Nikolette Tessla Vs. Taylor Parker: #1 Contender Match

"Ghn!"

Nikolette grunted as Taylor's head was shoved into Nikolette's chin. Her head was craned roughly and she snorted through her nose as she felt the pressure against her. She thought about trying to punch, but she was still at an awkward angle.

Instead, she pulled her legs up, once the pressure of Taylor's weight was out from underneath her and shot them up and out at Taylor's thigh, hoping to kick Taylor's leg out from underneath her so she could try and jockey for a better position.

She wasn't really able to answer Taylor's question with her jaw forced shut.

Taylor fell to the side, but quickly recovered, and as Nikolette sat up she pounced on her again. This time, she wrapped an arm around her neck hopped to wrap her legs around her waist. She tucked the brunette's head to her side and worked her forearm against her throat and patiently squeezed her neck while her thighs constricted around Nikolette's ribs.

Her plan worked, but only for a second, as Taylor was right back on her, constricting her air with a pretty hard choke. Nikolette's face began to turn red as she groped at Taylor's back, trying to find a good hold before she quickly abandoned that idea and tried to swing her legs so that she was on her hands and knees with Taylor underneath her.

Nikolette planted her hands and pushed up with her legs so she was now up on her tip toes the way that Taylor had been moments before and looked to roll Taylor into a position where her shoulders were against the mat.

"ONE!"

"Ack!"

Taylor planted her foot on the mat and bucked her hips to roll Nikolette over and break the pin just before the count of two.

She ended up on top, straddling Nikolette with her arm still wrapped around the girl's neck and her stomach pillowed on her chest. She clasped her hands together and arched her back to dig her forearm into Nikolette's throat and cinch the choke in tighter.

The crowd had never seen her fight like this, and she didn't look like herself. To her, it was a chance to be strategic and keep Nikolette from doing what she did best, but also it was a chance to show off some of her less often seen skills. She hoped Cassie was watching.

Nikolette's face was beet red and she could feel herself starting to fade, but she knew she couldn't give up. She planted her feet, bridged, and pushed her hands against Taylor's arm, grabbing it tightly as she tried to force Taylor's arm off her neck. If not entirely off her, then enough to get some room to breathe.

Taylor smiled grimly through clenched teeth. Nikolette's focus shifted solely to defending the choke, which meant she was getting somewhere with it.

While Nikolette was worrying about the choke, Taylor suddenly let go. She reared up and curled her fingers into lush brown hair before smashing her forehead down into Nikolette's face, making the crowd cringe and cheer.

Nikolette took a big gasp when the choke was released, her eyes widened as she took in the precious air, only to be snatched up by Taylor.

"Hngh!" She growled as her hair was tugged right into the headbutt. "Guuuuuuh!" White flashed in Nikolette's eyes as their foreheads collided. She groaned as she flopped backwards.

The dull clonk of their heads was oddly satisfying to Taylor, and as Nikolette fell flat Taylor fought on. She reached back to grab one of Nikolette's knees, and stepped off of her.

She rolled her over, not quite flat on her stomach, and braced a black knee pad against the small of Nikolette's back while she tucked the leg under her arm and bent her with a single leg crab.

She kept her weight pressing heavily down on the bigger girl with her knee, stifling her. She knew what Nik did well, and she wasn't just going to let her do it. She didn't want her night to end with a powerbomb, after all.

Nikolette grunted as she was rolled onto her back, ready to push up when Taylor pushed her knee hard into her. "hng!"

When the crab was applied, however, she yelled a little louder. "Gaaaah!dammit!"

Nikolette pounded the mat as she winced and pushed her palms flat. She pulled her free leg in and pushed with her hands to start the slow crawl towards the ropes.

Taylor bent Nikolette's toned body with her half-crab and let her begin the slow crawl toward the ropes. She thought about how much work it must have been for every inch of progress, and was perfectly happy to let her waste her time...

When she was still several feet from the ropes, Taylor changed it up. Instead of her knee in Nikolette's back, she lifted her foot and stepped down on the back of the girl's head, grinding her heel and pinning her face-down on the mat. The crowd gasped at the audacity of it, and Taylor stuck out her tongue through a big grin.

"Keep workin', babe, you're almost there!" She said, in the same encouraging tone she used in the gym while she bent Nikolette's leg up over her head in a painful arch.