The Return of a Champion

[CaptainL]

It had been almost a full year since Astrid Ostberg, fresh off her victory in the main event of We Are LAW 2020 that crowned her as the promotion's new Heavyweight Champion, had departed on her European Grand Tour, returning to the indies to defend her championship across the continent. While many die-hard fans followed her updates on social media and whatever videos of her matches were posted, just as many were eagerly awaiting the day Astrid would return to LAW. And now, that date had finally arrived.

Spoiler

Astrid came down the entrance ramp to a hero's welcome, the LAW Heavyweight Championship around her waist. By the time she had come to stand in the ring, the fans were still clapping, cheering, and snapping photographs, and the Norwegian wrestler smiled wider, nodding her head and bowing in a few directions. Finally, the excitement died down long enough for Astrid to accept a microphone, and she began her speech.

"Thank you - all of you. Truly, thank you. I'm honored to be back here in LAW - while going back to see my family, and to greet them as a champion, was an opportunity I'll always hold dear, I'm just as happy to be back in front of you all, and especially to hear how excited you all are to see me again. It means everything. You remind me, every day, why I get in this ring - and why I wear this belt. It's because of you, who I can trust to always count on me, and for whom I always make sure to do my best."

After another short burst of cheers, Astrid continued. "So too, I'm proud that LAW approved my request to return to the indies, and I'm thankful for all the promoters across Europe who booked me for my matches on the European Grand Tour. Before I won this belt, the LAW Heavyweight Championship had only ever been defended in one country, Japan. As of today...it is my honor to announce that it's been defended in 26 more. I've put my skills, and my worthiness to be called the champion, to the test in defending this belt against all comers on the independent circuit, and I'm proud to say that - while there were a few close calls - I haven't lost a single defense, and I return to you a champion still."

Predictably, the cheers started up again, and Astrid gave them a moment to die down before she kept going. "Now, I'm back in Japan for the winter, and I have no intention of giving up my streak any time soon. It's about time I brought the title back to its home, to take on my fellow LAW heavyweights, and to prove that I'm still the best. And it's for that reason I will be defending this title at We Are LAW 2021!"

"There's something else I need to say, too...this will be the first year I'm not home with my family for Christmas. While it weighs heavy on my heart to not be seeing them and celebrating with them in person, I respect that I have duties and responsibilities as a champion. I accept that, as a champion, I shall serve as representative and ambassador to LAW, and I pledge to live up to those demands to the best of my ability. So too, I accept that I must be ready to defend my title at any time that I must - and with my schedule being what it is, I have no choice but to spend Christmas overseas this year. My family is important to me, but they all understand what I must do, and I put this belt, this championship, above all else."

After a short pause, Astrid began again. "...Another thing. Previously, when I announced the European Grand Tour, I mentioned that I had to make arrangements with LAW in order to travel the indies while holding my title. I think, now that I'm back here, it's about time I told you, because you all deserve to know."

"The agreement was...that if I were to lose the belt on the indies, the new champion would be returning to LAW in my place, and that I would leave LAW for good."

The crowd gasped. For a moment, all went silent. "If I wanted to spend a year on the indies, they said, I would have to be treated as an independent wrestler, and that for that time, I would only remain signed with LAW so long as I held the championship. If I had lost, even once, on that tour, I wouldn't be speaking to you all right now. I chose to keep that a secret until I returned because I didn't want anyone worrying about me. But the threat was always there."

A moment later, Astrid looked back up, smiling as she planted her hands on her hips. "However, I'm proud to say, that didn't happen! Now that I'm back in LAW for good, I'm here to stay - and no matter what happens, you can count on me stepping back into a LAW ring for the first time at We Are LAW. Make no mistake, my championship run is only just beginning!"

[SubtleRoar]

*The incessant prattling done by the golden goddess was abruptly interrupted by a certain, ginger giantesses music! The audience erupted in a confluence of astonishment and elation as the familiar cowskull-clad cowgirl ambled out from backstage and into the limelight! She remained as still as a stone statue for a moment, basking in the ineffable pleasure of her zealous supports chanting* "Jess is best! Jess is best!" *While her theme started dispersing throughout the humungous arena. After what felt like an eternity, the imposing figure snatched a microphone from behind her back and pulled it up to the pearly whites of her headgear, rolling her shoulders before conjuring up something to say.*

Spoiler

"Howdy~" *In her sultry, western cadence as the ecstatic fans waited on her every, solitary word before she decided it was time to continue.* "Missed ya, blondie." *She began a deliberately slow, meandering trot down the ramp, almost as if she had an eternity to reach the edge of the ring, pausing periodically before the microphone reached the edges of the hollowed out headwear.*

"Yah see, Astrid, I find it awfully peculiar that someone of yer..ahem..caliber managed tah snag that purty belt." *She stated, cracking her knuckles into the flank of her mic before continuing.* "Could you kindly explain tah me why, after I put a smackdown on yer ass, do you get the belt ovah me?!"

*Turning towards the titantron, Jess snapped her index and thumb together, and almost as if she had some type of authority over the crew backstage, a familiar image appeared on screen- It was that dreadful blemish on Astrid's relatively successful career.*

Spoiler

"Aheukheuk!" *The diabolical debutant unleashed a tremendous guffaw, causing the majority of her supports to imitate her as a chorus of individuals took it upon themselves to chortle at the mortifying match Astrid had against the crimson crusher.*

*By this point, Jess had removed her ornate helmet, revealing her alabaster skin and cascading, scarlet hair.* "So, now that we have the hierarchy established..." *Placing the skull adjacent to the metallic steps, she slowly scaled them up and onto the apron of the ring, stepping overtop of the top rope while slamming her fist into the palm of her hand.*

"Howsa bout you hand over that hardware of yours and prevent yet anotha beatdown, courtesy of lil ol me?" *Bumping her corpulent chest up against Astrid's, the palpable tension was beginning to fill the arena, chants of* "Get it on! Get it on!" *Easily heard in the background!*

Spoiler

[CaptainL]

Astrid smiled, content with herself. She listened to the cheers of her fans, recognizing her for all her hard work and dedication in winning the championship, and eager to see where her career would take her next. She thought that would be the end of it, and she was just about to retire backstage when an all too familiar tune began playing over the speakers. At once, Astrid froze, her eyes going wide. She spun around toward the entrance, facing the new arrival from the ring.

Her eyes narrowed, and she grumbled under her breath. Before Jess had even said anything, Astrid's ire had been provoked. Couldn't she see that this wasn't the time? Even some of the fans were cheering for her now, which only made Astrid grumble. Of course, Jess had to come in and ruin her moment.

"What do you want?" Astrid groaned, crossing her arms and staring Jess down as she entered the ring. But then, the cowgirl had to bring up that she had triumphed over Astrid before, earlier in the Norsewoman's LAW career - and her eyes went wide, taking in a gasp. It was true that Astrid had lost to Jess some time ago - and as close a battle as it had been, Jess had still managed to come out on top in the end, something that Astrid couldn't forget. Just looking at Jess brought back all those memories, and the disappointment she had in herself for not being able to win - and as a snapshot of her defeat came up on the screen, that was only amplified tenfold. Astrid stepped back, biting her lip and narrowing her brows in a piercing glare.

But what also swelled in Astrid was her determination to stand up for herself. She knew that she couldn't back down, even if she was challenged - that wasn't the mark of a true champion! "Don't get ahead of yourself," Astrid shot back, stepping closer to Jess and pressing her own bust against hers. "So I lost to you. What of it? I'm sure your own career is far from spotless. Since that day, I've only been growing stronger - and I have this belt to prove it. I'm not going to give it up any time soon. If you really want it so bad, why don't you prove you have what it takes to take it from me?"

[SubtleRoar]

*The ubiquitous momentum growing within the anxious audience was enough to coax Jess into throwing her chest forward, causing Astrid to stagger backwards, but only slightly.* "Get ahead of muhself?" *The facetiously baffled woman retorted, her eyes shifting from side to side before deciding to retort.* "Ya'll already know that I have a reputation to uphold and yer inability to get thangs down around here, on the good ol law circuit, is enough tah cause me to disown yah as a competitor entirely!" *She bellowed into her microphone, amplifying both her booming voice and the imperative point she was trying to make.*

"Howevah, given that yer currently parading around with somethin that should be rightfully mine~" *The massive ginger strolled towards the edge of the ring, sending flirtatious waves towards miscellaneous members of the crowd before continuing* "I suppose I'll hafta lay a heaving smackdown on yah, pry the belt off of yer trembling, unconscious hands, and slam the business end of mah size ten's against your stuffed bra now, won't I?"

*The audience collectively responded with an* "Oooooooooh!" *Almost as if Astrid was personally selected to go directly to the principle's office, and Jess was about to administer a serious load of disciplinary action on her!* "So, watcha wanna do blondie?" *She elevated her right arm before forming a mountainous muscle, her bicep becoming an imposing mass of western weight!* "Cuz I got a clear schedule, and a bone tah pick with you!"

*Despite the spectators being torn between whether or not they adored or abhorred the audacity of the colossal cowgirl, everyone could easily agree upon that a fight consisting of both women tearing each other to shreds would be a genuine sight to behold!* "Duke it out! Duke it out!" *They chanted, the arena filled with verbal demands to battle!*

[CaptainL]

With another forward shove from Jess causing her to stagger back, Astrid winced. She bit her lip, growing tense just listening to her old rival calling out her trip out of LAW to showcase her title on the indies. Astrid knew that it could be a contentious move, but hearing it come from Jess only seemed to twist that knife further. If anything, though, it would only embolden her to stand taller, in defiance even as Jess tried to take the dominant position by force. Astrid couldn't back down. If her reputation and respect as the Heavyweight Champion was being put on the line, Astrid needed to stand up for both the title and herself.

"So, you're that desperate to lay claim to what's around my waist, yeah?" Astrid shot back. "You're awfully confident, I see...but I can't say I'm intimidated much by your boldness. If anything, I worry that you're setting yourself up for failure in not considering what it is you're getting into! But if you're so determined..."

In response to Jess's gesture, Astrid turned to the side, lifting both of her own arms up to flex her biceps. If Jess wanted to show off her strength, Astrid wouldn't let the call go unanswered. Her display got a few cheers, and she beamed a proud grin into the crowd. "I'll answer to what you, and everyone sitting in the stands right now, are asking for! I still need an opponent for We Are LAW, and my first title defense back in this company. If there's nothing else I can do to convince you your hopes are misplaced...I'll show you to your face!" Turning back around to Jess, Astrid placed a hand proudly on her belt. "What do you say?"

[SubtleRoar]

*Slightly irked that Astrid received any form of applause whatsoever, Jess clutched her fists and gnashed her teeth together, but somehow managed to maintain her composure throughout her display of physical intimidation.* "Whadda I say?" *The sultry southerner dragged the microphone towards her fire engine lips, sauntering around the ring, circling Astrid as if she were a buzzard about to devour a fresh corpse.*

"Well, ya'll can call me game fer this little tussle~" *The audience erupted from her response, applauding for the now confirmed match as Jess decided that she had squandered enough time on this topic, meandering towards the fringes of the ring before slipping her voluptuous figure through the opening in the ropes, but not before flaunting her perfectly sculpted posterior for the audience to enjoy.*

Spoiler

"But, I will leave ya with a parting gift~" *Fully exiting the ring, Jess dropped down to the jutting ring apron before subsequently turning herself towards the walk ramp, sending her middle finger flying in the air.* "You get ta watch me walk away." *And with that, Jess began her leisurely amble back towards the locker room, the stage having been set for what was assured to be a legendary confrontation.*

[CaptainL]

With Jess's declaration, the lines had been drawn, and Astrid's opponent for her first title defense in LAW had been determined. In some ways, it couldn't have been a better one. Jess was one of the first opponents Astrid had faced in her pursuit of the title, and now that she had been crowned champion, things had come full circle.

As the cowgirl left the ring, Astrid stood in its center, her fists balled and her knuckles resting on her hips. She huffed to herself in frustration; somehow, Jess always found a way to piss her off. Her taunts and insults lingered in the Norwegian's mind even now. But she resolved she wouldn't let those get to her. There would be a time and place for Astrid to prove who would emerge from their feud on top - and now, that date was coming quickly.

Turning back toward the ring, Astrid raised her chin, flexing her arm one last time in a show of her determination to prove her strength. "So it is settled! I know I can trust all of you to cheer me on - and I'll prove to this upstart who the real champion is!"

[SubtleRoar]

To be continued