Blair Yuen [D] vs. Finlay Zeffer - Last One Standing Match

[CaptainL]

Match Type: Last One Standing Match
Rules: Wrestlers shall be eliminated if they cannot rise after being knocked down for a count of 10

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For Blair Yuen, it was an opportunity to start fresh. Her proud records in Muay Thai and mixed martial arts had been sullied with losses, and even when she took up wrestling she had a hard time holding onto her undefeated streaks for long. But with each new sport, and each new promotion, there came a fresh set of eyes. People who had never seen her compete before, and wouldn't be reminded of all the times she had lost. Now, Blair had a new chance to build herself from the ground up. As she sat in the locker room on a bench, bowing her head forward, she took a deep breath, clearing her mind and preparing herself for what was to come. It was time for her to make her first appearance in the LAW ring, and she wasn't going to waste it.

Apparently, her opponent, one Finlay Zeffer, was just as dedicated to the sport as she was, from what she'd heard. There was just one issue - he was, indeed, a he. Blair had never faced off against a male before. She'd been used to competing in sports where the mens' and womens' divisions were more rigidly enforced, but in professional wrestling, all that was out the window. And when LAW had been adding the odd intergender match to its card, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to pair them together. So too, it seemed, the LAW bookers were intent on seeing how much the two fighters' dedications could carry them, as it had them down for a Last One Standing match!

None of that intimidated Blair. She was never one to worry about the odds. She'd learned well enough that all that mattered was her willingness to keep on fighting, and putting all her effort into making everything count. It had helped her overcome being picked on, and even with her smaller size she was still able to take down larger opponents. Now, she was going to see how that would come into play here.

Blair looked up from where she sat. It was time.

"Coming first to the ring, and making her LAW debut, a veteran of Muay Thai and MMA who's competed around the world! At 5'1 and 110 lbs., from Vancouver, British Columbia! Everyone, give it up for BLAAAAIR YUEN!"

Appearance

Music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rY0WxgSXdEE

As her music filled the arena, Blair took her place at the top of the entrance ramp. Getting herself worked up for the match ahead of her, she put her fists together and nodded her head. Not one for showy entrances, and preferring results, she continued to the ring without another word, where she hopped onto the apron and pulled herself in over the ropes. Then, she continued across to her corner of the ring, where she pumped her arms to get herself warmed up in preparation for the bout.

[Bare]

Finlay cracked his neck back stage while wrapping tape around his fists backstage while leaning on a wall not far from the guerilla position. He had been scheduled for yet another match, and after a rather dismal outcome with his last match he was eager to get back into things with another win. Though if what he had heard about this ‘Blair’ was true than it’d be a hard fight to win indeed.

Apparently based on what informarion he pieced together and had seen from older videos on youtube, she was a very capable of fighter. However that was all mma and muay thai matches. Wrestling was another beast all together and he had yet to see what her skill in wrestling was. So while he wasn’t gonna underestimate her due to her past skills, but he would wait till he saw her wrestling skill first hand before casting judgement.

Besides this match would be the perfect place to do so given it would be a last one standing, in other words it would play to both the competitors strengths. Pushing himself off the wall and wearing red and gold maori patterned wrestling tights and matching red boots Finlay looked ready to fight as he walked up to the guerilla position once his music alchemy by Yates began playing.

Spoiler

https://youtu.be/9Fs9HkbK1SA

Walking out from behind the entrance he would raise his arm up for the crowd who gave a moxed reaction but was mostly cheers for the most part. After a moment he would lower it and start heading down the ramp, lately he had taken to doing more showy entrances, but tonight the blonde kiwi was in no mood for that. He had one focus only and that was winning. Approaching the ring be would jump up onto the apron and slip through the ropes before heading to his corner. As he did he caught sight of his opponet and took it as the first chance to properyl analyze her as he waited for the bell to ring

[CaptainL]

Blair had taken her place in the corner, content to watch for any signs of what to expect from her opponent when he would arrive. Keeping up her usual no-nonsense attitude, she wanted to conserve her energy for when she would need it, and any fancy showboating for the crowd was only going to burn through her reserves. Instead, she went through a few stretches to work out the kinks in her body before, at the sound of music playing through the speakers, she crossed her arms and looked up at her opponent's entrance.

It was enough to make her raise an eyebrow. From her previous experiences with wrestlers, many seemed more focused on their own self-image, wanting to hype up the crowd as much as they wanted to get results in the ring. Granted, she had seen plenty of that in other sports as well, but it seemed to be a particular epidemic among wrestlers. Finlay, though, wasn't like that. With as much focus and precision as Blair herself had, he walked down the entrance ramp to get to the ring, then slipped inside. No dancing around, no slapping high-fives, none of that. From the looks of things, he was taking this just as seriously as Blair herself - and that was enough to stake her curiosity about what she was in for.

Nodding her head, Blair took a step closer to the center of the ring. "Well. I guess this is where we make it count, hm?"

[Bare]

Finlay stretched his arms lightly as he waited in his corner, his eyes locked on his opponet as he waited for the match to begin. The whole time he wouldn’t take his eyes off Blair, she reminded him of someone... though he couldn’t quite place it. But she definitrly gave off a unique vibe that was different from anyone he’d stepped into the ring with so far. She wasn’t making a spectacle of herself, or trying to flirt or show herself off to the crowd. Rather she had a stern and determined expression on her face mirroring his own.

However despite the seeming similarity between himself and her it wouldn’t cause him to hold back. No he was here to win. Nothing more and nothing less. Even if he had to ruin her debut. But he would at least show respect while doing so, which is why as Blair took a step forward and spoke je did the same. “Indeed it is. So don’t expect me to go easy on you at all.” He said confidently with a crack of his neck while raising his arms up, right as the bell rang starting the match.

[CaptainL]

Putting her fists together, Blair leaned out from the corner, her eyes narrowed in focus and resting on Finlay. Although she had only just now caught sight of her opponent, she couldn't help but notice a note of familiarity about him as well. She couldn't place it, but the impressions she got from him were ones she recognized. From the way he took his place across from her and got into position, she knew he was ready. He was focused on the match ahead of him, prepared to give it his all. It was qualities like those that Blair appreciated in the people she faced. If they weren't giving their best effort, she didn't know why they should try.

But even if she was pleased with what she saw in Finlay, it wasn't going to alter how she planned to go about this. She still maintained a determined look on her face, watching her foe with unblinking eyes as she grasped the ropes to either side of her and let the muscles in her arms tense. Nothing was going to get her to compromise what she believed in, after all - and Finlay, judging by his response, was much the same. Bowing her head closer, Blair said a few words in response. "Don't worry. I'm not expecting you to...and I'm not about to do the same myself."

*DING DING DING*

With the sound of the bell, Blair got back up, but she was slow and methodical in getting into the fray. She pushed herself off the ropes to plant herself square on her feet, rolling her shoulders before she held her fists up in front of her. She began to move in closer, watching Finlay. For now, she would wait to see what he'd attempt first, and hope to counter accordingly.

[Bare]

Finlay watched the girl carefully. Pretending or acting a certain way wasn’t exactly uncommon for people in the wrestling world. But in this case he didn’t get any of those vibes from Blair. It didn’t mean he’d be lowering hid guard anytime soon however. Rather he’d just keep his fists up and merely regard Blair with a bit less severity than before. But still their little interaction goon gave way to the match starting proper.

Getting out from the corner the taller blonde would begin to circle Blair, watching her movements carefully. Judging by her stance he could tell Blair’s style was that of a striker, or if nothing else not of someone exactly familiar with wrestling. So off the bat he’d try to turn that against her. Moving forward he would attempt to reach down and lock hands with Blair to go for a collar elbow lock up with his smaller opponet. Starting things off with some rudimentary grappling.

[CaptainL]

Finlay would be right about one thing - Blair was definitely a striker first, everything else a distant second. While she had picked up a few things about grappling and submissions in transitioning to MMA, not wanting to be taken out so easily by someone who could get a good hold on her, Blair never felt as readily at home with it as she did when she was using the strikes she was familiar with. Going to wrestling, a sport that centered around grappling, was going to take her into unfamiliar territory. But Blair was confident enough in her martial prowess being enough to well make up for it. Her time in MMA had done well to prove that her opponents couldn't control her in holds if they couldn't get there in the first place.

As Finlay closed in on her, he got in position to lock up. As she raised her head to regard him, Blair was sure he thought he would be the one securing the advantage this way, taking her into a zone where she would be vulnerable against his grappling skills. But Muay Thai was a style that made use of the clinch, and many of its manuevers were designed to be executed from there - Finlay was only putting himself in danger! That much would be evident as the two locked hands. They turned in a tight circle around the center of the ring, going around once before Blair would suddenly swing a knee upward and into his chest to try and knock him off!

[Bare]

Finlay watched Blair carefully, despite being a lightweight the girl carried herself like a heavyweight that wasn’t to be messed with. Something he respected. Even if it wouldn’t affect how he fought. As the blonde moved forward and locked hands with her he went into a tight a circle with the girl as the two fought for dominance. However Finlay, was definitively correct about one thing, and that was the girls affinity for strikes. Before he could do anything with the lock up he found himself wincing in pain as a knee buried itsef in his sternum forcing him back.

However wrestling was a sport revolving around taking hits and thinking creatively on how to turn them to you’re advantage. Something Finlay had become a master of. Releasing only one of Blair’s hands as he was forced back Finlay held on tightly to Blair’s other hand. With distnace now between them Finlay sought to turn that to his advantage as he gave a mighty tug on Blair’s arm to pull her forward towards himself. If successful he would charge forward while releasing her hand and holding his arm up to try and hit Blair with a ripcord clothesline.

[CaptainL]

Locking up with Finlay, Blair had the opportunity to feel out the balance of weight between the two of them, and to see how much power he had to exert his will. She could tell that he could easily overtake her if he got a good grip on her. If that happened, she would be paying the price for it. But Blair had the tools to ensure he wouldn't get the opportunity, and she was quick to shoot up with a knee into his chest!

He went staggering backward, and Blair looked up to meet his gaze. She never took her eyes off of him, always studying him and his moves to best know how to react. But those same eyes went wider as she realized that Finlay was still hanging onto her one arm! A good, solid hit like that would have floored many in Blair's weight class - and she realized a crucial difference between wrestling and the sports she was used to. While LAW had weight classes, they weren't enforced as rigidly as in MMA. Hell, she was even fighting someone outside her division; all bets were off here! Blair couldn't expect Finlay to react the same way as those she had faced before!

And so too, he was quick to turn the position to his advantage. Before Blair could react, she felt herself running closer toward Finlay, pulled along by the momentum of the tug on her arm. At the same time, he raised his arm to land a clothesline! In such close quarters Blair couldn't dodge, and with everything happening so quickly, she didn't have the time to process what was happening to her in order to mount a defense. The blow hit, and her head was thrown backward as she coughed and gagged, her whole body twisting back in an arc.

So strong was the blow that Blair was almost taken off her feet then and there, and she sank lower, going down to one knee. But, inspired by Finlay's example and grasped with determination, she tightened her hold on his arm, her fingers wrapping tightly around it. She refused to let go - and this would help her set up her next move! Using his body for stability, Blair gave Finlay's arm a tug and went to pull herself back up to her feet - and as she straightened herself, she would throw up her leg for another knee strike, this one aimed at his jaw!

[Bare]

Finlay wasn’t one to needlessly comoliment or offer good graces, but he was one to give credit where it was due. One thing he would be sure to give credit to Blair for was her ability to hit. Despite her small stature the girl hit like a truck. Any one in her weight class he was sure would have been knocked on their ass. Even the light weight champ probably.

Thankfully though he wasn’t in her weight class. He was taller and larger than her, factors that lended to him managing to stay on his feet. As a result of being able to manage said feat, he was able to counter against the girl. But more credit where it was due, she was rather tough as well as being able to hit hard.

Managing to stay on her feet Blair was apprently quick to learn from seeing. Before he could do anything Finlay felt himself being pulled in by tbe smaller girl in a fashion similar to what he just did to her. But before he could process a possible counter he found a knee burying itself against his chin sending him stumbling back with his head thrown back with a groan.

However Finlay wasn’t one to back down, let alone be taken down by his own move. Planting his feet in the mat Finlay clenched his fist as he threw himself forward while slamming his fist out to try and respond with a forearm smash into Blair’s chest as payback.