At last, the time had come for the LAW Heavyweight Champion to make her appearance. The crowd began to cheer from the moment the triumphant music played over the speakers - but the cheers grew even louder as Astrid Ostberg emerged from the curtains, making her presence known with a smile on her face. Much as she'd been for the unveiling of the newly redesigned Heavyweight Championship, she was dressed in a suit that spoke to her position as a respected face in the company. And, as she walked to the podium, she carried the LAW Heavyweight Championship belt along with her, holding it over her head to the sound of cheers. As Astrid came to the podium, she greeted her fans with a grin, nodding her head.
"Thank you, everyone! Thank you!" she said. "It warms my heart to know that everyone here has faith in me - and I promise, I won't let you down. Recently," she continued, "in introducing the new design for the belt I now hold, I was attacked by a woman who desires to take it for herself. I was beaten when my guard was down, humbled in front of all who support me, and forced to watch as she paraded the belt around as though she had already won it." She shook her head with a sigh, as though the very thought disgusted her. Indeed, the disrespect that Selket had shown toward the institutions of wrestling was even more painful to Astrid than the injuries she'd incurred.
"However," the Norsewoman continued, "I'm not here to make complaints. I'm here to finish what I've started - and to back up the position I hold. Dan DeFranco himself proclaimed it - Selket, the so-called Egyptian priestess, is the next challenger in line for the Heavyweight Championship, and she will be facing me for the title at Fight the LAW. I intend to stand up to her not only by virtue of my own strength, but for what this title means to me and my family. I wouldn't dare let it pass into the hands of someone who has so little respect for what it represents."
Astrid took a step back from the podium, passing her belt over to Robin to hold it for her. At the same time, a few more LAW crewmembers walked onto the stage, placing a pair of scales to either side of the podium. Accompanying them was veteran wrestling journalist Eiji Matsumoto, a pad of paper in his hand, as he took his place beside the scales.
"You've heard from our champion, ladies and gentlemen," Eiji said. "But Astrid isn't just here for show and tell. We have a match at hand - and I'll say now, it's an honor to be here to conduct LAW's first-ever public weigh-in ceremony!"
Astrid stepped over to the scale, looking back and forth. She hesitated, seeing that there was no sign of Selket anywhere. After a brief pause, in which the silence went unbroken, she decided she had waited long enough. She began to take off her suit, stripping down to a red bikini that showcased her muscular form, to the sound of a few cheers. With a confident smile and her hands on her hips, Astrid took a step forward to place herself on the scales. The needle moved, and Eiji leaned closer to read off the result, as he called it back to the crowd - "188 pounds!" Astrid was still eligible for the Heavyweight Championship!
After the initial burst of cheers went out, however, the excitement gave way to silence - and Astrid's grin began to turn to a frown. This entire time, Selket hadn't made her presence known. They were both supposed to weigh in in order to confirm their eligibility - but so far, it was only the reigning champion who had shown up. Where was her challenger?
Robin was carefully holding the belt while Tammy likewise looked around. “Ladies and Gentleman Selket was supposed to be here as well but it appears she’s running late.” Jenna laughed. “Running late? You must have forgotten who you’re talking about Tammy, this is exactly the time Selket wanted to show up for.”
As Astrid paraded around now in her bikini the fans cheered and whooped in joy. Especially once the woman had been weighed and was deemed still eligible for her title. Giggling softly to herself as she noticed the changing of expression on Astrid’s face from proud and joyous, to worry and anxiety.
All because of her. Ever since her initial assault on the champion Selket had continued to stalk her prey. Through the halls of backstage, the locker room, she watched and waited. Learned the type of person her opponet was and analyzing her weaknesses, and most importantly of all… worming her way deeper inside Astrid’s head.
Smirking to herself the pristess decdied to finally make her apperance known. Slipping out from her place in the shadows of the stage she crept up right behind those on the stage. The fans were rhe first to notice her, as demonstrated by the wide hush and whispers that started to circulate.
Stopping first by Robin, Selket would slide her hand over the heavyweight title. “Hello again my sweet.” She said without even glancing at the dark haired woman who held the crimson belt. After a moment of admiring rhe belt Selket would continue forward and should she remain unnoticed by the champion she would slide right up behind the blonde woman, the Egyptian’s mouth going right up to the norsewoman’s ear.
“Don’t worry foolish drengr, you’re safe… for now.” She breathed out before nipping at the champ’s earlobe. Pulling away just as quickly as she’d crept up Selket’s form was now fully visible. Wearing a dark purple robe with her usual bob cut and dark caramel skin she looked poised, sleek and powerful. Not to mention dangerous. Like a cobra ready to strike.
Stepping a bit further out to the crowd so they can fully see her she would drop her robe. In doing so she got a even bigger reaction than Astrid did as rather than a traditional bikini Selket instead opted for bandages that barely covered up her private areas. Tossinf her bangs over her shoulder she flashed a venomously smug look to Astrid.
After a moment of letting the fans gawk Astrid would then step up to the scale and wait patiently for Eiji to read her weight. “Hurry along little man. And be grateful I let you so near me.” She said with disdain to the veteran writer, looking at him as if he were something she had stepped on without intending. Showing her not so high opinion towards the man as she all but commanded him to hurry.
As she emerged from the curtains, Astrid had stepped out on the scene with a smile on her face and her belt held proudly at her side. She might have faced an unpleasant surprise when it came to her first encounter with the Egyptian Priestess, but now she was determined to set things right, coming in as the confident champion and making it clear she was ready to hold onto her position by any means necessary.
Now, though...Astrid wasn't so sure. When she was expecting to go out on stage opposite Selket and for the two of them to see each other eye to eye, she thought this would be simple. But Selket, she was quickly learning, wasn't going to play that way. She wanted to keep Astrid guessing as to where she would come from - and that only made the champion grow tense, the hairs standing on the back of her neck as she thought about what her absence could have meant. Was she planning something?
Sure enough, she was - and soon, Astrid was about to get a reminder of Selket's presence, as her opponent came up behind her to whisper in her ear. At once, Astrid's heart felt like it had skipped a beat. Her eyes went wide and she jumped in place with a gasp. She hadn't even noticed Selket's presence, but here she was. How long had she been here, and what was she up to?
"You-!" Astrid gasped, spinning around to face Selket. Nevertheless, she dropped her robe, the display causing a few bouts of applause - though most of the crowd sat hushed, afraid to test Selket when they had no idea what she was capable of. Still, it was clear that she had grasped their attention by force, making a surprising showing that would no doubt prove far more memorable than even Astrid's. The Norwegian was feeling the sting already, at being shown up before the match had even begun. She crossed her arms, shooting a glare back at Selket. The animosity was running high between these two women already.
Even Eiji seemed a bit hesitant to step over to Selket's side - if even a heavyweight like her could make such an appearance unnanounced, he shuddered at the thought of what else she could do. Still, he stepped closer, leaning in to read off the scale: "178 pounds!" The cheers from the audience cemented what he had just confirmed - both Astrid and Selket had made weight, and all that was left was for the two of them to square off!
“I’ve never seen Astrid this flustered, could she actually be off her game?” Tammy was concerned while Jenna was just enjoying the sight, Robin kept the belt on her, having been surprised by Selket’s surprise entrance as well when she brushed by her to observe the title in her arms. It was clear that the tension between them wouldn’t go away anytime soon but Eiji made sure that they moved the weigh-in along to interviews.
"While we're here," Eiji at last said, "I'd like to ask a few questions leading into the match. Astrid, Selket, I'm sure the two of you have a lot on your minds right now. Heading into this match, what's your plan of action look like?"
Astrid was quick to chime in the second the words had left his mouth - after Selket's interjections before, she wasn't about to give her the opportunity to steal her thunder. "I know that my opponent wants to catch me off-guard, and take me by surprise," she said. "Her mistake, when it comes to that, is thinking that I'm going to let her get away with it. The last time we met at the belt unveiling told me that I can't risk taking my eyes off of Selket for long - but now, I know even more to never let her out of my sights. If the best weapon in her arsenal is the element of surprise, I question how she'll fare without it! As provocative a statement as this may seem, I'm confident that she can't back herself up - if Selket thought she could beat me head-to-head in a fair fight, she wouldn't stoop to the trouble of all these theatrics. When she meets me in the ring, and faces my strength head-on, then we'll see what she's really made of!" She flexed her muscles, looking back at Selket with a smirk.
"Thank you, Miss Ostberg," Eiji said. "And you, Selket - any, erm, thoughts?"
As Eiji read off her weight Selkey merely smiled and drank in the cheers from the fans that she qualified for the title. As well as taking the moment in to relish the jealous she could practically feel emenating from Astrid.
As she turned to look down at the reporter who served as the officiated for thisevent though she raised an eyebrow at his question… before smirking in bemusement at Astrid’s eagerness to step in.
Leaning back the Egyptian priestess crossed her arms under her best and placed her fingers on her chin. All with the same amused smirk on her face with no trace of worry or discontent at the blonde woman’s bold words.
Waiting calmly and patiently till the champion had finished Selket smirked when Eiji asked her for her response. Leaning into the microphone Selket licked her lips before speaking. “Hehehe. My plan of action? My plan has been in action for weeks now. After all just look at the ‘proud’ champion there. Rattled, and scared and nervous, and trying oh so hard to hide it all beneath a brace face.” Selket said in a mocking tone before bursting into giggles. “While I commend her efforts, its for nought and frankly…” she said before looking up, the bemused playfulness replaced by a near otherworldly and sinister expression.
“The ‘champion’ is making a grabe mistake in confusing my mysticism for a lack of strength.” She said in a cold tone before continuing. “I’d think someone who clawed her way to this point would understand, but strength and cleverness are far from mutually exclusive. In fact a truly strong warrior can beat her opponet from the insideour before the battle has ever even truly begun. Something I’m well on my way to doing.” She said shooting a heated look tk Astrid before the mocking and playful look and tone came back. “Frankly. My poor drengr has no idea what she’s getting herself into. But I’ll be happy to show her what lies in the dark before escorting her to Hel.” She said as the viciousness returned to her tone.
After taking note of Astrid's response, Eiji turned to Selket, holding up a microphone to her mouth. The challenger was quick to voice her response - and in it, her feelings for Astrid came across loud and clear. Selket didn't just want to best Astrid, but to tear down everyone's confidence in her and their belief that she could hold onto her title - perhaps even in the Norsewoman herself. Astrid could tell she was being mocked, and it caused her to go tense, clenching her teeth and balling a fist. She glared back at Selket out of the corner of her eye, her gaze narrowing into a hateful stare. If nothing else, Astrid wanted to win this match just to shut Selket up.
"Thank you for that, Selket," Eiji said with a nod. "The next thing I'd like to ask each of you is, should you win the championship in this match, what do you want to want to accomplish in your run as Heavyweight Champion?"
"If I win?" Astrid spoke up. "Honestly, just what I've been doing. I feel like I've done a fine job of holding onto my position up to this point, and I intend to hold onto it after this match, too. If what I'm doing works, I see no reason I should change it. I would especially hope to prove that my strength and my commitment work well in my favor, and that they're the assets that can help me succeed against an opponent who thinks she has me figured out..." She shot another accusatory glance in Selket's direction. While Astrid didn't name names, it was clear what she meant.
Selket smirked as she observed Astrid’s reaction to her words out of the corner of her eyes. It was clear thry had a substantial effect on the champion, it was easy to tell due to virtually every body signal she was sending out.
Smugly smirking at the woman Selket crossed her arms and waited as Eiji continued with his next question. Raising an eyebrow at his next question she would smirk softly hearing Astrid’s answer. The pointed jab towards Selket making her chuckle softly before turning to Eiji and his microphone.
“Mhmmm what I would do?” She purred out with a chuckle. “Well unlike the naive champion here…” she said before looking up with dark eyes. “I would raise the heavyweight division back to its rightful place. My goddess will see to it when I sacrifice all of my would be challengers to her.” She said with a diabolical smirk on her face, her eyes drifting to Astrid at the word ‘sacrifice’. “And of course I’ll be shutting up those other blathering bufoons for champions, the lightweight division especially I’ll be sure to teach their rightful place as insects beneath my heel.” She said with a sadistic tone in her voice as she licked her lips, eyes not straying from Astrid’s once.
"Naive-!" Just the mere mention of that word was enough to get a rise out of Astrid, who gasped and straightened herself to her feet. Her back arched and her muscles went tense, as she shot a glare back in Selket's direction. She had a lot of nerve throwing around such accusations - and then, as she went on to describe the other divisions as "insects" that he would crush beneath her feet, the Norwegian knew that Selket had gone too far. Not only was she so dishonorable to people of her own size, but to those she had an advantage over too. "Why, you-" she began, her hands forming trembling fists at her sides.
Before Astrid could do anything, however, Eiji cut her off. He could sense the rising tensions, and he wanted to make sure that things wouldn't spill out into outright chaos. Stepping in front of Astrid, he spoke up again. "One last question - just to know what your thoughts are, going into this match, what does the Heavyweight Championship mean to you?"
Astrid crossed her arms, pointedly turning her back to Selket as she glanced off. "To me, this championship is all about proving you're the best. To earn a title like that, you have to work hard, and you have to live the values of determination and commitment that led you there - through training, and through doing your best in every match you're in, no matter the odds. It's a time-honored tradition of being recognized for your ability and your achievements, and that's a tradition I'm proud to carry on."
She glanced over her shoulder at Selket before continuing, her eyes narrowing. "But it's more than just being good, if you ask me. This championship is about integrity. It isn't just about being the best in your division; it's about being a face of the promotion, and to live up to what it means to be a champion. A professional wrestler is just that - a professional. The athletic world is built on fairness and dignity, and that's something I mean to uphold. In wrestling, as of late, I've found that more and more people are inclined to forget how important that is. That this is bigger than any of them, and that they aren't above judgment. If I'm to be honored as a champion, I want to be a champion people can look toward with pride, rather than shame."
Selket’s smile widened ever so slightly as she heard the small little outburst from Astrid. It was clear everything she said was cutting deep into the champion and she loved it. It meant that her plans were coming along perfectly and by the end of it… Astrid would be easy pickings.
But they weren’t finished quite yet. Eiji had one other question for the two and of course Astrid was eager to answer it. Smirking to herself as she crossed her arms Selket stood back and watched patiently as Astrid went on. At multiple junctures the blonde woman had taken a jab at the Egyptian woman. But those all were further validation that Selket’s words were striking true to the champion. That she was worming her way deeper and deeper into the woman’s head. By the time the reigning champion had fonished her bold speech the fans were cheering and lauding the woman with praise. Selket however? She only had one response.
“Hahahahaha Ahahahahaha!” And that response was to laugh. Not the tight, sinister little giggles or boastful chuckles. No this was a loud, belly shaking laugh. Such a action was so unusual for the mystical woman that everyone in attendance was on edge… more than usual when she was involved at least.
“Ahahaha Astrid… ahahaha… you’re so… haha.. So pathetically noble ahaha!” She shrieked out in a mirthful insult with absolutely no credence of respect to the blonde. Finally gaining some control over herself Selket would take the microphone from Eiji’s hands. “Forgive me Astrid… its just.. its like you live in a storybook with how you talk sometimes.” she said without sounding apologetic at all.
Reigning herself in fully but still with the mocking smile on her face Selket moved to give her own answer. “Unlike our… woefully optimistic champion here… I have a far more realistic view.” She said her expression going up in sharpness and oozing confidence. “It… means power. It represents the power the holder exerts over all those in the division. By extension, with us being heavyweights… it represents the power we have over everyone within LAW.” She said flashing another confident smirk at Astrid.
“The heavyweigh belt to me… is the ultimate way of honoring my goddess. The ultimate accolade one can collect for now… I also imagine that once the openweight title is made available.. the heavyweight title will make an excellent bartering chip to get the openweight title.” She said, making it clear that once she had the oppurtunity to trade up, she would do so. “Thats what the heavyweight title means to me. A means to an end… and a symbol of MY power over everyone in this company…” she said before turning to look at Astrid with soemthing beyond confidence.. or disdain. She was looking at Astrid as if she was something that Selket had stepped on. “Incliding you… dear drengr.” She said coldly before holding out her mic she had taken from Eiji and dropped it at his feet. As if daring Astrid to pick umit up and retaliate against what she had said.
For a moment, Astrid stood and faced the cheers with pride, looking up with a smile on her face. Hearing the eager voice of the crowd, she felt like she had done it - that she had stood up against her next challenger already, gaining a victory over her in the psychological war that raged even outside of the ring. She felt like she had cause to feel triumphant over her seemingly implacable opponent. After all, she had gotten in the last word against her...
Or so she thought.
Selket, suddenly, burst out into uproarious laughter in a gesture that took Astrid by surprise just as much as it did the audience. At once she stopped what she was doing, turning toward the Egyptian Priestess with wide eyes. The emotion she moved with seemed so incongruent with her silent, threatening image that it caused Astrid to flinch for just a second. But she heard what she had to say - and, as the words went on, Astrid's shock turned to anger when she saw what Selket truly had in mind.
She fixed a hateful glare on Selket, her eyes narrowed into a piercing look as her brows furrowed. When the Egyptian dropped her microphone, Astrid got off the scale and stormed over to it, snatching the microphone up with all the force and care as though it were a piece of garbage. Even as she spoke, every word that left her mouth felt like it was on the verge of her spitting angrily.
"Really?" Astrid said. "That's all you care about? Making a statement? You're telling me that the title means nothing to you? It's all just a stepping stone on your foolish pursuit of glory?" She grumbled, shaking her head. "I mean it when I say this - you disgust me. The title is more than that. It's a testament to how far I've come, and how far I wish to go. It's an expectation and a responsibility I wish to live up to every time I climb into the ring. And the fact that you'd throw it aside the moment something bigger came along...no matter who wins or loses, I can already tell you that you, Selket, deserve no title. You deserve nothing!"
Eiji cleared his throat then, cutting Astrid off before she could say any more. "That...should be well enough, Miss Ostberg. Anything else you have to say...you can say it in the ring."
And with that both girls backed off, first Selket who walked by Robin to get another close look at championship she already deemed hers and Astrid would follow soon after, with Robin respectfully handing her property back to her respectfully Astrid would turn to the crowd and raise it once more before she also made her exit to a cheering crowd, while some were surprised by how Selket seemed to get to her, many others were just as pleased to see her kick the Egyptian Princesses ass. “
” Jenna remained with her first pick naturally, but Robin didn’t disagree. “
” Tammy looked in between them. “