Tension 24/7 Title Match: Carmen Rodriguez(C) Vs. Clyde Gastin

Clyde kicked out and the crowd gave him some healthy applause, impressed at his real resilience. Not the biggest surprise in wrestling history, since there was a good reason why people like Melissa Sellers had to resort to cheap tactics to keep him away from the World Title. But knowing it was likely to happen didn't make it any less frustrating for Carmen. It was a none-too-subtle reminder that this match had only just started and there was plenty of pain yet to come.

And more of it was coming soon, too. She didn't have to wait more than a moment before her face was introduced to Clyde's forehead, as she found herself on the receiving end of a harsh headbutt. The blow stunned her and knocked her backwards, right on her butt, as she grasped her face and shook her head. Dizzy, dazed, and quite vulnerable for a golden moment.

Headbutts. Stupid headbutts. Clyde was hard-headed in more ways than one, it seemed.

Carmen had just started to come out of the daze, when she was struck in her aching face by a low dropkick. That was what she thought it was, anyway - she didn't manage to get her eyes open fast enough to be sure. She just heard the sound of feet racing across the floor, and then, all of the sudden, her skull was filled with nothing but pain.

She let out a short cry and was fell right on her back, landing hard with her arms spread out and her glassy eyes staring into the chandelier above. She could smell copper, likely a nosebleed, and the groans coming from the audience seemed to confirm it.

"And it's Clyde Gastin, with a fierce dropkick!" One of the announcers, a preppy young Japanese girl, screeched. "The Champion's on another planet, this could be it!"

Maybe in a minute, she'd be okay. Carmen seriously doubted she had that much time, though.

"And it looks like Clyde isn't done yet!" The another announcer, a woman with a lot more bass in her voice, warned. "Doesn't look like he's going for a pin just yet..."

Carmen might've had a warning about Clyde's movements, but it didn't help her in the least little bit - she wasn't in a position to do a damned thing about it. He had a tight grip on her hair, forced her to stand, and she stumbled groggily after him through the house. Suddenly they were running, moving faster and faster, heading straight towards the door, and-

"Aaah!" Carmen shrieked as she was hurled hard into the door - she spun around and stumbled on the way, so her shoulder took the full impact instead of her head, but it was still a bad time for her and the object she hit. The door was hardwood, solid construction, but the hinges holding it together couldn't say the same. They gave way the second she hit it, and the whole thing came down in the middle of the hallway with her laying on top.

There were only a few men and women in the hall, and they all scattered the second she came through, quickly deciding they didn't want to be anywhere near the fledgling brawl. The only person who stayed to watch was Army, as he stood a couple of doors down with concern all over his face, looking ready to jump in at a moment's notice.

Carmen laid on her back, hurting all over, and glanced his way with a little smile. "Hey." She gave him a little thumbs up, letting him know she was okay. That seemed ease him up a little bit, enough that he wouldn't just rush in and make the fight a three way. She was hoping it would stay that way.

"I'm okay." She nodded at Army, then started to sit up - and failed. So, that wasn't exactly true. Given the way her upper body was a bundled mess of agony and her right arm didn't have nearly as much feeling as it was supposed to, she was pretty far from being 'okay'. "Well...I will be."

She took a deep breath and gave it another try, and this time it worked - she was able to push past the pain and get back to her feet, with a little aid from the door jamb. It did take her a few moments, and the whole time she was very much aware of Clyde and the stool in his hands, even in her groggy state.

”Carmen’s getting back up, but it looks like she might not be for much longer!”

The heavy-sounding announcer was right, she wouldn’t be - but, hopefully, not for the reason she expected. Carmen let Clyde come towards her, waiting until the exact last second, then fell back and scissored his leg while she came down, twisting to the side and trying to make him fall onto the very same door he’d knocked her through with a quick drop toehold.

Carmen watched the stool clatter off after Clyde dropped it, and her first instinct was to take it and do unto him as he was going to do unto her. She even started to reach for it, but changed her mind when she saw the cowboy in the corner and a much, much better idea went through her head. Bashing him all over the place would wear him down eventually, but there were other options - submissions, for instance. She knew just which one to go for, too.

She moved over to Clyde and grabbed him by the ankles, pulling him away from the wall and flipping his body over in the middle of the hallway. She took a quick second to run the movements through her head, and then she lifted his legs up and put her right leg through them, placing her foot down beside his stomach. It was the first step of a move she'd never used before, but one Clyde would be quite familiar with.

"Wait..." The rougher announcer began to stammer. "Is she trying to..."

The Sharpshooter. The same move he'd made her tap with when they last met in the ring.