LadySports ::: Manchester Results Shelby Beach vs Riptide...

Shelby Beach vs Riptide, Submissions Only

By Darren UK

Britain’s own Shelby faced famed American grappler Riptide for the first time at the “ST. GEORGE’S DAYmes” event. As both powerful women are well known as submission wrestlers, it was decided that they would battle in a Submissions Only Match…the woman who had drawn the most submissions from her opponent within the allotted time would be declared the winner.

Shelby Beach was the first in the ring, dressed all in pink to a chorus of cheers from this patriotic British crowd. She was closely followed by her opponent, Riptide, dressed in her trademark tartan skirt. The American looked really mean and nasty, and has one of the most impressive physiques on the women’s wrestling circuit anywhere in the world!

Both girls exchanged power moves in the early stages, and it was Shelby who was the first to weaken after an onslaught from the incredibly strong brunette. Riptide used as many illegal moves as she could get away with in wearing down her taller opponent, and finally Riptide’s awesome power was too much for Shelby to withstand, and the American ace took the first submission with a devastating camel clutch on the blonde British Bomber.

Cheered on by the crowd, Shelby gradually managed to get back in the match during the struggle for the next fall, and Riptide was getting more vocal with the taunting crowd, telling them to shut up at every opportunity. Finally Shelby’s perseverance paid off: The blonde caught Riptide in a side headlock and dragged her down to the mat before putting on a perfectly executed armbar, stretching the muscle-packed American Amazon into a reluctant submission.

Now Shelby had the equaliser she craved, tying up the bout at one fall apiece, but the question now was, could a winner be found with the clock ticking down, or might this go to a draw? Each woman was fiercely intent on winning this, and they held back nothing! Shelby and Riptide exchanged full nelsons, side headlocks, and head and body scissors in their repeated attempts to get the lead.

Finally, the UK blonde pulled it off…her quickness managed to put Riptide in a standing sleeper with little time left. Most girls would have tapped immediately, but Riptide, as strong as she is, struggled to break free…and it very nearly looked as if she would succeed! But Shelby forced her weight onto Riptide’s back, giving the blonde the leverage she needed to keep the hold locked in place. As the referee asked Riptide if she wanted to submit, she finally screamed, “Yes! Yes! YES!” That gave Shelby a 2-1 lead as the clock ticked down to the final stretch of the match.

Instead of Shelby playing it safe, trying to avoid Riptide and winding down the clock until the match was over, she characteristically went after the brunette, mixing it up with the aggressive American. With barely ten seconds remaining, Shelby attempted a Boston Crab, but was unable to turn over the powerhouse Riptide and apply the maneuver.

But while she was unsuccessful in garnering another submission from her opponent, Shelby nevertheless claimed the victory with two falls to Riptide’s one. The blond also ably demonstrated the quality of her skills in beating the experienced American, a former PGWA champion. Shelby accepted the heartfelt applause of the crowd as a disenchanted Riptide trudged off to the dressing room in the wake of what would be her first of three defeats on the day (her tag match ended in a DQ for her team, and she was thrown out of the ring with three girls left in the battle royal)…not a very productive day for the outspoken Riptide, but a great match nonetheless between two impressive women!