Grace Allen vs Maria Tempesta

Grace was conscious enough to realize she was being taunted, but not much more then that. She was definitely at her most vulnerable position of the entire match, dazed and trapped in the corner. If Maria so much as dragged her to the middle of the ring and went for the pin, she wasn't certain she'd be able to kick out in time. Instead of going for the kill, however, the luchadora couldn't resist rubbing salt into the wound.

"Uhn!" Half muffled protests and grunts of pain accompanied each of the times Maria slammed her ample rear-end into the Americans face! It hurt, but it was even more humiliating, an expression of contempt for an opponent that incensed Grace to no end. Too bad she hasn't the energy to so anything about it yet, the world still spinning, and Maria would turn to find her rival still splayed out against the bottom turnbuckle, long dusky limbs she ended with a mist of sweat.

Grace showed her defiance the only way she could, forcing a grin, "Uhh...is..is that all you've got, girl?" Her only hope now was that Maria was more interested in trying to embarrass her or show off then simply going for the win. Grace had learned from experience that Tempesta was a show off, they had that much in common.

Stepping back, Maria noted how battered Grace looked. Maria had already been inflicting some hefty punishment on the American in this match, and that stinkface...well, that had just rubbed it in, so to speak. Right now, Maria was sprawled in her corner, barely able to move, her body covered in a sexy sheen of sweat. And damn it all, but she was still putting on a brave face, taunting her even in her current state. Despite herself, Maria had to admire Grace for that alone.

"Hardly," she replied, grinning wickedly as she walked up to Grace. Grabbing a handful of her opponent's hair, she would pull Grace painfully to her feet...before leaning in and locking lips with her in a sensuous kiss. The crowd would immediately go wild as Maria closed her eyes, her tongue dancing playfully with Grace's in what she hoped would be a nice distraction.

And if it did distract, then she would grab a hold of Grace's hair again, step back, and kicking her heel up against Grace's stomach, aiming to flip her head over heels onto her back!

Grace Allen put on as brave a face as she could, but it was only a play for time, a desperate bid to gleam a precious few extra seconds to recover. Her entire body hurt, muscles protesting even the thought of fighting on. She grit her teeth, resolved to fight to the end. If nothing else, she was going to issue a receipt for that stink face in the corner. *That* was just disrespectful.

As Grace had hoped, Maria couldn't resist messing with her. Not that the American expected how Tempesta would do so. Grace found herself hauled up painfully by her hair and drawn into a warm, sensual embrace. "Mmmff!" Her eyes fluttered closed as full, dark lips moved against Maria's own, her tongue flicking and caressing the luchadora's artfully. It was a damn good kiss, the kind Grace would have enjoyed far more if her mind weren't racing, trying to lower Maria's guard. It was a calculated move on both sides.

The kiss ended as suddenly as it began, and then her scalp was on fire as Maria seized her again. The luchadora lashed out with a kick, but Grace was ready, grabbing Maria's leg. Then, she attempted the only counter she really had energy for, looking to spin herself to the mat with a knee-wrenching Dragon screw!

Maria was pleasantly taken by surprise when she felt Grace returning the kiss, the American's own tongue reciprocating by wrestling playfully with hers. She wouldn't have minded lingering longer in this, but sadly, she had a match to win. Pulling free from the kiss, Maria jumped back, yanked on her foe's hair, and lashed out with a kick...

...and felt Grace grab onto her boot at the last possible minute. "Que?" she gasped, far too late to do anything about it. The next thing she knew, Grace was spinning, and Maria was spun around in turn, her knee smacking hard into the mat with a sudden dragon screw! "AAAAIIII!" she shrieked, rolling sideways and clutching her knee from Grace's sudden and brutal counterattack.

It was the perfect time to capitalize, to go after that knee and turn the tide in her favor. Tempesta was no more of a grounded mat wrestler then she was, and once a leg was taken out, much of her best offense would go with it!

Grace could do none of that, of course. She was too busy trying to catch her breath and will tired muscles to respond. The Dragon Screw had been an act of desperation, and after spinning to the mat the American couldn't do much more beyond rolling onto her side to witness the result of her handiwork. Maria was down, at least, but match wasn't over. How long could they keep going at this pace? Grace wasn't sure... but then she heard it.

The crowd.

Some were clapping there hands together, others slapped the guard rail with both hands while still more stamped their feet. The sound was scattered and disorganized at first, but the longer it went on the more unified it became as they willed the two warrioresses to stand and fight once again. Grace felt that tinge of adrenaline that only wrestlers really understood, the feeding off the energy of the crowd just enough to push forward.

Grace Allen looked to Maria, sought to meet her eyes with a faint smile, and pushed her hands against the mat, slowly making her way to her feet.

Maria's knee was hurting now. A lot. Her eyes were screwed shut as she rolled and flailed on the mat, clutching the hurting joint. That wouldn't have been so bad if she couldn't hear the crowd all around them, stomping and cheering and chanting Grace's name. She knew she was vulnerable, and she braced herself for the inevitable follow up attack from her American opponent.

An attack that never came. Opening one eye, she saw Grace staggering back to her feet, looking battered and worn...but smiling, ever so faintly. And through her grimace, Maria found herself smiling as she slowly but surely pushed herself to her feet as well. Grace was a pain in the ass, and she just wouldn't quit...but damn her, if she wasn't turning out to be a good opponent.

It would take a lot of effort with her hurting knee, but Maria barely managed to get herself standing again. Around them, the crowd burst into cheers as the two wrestlers got to their feet, staring one another down for what had to be a showdown...