Alaina Sanders vs Kei III

Today's the day, a day that Kelly thought would never come. Having been through what she has over the past while, having the opportunity to even the score almost didn't happen. Of all people, her opponent made more of a difference than anyone else she knows. Having walked out of a match with Peggy McIntyre where she didn't seem to be all there even before that one started, it took the help of a visiting Alaina to get her back to how she used to be. While there was a setback after being attacked by a debuting team, it wasn't something that would derail her comeback. She had an unorthodox way of letting Alaina know she was ready to go again, but wanted she wanted her to be the one to face her in a match that would have double meaning. Of course it would be the one that would mark her return to the ring at a competitive level, as well as even things between them. 0-1-1 was how she fared against Alaina, and while both matches were close, being down like that is something she wants to change. Alaina was in possession of a championship belt between their last match and this one, and while she was proud of Alaina for that accomplishment, another win by her would put her right back in contention and might make someone like herself obsolete. She didn't think of that detail too much as she prepared, but it's a no brainer that one would want to return with a win and not put themselves even farther behind if it could be helped.

Wes was watching from home, but earlier in the day he did text Alaina, thanking her for getting Kelly to this point and that he's sure Kelly feels the same way.

At her request, her entrance for this match was theme-less. The one she used before and last time around were still on file, however she thought this time around that less would be more. Last time she headed towards a ring without something playing in the background was many years ago. Hearing musical audio and people reacting to it can get a competitor going, that she knew and understood. With nothing being played she could hear everything being said by the people around her. Some were confused by it, while others didn't feel the need to question it. It also allowed her to hear herself think. It did feel different, but it was a welcomed experience. Neither her nor Alaina had anything physical at stake here, but that doesn't mean it isn't important. In fact, one could argue it could be the most important match, and was to her. Anyone who caught a look of her face from the time she stepped through the curtain and stepped through the ropes could tell just by looking at her that the woman the wrestler worlds knows as Kei was back, and back for good. Others have their reasons for what they do and how they treat things around them as they go about their business. Right now, the important thing is for her to worry about herself. Get this one in the books and deal with the rest as it comes. Alaina played a key part in getting her to this point, which having them face each other for her return match felt more than fitting.

She learned against the corner and waited for Alaina to make her appearance, which would be in a matter of seconds. Would Alaina do what she usually does now that the opposition did something unexpected that got the response it did? It didn't matter to her as she knew Alaina would bring the fight, but she was curious with how Alaina might take to her entrance, which some, both wrestlers and fans, can take for granted and see it as a minor detail in the grand scheme of things.

Alaina was doing the opposite of Kelly it seemed. She hadn't had a long break from the ring. She had been shouldering a big match schedule and the amazon kept going. She was doing all she could to not let any sort of history or mind games creep into her head. She was going to be focused, going about tonight the same way she approached every other match.

Alaina came out as her music played. She high fives the cheering fans, smiling and bounding her way down the ramp looking loose and ready. Alaina was dressed in a one piece tiger print swinsuit matching boots and kneepads. At the bottom of the ramp she ran towards the ring sliding underneath the bottom rope and standing tall in the ring afterward. Alaina nodded to Kelly and stood in the center of the ring, extending her hand.

How Kelly entered didn't appear to alter what Alaina did nor felt, which she didn't expect anything as such to happen. She wasn't one to want to get into others' heads, though she had her ways of doing so, none of which were what she did a moment ago. She grinned a little bit towards the response Alaina received, not that she doubted Alaina getting as such. In a world where normal rarely exists, even more as wrestling is concerned and especially this promotion, nothing felt more normal to Kelly than this moment. With all that has been going on, not just with her before returning, but everything else as well, this was an important moment for her.

"Hm?" Kelly knew this was coming, though she thought Alaina would have taken to the corners first, but she was not against the gesture. She left her corner to join Alaina in the middle and took the hand.

Alaina nodded and bowed a tiny bit as Kelly shook her hand. "We are going to have a great match, i can feel it." Alaina said as the two shook hands and stood together at the center of the ring. After that Alaina would make her way to her corner to stretch, pulling on the ropes a bit and knowing she had to keep Kelly defensive to win.

As the bell rang Alaina moved in and circled a bit before lunging in to grapple Kelly shifting herself around to kick things off with a small arm drag to throw Kelly to the mat knowing that the two women would be back up on their feet ready to go again.

Kelly didn't response to what Alaina said. Not to blow her off, but words from her didn't feel needed, though she did not disagree with her. This wasn't going to be a quick one, but length to her wasn't important. Mostly, a strong showing on her part would be what Kelly is after. Given what she's been through to get to this point she needed to put out there that she's still go it. A win would surely make that statement loud and clear though, so even though she wanted to at the very least look good out there, she also didn't want to lose and risk another set back.

It's been a while, but the opening tie up was a solid one, so far so good. It was one of the things she worked on when Alaina helped her prepare before making her return, but doing it in a competitive setting such as this was a different feeling, a feeling Kelly missed. One she she did not miss, was being taken down by the opposition, which is what happened on that exchange. As came no surprise to Alaina nor anyone else, Kelly got up just a was quickly as she was taken down.

Going to lock up again, Kelly had the mindset of 'Anything you can do I can do better' and attempt to arm drag Alaina and show her how it's done.

Alaina sent Kelly down with the arm drag and saw her opponent get right back up. The offer for a luck up was again made with Alaina accepting. She stepped in and before she could act it was the amazon being thrown down to the mat! Alaina's body made a loud crash as it hit but she wanted to get up quickly as well. Alaina surged up and moved at Kelly looking to rush her and leap into her with a flying lariat to come back with a sudden, hard hitting force!

Alaina got back up before Kelly could grab the arm again to transition it into something, Alaina was already on the move to stand back up. Kelly was doing the same and saw Alaina run in. She had enough time to duck to avoid the lariat, and she attempted to grab arm when it sailed over her head and apply a hammerlock. If she managed to do that she would attempt to trip one of Alaina's feet with her own.

Alaina swung and missed, feeling her arm grabbed as she grit her teeth. The pain in her arm from the hammerlock sank in and suddenly her feet were taken out sending her falling down to her knees! "Ngh...." Alaina groaned and knew she had to try to get up but her leg was tripped up.

Alaina tried to twist her torso and swing her free elbow back, hammering away at the abdomen of Kelly to try to cause her some pain in return! Alaina knew her strikes were strong and her hope was that Kelly would realize the hammerlock may not be worth keeping locked in.

Kelly was about to transition into something after taking Alaina down to her knees, however Alaina managed to get her to let go before she could put Alaina in a worse spot. Even though Alaina was able to get her to let go, Kelly went to re-grab the same arm. It was still very early, so them being this close at this point didn't come as a surprise to her, but Kelly didn't want to give give Alaina the chance to do the same to her.

Alaina was going to move in and try to grapple with Kelly but she was too slow, and the older wrestler managed to trap her in a hammerlock again! Alaina groaned in pain and was stuck in the hold again. The amazon grit her teeth, stuck in the grasp of Kelly.