ash tried to think of what options she had. Cheyenne was much too big to kick off of her, especially when she was as winded as she was. Kayla wasn't normally one to intervene, and she probably wouldn't want to risk angering the Chieftess. Her only hope would be to go for the rope break, but she had precious seconds to do so. As the ref raised a hand the third time, Ashley reached out shakily toward the ropes, seeing if she could stretch herself far enough!

[Dubski]

As Cheyenne was pinning Ashley down with her more heavily muscled form, the referee was already on her way through the count! One, two, and then Ashley managed to slap the bottom rope with her hand before the referee could count to three! Black Rock made a face when the referee told her the redhead got the ropes and Deanna raced over to the ropes where the referee was and shouted, "There's NO WAY she got the ropes!" The referee turned, starting to argue with Duncan who didn't want to hear it. Throwing her arms up, the platinum-haired girl shouted, "Just tag me in and I'll finish this chick off!" And then she got back to her corner, pouting.

Cheyenne shook her head and then grabbed Ashley's by her arm, dragging her to Deanna and then slapping her partner's hand! It was then that Duncan got into the ring and then got more towards the center, kneeling to one knee and then wiping it off. Black Rock would then lift Ashley high into the air with a gorilla press and then attempt to throw her down onto Deanna's knee to complete their Diamond Splitter signature attack!

[CaptainL]

"ROPE BREAK! Get off, Cheyenne!"

When she heard the referee make the call, Ashley let out a sigh of relief that practically deflated her. She knew she was gambling on her chances by going for the rope break, and no one would have been surprised if the heavyweight could keep her down. But by whatever miracles that existed, Ash still got the ropes, and her face lit up with a grin. She still had a chance after all, and she would have to take it!

She knew better than to try to take Cheyenne head-on in this state, of course. If her team stood any chance of winning this, she would need to tag Kayla in, and fast. As soon as she caught her breath and came down from the excitement of making the save, she would start to crawl back over toward her team's corner on her knees. Her eyes were wide and her teeth were clenched; everything was counting on this.

But she couldn't get there far enough, as she soon felt Cheyenne's hand grasping her arm and pulling her aside! Ash fell back with a yelp as she was dragged further away from Kayla's corner, closing in on the opposing team's. She kicked her legs and struggled, but it was to no avail. "GAH! No-! Slow down..!"

Cheyenne didn't slow down, though - and soon she had tagged Deanna's hand, as the white-haired girl got into position. Ashley was hoisted up higher into the air, screaming in surprise before she was thrown down onto Deanna's knee. It met her spine with a crack, and Ash bucked up off of her with an even louder cry as she went rolling to the ground.

Kayla had to be impressed by the amount of coordination the two shared if they could set something like this up. But she also had to wince, imagining how much that had to hurt. She was starting to see she'd need to take matters into her own hands. While Kayla leaned over further, sticking her arm through the ropes to signal for Ash to make the tag, she was also ready to jump into the ring herself if she had to!

[Dubski]

The Diamond Splitter hit successfully and Ashley was snapped down onto Deanna's knee before promptly falling onto the mat. Confidently, Duncan mugged at the opposite corner as Kayla as she drug Ashley towards the center of the ring. Looking cocky, Deanna would wiggle her fingers at Kayla and laugh. "And that's what we call... a beatdown. Lemme know if you want me to sign the pictures when I pin your partner here! You know, because we're about to win. Like, you know, expected," ranted the Diamond, dropping down and then laying back on Ashley, hooking the redhead's leg.

"And if you want any pointers, we can give you those too! Happy to help a Californian loser in need!" bantered Deanna, enjoying her pin she was convinced she was going to get from the brutal double team attack! Of course, she did stall a bit. And she did say enough to tick off Kayla. But hey, it was in the bag still, right?

[CaptainL]

Kayla had her hand stretched out and at the ready, her palm open for Ashley to tag her into the match. As time went on, and Ashley came closer, Kayla stretched herself further and further in leaning under the ropes. She was growing increasingly nervous when Ash wasn't getting herself into range, biting her lip and waving her hand. She hoped against all hope that Ash would find the strength in her to push herself just a little bit further forward and secure the tag in time - but she fell short. Ashley couldn't get there fast enough to avoid her fate, and she was soon brought down hard on Deanna's raised knee!

Kayla winced, biting her lip anxiously as she watched the white-haired girl hook her partner's leg. She strained herself to reach just a little bit further. Stretching under the bottom rope until she was halfway to laying in the ring, Kayla still found herself just out of reach.

"One! Two!"

It wasn't the ticking of the clock that spurred Kayla into action, so much as it was the taunts coming from Deanna. The Californian knew she was growing tired of her foe's antics, but hearing her call her a loser was a step too far! She wanted more than ever to shut her mouth and prove her wrong - and, sucking in a breath, Kayla resolved to do just that, no matter how far she'd have to reach to do so! Just as the referee's hand was about to come down a third time, Kayla dove in an inch closer, bringing her into range of making the tag on Ash's back!

"Thr-NO! Only two!"

The ref held up two fingers, confirming that the pin had been broken. Now, Kayla rolled in under the ropes, getting on her knees. It was her time to take things back!

[Dubski]

Deanna Duncan had happily held her arrogant pin, throwing her fingers up in the air with each count. The one, two... and three! And at once, Duncan released Ashley's leg and threw her fists into the air. "HAH! Black Diamond just got its debut win, baby! We're the best, and now the whooooole damn league knows it!" screamed Deanna Duncan, doing a wiggle on the mat as she celebrated before jumping up and getting ready to give Cheyenne a hug, arms stretched out!

"Deanna!" said Cheyenne Black Rock urgently, raising her voice in the first time in this match. "She tagged in--behind you!" she added, pointing back at Kayla.

"Oh shit!" exclaimed Deanna, turning around in a panic, eyes darting to either side to figure out what to do. "Uh, be a good loser!" yelled the platinum-haired girl as she then ran forward, attempting to hit a running forearm strike on the swiftly approaching Kayla!

[CaptainL]

Ashley had been released in that narrow window of time after the ref girl had begun to count three but before she had time to finish her sentence. To Deanna, though, the first half of "three" was all she needed to hear, and she began celebrating then and there. Ash slowly rose to her knees, panting and groaning. She stretched her back, only to feel the jolt of pain reawaken in her, and she reached behind her shoulder to rub at her spine. "Ow..." she muttered to herself. Then, as she looked back at the opposing team celebrating their victory, she paused for a moment. She knew she had felt Kayla tag herself in, hadn't she?

"Uh...they didn't really win, did they?" Ash asked, tilting her head toward Kayla.

"Nope. And I'm about to make sure they don't forget it..."

It was around that same time that Cheyenne pointed the same thing out to Deanna, causing the white-haired girl to look back toward her opponents. By that point, Kayla had already taken her place in the ring, with Ash slipping out to the outside. The middleweight stood tall and firm, her eyes narrowed toward Deanna. She was ready for anything - and as Deanna came toward her with a forearm, Kayla swerved suddenly to throw her leg out, moving to counter with a roundhouse kick! "Yeah, I think not!"