Astrid Ostberg vs. Aesira Reinhart

[CaptainL]

With a smile on her face, Astrid offered her hand to Aesira, giving the girl the support to get back on her feet. Whether or not she was her opponent, she was still doing a good job of standing up to her, and Astrid had to be impressed - especially seeing such effort come from a woman who was dwarfed in size by Astrid herself. The Norsewoman had faced opponents that had been larger than Aesira, and still hadn't lasted as long in the ring against her. But Aesira was beating the odds, and earning Astrid's respect in the process.

Taking a step back, Astrid nodded to Aesira and clapped her hands, readying herself for whatever her foe would do next. "I'm ready, all right - show me your best efforts!"

The champion lowered herself into a stance, closing in on Aesira with measured steps. She clenched and unclenched her fists, readying herself to grapple with Aesira as soon as she came into range. But just as she was beginning to close in, her opponent pounced. She rolled herself forward, kicking her legs into the air and springing forward on the palm of her hand to roll toward Astrid in a cartwheel! The blonde's eyes widened as she looked up, seeing Aesira's leg about to come down on her. With the speed and grace Aesira wielded, she couldn't get out of the way in time, and the next thing she knew, a foot slammed down on her head with a crack!

Astrid's head rolled backward over her shoulders, and she stumbled off to the side. As she went staggering back she reached out behind her, managing to latch her fingers onto the ropes and stabilizing herself before her footing could give out. Still, she lifted her head, settling her gaze on Aesira as her eyes narrowed in focus. The throbbing in her temples told Astrid that the middleweight could hit hard, and as she stood there catching her breath, she knew she would have to be ready. For now, though, she would stay on the ropes, building her strength back up for when she'd need it.

[Aeri]

“Can’t.. believe that worked!”

Her cartwheel attack was mostly a fluke. Aesira wasn’t very acrobatic, her build usually not allowing for such attacks to be performed.. but that’s exactly why it had the element of surprise, her leg smacking into Astrid’s temple so effectively and sending her spiralling! Not to be deterred, Aesira followed up with it quickly and efficiently, clasping her palms together and bracing herself..

Before charging. She’d barely give Astrid time to breathe, barrelling her frame into the Champions body, planning on sending them BOTH out of the ring, through the ropes, a solid tackle that would bring both of them to the ground of just outside the ring, Aesira still on top of Astrid and using her as her body cushion to absorb the impact of the fall..!

[CaptainL]

It had indeed been the fact that Aesira was capable of pulling off such a move, or at least attempting to, that had caught Astrid by surprise. The girl had so far proven herself to be a powerhouse through and through, making use of her strength and her hard-hitting moves to take on women who easily surpassed her in size, and standing up to their own such tactics. But when push came to shove, she was perfectly capable of using her agility - and this time, it had gone hand in hand with the element of surprise, in knocking Astrid back against the ropes before she knew what hit her!

The champion pushed herself off the rope, still holding on with one hand to stabilize herself as Aesira came closer. But just before she could do anything about it, Aesira charged! Once again, her speed belied her powerhouse tactics as she sprung herself straight toward Astrid, stretching her hands forward to shove Astrid back - and, against her momentum, the Norsewoman was pushed straight through the ropes with a gasp!

Astrid could feel her body in free-fall, and the floor was closing in on her by the moment. She knew that when it hit, it would hit hard - and that, with Aesira on top, the middleweight was intent on using her as a shock absorber. Astrid had to think fast, and she knew there was nothing she could do to avoid taking the hit. But she could make sure that Aesira wouldn't have too much of an advantage against her - and she pushed up on her shoulders while kicking out with her knees, hoping to throw Aesira to the side so that both of them would strike the floor at the same time!

[Aeri]

Having set her sights on getting Astrid down and out of the ring.. and down and out in general, Aesira was slowly, but surely losing it to her temper, causing her movements to become more frustrated and more wild, but also more powerful and more predictable. However, when she’d shove Astrid towards the canvas, she’d let out a small gasp.. as two, sharp knees impacted her abs, tossing her off! She’d crash down onto the ground besides Astrid, groaning in pain as she’d hold her stomach..

“.. urgh.. that.. all you got..?”

Rolling onto her stomach, Aesira crawled towards Astrid, clasping her head with both hands..! Slowly, surely.. she’d lift up the champion, slowly lifting her up to her feet with her.. before slamming her head right into the apron with a BANG! If it worked effectively, however..

She wouldn’t give Astrid a chance to recover! Immediately, she’d slide an arm around her throat and pull back, tightening the hold into a choking sleeper hold, with all means and intentions to knock the champion cold!!

[CaptainL]

Astrid was hurtling toward the floor with each passing second, and it was long since too late to do anything to avert her fate. But if she was going to have to go down, she could at least make sure that Aesira would go with her! Just before she made impact, she kicked out with her knees, flipping Aesira off of her and sending her crashing to the ground at the same time!

Now, as the sound of their impact rang out with a thud that caused several in the crowd to wince, the two women had both gone to the floor, laid on their side and groaning. Astrid rolled to her back, her ribs rising and falling with each labored breath she tried to take in as her eyes focused up at the lights. She began to get an elbow behind her, trying to brace herself, but the referee had already begun the count.

"One! Two!"

Aesira, however, wasn't deterred. She soon got herself onto her hands and knees, crawling toward Astrid - and getting into position to grab her from behind! Suddenly, Astrid found herself being hoisted to her feet. She gasped and struggled against Aeisra's hold on her head, reaching her arms out to try and grab at her wrists. But she couldn't stop Aesira from turning to slam her head straight into the ring apron!

Astrid let out a scream, dropping to her knees as her body shook. The apron was the hardest part of the ring, and she'd been hurled into it at full force, without even the time to catch her breath! The Norsewoman wasn't even fully through her pained cry by the time it was cut off - as Aesira grasped her throat in the crook of her arm, pulling backward to compress her airways!

"Three! Four! Five!"

Astrid choked and gagged, her body rolling limply against Aesira's as the middleweight pulled her back. Everyone in the stands was watching with rapt attention; it seemed as though if Astrid would make her way out of this, it would only be by virtue of the count-out! She could feel the strength draining away from her, her body weighed down with fatigue as more and more air left her lungs.

"Six!"

But Astrid was still going to fight it as best she could! Clenching a fist at her side to steel herself, the champion attempted to get one foot underneath her, planted against the floor. That would be all she needed to try and push herself back up, even with Aesira on her back!

[Aeri]

She’d exhale gently. Trying to rein in focus but utterly failing, her arm latched around Astrid’s throat roughly. She’d have to do this, Aesira was determined to make this the key to her victory..! Tugging hard, Aesira kept a vice like grip, almost brutally around Astrid’s throat, which she suspected the champion would feel later on..

.. but even THEN, as the count was ticking down and beckoning them to get back to stage, she’d narrow her eyes.. in sheer disbelief. Astrid was actually.. getting a footing, the blonde brawler actually managing to pull herself upwards! Her sheer surprise was reflected in her eyes, as the referees shout of the seventh count rang in her ear.

No time to waste. Before Astrid fully got up, she’d wrap both her arms around her and hauled her over to the ringside, pushing her back into the apron. She’d wrap an arm around her, pushing her upwards and then.. as the ninth count sounded, rolled inside, before laying on her stomach for a couple seconds, before slowly dragging herself up by the ropes, something Astrid could very well take advantage of..!

[CaptainL]

Astrid gagged and groaned as she forced herself to her feet, her body shaking with each movement she forced herself through. Her eye bulged in its socket, and her face was growing red, her airways choked off by the pressure her opponent was forcing down on her throat. Her back bent forward, buckling against Aesira's weight, and her knees knocked against each other. Astrid was fighting two battles now - one to withstand Aesira's weight when she had to fight against both the force with which she pressed down on her back and the unbreakable embrace around her throat, and one to get back into the ring in time. Yet, Astrid was always one to rise to the challenge, and even now, against odds that seemed impossible, she wouldn't let this be any exception!

"Eight! Nine!"

Aesira saw the warning signs, and she was ready to make her move, slamming Astrid's back against the ring apron. As the sound of a clang rang out and the champion's spine curved in against the blow, she cried out in pain, leaving Aesira to roll her in through the ropes. When the referee stopped the count, Astrid was lying flat on her face, sore and winded - but so too was Aesira, who was still coming off the effort she had forced her own body through just to maintain her dominance.

Astrid rolled over and looked up, propping her elbows on the mat to see where the middleweight was dragging herself closer to the ropes. Though she panted for breath, she still recognized a moment of weakness in Aesira - a moment she could seize upon! The girl was crawling closer and closer to the ropes, and Astrid would have to act fast - but she had a plan.

Pushing her palm against the canvas, Astrid got her foot beneath her, pushing herself back to her feet. To the sounds of cheers from an audience eager to see her make a comeback, Astrid threw her body against the ropes behind her, using their momentum to spring herself forward toward Aesira! Not only would using the ropes save her own energy, the force of the spring would also allow her to use her own body as a weapon, as she went to throw herself down on top of Aesira in a splash!

[Aeri]

She had just made it, JUST in time to avoid a disqualification. Aesira placed her palm to her chest, taking in deep breaths and slowly steadying her breathing. She’d shake her head gently, her white hair laying splayed around her vision, slowly pushing herself to her knees with a Herculean effort. Her fingers raised, she’d clasp the ropes with her free hand and slowly and shakily, hoist herself up to her feet..

..but before properly having finished standing and gaining her senses, a shadow was cast over her and Aesira found a thunderous force slam into her, the whole body weight of Astrid crashing against her body, causing her to be sandwiched between the ring and the opponent of hers. The force was enough to almost cause her to black out, her head spinning from it. Her legs.. they didn’t seem to be able to support her weight properly, them slightly trembling, as she’d drop down to her knees from the shock and pain!

[CaptainL]

Astrid knew she was on borrowed time. Aesira, middleweight though she was, had done a more than respectable job of standing up to her, and her efforts had forced the Norsewoman to put all of her effort into the match. Now she had been left winded, her aching legs shaky and her head still stinging from where Aesira had rammed it into the ring apron. Astrid knew that if she couldn't finish this match quickly, her body might give out on her. But that knowledge just left her even more determined to rise to the challenge - and, as she threw herself against the ropes, she already had a plan in mind as to how to make the most of her flagging stamina!

Just as Aesira was getting back up, Astrid came flying into her, the two of them colliding with a thunderous impact! Both women were knocked to the mat, with Astrid falling atop her foe and holding her to the canvas by virtue of her weight alone. For a few seconds, she lay there panting, her breath coming in hot against Aesira's flesh from the close proximity they shared. The referee had begun to draw closer to check for a pin - but Astrid already knew that for someone like Aesira, this wouldn't be good enough. She'd have to try harder!

Sucking in a breath, the champion pushed herself back up, rising to her knees. Her body shook, and her teeth clenched to muffle a pained groan, but she was willing to force herself through it if it meant she'd still have a chance! She soon got back on her feet, her body swaying tenuously from side to side. As she looked down at Aesira, her face was red, and her hair stuck out from her scalp in tangled strands. But her fists clenched at her sides, and she summoned the strength she knew she would need to carry her onward.

"I won't...lose!" Astrid bellowed in defiance. She bent down to get her arms around Aesira, looking to hoist the girl off the ground. Her grip was slipping ever so slightly, but still she would fight to pull her higher and higher into the air, turning her upside down so that her head would point to the mat. If Astrid could get her into place, she would wait for just a few seconds, sucking the air back into her lungs - but then she would hop off her feet, looking to spike Aesira's head into the mat to deliver a piledriver!

[Aeri]

Astrid’s body slam had winded Aesira, no question. Having a heavier woman than you crash into you when you’re already exhausted does that, and it caused her to tumble to the ground, Astrid on top, both women taking a moment to catch their breath, the sensation of the blond on her frame causing her to softly groan, trying to push her off a bit weakly.. but Astrid removed herself of her own volition.

Aesira lay there, dizzily looking up at her opponent. Remembering how to stand, she’d push her palms behind her, slowly.. surely, lifting herself to a sitting position. As she made to stand, she’d hear the declaration from Astrid.. and then widen her eyes as her opponent managed to lift her off her feet and bring her upside down..

“W-wait.. no..!”

She wasn’t looking forwards to it at all.. her head was already in pain, and suddenly being slammed down headfirst didn’t help. Down she went, her head crashing against the ring and silencing her, even bending one of her horns irreparably out of shape! She’d drop down to the ground, holding her head in pain as her body lay sprawled. But out of sheer stubbornness she’d stay awake, her eyes glazed over with pain, and what escaped her lips next..

“Was.. was.. that all..?”

A taunt, in true Aesira fashion.