Posted 9/30/16. 4:56 PM

Vanessa Hudgens versus Elizabeth Henstridge
(Words & Results: Lookout!)

BEFORE: The audience is roaring their approval for this battle, another skirmish in the ongoing Marvel versus DC war – this time on the small screen as Elizabeth Henstridge (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D on ABC) debuts against Vanessa Hudgens, who will be starring in NBC's Powerless, a sitcom set in the DC Universe. In contrast to many of the matches for Vanessa Hudgens, it's a very positive vibe when the two girls meet in the middle of the ring as the two are almost glowingly enthusiastic about you. Instead of shoving and shouting, the two exchange hugs and start to immediately compliment each other.

Vanessa beams, “It is SO great to finally meet you – I've always been such a huge fan of yours. You and Fitz are hands-down my favorite characters on the show. You are amazing on there – I mean the episode 4, 722 Hours – a real tour-de-force for you. Of course you've been phenomenal the entire show and you're one of the reasons I tune in every week!”
Elizabeth blushes and laughs, “Thank you so much – I've always been a huge fan of yours and not just in the league. You are definitely a legend around here as you came from Disney and now you're one of the best in the league! No question about that and I always love you in whatever I've seen you in too. I just loved you in Grease this year and you were lovely in Sucker Punch. I just can't believe we've never met before!”

The two of them continue to compliment one another until the referee steps in, almost hesitant to interrupt the two of them and remind them that they were here to fight. Both of them exchange another hug as the two of them step backwards, sticking out their tongues as they tease each other a little bit.

“You're going to wish that you had an actual shield to help save you tonight, Liz...” Vanessa winks at her foe.

“I know I'm new around here but trust me, I'm going to leave you powerless against me tonight!” Elizabeth says with a good-natured smile.

Both fighters chuckle at their own play on words as does the audience. The referee rolls his eyes and groans a bit as he orders them to their own respective corners. Elizabeth coming to the ring in a golden sports bra and shorts with matching gloves – hair loose around her face; Vanessa clad in a pink sports bra and shorts with matching gloves – hair in a fighting ponytail.

This fight is set for ten rounds in the flyweight division.

R1: Elizabeth setting a brisk pace from the start, energetic as you would expect from the plucky Simmons from the show, laying down the foundation for her fight strategy as she displays good footwork and looks to strike first. Henstridge moving clockwise around the ring, forcing Nessa to move her feet as she tries to preempt the offense of Nessa, but as Hudgens is backed up, she covers her retreat with a steady jab just spanking Elizabeth across her face! Henstridge responding with a swift and effective jab of her own, getting off in speedy combinations as she keeps the round up-tempo and takes it close on points as she is the busier fighter here in the first.

R2: Nessa plans to make sure that she is the faster fighter here in the second, coming out quickly, but Elizabeth's fresh legs in her debut prove impressive as she moves to new angles, pivoting around her foe in a wild first minute for the SHIELD star. Henstridge moving in ripping bursts, just bouncing her mitts off of Hudgens as Nessa is on the defensive, but not about to back down. Nessa keeps up the jab of her own, connecting with Elizabeth's tummy and chest, forcing her backwards in the second minute to keep things competitive between the two. But, in the third, Elizabeth hooks off of the jab to stun her rival, then sends a right-left combination which swivel's Nessa's head and then her body as she spills to the ropes. Henstridge pouncing quickly, the crowd eating it up as Elizabeth jumps on her foe, just burying in hooks along her torso, uppercutting along her chest. Vicious rights and lefts spank leather off of Vanessa's breasts and breadbasket, taking quite a beating from the debuting fighter up and down to the bell.

R3: Nessa moving in left, laying in a quick jab to go after Elizabeth's head and the punches adding up as she picks up the pace here in the third, having potentially underestimated Henstridge here so far. It's an impressive display of handspeed, timing and power from Vanessa as she demonstrates why she is one of the elite, just jolting Henstridge's jaw with short shots from her shoulder and driving in from her hips with her other hand to bust up her breadbasket. The crowd roaring as the final minute is the worst of Elizabeth's young career as Vanessa sets herself up, building into a rhythm as rights and lefts just bash away on target, connecting with Elizabeth's face, belly and breasts. The SHIELD star sits in the turnbuckle, soaking up the punishment as Vanessa keeps punching away even after the bell, determined to turn this bout around as the ref finally pulls her off. Vanessa takes a deep breathe, calming down now as she looks at her opponent staggering to the wrong corner at the bell as she smiles at her handiwork.

R4: It's a gutsy show of courage from Henstridge as she emerges scuffed and bruised from the carnage of the last round, but determined to continue the fight. Both of them coming to the middle of the ring to slam away at one another toe to toe, with Elizabeth showing she still has the grit and determination to bang away. Both bodies shiny and sweaty in a savage give and take, with Elizabeth managing to force Nessa into retreat as she gets the better of the exchange. Henstridge finishing the round strong, shouldering Vanessa into the ropes and digging right-left-right into her foe's tummy as Hudgens rolls and counters well off of the ropes to keep things close.

R5: Vanessa moving back outside, just moving quickly once again as the two manuever to the center of the ring, but Hudgens stepping back this time with a fast-paced jab and a quick left uppercut keeping Henstridge honest. Vanessa luring Liz across the ring, then turning her foe towards the ropes as she keeps up the jab, occasionally chopping with a right hand across her foe's face or scraping across her breasts as Henstridge is plenty touched up and discouraged by the bell – unable to get into a rhythm as Nessa keeps moving her across the ring!

R6: Vanessa keeping up the pressure on Henstridge with heartless persistence, with Hudgens keeping her foe occupied with the jab upstairs banging her head back and keeping her from focusing on the left hook that swings in downstairs, buckling Henstridge's legs. Hudgens working to the left around the body shots and jabs as Elizabeth comes forward to clinch, but Hudgens quickly walking her opponent into a perfect left uppercut into her abs to double her over. Nessa pivoting around the short punch as she shoulder bumps her foe backwards to straighten her up and then delivers a short left hook to her face which swivels Elizabeth's head to the side. Vanessa steps to the side and it's clear Elizabeth is out on her feet, just plunging to smack into the canvas face-first with her butt up in the air. Henstridge's body reclines completely as she sprawls out on the mat and she is unable to get upright before the count as this one is over – it's Vanessa Hudgens KO6 in spectacular fashion!!

AFTER: Vanessa Hudgens beams, leaning back against her corner as her chest heaves in and out, taking in some deep breaths after a surprisingly competitive bout against the debuting fighter. Vanessa turns around, mounting the turnbuckle as she pumps both fists into the air, listening to the roar of the crowd as she then hops off. Looking over at her opponent, who is definitely dazed as she is pulled up to rest against her own turnbuckle, Vanessa licks her lips a little bit at the possibility of tummying up against another foe to demonstrate why she is the fittest flyweight in the division. With a slight grin, she struts over as fellow star on AGENTS OF SHIELD Ming-Na Wen watches with concern, especially as Nessa grips her tanktop to straighten her up, but rather than stacking her up in the corner, she envelops her in a big hug. Nessa whispers encouragement into her ear as Henstridge almost has tears in her eyes – though that's not clear whether that's from the pain or from Nessa's kindness.

Easing up on the hug a bit with a chuckle, Vanessa takes her opponent to the middle of the ring and as the referee raises Hudgen's hand, Vanessa does the same with Henstridge's arm as their arms are upraised to the sky! The crowd cheering the display of sportswomanship as the two of them give each other another warm hug, with Nessa giving Henstridge's posterior a little teasing slap as Elizabeth is exciting the ring. The two of them ending things on good terms tonight as the crowd sees that Vanessa can get along with some flyweights after all, as long as your name isn't Cassie or Mishy or Hayden or Lucy or Emma or Anna or....well, at least it looks like Elizabeth might be a safe name for now!

Nessa giving her opponent lots of credit in post-match interviews as she offers her a rematch anytime and urges people to watch Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D on ABC, which just started its new season on September 20th and airs weekly on Tuesday nights (Check your local listings!) Though, as this match shows, it looks like the small screen may not be the only place you can find Elizabeth Henstridge going forward as it looks like she may join Chloe Bennet in the FCBA after a promising debut here against one of the best in the league.