Match Type: 2-out-of-3 Falls Match Rules: The wrestler who scores two wins out of a possible three falls will be determined the winner. Falls can be won by pinfall, submission, knockout, countout or DQ Kennedy Lee
Theme Song
This was it. The rematch that management signed off and the world of LAW had been waiting for. Kennedy didn’t want to wait any longer—not even for We Are LAW. It was time to face Astrid once and for all to see how far both women have come since their very first match five years ago in this very same arena. Kennedy had been in LAW for about a year back in the beginning years of the promotion and she scored one of her biggest victories ever over Astrid in which started the eternal rivalry between the two women. They respected each other, became good friends, brief lovers, but above all else, they were eternal rivals till the end of their careers.
Kennedy’s music hit and she skipped the theatrics with the vines simply coming out in her new attire that Ana made for her. What could she say? The blueberry had an eye for fashion and she couldn’t turn it down. However, her focus was on Astrid so she came down the ramp and ignored the mixed reaction she got. Kennedy made it ringside getting on the apron and heading inside as Misa Otomura made her ring introductions with Kennedy walking around.
“The following contest is set for one-fall and it is a 2-out-of-3 Falls Match! The first wrestler to win two falls in this match will be the winner! Introducing first, from The Amazon Jungle, Kennedy Lee!”
If one wasn't a dedicated LAW fan, one could be forgiven for forgetting that this wouldn't be the first time Astrid and Kennedy had crossed paths. Their first match had been many years ago, before Astrid grew into the world-renowned Heavyweight Champion she had become famous as. Though she had still made a strong showing in several promotions in Europe and beyond, she was still coming into her way at LAW - and by now, the earlier days of her career had all but been drowned out by the historic title run she enjoyed since. When one looked back at those early matches, the woman in them could hardly be recognized as the person Astrid was today.
But Astrid herself hadn't forgotten. While she and Kennedy hadn't had many encounters in LAW, their relationship went far deeper than that. Even after their first match, they were determined to meet again some day. When Kennedy left after her brief first stint in LAW, Astrid followed her back to the indies, and the two of them competed in several promotions - always staying closely matched with one another, and trading victories back and forth. Both of them trained and kept up with their regimen in the name of staying competitive, and every time one of them grew stronger, so too did the other, bringing things right back to square one. Ironically, it had been Astrid's ascent to the top that saw their rivalry take a pause. When Astrid returned to Japan, she became one of its top champions, and the hectic life of a champion kept her from returning to her roots when she was out promoting both LAW and her title, as well as keeping up with the training she needed to stay on top. No matter how close she was to them, her old friends fell by the wayside.
One thing was for sure, though. Astrid never forgot about Kennedy. She knew they still had unfinished business, and that soon the day would come to put it to rest. Now that Kennedy had returned to LAW, better and stronger than ever, Astrid knew this was the day. Now, it would all be settled.
"And her opponent, from Stavanger, Norway! AAAAAASTRID OSTBERG!!" Spoiler
Music
Astrid hardly needed any introduction to the faithful of LAW. As soon as her name was called, the fans burst into cheers - and when the Norsewoman stepped out from the curtains, it was with her back straight and her chest puffed out forward, ready to greet the lights and the flashing cameras. One person she singled out in particular, though, was Kennedy herself. Her gaze soon caught the Jungle Queen, and when it did, Astrid's smile grew. Though she and Kennedy had had numerous encounters outside the squared circle, Astrid knew that seeing her across the ring from her once again would be a completely different experience. Now, when she saw her standing tall, bathed in the lights overhead, the Norwegian could already feel the adrenaline bubbling up inside her, readying her for the battle ahead. All the competitive feelings their rivalry had brought on came flooding back to her. It was as though she'd never left.
"So, we meet again," Astrid said, approaching Kennedy and climbing onto the apron. Despite all the times the two of them had fought, and all the times one had beaten the other, there was no anger or scorn in Astrid's voice. She had a smile on her face, and she greeted Kennedy like the old friend she was, stepping through the ropes to hold her hand out for a shake. "It's been too long. A lot's happened since our last match, hasn't it? I've won a title match...and you, too, have gotten stronger, I see." Astrid looked Kennedy up and down, taking note of the new muscle mass she had built in the hopes of entering the Heavyweight Division. "Loving the new outfit too, by the way. I think we've both come a long way. The question now...is who came out the stronger for it." Astrid lowered her head as her smile grew wider still. She might have been friendly, but she knew Kennedy was here to make a challenge. And she was eager to accept it!
Kennedy looked down the ramp as Astrid made her entrance and this is what started it all for them. Kennedy faced Astrid like this five years ago when the crowd had given Astrid the majority cheers. She had a basic cavewoman gimmick at the time and they went out for drinks afterwards. That’s where they became friends and good rivals. They traded wins and losses in the indies. Tagged a few times here and there and then things were put on halt after We Are LAW 3 where Astrid defeated Linda Halloween and Cali McCloud to win the Heavyweight Championship.
Astrid had grown a lot since then when she started beating the bigger stars put in front of her and Kennedy just had to come back to LAW to see it for herself. As Astrid got on the apron and spoke her first words, Kennedy instantly came forward to shake her hand firmly. The referee kept watch to see if these two would try to pull any punches, but people were about to learn their history front and center.
“Nice to see you as well, you beautiful tall glass of lemonade,” Kennedy flirted as both women shared a hearty laugh knowing Kennedy’s antics. “You like my outfit? Ana got it done for me. Yeah, I know, I joined the evil Cyber Legacy, but I’m still Kennedy Lee first and foremost. I’m making my own way in the heavyweight division and you’re just an obstacle in the way. This was going to happen eventually, hon, so bring your damn best!”
It had been a long time since Astrid and Kennedy had last crossed paths, and both of them had come a long way since - Astrid could see that just from looking at Kennedy's new attire and her well-honed physique, and of course her own progression in her career needed no introduction. But when the two of them met eyes and joined in a handshake, it was as though no time had passed at all. Kennedy might have gotten bigger and stronger and she might have had a new look, but she hadn't changed a bit. That was the same Kennedy Lee Astrid already knew so well - and in just a few short seconds, it would come time for their rivalry to carry on; to test who had come the farthest.
What did make Astrid raise her eyebrow was when Kennedy mentioned her new outfit being designed by Ana Akira, one member of Cyber Legacy - the faction led by Theresia Neidermeyer, one of Astrid's sworn enemies. "Well, this is news to me...let's hope you haven't taken the wrong lessons away from them," the Norsewoman muttered as she sized Kennedy up. Astrid had no respect for Theresia's cold, ruthless demeanor and her willingness to injure her opponents with no heed to their safety, and she could only hope Kennedy wasn't about to follow suit. But just looking at how she conducted herself now, she seemed like the same Kennedy as ever. One thing was for sure, though - she was still going to try her best to win. If she wanted to cement herself in the Heavyweight Division, she was going to prove her worth against some of its biggest names, and Astrid was definitely high on that list. It was an ambitious goal to be sure, but Astrid knew Kennedy - and she knew that she could well make good on that promise. She wasn't going to underestimate her.
Stepping away from the Jungle Queen, Astrid bent at the knees to settle into a stance as she pressed a fist against her palm and rubbed her knuckles. "I can tell you're ready for this moment. Let's see you make it count!" And with that, the bell rang!
*DING DING DING*
As soon as the match began, Astrid leaned in closer, moving to grab Kennedy by the hands to shove back at her with a test of strength! It was a traditional start to a match, and Astrid was no one to break with tradition. But it was also her way of testing how strong Kennedy had become, and what she could expect from her. Now, the ball was in Kennedy's court to demonstrate if she could compare to Astrid!
Last edited by CaptainL on Sun May 28, 2023 1:50 pm, edited 1 time in total.
This was no normal friendly outing at a bar or cookout. Kennedy was about to have another certified classic with one of the greatest women she ever fought. She has had some great rivals in her career that stemmed from her career in America, but Astrid ranks very high in the Top 10 of her opponents. The way she carried herself, the way she never stopped defending honor, the way she kept going even after suffering that rare huge defeat, Kennedy was inspired by Astrid to always keep going. When she eventually retires, Kennedy will honor Astrid during her last speech in the ring. Even if this is the possible last time they face off, Kennedy and Astrid knew better than to let down the fans and most of all each other.
Kennedy heard Astrid’s concerns about her involvement with Cyber Legacy and honestly, she had every right to be. Thereisa didn’t even want her in at first, but Ana made her come around to the idea so as long as Kennedy minded her own business and stayed out of Widow’s way. Kennedy shook those pressuring thoughts out of her mind as she heard the bell eventually rang. Even if she was with enemies of her best friends, she fought for herself and that was the most important thing to her. The animals of the jungle hunted for themselves and Kennedy abided by that ever since she was a little girl.
Kennedy dropped down into her own stance matching Astrid’s posture and clasping their hands together. They were sort of matched when it came to bare strength, but Kennedy held a little advantage to push Astrid back even for half an inch. This wouldn’t be easy and Kennedy felt her skin go soggy with sweat. Kennedy tried pushing Astrid back into the ropes hoping Astrid could muster up her own challenge.
Astrid had seen Kennedy as a close friend for a long time; at times even as something more. She had been a rival for much of that just the same - someone who Astrid couldn't help but compare herself against; who she was always striving to prove herself to, and to push herself that much further when it came to her training and her commitment to make sure that she could stay on top in any of the many matches they'd face off in. Even when they were opponents, they respected one another, and their actions motivated one another to push themselves further beyond in the name of being the best they could be - something they prided each other on, and were grateful for. The fact that Kennedy had thrown her lot in with Cyber Legacy - a faction that Astrid had no particular love for - did throw a spanner in the works, and for a moment, Astrid stopped to think if she could truly trust Kennedy in such an environment. But she just as quickly shook that thought out of her head. She wasn't going to let the weight of the past drag her down now. Now, it was just her and Kennedy in the ring - and all that would really matter was if Astrid could, once again, prove that she was still capable of challenging the Jungle Queen. She had plenty of experiences already that told her not to let herself get distracted with her own thoughts. She had to be ready for whatever Kennedy could throw her way!
As the two of them both dropped into a stance and joined hand to hand, Astrid could feel the firm pressure that Kennedy exerted back against her. Her body stiffened and her teeth clenched as she held on tighter to the older heavyweight's hands, and her fingers coiled in closer around her opponent's, clenching down in a white-knuckled grip to stabilize herself. She teetered back and forth a few times; more than once she managed to push her weight up against Kennedy - but for every inch she took, Kennedy was able to even things back out. The fans were watching with rapt attention. At this point, either of the two women seemed just as capable of taking the lead!
But it would be Kennedy who would first claim the upper hand. As she inched her way in closer and closer, pressing into Astrid with greater force, the Norsewoman soon found she couldn't hold herself still any longer - she stepped back with one foot, then the other, steering her toward the ropes. Her eyelid began to twitch as she locked a glare onto her old rival. Now, she knew, Kennedy was starting to box her in - and if she did, Astrid would have nowhere to run to. That wasn't a fate she was excited about. She knew things could only get worse from there, once Kennedy had her in a vulnerable spot!
Instead, Astrid decided to change her tactics. Letting go of the lockup with one arm, she moved to throw it over Kennedy's head. If she could, she would tighten her grasp and pull straight down, attempting to hold Kennedy's head against her side in a side headlock to control her body and her movements!
Kennedy smirked bringing Astrid back towards the ropes and proved she was the stronger of the two. Lifting iron at her age would be painful for anyone who didn’t stay in shape, but Kennedy always made time for the gym four times a week in order to keep her strength and cardio up. The Jungle Queen knew Astrid wasn’t a slouch either having her own strict routine and she might even workout more times than Kennedy. She once told Kennedy she might go to the gym up to three times a day ever since she was champion. Just to put on more muscle for her title defenses and Kennedy could respect that. It’s what made her a very exciting foe to face in the squared circle.
Astrid sensed she was in trouble and switched things up grabbing Kennedy in a tight headlock! Astrid hunkered her own weight down on Kennedy as the Jungle Queen puffed her cheeks trying to throw her right fist into Astrid’s back. If she can brick her way out, Kennedy would put Astrid in her own headlock! She tried the same tactic holding Astrid down with her own weight. Kennedy would hold Astrid there seemingly waiting for Astrid’s next tactic.
Astrid was all too keenly aware of the implications behind Kennedy being able to control her with a test of strength - and the thought alone was enough to make her suck in a breath with her teeth clenched. She had always been proud of her strength, and to think that Kennedy would be able to overpower her felt like an insult to everything she had strived for. Kennedy was a friend of hers, of course - that hadn't changed. She had nothing but respect for the thought that she was able to keep up with her at her age, even knowing she only had so much time left in her career. But Astrid was determined to stand up for herself, and to show that she could still keep up with her own efforts. If Kennedy was able to out-muscle her...that meant the Norsewoman was doing something wrong.
Nevertheless, Astrid couldn't let that slow her down for long - if she was falling behind her opponent, she would just need to take back control by force! Gritting her teeth as she summoned all the strength she had, she reached out to grab Kennedy by the head and wrench her downward - only for Kennedy to strike back with a fist aimed at her back! Astrid winced from the impact, letting out a cough, and her grip on Kennedy began to ease as the pain rippled through her side - until it was just loose enough for the Jungle Queen to power out, and lock Astrid's head in a hold of her own!
With the pressure building around her temples, Astrid sucked in a snarl. She doubled over forward against Kennedy's weight weighing her down - a reminder of how Kennedy had been able to muscle her way to success in the test of strength a moment ago, and she was using the same tactics now. But that would only remind Astrid all the more that she couldn't let Kennedy get away with them! As her brow furrowed into a glare, the Norsewoman shoved herself forward to force her way closer against her foe. There, she would throw her arms around Kennedy's waist, squeezing down to try and lock in a grip on her waist - and, if possible, to lift her off her feet to throw her over her shoulders with a German suplex!
Kennedy held onto the head of Astrid as tightly as she could dropping down to one knee occasionally to sink the Norsewoman further into the hold. Kennedy struggled to keep Astrid in and knew it was only a matter of time before Astrid broke free. The Jungle Queen was strong, but she couldn’t keep too much of a grip on the head while the rest of Astrid’s body was still fresh. To demonstrate this as if on cue, Astrid pushes herself forward and shifted momentum in the hold. She got behind Kennedy slipping out of the headlock and grabbing her behind the waist.
Kennedy tried grabbing the top rope to force a break, but Astrid started lifting her almost immediately making Kennedy gasp. Astrid released Kennedy with the German Suplex as Kennedy came crashing down on her back. The mat shook as the ropes rumbled a little jumping from the impact! Kennedy groaned grabbing her back in pain as she tried crawling for outside to regroup.
Astrid didn't know how much longer she could bear the brunt of Kennedy's strength as the Jungle Queen tightened her grip further and further around her skull. Her face was swiftly growing red, the veins in her temples bulging, and her teeth clenched and holding back stifled breaths. But then, Astrid wouldn't just sit around and take it. There was no use in waiting it out. If she was going to fight back, she was just going to have to break out of Kennedy's clutches by force - and, as she shoved her body forward to drive her chest and shoulders against her opponent's own, she was going to do just that! It felt like she was fighting against a relentless tide to try and muscle herself into gaining control, despite Kennedy's best efforts to resist, putting all the force she could muster in her way. Sweat ran down her sore muscles, and she groaned and hissed from the strain. But Astrid was determined. She couldn't let her rival get the final say in the matter. And, as she managed to circle behind Kennedy, all that effort would pay off - as she got her rival into position to take her down with a German suplex!
As they saw Kennedy come down hard, the fans burst into cheers. Both women were of imposing statures, and yet, Astrid had been able to lift and throw around Kennedy like it meant nothing! As she landed on the mat, Astrid stopped to rub her head and pant for breath, trying to clear the cobwebs. But she wasn't going to stay down for long, not even to bask in the cheers the fans were showering her with. She knew Kennedy was still trying to make her escape - and Astrid couldn't allow her to get that far! Glaring at her rival, the Norsewoman quickly shoved her way back to her feet - where she would bend down to grab Kennedy, lifting her up to drop her onto her knee for an atomic drop! Astrid wasn't done with her!
