Astrid Ostberg vs. Aesira Reinhart

[CaptainL]

When it came to her way of approaching such matters, Astrid prided herself on her physical strength. She was capable of hurling her opponents around as if their weight meant nothing to her, and she took it as no small honor that she was capable of such feats through her intensive training and determination. All the same, Aesira was making things difficult for her. Astrid had gotten the girl up on her shoulders, but she was still hammering away at the champion with blows that caused her to shake and groan with each impact!

Astrid knew that she couldn't let this get to her. It might have been hard, but she needed to fight through whatever pain and adversity she might face in order to triumph! Even if her belt wasn't on the line, she was still fighting for what she believed in - and that was her faith in herself as a champion and as a wrestler. She simply couldn't let herself lose. Throwing her head back with a roar, the Norsewoman shoved herself back to her feet, in the process hurling Aesira from her shoulders so that she would go plummeting to the mat!

The crowd let out a cheer at such a display of strength from Astrid - something that she was happy to indulge, as she faced them with a grin and flexed her muscles. But just as many cheered for Aesira's quick recovery a moment later - as she grabbed onto the ropes just as she was about to go tumbling underneath, stabilizing herself in place!

Astrid turned back to face Aesira as she began to rise, lowering herself into a fighting stance. Flexing her fingers, she readied herself to grab onto Aesira as she came near, prepared to make whatever counter she might need to. But the middleweight struck with speed and precision that eclipsed her size, faster than Astrid could account for! Her feet snapped upwards and sank into Astrid's chest, sending her skidding backward!

Groaning in pain as she clenched her teeth, Astrid rubbed at her side, panting. She had fallen to one knee, barely able to hold herself against the force Aesira hit her with. It was only by a hair's breadth that she had been able to keep herself from collapsing. "Not bad...not bad indeed," Astrid huffed. "You're really giving me a run for my money...but I'm not done yet!"

Indeed, Astrid would soon make good on that promise, and come back swinging! She pushed herself back up to her feet, charging toward Aesira as she held her arm out behind her. As she closed in on her foe, Astrid swung that arm around in an arc, looking to catch the plucky middleweight with a lariat!

[Aeri]

Having fallen on her back due to the dropkick, Aesira had pulled herself up with her usual vigour, staring down Astrid. The heavyweight champ was tough and more than ready to give what she could get, but so far.. Aesira seemed to have gotten and kept the upper hand. A fact which made her glower with slight hints of pride.. but what Astrid said slammed her back to reality.

She wasn’t done yet. Neither were close to being “done”, as she said. Suddenly, Astrid raced towards her, and Aesira prepared herself to take on a tackle.. and yet, she was woefully unaware of what came. The lariat slammed against her torso, lifting her up and slamming her down to the mat with a devastating THUD!! Aesira’s eyes widened, coming from the reigning champion.. this was no light blow to be taken! Her frame lay sprawled against the ground, her hair strewn across her face.

She spat out a strand of hair, before her surprised features suddenly relaxed, her giggling a bit.. “Hehe.. that was sweet, Astrid!”

She’d roll over onto her stomach, slowly dragging herself to her feet, her hand rubbing her sore neck gently.. that is, if Astrid didn’t follow up on the lariat immediately.. as she’d meet her eyes with some vigour painted across her features..

“But I can do this all day.”

[CaptainL]

Astrid had given Aesira a moment of warning in voicing her challenge, and making it clear that she wasn't going to let herself be taken down so easily - after all, she believed in what it meant to be a champion, and she wasn't about to let that down by giving anything less than her best efforts. But that was all the warning the middleweight was going to get, as Astrid soon rose back to her full height, not even taking a moment to dust herself off before charging straight toward her foe with her arm drawn back to strike! Barely a moment later, Astrid slammed her forearm into Aesira's side, and the thud of the blow landing was echoed by that of Aesira's body plummeting to the mat against such force!

Astrid slowed to a stop, turning back around to face her fallen foe. She rolled her shoulders and brushed her hair back before glancing downward, where she saw Aesira looking up not with the glazed-over eyes one might expect from someone who had taken such a blow, but with an eager grin and a note of genuine admiration. Aesira had seen the Norsewoman's power firsthand - and she was impressed!

Hearing her praise, the blonde couldn't resist the urge to play to it a little. She smirked, nodding to Aesira and flexing her bicep. While Astrid always appreciated her strength being recognized, it meant even more to hear that coming from her opponent. Aesira was a true sportswoman, cultivating a healthy respect for Astrid whether she was her opponent or not - the exact kind of person Astrid liked seeing.

But just because she admired Aesira didn't mean that Astrid was going to go easy on her! As soon as she had gotten back to her feet, Astrid quickly closed in on her. "Is that so?" she chuckled. "I think you'll find I can, too!"

Indeed, Astrid was intent to follow up on that statement - as she quickly grabbed Aesira around the head, bending her forward and grabbing for her leg to lift her up onto her shoulders! If that was successful, she would fall backward, looking to slam her foe into the mat for a fisherman suplex - and, if she did, she would follow it up by bridging her back to go for a pin!

Spoiler

[Aeri]

She’d slowly let out a small gasp, before swatting her cheeks to get back in focus. Aesira slowly dragged herself up to her feet, but Astrid was closer than she had anticipated. Suddenly her head locked around Astrid’s arm and the heavyweight champs arm slid right into her own, her grasp around her leg.

This was an.. interesting position, but Aesira recognised it. Though.. she would never have thought she, with her size would be subjected to it. As she’d suddenly be proven wrong, Astrid lifting her right up and SLAMMING her down to the ground, a cry of pain escaping her lips! But Astrid had locked her up in a bridging pin, the ref coming and slapping the mat!!

“ONE!!!”

But it didn’t get much further than that, as she’d thrust her arms and legs out, lifting her shoulder up and breaking out! For a second, she’d just lay there to catch her breath, before attempting to roll away from Astrid and get back to her feet..!

[CaptainL]

Astrid's size and strength was, without a doubt, her strongest asset. But that didn't mean she was just a lumbering brute. When the time came to it, Astrid was just as capable of being mobile and thinking quickly as anyone - as Aesira was soon to discover! Before she could react to what was happening to her, Astrid had already thrown herself backward, slamming Aesira into the mat - and no sooner had she landed than the champion had bridged her back, looking to roll it into a quick pin attempt!

Aesira, however, was soon able to get her bearings, and when she did react, it came just as quickly. She shoved her body upward and kicked out with her arms and legs, breaking Astrid's hold on her! The blonde was shaken off, and she fell to her side, giving Aesira a window of opportunity to catch her breath. It was a moment that Astrid could easily have seized upon, if she so chose - but she didn't. Instead, she let Aesira collect herself and roll away before she too lifted herself to her feet, dusting herself off and stretching.

"Nice job!" Astrid said, giving Aesira a thumbs-up once the two were eye to eye. "You're proving to be a capable foe indeed! I should be honored to be matching wits against you..." Astrid had been impressed with her opponent thus far, but she wanted to see what else she could do if she was pushed to further heights. When she had let her go, it was to witness what her true potential might be!

Astrid cracked her knuckles, moving in closer to Aesira. This time, as she came in close, she would suddenly spin around on her heel, kicking out with her leg to try and strike Aesira in the ribs!

[Aeri]

Having rolled away from Astrid, she was prepared to try and block a further assault. But she didn’t hear the expected thumping of boots.. and once she looked over, Astrid was just waiting for her to get up. Slowly getting to her feet, she’d dust herself off and some pink dusted her cheeks from the compliment. She didn’t take those well, unless it was a flirty one.

She’d awkwardly giggle, putting a hand behind her head.. and she may have forgotten she was in a match. Of course, that came to bite her in the ass, for as soon as Astrid came close, she’d lash out with a solid blow to her ribs, causing her to stagger to the side, the blow dropping her to a knee from the sheer force! A sharp gasp escaped her lips..

“U-Urgh..”

But, not one to give Astrid a breathing chance, she’d power through the pain and lunge at Astrid, shoving her body against hers in a full body tackle to try and take her down!!

[CaptainL]

Astrid had been impressed with Aesira's abilities so far, but flattery wasn't getting her anywhere. The Norwegian was never one to hold back; if anything, Aesira had just proven that she was capable of standing up to Astrid, which gave the blonde license to go even harder on her! As soon as Aesira came charging closer, Astrid kicked up her leg and spun in an arc, driving her foot against her side with enough force to send the middleweight staggering back!

Astrid placed her hands on her hips, standing confidently before her foe as she sized her up. But Aesira, too, was proving she was made of tougher stuff. She might have gone down, but she wasn't out - and she now came charging toward Astrid, throwing her full weight into the champion's own! Astrid might have been heavier, but Aesira had momentum to work with, and it was enough to knock the Norsewoman's center of balance out from under her as she bent backward!

All the same, Aesira had met Astrid with considerable momentum, and she was willing to use that against her. Just as Astrid was about to lose her footing, she threw her arm around Aesira's head, going to pull her back as the two of them fell to the mat to hit her with a DDT! She wasn't going down without taking her opponent down with her!

[Aeri]

Now.. as Aesira dashed forwards with the intent to ground Astrid, she once again proved why she was the current champion of the heavyweights. A small groan escaped her lips, as her tackle was countered by an equal force.. but while Aesira’s ferocity did manage to break the defences of Astrid eventually, even that wasn’t enough. An arm wrapped around her neck, pulling her down to the ground with her and slamming her head to the ground!

No small cry of pain escaped her, as she’d clutch at her head, desperately tugging herself away from Astrid. She may have been at her best when she was calm and focused, but when she was flustered and out of it like this, Aesira was more easy to predict.. but she did hit harder.. much harder!

“That.. really hurt!”

She complained, having rolled up to her feet if her foe let her. Aesira suddenly raced forwards, and slammed her foot into Astrid’s side like she was kicking a soccer ball, not holding anything back! If it landed properly.. she’d suddenly lift her leg up, press it down on Astrid’s head.. before jumping up and stomping it down to the ground with a THUD!!

[CaptainL]

Astrid knew that her balance had been tested, and that it would only be a matter of time at this rate before her body met the mat with a thunderous impact. But if she was going to go down, she could at least ensure she wouldn't be going down alone. She grabbed for Aesira just as she lost her balance, throwing her weight backward and slamming the middleweight's head into the mat!

The ring shook under their impacts, but Astrid had been sure to fall such that Aesira would take the brunt of the force. Soon, she was able to roll to her knees, dusting off her hands before she got her feet underneath her and pushed herself back up. There, she turned around to face Aesira again, only to find that the challenger was already coming closer! Astrid tried to raise her fists to mount a guard, but Aesira had already thrown her foot into the air, swinging it on a collision course for the Norwegian's side. It landed with a loud smack, causing Astrid to double over forward gasping and groaning. Her head bowed low to the ground - which meant things were lined up perfectly for Aesira to deliver a swift stomp to the back of Astrid's skull!

A fair few fans in the crowd winced, just imagining the force of the impact as Astrid fell face-first to the ground with a scream. She lay there groaning as she clutched at her ribs, her teeth clenched and her body quivering with pain. Even she had to admit, Aesira could really hit hard!

[Aeri]

Having quite literally just stomped the Champion to the ground in a successful attack, Aesira took a second to breathe. She’d inhale gently, before letting it out, focusing her vision on the trembling woman underneath her.

Aesira dropped to a knee. She’d lift Astrids arm over her shoulder, a show of respect that she didn’t use her hair to pull her up, bringing her back to her feet..

“Cmon, champ.. let’s see how much more you got in the tank.”

She’d give her a little grin. Before hefting Astrid onto her shoulders, and stamping her feet! She’d growl, tossing the woman over her shoulders, clutching down on her neck and thighs, bending her back in a devastating torture rack, Aesira rising to her feet, exposing the woman to the crowd in a painful position! She’d let out a gasp of exertion.. Astrid was pretty darn heavy, and she was still a middleweight all things considered. So she’d wrench her back back, whispering up.. in a strained voice..

“Tap out..!”