Heavyweight Championship Match: Astrid Ostberg (c) vs Jess McLeary

[winner3]

Standard Match: Victory to be awarded via pinfall, submission, knockout, count-out, or disqualification. Astrid has agreed to leave LAW if she loses.
The winner will become or remain LAW Heavyweight Champion.

[SubtleRoar]

*While the palpable tension from a match this important would send tremors of anxiety down the backside of anyone else, the tantalizing tank otherwise known as Jess Mcleary- She had happily put herself on the line numerous times, and while she may not have emerged triumphantly with each encounter, Jess wasn't intimidated by someone she had already conquered in a past altercation.* "Aheukheuk!" *Staring at herself in the mirror, Jess's own reflection was enough to coax out a chortle while she continued to gussy herself up for the impending brawl.* "Blondie's gonna get ever more of an ass whopping than last time, and once I claim that belt all fer muhself, she'll nevah set foot inside of ah law ring again!"

*After she dawned her ceremonial headgear, a hollowed out cowskull that fit perfectly across her broad shoulders while allowing her enough peripheral vision to watch the reactions of the inferior wrestlers around her, Jess strode through the hallway, making her terrifying presence abundantly known to everyone within her proximity- Rookies and veterans alike cleared a path, even turned their faces sideways to avoid any unnecessary eye contact with the belligerent bull.*

"Once I beat her butt, I'll host a celebratory BBQ in memory of her career...yeah~" *Conjuring up this spontaneous idea while approaching the opaque curtain, Jess emerged onto the scene once her theme music dropped, basking in the glow of the spotlight while the audience showered her in jeers and cheers. Casually disregarding the white noise, Jess marched down the ramp, ascending the staircase before stepping overtop of the highest rope, popping her helmet off before calmly placing it outside of the arena.*

"She ain't got a chance in hell of toppling me. Not tonight~" *The Crimson Crusher muttered under her breath as she began to roll her shoulders out to try and limber her voluptuous body up for the upcoming skirmish.

[CaptainL]

It was not an exaggeration to say that tonight was perhaps the most important night of Astrid Ostberg's career.

She had been here a year before, where she had defeated both Linda Halloween and Cali McCloud to become the LAW Heavyweight Champion. That had been an exhilarating moment for the Norwegian powerhouse, one that she took pride in for cementing her in the annals of wrestling history as the second ever title holder as well as the first Ostberg to hold a singles title of such magnitude. But this time, Astrid was returning to the ring a champion. This time, everyone was gathered to see her stand up to a champion's standards. For many in the crowd, this would be the first time they had seen Astrid wrestle since she had won the belt, too - she had spent most of the previous year touring Europe, defending her championship on the indies. To have her return to the LAW ring was a homecoming they were eager for.

But for Astrid, this wasn't just about the championship, or returning to LAW. This was personal. She had cancelled her holiday plans with her family for this, and as much as it pained her to do so, she knew she held a great responsibility, and she was prepared to uphold it. But more than that, she and Jess had a long history. Jess had been one of her first opponents in the league, and one she had lost to before she had started fighting her way to the top. Ever since that day, Astrid had longed for a rematch. Now, her prayers were being answered. But the stakes now were higher than ever.

In getting permission to return to the indies, Astrid had agreed to a clause that stated that were she to lose the title, she would be barred from re-entering LAW. When she won her last defense in Stockholm, it was supposed to end at that. But Jess was all too keen on reminding Astrid of what she'd agreed to, and their championship match was to be contested under the same rules. If Astrid won, she would retain the championship. But if Jess won, not only would the title be hers, but Astrid would be forced to leave the promotion. It wasn't just her belt that was on the line, but her career itself - and her own dignity. If Astrid lost, she told herself, she didn't know if she'd be able to forgive herself.

But as Astrid rose from her bench in the locker rooms, tightening the belt around her waist, she lifted her chin proudly. If the stakes were that high...she was even more motivated to do her best.

"And next, coming to the ring from Stavanger, Norway, at 6'1 and 188 pounds, she is the reigning LAW Heavyweight Champion, ASTRID! OSTBERRRRRG!!"

Astrid emerged from the hallway, onto the entrance ramp - and if Jess had gotten quite a reaction, that was nothing compared to what Astrid faced now. In addition to the belt around her waist, the Norsewoman had donned a fur-lined robe, opened to reveal her championship as well as her muscular physique. She raised a hand to wave to the crowd, and the fans went wild as she made her way to the ring, ready to face the challenger.

Upon climbing the ropes and getting in the ring, Astrid slipped her robe off her shoulders, putting her arms through a few stretches as she advanced on Jess. She came to meet her eye to eye in the center of the ring, placing her hands on her hips. For a moment, the two stared at each other, unmoving. The tension was there, though. Even before the bell had rung, these two women couldn't wait to get their hands on each other once again.

"I've been waiting for this moment for a long time," Astrid finally said, breaking the silence. "I know everyone here has, too. But if I know one thing for sure...it's that I don't intend to part with this any time soon." She gestured down at her belt, emphasizing the one thing on everyone's mind tonight!

[SubtleRoar]

*After approaching her designated corner and crossing her arms over each other, Jess's countenance conveyed an expression of pure, unadulterated disdain- She knew that Astrid would receive an abundance of adoration and praise from her supportive zealots, the vast majority of which were present in the stadium tonight to show their loyalty to the blonde bombshell, which inevitably proved itself true as the reigning champion emerged onto the scene.*

"Feh" *Jess rolled her eyes in pure disgust at the mere sight of her eternal rival, who had evidently gone shopping on her off time to try and accentuate her naturally gorgeous figure- Something that vexed the crimson crusher even more, so much so that she imitated the act of regurgitating from the hideous spectacle that Astrid decided to put on for the crowd.*

"This is unbelievable." *She muttered to herself while simultaneously watching the grandstanding blonde pander to her voracious audience, silently thanking the lord above as she entered the arena. You could easily cut the tension with a knife, and while not the most ideal way to prove her superiority over the insufferable champion, Jess wouldn't mind carving her initials deep into Astrid's epidermis once she was finished trampling overtop of her.*

"Izzat so?" *She retorted, shuffling from side to side while nonchalantly reaching her hands towards the sky- Despite what her calm demeanor and cavalier tone may have indicated, Jess was genuinely anxious to get this fight underway; something about Astrid seemed significantly different than the last time they had squared off, and the unshakable confidence in her cadence was enough to captivate the cowgirl right from the get go.*

"Yah really are a piece of work, you know that?" *Approaching the center of the ring with a stern visage upon her face, Jess subsequently furrowed her eyebrows and shot Astrid a baleful leer.* "You've tricked this here audience into believing yer the bees knees, provin yer worth on some useless alternate scene while I had tah peck and claw to get to where I am now. I've waited a while to crush yah a second time, now get yer ass ovah here and take yer beating!"

*Deciding to make her intentions abundantly clear, Jess curled her hands into miniature wrecking balls while waiting for the match to commence, hearing the spectators chant* "Show no mercy! Show no mercy!" *As a means to augment the ire they shared towards one another!*

Spoiler

[CaptainL]

Astrid had certainly made a memorable entrance, and the crowd's cheers would prove to anyone that she was welcomed back to the ring with open arms. But Astrid wasn't just here to show off. The moment she set her eyes on Jess, her brow narrowed as she practically stared straight through the Texan, and her fists balled at her sides. Astrid had bigger things to accomplish here. She needed to stand up to Jess once and for all, and to prove to her would-be usurper that she wasn't going to be threatened by her any longer.

As she stepped closer to Jess, the redhead was just as unshakable. But even as Jess shot back at Astrid, she stood tall, her gaze unmoving as she stared her rival down. She huffed, placing her hands on her hips and further emphasizing what she wore around them. "On the contrary," she said, "if I didn't make a name for myself on the indies, I wouldn't be where I am today. It's because of my original run in Europe that anyone knows who I am - and now that I'm back in LAW, I'd like to say that things are only getting started! You may have beaten me before, but now, you face someone else. A champion. And for that...I can only hope you're ready!"

Taking another step forward, Astrid slipped off her belt, passing it over to the referee, who held it up to the crowd before stepping back and leaving the two heavyweights staring each other down in the middle of the ring. But no one was watching the belt. Everyone was too focused on the women about to tear each other apart for it!

*DING DING DING*

The sound of the bell was only a formality; Astrid was more than ready to throw herself into the action. She quickly dropped into a stance, reaching to grab for Jess's arms to enter a test of strength!

[SubtleRoar]

*The southern behemoth could easily scatter a platoon of novices with just her booming voice and gargantuan physique alone, but Astrid had always been just different enough to agitate her- She remained unfazed in the face of adversity, and as far as Jess was concerned, she was the living embodiment of everything she abhorred about the law circuit- Pushing some overinflated blonde as the face of the brand dug deeper under Jess's thick hide than a splinter, the infection of such leading to the palpable ire she held towards her to this very day.*

"Noticed yah took off right aftah getting trampled upon by yers truly~" *While her voice retained its casual, western cadence there was a prominent inflection of haughtiness blended into it.* "I'd say that's rather fortuitous, but I happen to be a firm believer in deliberate action in that regard- Yah ran scared, tail between yer legs, too cowardly to own up to yer imminent fate of always been beneath me." *However, before she could continue to chide the insufferable blonde, the bell broke her train of thought.*

"Clang clang clang!" *Without a moment of hesitation, Jess engaged in a struggle for dominance while trying to twist and turn Astrid side to side to discombobulate her.* "Grrrhh...since ya'll were takin such a long sabbatical, allow me tah welcome you back personally!" *Recoiling her right forearm, Jess subsequently launched herself forward, trying to connect with a brutal lariat to get things started!*

Spoiler

[CaptainL]

Astrid stood firm, her gaze fixed on the opponent in front of her. She didn't want to be phased by Jess, or by any opponent she met in the ring; she had enough confidence in her own abilities to not worry about those things, she thought. Yet there was something in the way the challenger addressed her that gnawed at her. After being defeated by Jess, Astrid had only taken it as an invitation for her to train further and improve her skills, becoming even stronger than she was at their first meeting. Yet Jess was still convinced that she was trying to run away from her. The Norsewoman clenched her teeth as she grumbled under her breath, and her fists balled at her sides. She wanted nothing more than to prove Jess wrong. And soon enough, the bell rang, giving her the signal to lock up with her foe!

The two of them locked arms, pushing and shoving at one another. The muscles in Astrid's arms bulged as she tried to weigh Jess back, but each time she was met with a firm push from the Texan. Their eyes were locked just as much as their arms were. Astrid stared daggers into Jess's eyes, never taking her gaze off her for a minute even after she was steered back and forth. She knew that to do so would be to give Jess an opportunity she wouldn't ignore - and indeed, Jess was quick to reel her arm back and throw herself toward Astrid to try to hit a lariat!

From this short a distance, Astrid would barely have a second to react as Jess came closer. But as soon as she saw Jess's fist retract, she knew what she had to do. She ducked down, looking to get out of the way of the incoming blow before lashing out with a punch of her own into Jess's stomach!

[SubtleRoar]

*With her mammoth size and towering frame at her disposal, Jess lurched forward to try and overwhelm the unsuspecting champion with a massive forearm smash!* "I've been waitin on this day evah since you won that belt, you agitating little...!!!" *On the precipice of finishing her condescending remark, Jess was suddenly interrupted by Astrid's retaliatory strike, sending the stunned southerner staggering backwards with an audble* "Guhoof!" before finally reestablishing herself against the canvas, firmly planting her boots with a look of pure, unfiltered rage beginning to well up. Although she would never let the thought manifest itself into words, that was a solid shot to her solar plexus, leaving her momentarily breathless before finally dusting her shoulders off as if it were nothing.*

"Kuods, blondie~" *To the befuddlement of many watching the spectacle unfurl live, Jess didn't charge in like a raging bull; rather, she was much more composed and calm, choosing that the most prudent course of attack would be to psychologically attack Astrid while the chance presented itself.* "Yah managed tah cause me to move. Suppose I shouldn't expect anythin less from the champ, right?" *Her diabolical visage showed hints of belittlement, deliberately taunting her with such a cold remark.*

"Allow me tah show you what I've been workin on!" *In the blink of an eye, Jess was back on the attack, locking up with her tenacious rival before hooking her arms around Astrid's, elevating the blonde at an arch to try and score a massive suplex with Astrid's shoulders pinned, attempting to redeem herself from the earlier damage she had sustained by reestablishing herself as the apex wrestler!*

Spoiler

[CaptainL]

Jess was blinded by her rage as she drew back her forearm, prepared to plant it into Astrid's chest. Lost in her taunts, she didn't notice as Astrid ducked lower, swinging a fist of her own that buried itself in Jess's gut with a resounding thump! The crowd cheered at seeing the blow land, and Astrid smiled, content with her efforts as she straightened herself on her feet. Shaking out her hair, she looked back at Jess with pride.

To some, what Jess said next seemed like a compliment; like she was praising the champion for getting her seemingly unshakable opponent to move. Others could tell that the cowgirl had other things in mind. But even Astrid had to snicker to that, nodding her head. "Oh, trust me," she said, either trying to keep her composure to stay a step above Jess and maintain the high ground in their duel of wits, or simply oblivious to her ill intents. "There's a lot more where that came from!"

What Astrid couldn't counter, however, was Jess's next attack, coming from a physical angle more so than a psychological one. Before the Norwegian had any chance to react, Jess had grabbed her, and Astrid barely even had time to gasp before she was being thrown back through the air, landing against the canvas with a thunderous German suplex! The ring rumbled, and the ref began to get into place, seeing Astrid's shoulders down. But before the first count, she kicked up a leg, shoving her shoulder off the mat.

"And I do have to say, you know how to hit hard," Astrid responded, as she rolled to her side to look up at Jess. "But it will take more than that to keep me down!"

[SubtleRoar]

*As the prodigious powerhouse bridged her back and planted her feet against the grounding, Astrid swiftly reminded her that the championship belt she effortlessly carried across her weight wasn't just for show by breaking the hold before the moderator even had a chance to initiate the countdown. Suffice it to say, this was just the tip of the iceberg, and the audience was thunderously applauding the zealous attacks that each combatant had administered!*

"And yer still as stubborn as the first day I met yah~" *Rolling into her shins, Jess wiped the beads of sweat dribbling off of her forehead, reluctantly forfeiting some words of genuine praise while simultaneously formulating her next method of attack.* "Iffn ya'll were made of weaker stuff, then this wouldn't be nearly as fun, sugah~"

*Shaking off the torpor that lingered after her colossal move, The Crimson Crusher suddenly dashed towards the opposite end of the arena, springing off the ropes before elevating her lower limbs skyward!* "Perhaps this'll knock ya off yer feet!" *Extending the platforms of her gargantuan boots towards her foe for a massive dropkick aimed at the center of her chest!*

Spoiler