Rose Gold (c) vs Astrid Ostberg (c) - Champion vs Champion

[CaptainL]

As she leaned over the ropes, holding onto the top one to keep herself in place as she fixed her gaze on Rose, Astrid's eyes narrowed more and more until they formed a narrow glare. Rose was taunting her now - that she knew well enough. She was perfectly content to stay outside the ring, biding her time as she mocked Astrid and waited for her to come to her. Astrid had hoped that by appealing to fairness and decency she might be able to guilt her opponent into getting back in the ring, but she soon saw that she had once again underestimated Rose's depravity. The Lightweight Champion had no shame - and if Astrid wanted to deal with her, she'd have to take matters into her own hands. She knew that in doing so she would expose herself to the lawless world outside the ring, where Rose's sorts could only find themselves in their element - but it was a concession she had to make. She just hoped that whatever she could do would be enough to make up for the assault Rose had waiting for her.

"Hmph! Fine, then..." Astrid climbed over the ropes, getting down to Rose's level. If she couldn't appeal to justice, she would have to do the next best thing - showing Rose the error of her ways through brute force! As she locked a withering glare on the smaller woman, she drew back an elbow to smack it straight into the side of Rose's head! All the while, seeing how both women had gone outside the ring, the referee restarted the count. "ONE!!"

[SuckerPunch]

Rose Gold watched Astrid with a smug grin as she debated what to do inside the ring. Her slender fingers stroked the cheek of the timekeeper as she preyed upon Astrid's need for justice. It was possible that Astrid might have just let her get counted out. That was, of course, why Rose Gold had involved the innocent non-combatants. If Astrid pushed the envelope, then it was the Timekeeper who would have paid; with her shame.

Rose was in the midst of considering how she should best tease the blushing girl when the Heavyweight Champion stepped over the ropes. "Oh? So eager!" She chirped with amusement. Her mannerisms belied her actual feelings, however. Her skin paled and her eyes moved quickly. Crap! Astrid understood the situation immediately and acted just as quickly... She was more clever than she'd expected.

And worse, something about Astrid's glare locked her in place as she approached. Was this... Fear? "No! Stay back!"

Astrid's arm pulled back and then shot forward! With a gasp! Rose Gold spun off the lap of the Timekeeper! And in the same movement, thrust her in front of the strike!

"TWO!"

If Astrid was skilled enough, she would have no problem keeping the poor girl from being obliterated by one of the league's most powerful wrestlers! Herself. But if she did save the girl, she would find that she'd lost Rose Gold! Where did that conniving snake go!?

[CaptainL]

Astrid had already thrown herself into motion - her elbow was extended to ready a hard-hitting strike, and as she swung it through the air, it looked as though Rose was on a collision course. But right then, at the last minute, the lightweight ducked away! Astrid only had a few seconds to gasp as she saw her elbow about to make impact with the head of the timekeeper, who stared back at her through wide eyes. She pressed her heel against the floor to grind to a screeching halt, her elbow stopping mere milimeters from the girl's head. The timekeeper let out a sigh of relief as she looked back at Astrid, though she was still a fair bit shaken from the ordeal.

"I'm so sorry about that," Astrid said politely, standing up a little straighter as she spun back around to search for her opponent - who was now nowhere to be seen. The Norsewoman took a pause, but it didn't take long for her to realize that - knowing Rose - her fellow champion no doubt had a trick up her sleeve. And that wasn't something Astrid was particularly thrilled about!

As the ref called "THREE!", Astrid's eyes scanned back and forth across the arena, narrowed into a glare. "All right, Rose, this is no time for games! Where are you?" At the same time, she started to look back over her shoulder, just in case her foe had a sneak attack planned.

[SuckerPunch]

In the moment that Astrid and the timekeeper had locked eyes, Rose Gold had disappeared. She'd slipped low and out of view and made a run for it! While Astrid was apologizing, Rose was setting up the next phase of her attack!

With quiet grace, she leaped over the barricade that separated the fans from the arena floor. They cheered and grasped at her as she lowered her posture to hide behind the low wall. She pushed through the hands as if they were brush in a rainforest. Disgusting pigs. All to get behind Astrid, right where they'd been a moment before. Beside the timekeeper.

When Astrid whipped around to face the ring, and where she expected Rose to be, The Sinister Siren struck!

She jumped up onto the barricade, balancing precariously but for a moment! "You're too slow! Ostberg!" She barked with glee as she leap-frogged off of the barricade and launched herself bodily at the heavyweight! Both of her boots extended in a vicious dropkick aimed right between the larger woman's shoulder blades! The blow wasn't meant to drop her, but instead, to send herr rocketing towards the ring post right in front of them! She'd let the hard steel do the work as the referee continued to count!

"FOUR!"

[CaptainL]

Skidding to a stop just shy of plowing into the timekeeper, Astrid's focus was on making sure everyone was all right and that things were under control. What she didn't realize was that in doing so, she would have to take her eyes off of Rose - something that would prove to be a grave mistake. The Lightweight Champion may not have measured up to Astrid in size or strength, but when it came to her cruelty and her tricks, she certainly delivered - and she would make that known soon enough!

Just as Astrid was scanning the arena for any sign of her opponent, Rose sprung her trap. She leaped off the barricade, her legs outstretched to come crashing into Astrid's back! The fans tried to shout words of warning to Astrid, but by the time she began to look back, it was too late - Rose was already in motion. As she slammed into her foe, the Norsewoman cried out in shock, the impact sending her toppling off her feet and falling forward. Astrid waved her arms, trying to slow her descent, but it was no use. She came crashing into the corner post with a clang, her teeth clenched in a grimace as her body shook. The whole crowd was wincing at the thought of the damage, even as she sank down to lay crumpled against the steel steps below.

Every once in a while, she started twitching, giving them some hope she might get back up - but when that didn't come, their boos grew even louder. Could Astrid be out already? Whether she was or not, it would all come down to the ten-count - which was still going on!

"FIVE! SIX!"

[SuckerPunch]

Rose Gold turned in the air after kicking off of Astrid's back! She landed on her hands and knees just in time to watch the results of her handiwork! The result of which caused both women to grimace for different reasons.

"At least the timekeeper is safe." She looked over her shoulder directly at the woman she mentioned and gave her a smirk. A smirk that told her she was only safe until Rose Gold determined she wanted her.

The Sinister Siren turned her attention back to her opponent then. Astrid was left dazed and slumped over the steel steps with only a few seconds to get back into the ring. The count continued as Rose Gold hurried into the ring. It would be as valid a victory as any other. The thought of humiliating the heavyweight champion by getting a win without being touched left the Lightweight grinning from ear to ear.

"Don't rush honey. Plenty of time left!"

"SEVEN!"

The world focused on Astrid as the clock continued to count down!

[CaptainL]

"EIGHT!!"

The clock was ticking, and Astrid showed no signs of movement - she remained splayed on the ground, hunched over the steel steps, with only the slow rise and fall of her chest giving any indication that she was even conscious. Already, a few voices in the crowd had begun to boo Rose, even before any verdict had been made. This had been a highly publicized bout, a dream match in the making, putting two of LAW's most renowned champions up against one another. It was the kind of match that in and of itself could sell PPV buys alone, and many fans were eager to see what it would bring. Was it really going to be over before it had even begun - and over such a cheap shot?

"NINE!!"

But just then, Astrid began to stir. Her hand moved, shakily but with great purpose, and reached out to take hold of the bottom rope. Her fingers coiled around the cable, and she pulled herself closer along the apron. The fans began to chant her name, calling on her to push herself through the extra mile she needed. But was she going to make it back in in time?

"TE-NO!!"

At the last minute, Astrid ducked in under the bottom rope, rolling herself into the ring - and back into the match! At the sight of the heavyweight's comeback, the stands burst into cheers. But Astrid didn't have time to celebrate yet. She began to rise to her knees, panting and haggard; her face was red, and her hair was splayed across her face and stuck to her brow with sweat. But from beneath the blonde strands, she locked a piercing gaze on Rose. Don't count me out...just yet..!"

[SuckerPunch]

There was a moment when Rose Gold thought, perhaps, she had overestimated Astrid. That she really would stay down for the count. A hopeful, naive, and optimistic moment. Despite her best attempts at stealing a win, Astrid's determination saw her making it back into the ring at the very last millisecond! A desperate, dive under the ropes broke the referee's count!

But then, Rose hadn't simply been standing in the ring watching and waiting for Astrid to be counted out. In the time that the cameras and fans had spent focused on Astrid's heroic return, Rose Gold had positioned herself for another, serpent-like sneak attack!

Perched on the ropes, she was waiting for her moment. And as Astrid clambered up to her knees, the time was rife! She leaped off of them, turning in mid-air! Astrid on her knees was about as tall as a great deal of the lightweight division standing, so little adjustment was needed for the maneuver. But She'd be far less stable. More vulnerable!

"JUST DIE!" She screamed as she met Astrid's glare... However, when they met, she was upside down!

And a half-second from driving her knee into the top of the Heavyweight Champion's skull. Crowning her with a CROWN OF GOLD!

Crown of Gold

[CaptainL]

With Astrid seemingly down for the count, many of the fans were shocked at what they were seeing. Surely, Astrid was better than this - the Heavyweight Champion wouldn't go down that easily, when there was still so much work to be done! And soon, their faith would be rewarded, as Astrid reached out to grab onto the ropes, pulling herself back into the ring. The stands rang out with cheers at the sight of the Norsewoman making a comeback, and as she propped her feet against the mat beneath her, she looked back over her shoulders to where the fans were cheering for her, nodding her head to them. She saw how much they were counting on her, and it left her with even more motivation to win it for them!

But Rose had other ideas. Suddenly, Astrid heard her cry out, and she turned to face her - catching sight of her just in time to see her plummeting through the air, her knee outstretched to make contact with her skull! Astrid let out a gasp, but she had no time to act. The next thing she knew, she felt a hard thunk against her skull, and she lost her balance, wobbling back and forth for a moment with a groan before plummeting face-first into the mat like a ton of bricks. The same fans who were cheering for Astrid just moments ago were now booing Rose - she had cut the heavyweight's comeback out from under her!

[SuckerPunch]

Both women hit the mat belly first as the Crown of Gold hit home with a sickening crack of bone on bone! Rose Gold grimaced from the canvas before looking over her shoulder to spot the prostrate Astrid!

"Y-yosh!" She practically whispered as her plan came to beautiful fruition!

She pushed up onto her knees and immediately barreled into the wounded Astrid! She pushed against her with her shoulder, rolling her onto her back! Then, she threw herself atop the Heavyweight with all the desperation of a lottery winner trying to cash in their winnings!

"Count! COUNT DAMN YOU!" She snarled at the referee as she used two hands to hook one of the larger woman's heavy thighs!