”And here she is,” Brent said as Elina Zamora’s music began, “La Rosa de Sonora!”

“Brent…” Rhonda started.

“What?”

“Terrible accent.”

Elina Zamora stepped onstage adorned in her usual outfit; a sleek purple full-body suit paired with dazzling white sequin-covered boots that glittered beneath the arena lights. A flowing white robe rested over her shoulders, trailing behind her as the crowd cheered at her arrival. Elina paused at the top of the entrance ramp and slowly spread her arms, soaking in the adorations before making her next move. With a sharp motion she cast the robe aside which was immediately followed by a single blast of glimmering pyrotechnics erupting around her in a shower of silvery sparks. Thick white smoke came rolling across the stage, briefly concealing the luchadora from sight as the cheers grew even louder. The titantron and bannister screens were filled with shots of razor wire, sandstorms, and rickety muscle cars amid a setting sun. Seconds later, Elina emerged from the white haze with a confident smirk, the sequins on her boots catching flashes of light with every step she took. She confidently made her way down the ramp toward the ring, hips swaying, arms and chin held high, looking completely at home in the spotlight as her arrival was announced from the ring.

“And here she comes,” Dan Rich announced, “former two-time CMLL women’s champion, aspiring champion here in NMW, and the magnificent love interest of the one and only Uberto Cafrune, Elina Zamora!

“After defeating two promising young talents, Ash Weathers and Ada Eberhard, to get this far Elina is riding in with plenty of success and - without a doubt - confidence on her shoulders!”

“Yeah, but she needs to be careful tonight, or else Raven Veyn may put her and her confidence right through the mat down into the floor.” Brent added with a shake of his head.

“I agree with you there, Brent,” Rhonda said, “Elina has the experience and the skillset to win tonight but she can’t be cocky. She or Fiona, to be blunt about this. Raven Veyn isn’t one to strut your stuff in front of.”

It wasn't quite like when they faced off the previous month, as the Texan venue then had practically been a home match for Elina. Still, she had fans everywhere she went, and a lot more experience strutting with the spotlight on her. Plenty of the Chicago crowd wanted to see Elina in the finale, to get her one-on-one rematch against Raven, and for that to happen, Fiona had to stay trapped in the steel cage. Fiona had to hope her rival's reason would win out over her pride, and go along with what she'd suggested in the parking lot.

Elina made her way up onto the apron, leveling her hands out at Fiona in the shape of her finger gun, the same way she did last time, but when the time came for the shots to be fired, she snapped her hands up and then lowered them down to her sides. Fiona didn't react visibly, but she had no idea what to make of it. Is she trying to say she's with me? Or is she just trying to get me to lower my guard once the bell rings?

She vaulted into the ring to join Fiona, though she paid her younger opponent no further attention, basking in the audience's affection while she still had some time left to do so.

Fiona tried to stay loose in her corner, stretching and jumping and mentally running through all the things she'd practiced over the last few days. The anticipation began to build for the arrival of the third and final competitor, the woman who forced none other than Isabella Cadiz to tap out last week. If we work together, we can take her, I know we can. Have to believe this can work...

The lights dropped low, plunging the arena into darkness again. A distorted hum rolled through the speakers before the titantron suddenly ignited in violent waves of purple flame, the digital inferno spreading across every screen in the arena like a supernatural happening. The audience erupted instantly, thousands upon thousands rising to their feet as a thin sheen of smoke crawled across the entrance stage. Raven Veyn’s theme slowly rose from the darkness and over the crowd.

“All rise for Raven Veyn… the Queen of Darkness.” Brent Christi declared.

Raven Veyn seemingly materialized onstage, standing motionless beneath the pulsating violet glow, arms crossed tightly over the chest of her heavy black overcoat. Her head remained lowered for a long moment, letting the anticipation build, before she slowly lifted her gaze toward the ring. A wicked smirk curled across her lips, cold and confident, drawing an even louder roar from the crowd. The former champions’ presence alone carried an unmistakable menace. Tight braids pulled back her curly black hair, sharpening every edge of her already striking features and framing the intensity burning behind her flashing eyes.

“The aura of this woman,” Dan Rich stated, “is enough to move mountains and freeze your heart right in your chest!”

As she stepped forward to the center of the stage the vocals of her theme began, Raven uncrossing and spreading her arms wide toward the heavens. For one suspended second the arena held its breath — the former champion then violently slamming her fists down against the stage. Indigo pyrotechnics exploded around her in towering bursts, flames and sparks soaring high from every side of the entranceway. The purple glow reflected off the smoke around her, creating the image of a woman standing at the center of a storm entirely of her own making. Raven remained still amidst the chaos, unfazed by the explosions surrounding her. As she raised her head her eyes drifted toward the ring, locking onto Elina and Fiona with a stare that could cut through stone even from such a distance. There was no trace of anxiety in her expression, no uncertainty whatsoever — only amusement. The villainous smile on Raven’s face widened slightly as she tilted her head upward. Then, with deliberate patience, she began her descent down the ramp. Every step was slow and calculated, her long overcoat swaying behind her while the crowd screamed louder with each passing second. Fans reached over the barricades trying desperately to touch her as she was announced. - Raven never once breaking focus from the ring ahead.

Once she reached the ringside, Raven stopped at the base of the north side steel steps and calmly unbuttoned her overcoat, shrugging it from her shoulders with theatrical precision. Beneath it, she revealed sleek black tights and knee-high boots paired with a fitted black crop top that exposed the intricate red and black tattoos winding across her torso and down both arms. With a sideways look Raven tossed the coat into a cluster of eager fans near the barricade, sending them into hysterics as they scrapped over the souvenir. Raven then turned her attention back to the ring, her expression sharpening as she slowly climbed the steel steps one at a time, eyes shifting between her smaller opponents like a predator sizing up prey.

“Raven Veyn, the undefeated former CSW women’s champion, is looking to forge her legacy anew here at No Mercy Wrestling. She defeated the up-and-coming blue chip Sammi George at the start of this tournament, then last week she forced Isabella Cadiz - the former champion of No Mercy Women’s Wrestling - to tap out! - Something that only one other person has ever managed to do!”

Raven slipped between the top and middle ropes then swiftly crossed the mat and ascended the southwestern turnbuckle. Perched high above the ring, Raven planted one boot on the middle rope and raised both arms into a powerful flex, proudly displaying her impressive upper body. The final notes of her theme drifted through the arena while the audience reached a deafening frenzy. Raven soaked in every second of it, her grin only growing wider as she looked down on all those below her. Then she hopped down from the turnbuckle with ease, rolling her shoulders and neck slightly. Something unmistakably clear to everyone present, particularly Elina and Fiona, was that Raven Veyn owned the scene tonight.

Dan Rich wasn't wrong about the effect Raven Veyn had. Fiona had studied some of her matches, but seeing her in person, standing in the ring as she made her way towards it for a fight, was something else. Fiona wasn't easily intimidated, already experienced with taking on taller or stronger opponents, but face to face with Raven, her mind started to race with incredibly unhelpful thoughts. If Isabella couldn't take her, what chance do I have? I barely beat Tanya, and Raven's twice the wrestler she is. She's so much stronger than I am, and just as quick, too. I'm not ready for this...

She tried to force some stillness into her mind, before the last of her confidence could be eroded. Running her hands through her black hair, she kept moving, walking about in the small space of her corner, eyes wandering between her two opponents. She had to find a way to keep a clear head, to keep her fear from influencing her decision-making.

"Our top three ladies are in the ring together," Dan Rich declared. "Now it's time to keep them there, with the help of a steel cage!"

The cage began to lower around the ring until it fully enclosed them, offering next to no space outside the ropes and promising a painful stop to anyone thrown into the air. It was a tall climb, one that would only become more difficult the more hits they took, the more tired they got. And if they picked a poor moment to escape, a competitor would no doubt send them crashing back to the mat.

Ready or not, here we go...

The bell rang loud and clear, getting the women's steel cage match underway. A three way standoff began the fight, each woman emerging from her corner and eyeing up the opposition. Fiona felt like she knew what she had to do, but wasn't sure how best to do it now that the moment was here. She needed to show Elina she was serious about the proposed plan, that she wanted to work together to take down Raven, not just benefit herself by letting Elina take the brunt of the former CSW champ.

So she flanked Raven to the opposite side from Elina, closing in to engage her in a high grapple and getting ready to use every bit of strength she had. Locking horns with a much more powerful opponent was sure to end in disaster, but if it gave Elina a good opening, maybe she could gain control before Raven would have a chance to do much damage.

“And the bell has rung for this first-ever NMW cage match, and for the moment we are at a standstill. None of the three women has made a move yet.”

“The first few minutes of a match are pivotal,” Rhonda said. “Sometimes the person who gains the early advantage can ride that momentum all the way to victory.”

Raven saw what Fiona was doing and instead of going on the defensive the former champion let Fiona get close before bellowing out and charging forward for a fast clothesline. Fiona ducked under the attack, coming around behind Raven. Elina reacted immediately, rushing in to grab Raven around the back. Raven was ready for her though and spun around to drive an elbow toward Elina’s face. Elina dodged and whirled around, grabbing Raven. Raven reacted quickly however, catching Elina’s wrists before she could lock in the hold and twisting her around. She shoved Elina away, sending her staggering over beside Fiona.

With another roar, Raven threw her arms wide and charged again - this time going for a double lariat. Elina and Fiona ducked and rolled beneath the attack and sprang back to their feet in perfect synchronicity at the center of the ring. - The crowd stirring as Raven turned and dropped to a half-crouch, her back to the southern side of the cage.

“And it was Raven Veyn that made the first move but she came up short twice!” Dan Rich exclaimed, “Two missed lariats and she was nearly caught up by Elina Zamora!”

“And now we see Elina and Fiona side-by-side staring down Raven,” Rhonda added, “I think these two realize their best bet is to join hands against the former champion!”

“But Raven does not seem fazed at all, in fact she’s smiling at ‘em!” Brent pointed to Raven, who had a sick grin on her face as her eyes moved between her opponents.

It was reassuring, at least, that Elina didn't target Fiona while she was sitting in her blind spot beside her. Fiona wasn't making any attempt to guard against her, and it seemed to confirm that she was willing to work together. Just like Elina predicted, however, Raven expected that strategy, and so far appeared to be enjoying the challenge.

Not hesitating long enough to have any second thoughts, Fiona led the charge again, going for a dropkick to Raven's chest. Raven deflected Fiona's boots to the side with her hands, avoiding any contact and letting Fiona drop to the mat on her rear. Her height advantage looked ten times as severe when Fiona was flat on her back with her opponent towering over her. Raven stepped forward for a stomp targeted at Fiona's midsection. Eyes wide, Fiona rolled sideways towards the corner, narrowly avoiding the hit.

Elina tried to take advantage of the opening, aiming to seize Raven by the arm and twist it, but again Raven escaped the attempt, shoving Elina back to the center of the ring. Raven tried to follow up with a high straight kick, forcing Elina to lean back, her reflexes and agility on display as she turned the dodge into a backwards cartwheel that got impressed cheers from her fans.

"Some fast exchanges here," Dan Rich commented, "but no hits landed just yet."

"They're taking these early moments to get a feel for each other," Rhonda pointed out. "Raven's showing a lot of confidence, but I think she knows she has to be careful here. One overextension, and Elina and Fiona could be unloading the hits on her."

Fiona came up to her feet, not liking the feeling of being this close to the corner. All week long she'd had it drilled into her head how quickly the match could become a disaster if she let Raven trap her in a corner. That said, she had a brief moment with Raven's back turned to her after her kick attempt towards Elina, and she decided to go for it.

Rushing forward, Fiona jumped into the air, trying to lock her legs around Raven's midsection from behind and secure a rear choke around her neck with both arms.

Fiona managed to connect, clamping her legs around Raven and causing her to stumble forward. But before she could catch Raven around the neck Raven grabbed her wrists, holding them out in the air. Tilting awkwardly with Fiona hanging onto her like a koala, Raven dropped down onto her back. - Pancaking Fiona against the mat. The crowd cheered as Raven rolled off Fiona and pushed herself back to her feet.

“And a jumping grapple attempt by Fiona but Raven turned her into a flapjack with that defensive drop!” Dan Rich shouted as Rhonda snickered at the analogy.

Raven raised her right boot high over Fiona’s head, but before the incoming stomp could land Elina Zamora sprinted into the frame at full speed. Raven turned her head only halfway around before Elina leapt and wrapped her right arm around it. Using the momentum of her charge, Elina snapped Raven down violently with a jumping neckbreaker that spiked the former champion’s head off the canvas. Raven was pitched onto her side as Elina swiftly kipped up onto her feet.

“Oh, and a jumping neckbreaker by Elina!” Rhonda followed up.

Elina then reached down for Raven only to catch a boot in the gut that sent her stumbling back into the south side ropes.

“A counter by Raven…”

Getting squished into the mat was hardly pleasant, but with the followup damage prevented by Elina, it really just served as a wakeup call, getting Fiona's heart rate and breathing elevated and fully welcoming her to the fight.

She rolled to the side, trying to escape the chaos of the two rivals fighting above her before either of them stepped on her. Looking left from her back, she was alarmed at how fast Raven got right back to her feet after being taken to the canvas for the first time by Elina. She was across the ring and on Elina in no time, sending her running end to end, catching her on the rebound, lifting her up to hip level, and then dropping down on her hard for a sidewalk slam.

"Now we're getting going!" Brent shouted in approval.

Fiona had to repay the favor from Elina, and keep Raven from unloading on her while she was down. Scrambling to her feet, she charged Raven from behind, thinking to go for a strike to the back of the head. Raven saw it coming, scooping Fiona up for what was about to be a second sidewalk slam right down onto Elina. Thinking fast, Fiona flipped her lower body up, locking her legs around Raven's head and twisting around, executing a clean tilt-a-whirl headscissors takedown that threw Raven forward into a roll, leaving her in the corner.

"Flashy athleticism from Fiona!" Rhonda couldn't hide her surprise. "That caught Raven off guard."

Back on her feet in a flash, Fiona ran after Raven and jumped at her, slamming both knees into her chest for a running meteora in the corner. Expecting Elina would have a followup of her own ready to go, Fiona rolled backwards and cleared the way for her impromptu ally to charge in next.

Fiona’s instinct was correct. Elina - now recovered from Raven’s last attack - came gracefully cartwheeling across the ring and ended the short, flashy display with a right hip attack that forced Raven into an awkward seated position in the corner.

“And a meteora and a hip attack combo on Raven by Fiona and Elina!”

Elina wasted no time, stepping in close and gripping the top rope to her left, setting up to go for a foot choke to rattle the former champion. Suddenly, both of Raven’s hands came up fast, clamping around Elina’s ankle before Elina could get her boot in place. Raven forced herself upright, dragging Elina awkwardly off the ropes and throwing her balance completely sideways. Elina’s eyes widened as Raven violently yanked her to the side, ripping her from the corner and slinging her hard onto her belly with a thud.

“And that backfired on Elina,” Brent shook his head, “she wasn’t quick enough with the setup and now she’s down after that leg drag by Raven…”

Raven leaped over Elina and went straight for Fiona next, winding up for a hard right swing that whooshed just over Fiona’s head. Raven was quick on the defensive rotation, not allowing Fiona to go for a wraparound.

“A swing at Fiona and a miss, and now…”

Fiona couldn't find a place to intervene before Elina was taken down by a leg drag, leaving her to deal with Raven alone for the next exchange. After ducking beneath the right hook aimed at her head, Fiona kept going for the ropes, not wanting to go for any kind of hold with the small window her dodge gave her. She knew she needed plenty of speed to generate enough force to bring Raven down, so she sprinted back after bouncing off the ropes and jumped into the air to attempt a crossbody slam.

Raven saw it coming in time to brace herself, and it felt like jumping sideways into a tree trunk. Fiona's momentum was stopped cold as Raven caught her out of the air, one arm between her legs, the other beneath her head. Fiona had a brief moment to panic and struggle in vain before her opponent hurled her over her head as she fell backwards.

"Fallaway slam!" Dan Rich shouted, as Fiona crashed hard to the mat on her back, log rolling over once and ending face up.

"This triple threat has been a two-on-one match so far," Rhonda pointed out, impressed, "and I'd say it's been pretty evenly matched."

"Raven's got Fiona in her sights now..." said Brent, watching Raven rise back to her feet and stalk over to the downed Fiona.

Caught defenseless with a hand pressed to her lower back after that slam, Fiona wasn't able to avoid Raven's boot this time, a vicious stomp thudding into her midsection. She curled in on herself with a groaning cough, trying to roll away, but Raven caught the arm that went to cover her stomach, pulling her up with frightening ease across her shoulders in a fireman's carry.

Fiona kicked and tried to elbow at Raven's head, hoping to disrupt her and escape before she could deliver whatever devastating slam she had lined up.

“Incoming!” Rhonda yelled as Elina came rushing in from behind with a low chop block, her left shoulder slamming into the back of Raven’s right knee. Raven went straight down, Fiona landing just a few inches away, the two women's impact shaking the canvas.

“A chop block! Elina Zamora sends Raven and Fiona down hard!”

“Some might call that cheap,” Brent said. “My response? All is fair in war and… war.”

Elina glanced at Raven as she popped up and made a run for the east side ropes, coming off them fast. Raven had just gotten back to her feet and looked up in time to see Elina soaring through the air. The luchadora delivered a jumping knee strike straight to Raven’s jaw, spinning her around with a crack. Elina’s fans erupted as Raven flopped onto the canvas. Elina didn’t stop there. Regaining her balance, she dashed toward the south ropes, momentum barely slowing as she leapt and sprang off the middle rope at a sharp angle. Twisting midair, she drove her knee down across the back of Raven’s skull with pinpoint precision. The hard impact left Raven clutching her head and convulsing as Elina rolled smoothly near the opposite corner.

“Elina Zamora with a one, two, three!” Dan Rich shouted. “A chop block followed by a high knee and a knee drop for the cherry on top!”

“And she isn’t done just yet!” Rhonda nodded.

Elina hopped onto the corner post in front of her, boots clanging against the turnbuckle. Standing upright, she adjusted her feet and raised both fists in the air for a quick double pump her fans already knowing what was coming next. Crouching and steadying herself, Elina stretched her arms wide and launched into a moonsault aimed at Raven’s torso.

“Moonsault!”

Fiona fell from nearly six feet up when Raven was cut down at the knee, slamming down hard to the mat on her back again. Guess there wasn't a gentler way to intervene there, she thought to herself, rolling away and staying down for a moment, ending up near the ropes and steel cage just outside. She nursed the ache in her back, glad to let Elina take the reins and deliver some real damage to Raven.

It was a lot more satisfying to watch Elina Zamora work up close when Fiona wasn't the target of her flashy moves. A pair of huge knee strikes to the head landed cleanly, no doubt getting some real dizziness into Raven for the first time. Getting to her knees, Fiona watched Elina ascend the corner turnbuckles, wondering for a second if she was trying to make a break for it. No, it was too soon. They needed to get Raven totally out of it before they could risk climbing the cage. A fall from that height would be devastating.

It was her signature moonsault that Elina went for, but she took too long, as Raven recovered just before Elina went soaring through the air, leaving her only the mat to painfully belly flop down onto with a huge impact.

"Optimistic from Elina there," Dan Rich called out, "and she pays the price. But here comes Fiona, refusing to give Raven so much as a breather!"

Raven was finding opportunities to hit both of them, but so long as they kept this up, she would wear down eventually, Fiona could feel it. As Elina rolled away, clutching her midsection, Fiona charged at Raven, getting in a running knee strike to her head while she was halfway up. Raven bent backwards on her knees, not even falling to the mat, but it gave Fiona the chance to seize one of her hands, Raven's right in Fiona's left. Winding up, Fiona delivered a stinging slap to her upper chest, then guided her over to the corner. Fiona nimbly ascended, intending to turn and jump back in for an arm drag.

It was poorly judged, and while she was on the top rope, a strong tug from Raven on their linked hands was enough to disrupt Fiona's balance entirely. She fell hard right back onto Raven's shoulders, secured in another fireman's carry. Oh come on, not again! Her elbows and struggling were ineffective again, leaving her trapped for the ride as Raven quickly spun around.

Elina had just gotten to her feet as Raven swung Fiona around into her, her legs both colliding with Elina's head and knocking her back, the Sonoran Rose clanging against the steel cage before she went down.

"Oh wow!" Rhonda exclaimed, unable to keep from laughing a little. "Raven's power on display right there, using one of her opponents to bludgeon the other."

Shit, shit, Fiona panicked. Raven carried her to the center of the ring, swinging and releasing her, but whatever she was planning, Fiona managed to adjust and escape at the last second, landing on her feet right in front of the intimidating Goth Queen. Wide-eyed, Fiona saw a big swing coming just in time to duck under it and run for the ropes behind Raven. Jumping on the middle rope and springboarding back towards Raven, Fiona snared her around the neck, swinging her weight around and bringing her down for a stylish tornado DDT, spiking her head against the mat.

"What a sequence by Fiona that was!" Dan Rich shouted over the eruption of the crowd.

"Yeah Dan," Rhonda agreed, "it doesn't seem like she's letting the star power of Raven and Elina faze her much, that was a beautiful recovery after being caught in a very awkward position."

The crowd was loving the contrasting styles of the three women in the ring, the high intensity striking and graceful acrobatics of Elina and Fiona respectively making for an even fight against the raw power of Raven Veyn. Raven was down on the mat, face up after that DDT, leaving Fiona with a moment of control to make an even bigger impact on the match. Getting up and pointing to the corner, she generated some cheers of encouragement from the fans, then swiftly made her ascent.

It was a tighter fit than usual with the steel cage behind her, delaying her setup slightly, but Fiona soon found herself standing on the top rope, aiming down at Raven. She then launched herself into the air, slowly backflipping as she looked to come down right on top of Raven. She hadn't yet attempted her signature Shooting Star finisher in NMW yet, and she knew this would be one hell of a match to land it for the first time...

Fiona came closer than Elina had moments earlier to landing a high-flyer on Raven, but “closer” was not good enough. The lead half of Defiant Dream bouncing hard off the mat as Raven rolled away, drawing groans from Fiona’s fans.

“And Fiona misses!” Rhonda exclaimed as Raven rose to her knees. “Her signature move did not seal the deal and now both she and her… ‘partner’ are down!”

“And it looks like it’s Raven Veyn’s turn now…” Dan Rich said ominously.

With fire in her eyes, Raven climbed to her feet and strode toward Fiona, reaching down and hauling the smaller woman off the canvas with ease. Raven hooked Fiona’s arm across her shoulders and lifted her sideways, pausing for a split second before driving her down with a crushing sidewalk slam that rattled the ring.

“A sidewalk slam by Raven, and now—”

Raven rose again and grabbed Fiona a second time, roughly yanking her up from behind before slipping Fiona’s upper body beneath her right arm. Trapped against the underside of Raven’s shoulder, Fiona was helpless as Raven paused just long enough for the crowd to react, her dark braids hanging across her face while she balanced the hold flawlessly. Planting her left hand against Fiona’s abdomen for control, Raven suddenly dropped backward in one sharp motion, sending Fiona up, over, and down with an inverted suplex.

“An inverted suplex!” Brent finished for Dan.

“And Raven is giving Fiona a taste of some classic wrestling.”

“And she’s not done yet, Dan!”

Raven sprang up for the third time, a sadistic glint in her eye as she looked Fiona over, deciding what to unleash next from her arsenal. A shadow swept across the mat near Fiona - not Raven’s, but that of a yet again charging Elina Zamora once more trying to blindside Raven from behind.

“Here comes Elina again!” Rhonda shouted, her voice rising.

“But not this time!” Brent fired back as an alert Raven drove a sharp back kick into Elina’s gut, stopping and bending her over. Raven spun around, seizing Elina’s left wrist and twisting her arm tightly behind her own back, cinching in a painful hammerlock as Elina struggled to break free. Maintaining complete control, Raven yanked Elina forward and hooked her head beneath her free arm as Raven’s fans rose in anticipation.

“Here it comes!” Brent yelled. “Shades of Andrade!”

Elina kicked and writhed, desperately trying to escape, but Raven held firm. Dropping backward Raven spiked Elina face-first into the mat with a devastating Hammerlock DDT. Elina’s arms went limp on impact and she lay sprawled on her back as Raven shoved her aside and rose once more with a triumphant grin. Fueled by the deafening cheers echoing through the arena, Raven hopped to a stand and flexed one bicep toward the crowd, slapping it three times before throwing both arms high and unleashing a savage, hoarse cry.

“Raven Veyn is dominating and she will not be denied!”

In a one-on-one match, such an awful swing in momentum probably would've put Fiona down for the count. It was the first time she'd fully whiffed her top rope aerial finisher in a match, delivering a massive blow to her core when she crashed to the mat. Raven was proving impossible to keep stunned, up on her feet in no time and hauling Fiona around to punish her further for her mistake. The sidewalk slam smashed most of the resistance out of her, leaving her weakly grasping at Raven's arm as she was bent backwards on her feet.

The world spun in Fiona's vision as Raven smoothly lifted her up and over backwards, gravity pulling and whooshing her back down for a brutal crash face down on the mat. She was motionless on the mat from the inverted suplex as Raven got up again, only vaguely aware that Elina had tried to intervene. Fiona gasped for breath, trying to get her elbows beneath her, knowing she'd need to recover quickly if Elina couldn't put a stop to Raven's momentum.

The shaking of the mat soon after was Fiona's answer to that question, and she turned her head to see Elina flat on her back with her arms limp, Raven shoving her off and rising again. Damn it... she's actually going to beat us two-on-one. The crowd was loving the dominant display from Raven, no doubt wanting to see her show that kind of fire in a title match next week. If I'm tough enough to hang with the best of NMW, now's the time to show it.

"Looks like Raven's making the first attempt to escape the cage," Rhonda pointed out, as Raven went to the ropes on the stage side of the ring.

"It's going to be up to Fiona to stop her!" Dan Rich announced, seeing Fiona get to her knees while Elina was still completely stunned.

"I'd just let her go if I were Fiona," said Brent. "Raven's getting out of that cage one way or another. If Fiona wants a spot in that title match, it's Elina she should be focused on. She's defenseless right now."

But Fiona did not think like Brent did. She'd made a plan with Elina before the match, and she wasn't going to betray it as soon as things got difficult. Struggling to her feet, she looked up to see Raven on the top rope, grasping the cage. She was only a few seconds away from going beyond Fiona's reach. Staggering over, Fiona stepped onto the lower rope and grabbed Raven by the boot before she could reach the top of the cage. She stayed to the side, wary of Raven trying to kick down on her.

Part of Fiona expected Raven to shake Fiona off like little more than a nuisance, but maybe she was more tired than she looked, as when Fiona planted her foot against the cage and pulled back with all her weight, one of Raven's hands came free from the cage, and then the other, sending both of them tumbling back down to the mat.

Brent shook his head. "Got a feeling she'll regret that choice..."

Getting to her feet at the same time Raven did, Fiona knew she needed to hit something big right away. She was still too battered to go toe-to-toe with Raven for long, but if she could take her down for even a few moments, it could buy Elina time to recover and resume their two-on-one approach.

Charging forward, Fiona jumped into the air at Raven and went for her signature Supergirl punch, aiming the strongest strike she could muster right for the Goth Queen's cheekbone.

Raven read Fiona’s strike attempt like a telegram, shifting to the left just enough for Fiona’s Supergirl punch to breeze harmlessly past her head. Fiona’s momentum carried her right into Raven’s waiting embrace. After stumbling back slightly, Raven secured both arms tightly around Fiona’s midsection. - The bearhug hold snapping shut with crushing force around the younger wrestler.

“Oh, look at this,” Brent crowed, “Fiona flew right into a waiting bearhug!”

“There are no tapouts in this match but a submission hold is a great way to wear down an opponent and make them unable to press on.” Rhonda added.

Fiona’s arms remained free but the trapped position left her body pinned helplessly against Raven’s frame as the pressure steadily intensified. Raven leaned into the hold with a confident grin, her dark hair falling across her face as she squeezed Fiona like a python. Around the arena, Raven’s supporters were chanting, “Break her! Break her! Break her!”

Raven kept the bearhug clamped securely in place, her powerful grip refusing to loosen even slightly as the struggle continued at center ring. Fiona’s supporters shouted desperately for her to escape, their voices colliding with those of Raven’s. Raven answered the noise from the crowd with a thrusting twist to one side, forcing a visible jolt through Fiona’s body. The sequence had shifted entirely in Raven’s favor, the counter transforming Fiona’s missed attack into a painful display of control and domineering strength. Raven stood tall and immovable while the audience reacted to every second of the prolonged submission, the tension in the arena building with each passing moment. Elina Zamora stirred nearby but just barely so, slowing rolling over onto her stomach and planting her palms on the mat in a push-up position.

“Fiona has got to get out of this hold fast,” Dan Rich struggled to be heard over the crowd, “if she doesn’t Raven is going to ragdoll her and most likely make another move to escape the cage.”

“And unless Elina hurries up and gets back in the action this may be it for the dynamic duo of tonight.”

Another risky move didn't pay off for Fiona. She didn't let Raven intimidate her, she didn't fight scared, but while that made for a better show for the crowd, it was entirely at Fiona's expense at this point in the match. Again Raven was quicker than Fiona anticipated, and before Fiona knew what was happening she found herself caught in the trap, quickly being crushed by a bearhug submission hold.

Raven had her lifted off the ground from the height advantage, the tips of Fiona's white boots unable to brush the mat, so she wrapped her legs around Raven instead to try to take some pressure off. It was little help. She couldn't cry out due to the instant shortness of breath she suffered, unable to get much air in her lungs as the hold compressed her body. She did have her arms free, enough to start throwing elbows at the side of Raven's head, but it remained to be seen if she could break free before it was too late.

Raven twisted, sending an agonizing jolt through Fiona's body and halting her elbow strikes. There was no tapping out, but if she let this go on much longer, it was going to destroy any stamina she had left, and give the other two wrestlers all the time in the world to leave her behind in the cage.

She managed to collect her focus again and hit hard at Raven's head, three solid strikes that she could feel were disrupting Raven's balance. Elina was stirring too, starting to get back to her feet.

"Think Raven's gotta let go," Brent advised, "Elina's about to reenter this contest!"

That was exactly what she did, releasing the bearhug and shoving hard against Fiona's chest to push her away. Fiona fell to the mat on her back, rolling away towards the ropes where she ended up face down, finally free to take some precious breaths. The aching all through her torso was extreme, the damage from the bearhug something she'd need days to recover from, not the few brief moments she had. Damn it, I'm a wreck... if Elina goes down again, no way I can keep Raven from escaping...

Raven stumbled a little from the blows to the head Fiona gave her, but still looked ready and able to take on her old CSW rival again.

Elina Zamora staggered forward, one arm wrapped tight around her head, sweat and a thin stream of blood poured down her face, the fire in her eyes however burning through the lingering pain. Grimacing through the pounding ache in her own head, Raven stepped forward aggressively, swinging a brutal right-armed clothesline meant to take Elina’s head off. Elina ducked underneath the strike, peeling around behind Raven and dragging her down sharply with an acrobatic crucifix takedown that drew cheers of approval from the crowd at the flashy move. There were no pinfalls in this fight, the move less about victory and more about forcing Raven into a compromised position.

“And now a takedown by Elina after a dodge.”

The second Raven’s shoulders hit the mat, Elina released her and sprang back to her feet. Elina dashed to the north side ropes, hitting them at full speed and coming off like a missile straight toward her opponent. Raven had barely started to rise when Elina drove a vicious soccer kick into the side of her head, the fierce impact echoing through the arena as Raven was toppled sideways in a heap, Elina’s fans roaring in approval.

“And a hard kick to the skull of Raven by Elina off the ropes!” Dan Rich yelled. “That’s gotta have Raven seeing stars.”

Elina exploded into motion again, taking off around the ring in a blur as fans rose to their feet in anticipation. Elina hit the west ropes, then the south ropes, then the north again, ricocheting around the squared circle like a human pinball while Raven struggled to come to a stand again. She stumbled into an half crouch, arms half-raised, but Elina closed the distance. With one final burst - fighting through the pain - Elina leapt forward, hooked Raven’s head, and drove her face-first into the canvas with a devastating facebuster. The arena detonated into deafening cheers, boos, and a cacophony of other sounds as Elina and Raven lay sprawled motionless on the mat.

“Elina Zamora just zigzagged around the ring and dropped Raven Veyn like a sack of potatoes,” Dan Rich shouted as he, Rhonda, and Brent stood up from their seats, “Raven is down but so is Elina as is Fiona, who will get up first and will any of them make it to the top of the cage?”

Fiona managed to stay out of Elina's way, crawling to a corner of the ring where she rolled over on her back, breathing hard and trying to recover. She'd seen plenty of Raven's opponents tap out to that bearhug submission, and now she knew exactly why. The attrition of multiple weeks of this grueling tournament were adding up, making every hit more painful, every mistake more punishing, and every continued exertion more and more tiring. The next minute or two will decide this, one way or another. Don't think I can keep going much longer than that.

Elina managed to find some real success against Raven, planting her facedown on the mat, but it looked like it cost her most of the energy she had left, too, leaving all three women downed and exhausted. Rather than cause the crowd to quiet down, the lull in the action only spurred them on, as it was clear to everyone that if any of them could stand and climb, they had a golden opportunity to escape. Raven was sprawled out motionless. It was possibly now or never for Fiona.

Grimacing, she reached up for the ropes and pulled, getting severely shaky legs beneath her. She sagged into the corner for support. Not ideal, but I'm up. Elina was up, too, lacking the support of the ropes, but she staggered over towards Fiona, the two of them soon clutching the same southern side of the steel cage beyond the ropes.

"Looks like the cooperation is continuing between these two." Rhonda anxiously shifted her weight side to side, a nervous air permeating the entire arena. "Are they up for the climb, though?"

"Raven's not far behind them!" Brent called out, pointing at the now stirring form of Raven Veyn on the mat.

That got Fiona and Elina moving more urgently, using the ropes for a relatively easy beginning to their ascent of the cage. Fiona was thankful for her gloves; she was covered in a sheen of sweat that wouldn't have helped her grip at all. After the ropes came the difficult climb to the top of the cage, her arms and legs screaming with the effort, the crowd willing her on alongside Elina. Their hands reached the bars atop the cage at nearly the same moment. Just have to get myself up and over, and then—

A strong hand closed around her right ankle, forcing Fiona to look down. Raven was like a horror movie villain beneath her, refusing to stay down despite all the hits, refusing to let her escape. She had Elina by the ankle too, the effort of keeping them both in place difficult even for her at this stage.

"This isn't going to end well!" Dan Rich shouted, stating the obvious. "Will Fiona and Elina be able to hang on?"

One of Fiona's hands slipped, and she spun around until her back was to the cage, her heart racing, nothing but panic in her mind. Elina thought quickly, kicking at Raven's hand with her free foot, targeting her fingers, and two good shots was enough to free her. Immediately Elina pulled her legs up, getting her upper body up and over the top of the cage.

"Elina's got this!" Brent declared. "She's out of Raven's reach!"

Fiona wasn't so lucky, and all it took was Raven putting both hands around her ankle and one hard pull. The steel bar slipped out of her grip, sending Fiona falling down until her lower back hit the top rope. The back of her head collided with the cage, and then the rope rebounded her forward to slam face down on the mat, to the dismay of her fans. Damn it, no...

"And Fiona is down!" Dan Rich announced. "It's looking like one half of this unlikely alliance is home free, while the other finds herself still trapped with Raven Veyn."

Rhonda had her hands on her head. "Unless Fiona has any miracles left in her, this might not take long."

It sure felt like her magical tournament run was about to come to an end. Fiona rolled over onto her back, arms laying limp at her sides, all the energy she'd worked up for the escape attempt having gone to waste, leaving her running on fumes. Elina sat atop the cage now, out of Raven's reach. All she had to do was drop down the other side.

Elina balanced herself carefully, the steel rattling beneath her form as she slowly turned her body outward, every movement carrying the weight of the brutal match. Thousands of fans screamed as she began climbing down the outside wall of the steel cage, one determined step at a time - her dark hair wrapped around her bloodstained face. Raven Veyn watched from inside the cage, expressionless as her eyes followed Elina all the way down to where her rival finally released her grip on the chain link and let herself tumble to the padded floor.

“Elina made it!” Dan Rich yelled, his voice drowned out by the sound of thousands of elated fans. “Elina Zamora has made it through to the end and escaped the steel cage! She is going to Las Vegas! She is going to Vegas!”

“It was looking like it was her and Fiona but Raven Veyn came in last minute and yanked Fiona down from Cloud Nine.” Rhonda said with a shake of her head.

“And now it’s down to the final two here still in the cage; former CSW women’s champion Raven Veyn and hopeful up-and-comer Fiona Chevalier…” Brent concluded.

Elina Zamora lay on her side in a heap in the ringside alley, too battered at the moment to even get up and celebrate. Fans nearby were clapping and cheering, one throwing a handful of confetti down onto her which stuck to her hair and bodysuit. For a moment time seemed to slow as all eyes were on the screens high up or down at Elina in person, including those of Raven Veyn and Fiona Chevalier.

“Elina Zamora has made it out of the steel cage and has secured one of the two spots in next week’s women’s championship match. And now it is a final clawing fight for survival between Raven Veyn and Fiona Chevalier, which one will be in that other corner at Caesar’s Palace next week?”

Raven didn't seem overly concerned with Fiona while she watched Elina, letting her crawl away and then slowly get to her feet in a corner. Fiona watched Elina become the first escapee of the match, and tried not to think of how close she'd come to joining her, only to be torn down to the ground. If she'd been a little stronger, she could've held on with both hands, if she'd thought a little quicker she could've kicked Raven's hand away. But that was the difference between her and a veteran of these kinds of matches like Elina.

Now she was stuck here, forced to keep fighting Raven. Fiona was on her last legs, and it was written all over her body language, her posture, her face. Raven, meanwhile, still stood tall, though she'd taken quite a few shots to the head throughout the match. If Fiona had any chance to pull off the upset, she had to make use of that.

Raven turned to face her as she stepped out of the corner, eyeing her up and down, no doubt trying to calculate what would be the best move to go for to finish her off. Fiona charged first, Raven reacting with a heavy hook of a punch, which Fiona was able to duck under. She planted her foot and stopped, turning and throwing a high, straight kick that connected with the side of Raven's head as she turned around.

"Oh, and Fiona lands a sharp kick!" Dan Rich commented. Even the commentary team sounded like they were wearing down at this point.

Raven didn't fall from the kick, merely recoiling backwards and staggering away a step. Not nearly good enough, Fiona thought, trying to dig deep for more energy as she took off for the ropes behind her. Bouncing back, Raven went for another swing on her, trying to clothesline her. Rather than duck under again, Fiona grabbed hold of the arm and went for a float-over move, spinning over the back of Raven and landing on the other side.

She got the position for a DDT locked in, then jumped into the air, trying to generate as much momentum as she possibly could to slam Raven's head down onto the mat. She knew she'd need to nearly knock Raven unconscious if she wanted to buy herself enough time to climb the cage again.