Astrid Ostberg vs. Cali McCloud - #1 Contenders Match

[Faeron]

The clothesline was successful, even if Astrid still hung onto the ropes. That was fine, Cali had a way to deal with that. She pulled the blonde back onto the apron before hooking an arm over her head. Grabbing a handful of Astrid's leotard, Cali showed off her strength as she hoisted Astrid over the top rope into a suplex position, keeping the Norse woman up for the few seconds needed to walk over to the center of the ring before bringing Astrid down on her back and floating over for the pin attempt.

[CaptainL]

Astrid clenched her teeth and groaned, her body tense. Even if she had gone over the ropes, her white-knuckle grip still held fast to the top rope to anchor her in place. Cali, however, wouldn't let Astrid go far, as she went to pull her back into the ring. The Norwegian let out a grunt against the pressure as she felt Cali's powerful arm wrap around her head, but soon she was lifted up - and she stayed up, too! Her blonde hair dangling upside down, she was being carried over to the center of the ring. Cali's strength showed in how she managed to carry Astrid without buckling against the woman's weight, but a moment later, Astrid indeed came down, and she came down hard! She shook the ring with her impact, and Cali was able to hold down her shoulders.

"One! Two!"

With how relatively long Astrid had stayed in the air, the blood had rushed to her head, and she was still feeling a bit dizzied as a result. She was too out of it to fight against the first two counts. But before the three came, Astrid kicked out nonetheless! Her face red, and her chest rising and falling with a few pants, she looked up at Cali from the ground.

"Your strength is impressive," Astrid said. "But it will take more than that!" She started to climb up to her feet, getting in a stance and watching Cali closely.

[Faeron]

Cali figured that the suplex wouldn't be enough to keep Astrid down for long, but that didn't meant she didn't hope for the swift three count. While masking it well, Cali's chest was fixed to burst from the anxiety of the match as she took a quick glance at the champ who was sitting at ringside, a constant reminder of what Cali was fighting for.

"Don't worry, I got more where that came from." Cali responded to Astrid, following up with a stiff forearm to the face. If successful, Cali would run towards the ropes for extra momentum and looked to bring Astrid down with a cross body on the rebound.

[CaptainL]

Astrid was watching Cali closely as she came in towards her, straightening herself to her feet. She nodded to her, awaiting what she had in store. Indeed, Cali was coming in hot, with a forearm aimed straight for the blonde bombshell's head - but Astrid had been keeping her eyes on her, and she would be ready! In one swift motion, the Norwegian brought up her arm to catch Cali's as she threw it towards her head, and then went for a spin kick to her side to counter!

"I certainly hope you won't disappoint!"

[Faeron]

Cali was sure that she still had the Norwegian reeling only for the bigger woman to deflect her attack. Cali was stunned for a brief moment before she felt a large foot slam against her side. Cali wheezed and was brought to a knee as now a sharp pain could be felt throughout her body. Cali groaned while favoring her side and left vulnerable to Astrid's devices.

[CaptainL]

A confident look crossed Astrid's face as she threw up her arm, managing to deflect the blow off of her own. She had managed to catch Cali in the act - and now, she had everything lined up to make her pay for that mistake. She swung her foot into her fellow challenger's side, causing Cali to stumble over forward!

Astrid, of course, saw her chance, and it wasn't one she was about to pass up. With Cali stunned, she had free reign to make her move, as she strolled forward with her hands on her hips. She grabbed Cali around the waist, trying to hoist her up off the ground, and letting out a war cry as she did! If so, her next move would be to drop down and bring Cali's head into the mat with a German Suplex, not unlike those Cali had used against her earlier!

[Faeron]

Cali was still hurting when she felt Astrid's heavy arms wrap around her waist. Immediately, her brain connected that Astrid was prepared to finish her off with a German Suplex and Cali's legs wrapped around the Norwegian's waist out of desperation.

"Can't put me away that easily!"Cali cried out as she suddenly countered the suplex attempt and rolled Astrid into a pinfall predicament, looking to surprise the larger blonde early on.

"ONE!"

"TWO!"

[CaptainL]

Though it wasn't too spectacular in terms of wrestling moves, Astrid's German Suplex still proved effective for her purposes - she'd managed to end a few matches with it in her time, and coming from someone of her size and strength, it wouldn't be fun for anyone. Hoping that she could take Cali out of the picture quickly, the Norwegian began to lift her off the ground while she was still dizzied, going to drop her.

But in doing so, Astrid had underestimated what her opponent was still capable of; the next thing she knew, Cali had gotten her legs around Astrid's waist! The blonde looked up with wide eyes for just long enough to see Cali throw her weight over, rolling the two of them into a pin attempt. Astrid's shoulders were against the ground, and the ref was counting!

While the suddenness of the reversal took Astrid off guard, she was quickly able to adapt. "Hah-!" she called out just as the official's hand was about to fall another time, breaking out of the pin just in time!

[Faeron]

Cali tried to apply her full weight onto Astrid's chest for more leverage, locking her fingers behind the blonde's knees to try and usurp her larger opponent. Yet for all of Cali's strength, Astrid still managed to push Cali off to break the pin attempt at the count of 2. Clicking her tongue behind her teeth in frustration, Cali started to pull Astrid onto her feet and looked to deliver another forearm to the chest for a stun.

[CaptainL]

It had come close, but nevertheless Astrid had managed to pull away from the jaws of defeat just in time! From where she lay on the mat, panting for breath as her blonde hair fell in loose strands over her face, Astrid nevertheless showed a grin on her face, content with the knowledge her endurance had prevailed in the end once again. But Cali, of course, wasn't finished.

Astrid was hauled to her feet, and from there Cali unleashed a forearm into her ample chest that caused the Norwegian's body to buckle, her breasts shaking from the momentum. She doubled forward, clutching her chest and took a step back...but it was only making the anger rise in Astrid. She wouldn't let Cali push her around when so much was on the line. It was only emboldening her to fight harder! Not even straightening herself from her position, Astrid instead charged forward, bent towards Cali like a charging bull as she tried to slam into her with her shoulder!