WORLD TITLE: Shea London vs Susannah Burlingame

And so, it came to this.

A potentially legendary moment in the making.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” the Ring Announcer declared, “your following contest is scheduled for ONE fall, with NO time limit. It is your Main Event for the evening… and is for the FAWN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP!”

A thunderous wave of cheers and shouts worked its way through the arena, so boisterous in fact that the first few words of the Announcer’s next remarks were drowned out.

“Introducing first, the challenger… Hailing from Manchester, England in the United Kingdom. She stands five feet four inches tall and weighs in this evening at one hundred and twenty pounds. She is the icon… the living legend… the Sensational One herself… SHHHEEEAAA LOOONNNDDDOOONNN!!!!!”

The Arena PA system came to life, a voice posing a single question to tonight’s pumped up crowd:

“Do you wanna get rocked?”

Judging by the deafening roar from the FAWNatics, this was precisely their greatest wish.

SHEA LONDON:


”LET’S GET ROCKED”:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhM_LxeKgEQ

As Def Leppard’s “Let’s Get Rocked” pumped over the arena’s speakers, the curtains parted, and “Sensational” Shea London emerged onto the ramp. While it might be said that familiarity breeds contempt, there was nothing but love in the FAWNatics’ response to the bona fide legend. Just as in her previous appearances since her return, the gorgeous blonde sported a pleasingly “Old School” look: visible underneath an open, traditional, red ring jacket was a one-piece proudly emblazoned in the Union Jack, the red stripes of the cross running from the scooped neckline to between her legs and underneath her bosom, respectively, her eyes shielded behind a pair of stylish shades. Red knee and elbow pads along with blue boots completed her ensemble.

The blonde Briton darted down to the ring, her million megawatt smile on full display, her eyes shielded behind a pair those Sensational shades. She slapped hands with a FAWN fandom populous that still didn’t seem quite fully ready to believe that this woman was once again a part of the full time roster. But, back the British beauty truly was, and riding a solid winning streak to prove it.

Into this, the Sensational One’s first Mania Main Event in five years.

That night had not ended particularly well for London, losing in her quest to take the World title away from Kylie Sanders. Only time would tell if an older and wiser Shea could prevent history from echoing itself.

Of course, now some amongst the FAWNatics have had the opportunity to prepare signs to greet Sensational One’s appearance. A particular one caught Shea’s eye at ringside:

“A LITTLE RAIN NEVER BOTHERED A BRITISH BOMBSHELL, RAINMAKER!”

Giving that fan an appreciative wink, London headed to the ring. Climbing the steps, Shea slipped between the ropes and stepped toward her corner. Mounting the middle rope, London slipped her ring jacket down her shoulders, Shea’s grin growing broader as the crowd enjoyed the tease...

Once Shea’s feet returned to the canvas, the Announcer stepped back toward center ring, ready to bring this historic clash a little closer to fruition.

London’s Legions were in the midst of a raucous ‘FOUR TIMES!’ chant when the Announcer called, “And introducing her opponent, hailing from Stovington Vermont, she stands at five feet seven inches tall and weighs in at one hundred and thirty pounds! Representing the Black Court she is the three time, three time, THREE TIME FAWN World Champion! I give to you THE ACE…SUSANNAH BURLINGAME!”

CROWN ON THE GROUND:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGEZpSQEhls

The FAWN Arena shivered to its very core when ‘Crown on the Ground’ barged its way into the arena, such was the noise made by those assembled. Shortly thereafter the Ace of the Black Court stepped into view and stretched her arms in a wide ‘T’ to call forth a ‘BOOM’ of zappy blue pyro.

SUSANNAH BURLINGAME:


For the biggest match on the biggest show of the year, Susan sported an old school ‘Killer Imp’ baby tee-

Burlingame hooked her fingers around the bottom edge and peeled it overhead. Beneath it was an equally well-worn ‘Maginot Line’ tank-top in charcoal gra-

The Ace removed another layer and no one was really surprised to see her standing there in one of Shea’s original ‘Sensational’ tank-tops. Dark eyes locked on the challenger, Burlingame went to grab the bottom edge, but then she moved her hands up and clamped down on the scooped neckline. Fingers clenched, shoulders set, Sue riiiiiiiiiiiiiped the garment apart and tossed the halves at her feet.

With all the extraneous elements stripped from her wardrobe, the Rainmaker was left with a big gold belt strapped around her waist as well her trademark dark blue two-piece with mellow golden trim and matching boots and pads at knee and elbow. Finally cracking a smile when she hoisted the title one-handed, Burlingame pointed to Shea, then tapped the faceplate and waggled a finger ‘no, no, no!’ before she dropped it over her shoulder and started down the aisle.

Ignoring the scores of hands extended in her direction, Burlingame made quick time down the ramp, then hooked a left and bounded up the steel steps to the apron. A quick scuffing made sure the soles of her boots were appropriately clean before she slipped through the ropes and marched to the center of the ring where she laid the title on the canvas at her feet.

“Come and get it, London.” Sue murmured. “I know you want it more than you’ve wanted anything since Early Bird rates, so come and f*cking get it.”

Anger flashed across the Englishwoman’s face, but she made no move to leave the corner. Instead she looked to Castle and said, “Did anyone ever tell this girl[/b] she’s not supposed ta let the World Title touch the mat.” Shea turned her attention to the Ace. “Guess that’s one more lesson I’ll ‘ave ta teach ya tonight.”

Burlingame smiled, scooped up the strap and handed it off to Nick. “Oh, Shea. You need every single inch of your ass kicked.”

Sublimely pleased by the prospect, Susan backed into the opposite corner to await the first bell.

Susan and Shea went straight for one another when the bell sounded. Not a flat-out run by any means, but there was certainly no lingering from either the Sensational One or the Ace of the Black Court. Hands raised slightly above shoulder level, London approached the World Champion for what might’ve been a Test of Strength or a defense against Sue’s vaunted kicking game. Burlingame apparently took it as the former because she closed in similar fashion, though she did so in a deeper crouch that had her hands rising to meet the Briton’s. Their fingers brushed for a moment before each woman turned in a quarter circle, neither apparently ready to meet the other’s grip just yet. The second meeting involved a brief but furious bit of hand-fighting that ended with a quick break and another bout of tense circling. Finally Burlingame caught Shea’s right hand in a Greco-Roman Knucklelock and-- CRACK!

London laid lightning across the taller woman’s chest with a Knife-Edge Chop, then cinched her arm around Burlingame’s neck to draw her down into a grinding Side Headlock against the point of one hip! “Gotcha, Suzie.” London chirped as she made the hold all the more uncomfortable by dragging her knotted fists against the champion’s cheek. “’Ope ya packed a lunch, girl. This is gonna be a real long night for--”

Susan caught Shea’s left wrist in both hands and twisted free of the Headlock while simultaneously wrenching the Englishwoman’s captured hand up between her shoulders in a Hammerlock. Pressing one hand to London’s elbow so the veteran had to go up on tiptoe, Burlingame pressed in so close that her cheek was snug against Shea’s. “Long night? Who’re you kidding, baby? Your ONLY hope is to blow my doors off in the first five minutes! The longer this goes the OLDER you--”

London reached around with her right hand, cupped the back of Susan’s head and went down on one knee to sling the Bankable Bombshell onto her butt with a SnapNO!

Burlingame flipped through and landed easily on her feet, the heiress waving a ‘not that easy!’ finger to the crowd even before she turned to smirk at the challen--“NNNGGGHH!”

Shea flew skyward with a gorgeous vertical leap, her ascent capped by the picture perfect Dropkick she THWHAPPED offa Sue’s unsuspecting mug! Burlingame and London both hit the deck flat on their backs, but where the former flopped onto her tummy, the latter leaned back onto her shoulders and sprang to boot-leather in a kip-up!

Ignoring the thunderous roar of the Sensational Squadron, London rushed the vulnerable champion and dropped into a skidding slide that THWHACKED the heel of her right boot into the side of Burlingame’s skull. The Single Leg Dropkick hit hard enough to send Sue to her back, *if* Shea had allowed it. Unfortunately for the Ace, London wasn’t in a generous mood and she caught the brunette at shoulder and hip to keep her facedown on the mat. Her reasoning became apparent the moment she folded Burlingame’s legs in a Figure Four (right shin tucked into the pit of the Courtier’s left knee) and jammed her knees into the small of opposing back. Everyone in the FAWN Arena sprang to their feet when Shea cupped her left hand beneath Sue’s chin and--

Burlingame swiped London’s hand away, then tucked her chin tight against her breastbone and crawled / dragged their combined weight to the nearest set of ropes. “BREAK!” Sue barked the instant she’d hooked an arm around the rubber-coated lifeline. “Get your bony knees offa me, Loneeerrrrgggghhh!”

Shea caught a huge handful of hair and wrenched Sue’s head backward as far as she could. As for her other hand, she flattened it into a paddle and swatted Burlingame’s backside no less than half a dozen times! “What’sa matter, kiddo?” London teased over the roar of the crowd and the beginning of Castle’s count. “Did the old woman bring more to this fight than you expected?”

Sue’s only response was a growl that didn’t subside until the ref reached ‘FOUR!’ and London was back on her feet with both hooks abandoned. Claiming center ring as hers and hers alone, Shea spread her arms wide and called, “LET ‘ER ‘EAR IT, LADS!”

The response was immediate as it was deafening. ‘FOUR TIMES! FOUR TIMES! FOUR TIMES! FOUR TIMES!’

And so it went, the chant growing louder and louder when London sank into a crouch, extended both hands and beckoned Sue to kindly ‘bring it’. Sue did not oblige the request, at least not immediately. In fact the current World Champion took her time in pushing to one knee and flicking her trunks back into place. “Yer lookin’ awful comfortable in those ropes, Susie.” Shea noted. “Don’t make me come after your mouthy ar--”

Susan exploded forward, caught the challenger ‘round the wrist and sent her careening into the ropes with an Irish Whip. London hit the strands with a ‘twang’ and returned in the blink of an eye which was still more than enough time for Burlingame to double over in anticipation of a Back Body Dr-- the Sensational One twisted ‘round, hopped up and tumbled across Sue’s shoulders in a flawless back-roll that let her land behind the Courtier without making a sound. Of course Burlingame realized what’d gone wrong the moment London caught hold of her wrist and sent the brunette to the ropes with an Irish Whip of her own. The Rainmaker went without complaint and made her way back in a few long strides, Sue apparently aiming to run straight through the FAWN leg--or not. Shea saw her coming and took to the air for a Sensational Leapfrog that let Burlingame pass harmlessly ben--“OOOOFFFFFHHHH!”

Sue caught Shea’s right ankle in the crook of her elbow, twisted around and dropped to her knees to bring the blonde THWHUMPING down flat on her face, chest and belly! London groaned, pushed up on one hand and put the other to her nose to check for blood. She found none, though her perusal proved a short one because Susan hopped onto the Briton’s butt with both feet and casually ‘walked’ up the length of her spine just to finish with a quick Leg Drop administered to the back of Shea’s skull!

The heiress spun off her stunned crash-pad, shot a Half Nelson and rolled London onto her back for the first pin of the match. Forearm pressed tight against Shea’s jaw, Burlingame hooked the Englishwoman’s far leg and cradled it up tight through…

ONE!

London powered out, tumbling onto her stomach almost simultaneous with Castle’s initial slap. Hands planted flat, the British blonde pushed up--“OYE, LEGGO MY ‘AIR YA BLEEDINMPPHHH!”

Sue swung into a seat in front of her foe, snatched a double handful of hair and yanked Shea’s head back at a vicious angle. What looked like simple retribution for London’s earlier tugging revealed itself as something else entirely when Burlingame threaded both legs around the challenger’s head and stuffed her incredulous face against the center of her trunks. “Didn’t get a chance to tangle with Ivy or Portia before I called you out.” Sue explained in the midst of crossing her ankles on the appropriated Southern Charm. “So I made sure to watch plenty of their matches, particularly the ones where they humiliated your narrow ass--no, no, none of that now!”

Shea hooked her hands into claws and managed to rake Burlingame’s bronzed thighs perhaps twice before the Ace caught hold and stretched them out at her sides. Grinning as London’s muffled protestations increased in both volume and pitch, Sue teased, “It wasn’t my intention to finish you in less than five minutes with someone else’s move, but if you can’t fight out I don’t want to be accused of dragging this out. Still…”

Burlingame brought Shea’s wrists together so she could control them with one hand. The other she curled into a claw of her own, all the better to raaaaaaake the slim, squirming curves of Shea’s glutes.

Shea London had found herself trapped in the genuine Southern Charm more times than she would care to remember. Of course, for the average FAWN competitor, the average number of times they would like to find their face mashed into Ivy Armstrong’s denim clad crotch and their skull crushed between her powerful thighs would be zero. (Yoona Park was an outlier, and should not be counted.) And, make no mistake about it: Susannah’s Burlin-gams were NOT in quite the same league as Armstrong’s legs.

But they’re no slouches, in their own right.

There was another aspect of this hold, either in its Southern Charm original incarnation or this New England Clam Chowder appropriation, that was diabolical in its application. Most finishers, albeit devastating moves in their own right, often served as ‘cappers’, taking advantage of the accumulation of damage to the victim over the course of a contest. A smother could prove lethal to one’s chances of winning a contest if applied even just thirty seconds in, if not fought out of in sufficient time. They didn’t require any previous ‘softening up’ to put someone away. That was usually just gravy.

And the Southern Charm was a hold in particular that was notoriously difficult to escape.

However, Ivy didn’t customarily go for her Charm this early. Her victims were usually just about spent before she treated them to her particular brand of hospitality. Shea might be reeling, but she still had fight in her. The British blonde’s hands might be under Sue’s control, but she still had her legs. With some effort, the Sensational One worked her way to her knees, before getting a toehold on the canvas. Those Mancunian stems, legendary in their own right, began to drive London forward, the living legend’s shoulders pressing against the backs of Burlingame’s luscious thighs, the Rainmaker’s upper body responding in kind… until her shoulders laid flat against the canvas.

ONE…
TWO…

“Nyyyyuuuuunnnnnnnhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh…”

Not all pin attempts were created equal.

Not all pin attempts were efforts to actually win the match. Shea London had no expectation of getting the victory with these efforts. She had simply hoped to compel Sue to relinquish the hold in trade for the match continuing on. Instead, the Ace flexed her thighs, a demonstration of their strength that sent a quiver through the gams of the Sensational One, dropping London back to her stomach and allowing Burlingame to raise her shoulders while keeping her scissoring smother secure.

“Really?” the Rainmaker scoffed. “THAT’S the thanks I get? I’m trying to do you a FAVOR here! I know you’re not used to being up this late these days. It’s been a long-ass time since you worked a match this late on a card.”

Looking down the length of her horizontal frame, Burlingame smirked at the sight of the Sensational One’s eyelids beginning to flutter. Yet, in direct contrast to her previous remarks, both Sue’s tone and her features hardened. “Don’t you sleep on me, London,” she ordered. “Don’t you f*cking dare!”

Be careful what you wish for…

Her vision might be dimming. The pounding in her skull might be growing. But Sensational Shea London wasn’t about to pack it in and drift off to sleep. Not with history so close to her grasp this evening, and not when it would give this insufferable brat this much satisfaction. Her snarl might have been muffled by Sue’s nether regions, but the savagery with which London yanked her arms free of Burlingame’s grasp could not be hidden in any way. It wouldn’t take long for the Rainmaker to overcome her shock at this turn of events and reacquire them, so the British blonde knew she needed to act quickly.

Just as Burlingame might not be known as an Armstrong caliber Scissor artist, Shea would never be mistaken for a powerhouse. And yet, after wrapping her arms around Susannah’s thighs, the British beauty powered her way to her knees, and then to her feet, lifting the Ace off the mat in the process. She only remained vertical for maybe a second or two, but it was enough that when London fell back to her knees, Sue’s head and back were SLAMMED into the mat with enough force to break the clasp of those thighs around her skull, freeing the three time former World champ as Burlingame crumpled into a heap.

London’s Legions erupted at the reversal, but Shea remained on her knees, London’s chest heaving with each deep breath as her butt sank against her own heels. Her lungs burned as oxygen began to replace the air that the Rainmaker had stolen from her, but she knew she couldn’t afford to wait until she had refilled her tank before pressing her advantage. Sue was already beginning to stir, and it wouldn’t be long before she would be back on the attack…

In spite of that hesitation, the Sensational One still won the race back to her feet. As the Ace began to pull herself straight, the challenger pivoted and sprinted into the near ropes. Rebounding off the cables, London hurtled at, despite what she was still recovering from, a surprisingly close approximation of full speed…

… directly into a MASSIVE Bicycle Knee Strike from the Rainmaker.

BICYCLE KNEE STRIKE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8mYNgFJGzX4

The ‘THWOONK!’ of knee meeting forehead sent a chill through the blood of the FAWNatics, and stopped Shea dead in her tracks, the British blonde swiveling and staggering back toward the ropes from whence she had come. She managed barely a step before her legs buckled and faltered, sending London crumpling back to her knees, the descent of the Sensational One’s upper body only halted when her sternum met the middle ropes. Shea’s nearly leaden arms spilled over that cable, the blonde’s noggin lolling forward, those normally vibrant brown eyes suddenly dulled.

As that initial horror gave way to disapproval, the FAWNatics began to jeer… much to the Rainmaker’s apparent satisfaction. Closing her eyes as she basked in the boos of the crowd, Sue’s hands waved upward, exhorting the masses to increase their volume.

Which, unsurprisingly, the gladly obliged her.

Snatching a handful of London’s locks, the Ace pulled Shea up to her feet, turning the Brit to face her. “Do you know the problem with having been around so long?” she asked. Burlingame then promptly answered, “There’s so much tape. I know how you think, Shea…”

Slipping her right arm underneath the Sensational One’s, Sue laced her arm across Shea’s chest, gripping her foe’s shoulder before dropping to one knee and SLAMMING London’s back across her outstretched thigh.

“Getting old isn’t your problem, Shea.” the Ace muttered. “Everyone gets old, there’s nothing to be done about it. You though… you got STALE.”

Keeping that grip on the challenger’s shoulder, Burlingame rose up, pulling the blonde along with her, before laying out and tossing Shea to the mat, face and chest first. Rolling over to her prey, the Ace settled into a straddle of the Brit’s gulping tummy. And as her hands claimed Shea’s wrists and stretched her foe’s arms above her head, Sue’s boots dropped London’s parted thighs.

STO BACKBREAKER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XPrUL7GzVQ

ONE…
TWO…
THNOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shea’s right hand pressed up against the Rainmaker’s grip, raising her shoulder off the canvas.

Sue was tempted to simply push that arm back down and continue to enjoy her mount—as, it must be said, a small pocket of traitorous fans seemed to be, while they appreciated the manner in which Burlingame’s posture highlighted her backside. But instead, she rolled off, climbing to her feet before dragging the Sensational One back to hers as well. Keeping a hold on London’s left wrist, the Bankable Bombshell shuffled to the Brit’s left flank, dipping slightly as she drew Shea’s arm between her own legs. Trading her foe’s wrist off between her left and right hand, Susannah then threaded her left arm underneath the now doubled Sensational One’s right. And, once her left hand clamped down on London’s left shoulder, the Pumphandle abdominal stretch was secured.

PUMPHANDLE ABDOMINAL STRETCH:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=23fDbL4ungQ

“What do you say, Shea?” the referee asked.

Eyes clenched shut against the pain, her normally cheerful features twisted in agony, London rasped, “I… agggghhhhh… I saaayyy… gyyyuuuhhhh… I’m still not starfiiiiiyyyyuuuUUUUUUNNNNNGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“All in due time,” Sue chided her challenger, each grinding tug on London’s captive left wrist forcing the trussed up blonde’s right foot off the mat. Meanwhile, Burlingame’s free hand tauntingly glided across the Brit’s stomach. “Seriously, Shea, Chrissy’s tummy held up better against this hold.”

However much she might be feeling London’s abdominal muscles yielding to the stretch, the Rainmaker nevertheless released it, spinning the Sensational One to face her before muscling Shea up onto her shoulders and into a fireman’s carry. Burlingame then wasted no time in pushing up on London’s leg, intending to spin her prey to SMASH Shea’s face onto her posted knee…

… only as Sue pushed up, Shea straightened up, swinging her stems to slip them around Burlingame’s noggin. At first glance, this might seem only a slightly more preferable state of affairs for the Sensational One, as she effectively found herself in the metaphorical electric chair. But as venerable as London might be, the times have clearly not passed her by. Clamping down on Sue’s skull with her thighs, Shea threw her full weight back and downward, RIPPING the Rainmaker off her feet and SPIKING the champ’s skull with an improvised Poisoned ‘Rana! And, with Burlingame’s arms momentarily falling limp between London’s thighs and calves, the kneeling Brit leaned back, her rump pressing against the upturned Ace’s spine as she held her down for…

POISONED ‘RANA:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKn0RTTovFc

ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Susannah bucked loose, both women spilling into puddled heaps, laying facedown. Whichever would rally first was anyone’s guess, but the FAWNatics swiftly made it known their preference, chanting and cheering in support of the Sensational One.

Nick Castle had no particular preference as to which of his charges stood first, just as long as one of them managed to do so before he reached ‘TEN!’ on his count. Having the ‘Mania Main Event on a draw wasn’t an idea he relished in the slightest. And yet both blonde and brunette were still down when the zebra and his chorus reached ‘SIX!’ Castle slowed his pace ever so slightly, bellowed ‘SEVEN!’ a little louder in the hopes that increased volume would burn through the stupor afflicting both champion and challenger.

Damned if these ministrations didn’t pay off, as first Susan, then Shea made it to one knee and continued to rise as Castle reached ‘EIGHT!’ They reached verticality at the same instant, yet Burlingame’s longer reach meant she secured a two-handed Wristlock on London a heartbeat before the Briton could do the same to her. Tugging Shea in as soon as her hook was set, the Ace stuffed a quick Kneelift into her opponent’s belly, then shoulder-checked her backward just to reel her into a second Kneelift. “Poaching the Poisoned ‘Rana, Shea? Really?” Sue huffed at the curve of her foe’s back. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

London didn’t answer and Burlingame offered no follow-up, save to step back and shoot the Sensational One at the ropes with an Irish Whip. Aware that the heiress was hot on her heels, Shea put on a burst of speed and went low for a Baseball Slide that took her under the bottom rope to a spot on the floor below. Whipping ‘round the instant she touched down, Shea caught sight of Susan’s back as the champ bounced into the strands for a second pass that would’ve surely ended in a Suicide Dive if the Englishwoman hadn’t reached in, grabbed hold of both ankles and YANKED!

Burlingame went down hard and fast, her chin bouncing unpleasantly against the thinly-sheathed plywood. The stars behind her eyes were still popping like fireworks when London gave a little tug and followed with an enthusiastic spin, the hundred and eighty degree turnaround leaving Sue with an unpleasant case of mat burn and her head hanging off the edge of the apr--THWHAP! Shea left her feet in a gorgeous vertical leap and promptly reintroduced them to the side of Burlingame’s skull in a Dropkick that struck hard enough to turn the champ onto her back.

Nodding in satisfaction, London ‘snapped’ her bottoms back into place with a practiced flick of index fingers, then hopped up onto the apron near the ring-post. “It’s not quite Sensational,” she told the cacophonous crowd, “but it’ll serve as a nice preview, don’t ya think, lads?” The lads (and lasses) agreed wholeheartedly, so London took a few measured steps down the narrow ledge, then hopped up and kicked both legs forward to bring the full weight of her summer-tanned right thigh THWHAPPING down across Burlingame’s throat!

APRON LEG DROP:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmbylOyQ2cM

Sue retched, shuddered violently and tumbled onto her stomach again, though she retained enough presence of mind to push her way back into the relative safety of the squared circle. This didn’t bother Shea in the slightest, she used the lull to smooth back her hair, catch a few deep breaths and assess the strain Burlingame put on her tummy with that bloody Abdominal Stretch. Even so she’d made it back to the apron a few heartbeats prior to Sue reaching one knee. Noting the distance between herself and the Courtier, London slung her right leg over the middle rope and planted that foot on the bottom rope. There she stayed until the Rainmaker was almost upright. “’ey duchess.” London murmured. “Fight’s up ’ere.”

Sue looked up and that’s when Shea pounced, the first FAWN World Champion launching herself through the strands to catch Burlingame’s exposed head in a Front Facelock that she transitioned into a flawless Tornado DDT! The crown of Burlingame’s skull hit with a heavy ’THWHONK’ though the noise was immediately devoured in the roar of the crowd because Shea threw herself across the brunette’s chest and hooked the far leg for…

SLINGSHOT TORNADO DDT:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYHc3u8iuQk

ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!

Sue escaped by getting her hand under Shea’s chin for a rough shove, a bit of disrespect the challenger repaid with interest en route to bringing Burlingame up with a handful of hair. “Ya wanna put yer ‘ands in my face, do ya?” Shea switched over to a Wristlock so Castle couldn’t complain about the hair. “Then I’ll put my boot in yours, sweetheart.”

On that note she stepped back, dropped a hip and sent Burlingame zipping to the far corner. No clever escapes from this Irish Whip, Sue simply turned into it and let out a low, pained ‘NNNGGGH!’ when she collided with the buckles. As for Shea she bustled to the opposite corner where she took a moment to line up her shot. When she *did* depart it wasn’t in a straight line but a wide, looping curve that took her along two sides of the squared circle before she hopped up and lashed out her right leg to THWHACK a huge Yakuza Kick offa the side of Susan’s face!

CORNER YAKUZA KICK:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbcbKqnGBGg

Burlingame’s head snapped to the side and her knees gave out, leaving the World Champ to plop down on her butt. Shea reached for the heiress’ hair, then straightened up and waggled a finger ‘no, no, no’. “Not just yet, girl.” the Briton murmured in the midst of clearing off. “I’ve gotta teach ya some manners first.”

Already suspicious, the FAWNatics roared to shake the rafters when London whipped around and sprinted to the opposite corner. A lightning-quick turnaround sent the Sensational One back the way she’d came and though it wouldn’t been the perfect opportunity for a Basement Meteora or a Hesitation Dropkick, Shea elected a low flying hop directly into a tawdry classic, a Bronco Buster that dropped a hundred and twenty-plus pounds of butt bomb directly atop Burlingame’s chest. Of course a Bronco Buster was like potato chips, you couldn’t bounce just once. That’s why Shea took hold of the middle rope and used it to power half a dozen more butt-to-sternum collisions, each of them mashing the back of Sue’s skull into the bottom buckle.

Castle’s count forced London to abandon her ride at ‘FOUR!’, though the dirty blonde made sure to punctuate her exit with a teasing swivel of her hips mere inches from the Ace’s nose. Smiling as she helped herself to a double handful of hair, Shea forced Sue to stand just long enough to double her over with a Front Facelock. From there she slung the near arm over her shoulders, grabbed a handful of waistband and popped her hips to take the Rainmaker up, over and down with a BOOMING Snap Suplex! London floated through, hooked the far leg tight and nodded along while the crowd tolled…

SNAP SUPLEX:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1rQVy70M2Pw

ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!

Burlingame pushed loose and rolled onto her stomach to defend against a quick follow-up pin. Shea didn’t bother to argue with Castle’s count, she just bounced to boot-leather and treated Susan to another taste of things to come by springing into the air and THWHUMPING her left leg across the back of Sue’s neck!

STANDING LEG DROP:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwLISjxW_II

Perched on one knee in the aftermath, London took a few deep breaths while Burlingame flopped to her back and tried to clear the cobwebs. “Always ‘eard Lily was a big fan.” London admitted once she’d rose to her full height. “And I’m a fan of ‘ers truth be told. So ‘ere’s a little nod to the Burlingame sister that isn’t a colossal skag.”

With that she hurried to the edge of the ring, hop over the strands and landed deftly on the apron. No sooner had she touched down did the Manchester native vault onto the top rope and launch skyward, London curling herself into a tight ball that whirled through a full four-hundred and fifty degrees of devastation before she flattened out and THAWHAMMED down full force on Sue’s tummy! The purloined Star Strider specialty left Burlingame gaping for air, right where Shea wanted her as she collected both legs in a snug bundle and curled her into a Back Press good for the….

SPRINGBOARD 450 SPLASH:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSjyuMJdpRw

ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOO!

The Bankable Bombshell escaped with a heartbeat between herself and defeat and now Shea did show Nick three fingers. “C’mon Nick, that was three!” she argued.

“Sorry Shea, it was as close as you can get to three without actually being three. So stay on her!”

London raked a hand through her hair and nodded, more to herself than the official. “Up, Sue. I said up!”

Shea probably pulled Sue’s hair a little harder than necessary, not that anyone but the champion offered a complaint. The challenger ignored it, switched over to a Wristlock and slung Burlingame into the far corner with as much force as she could muster. Turned out to be quite a lot, as Sue barely managed to spin around before she BWUUUNGED spine-first against the roughly-padded steel. Her knees shivered on impact, but the heiress managed to retain her footing because she threw both arms over the top rope. That suited Shea (who was already posted up in the far corner) just fine, as it meant she didn’t have to concern herself with any further preparations before she launched herself at the prone brunette.

The actual ‘run’ portion of her approach lasted all of a few steps, after that the FAWN Legend went low for no less than half a dozen perfect Handsprings, Shea seemingly turning back the clock a decade or more as she flew outta the finish with a dagger-like Back Elbow pointed at Susan’s he--

Burlingame pulled her arms forward and together in a guard that absorbed most of the shock and bounced London outta the corner on slightly unsteady legs. She’d just regained her balance when Sue exploded outta the corner and pinned the Briton’s arms overhead in a snug Full Nelson. Pushing down on Shea’s head until the point of her chin was wedged into the top of her own décolletage, Susan stomped away from the corner, then whipped around in a half circle.

“Gotcha now, bytch.” she hissed in London’s ear. “Your ass belongs to me.”

Sue dipped her knees and peeled off a flawless bridge, the Rainmaker reminding everyone just who the hell she was by PLANTING Shea on the back of her head and shoulders courtesy of a Dragon Suplex. London landed in a perfect Matchbook, her rump pointed straight at the rafters while Burlingame held her bridge through…

DRAGON SUPLEX:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=fy5xts1UVKI

ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shea’s legs gave a kick. Not a particularly strong one, but with Burlingame’s efforts divided between holding the Sensational One down and sustaining her bridge, it was forceful enough to free London from the champion’s clutches and allow her to tumble into a heap near the base of the corner.

Susannah didn’t bother protesting the count, instead picking herself up and muttering, “Stealing from Lil’s playbook? Sometimes imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and sometimes it’s the sincerest form of f*ck you.”

Bending down, the Bankable Bombshell snatched a handful of the Sensational One’s locks and tugged the living legend up onto visibly rubbery legs. “Such a pity you don’t have any family worth stealing moves from,” Burlingame sighed, a sentiment which no doubt would have been met with scorn from Jaime London’s fans, or indeed from Shea herself if she hadn’t still been as woozy as the Dragon Suplex had left her. Forcing the Brit’s back against the buckles, Sue nudged her opponent’s leaden arms over the top rope before adding, “Doesn’t mean I can’t think of something…”

Turning so that her right shoulder was facing the slumping Sensational One, Sue drew back her right hand. Now, most observers didn’t think much of it, the first time Burlingame’s palm ‘SMECK!’ed off London’s sternum. And only a handful grew any more the wiser when she started to pull her hand back, only to land ANOTHER blistering chop before the sound of the first had time to fade from the atmosphere. But as that hand became a blur, unloading Chop after Chop after Chop to Shea’s increasingly reddened chest, realization started to come to the audience…

… and, for the benefit of the most obtuse in the stands, Burlingame halted her onslaught just long enough to turn and perform a five year old’s approximation of a quick rain dance, before turning back to the Sensational One and unloading with another round of a Knife Edge Massacre straight out of Tempe.

KNIFE EDGE MASSACRE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8doUJsDnGL8

Susannah took another step backward, allowing the animosity of crowd to again wash over her. “Better than Bloodwind’s,” she smirked, “and you’d all admit it, if you were honest.” Returning to her opponent, who by this point was slightly doubled forward with her backside pressed against the middle buckle and one hand tried to soothe her enflamed bosom, Burlingame took possession of London’s noggin and roughly deposited her to a seat on the canvas with a Snapmare, she then lined up and connected with a swift and vicious kick that ‘THWACK!’ed between the Sensational One’s shoulderblades, lifting Shea to her knees and sending her crawling forward a stride and a half before she pitched forward, landing facedown and mewling.

Sauntering toward her downed prey, the Ace gave her foe an almost piteous shake of her head. “I can do this all night,” she observed, using a boot to nudge Shea’s stems apart before stepping into the gap created. “Once upon a time, so could you. Back in the days of dial-up.”

Kneeling between the Brit’s gams, Sue turned her knees outward, pressing each against Shea’s inner thighs and using them to push London’s luscious legs further apart, putting a sudden and intense strain on the challenger’s hamstrings. Leaning forward, Burlingame reached over Shea’s noggin, her fingers curling before slipping into Shea’s nostrils. She then tugged back on the nosehold, London’s face grimacing as she let out an anguished groan.

Having already pilfered the Southern Charm from the ‘Bama Slamma, Sue now stole the 7-10 Split from the Killer Imp. Burlingame had definitely done her homework on Shea’s biggest rivals, before stepping inside the ring with her. Of course, while the Charm was meant to snuff out the last embers of its victim’s fighting spirit, as painful as the Split was, it’s true aim was embarrassment and humiliation.

(Indeed, even at this moment, in the back of her head the Sensational One could hear Daniel’s voice. “Oink, Suey… I mean, Sheasy!”)

But the hold usually came to a decidedly painful end, and did so here as well, when Susannah delivered a swift punch to the Briton’s windpipe with her free hand, before ripping the other away. London crashed back to the deck with a mewling gurgle, the Rainmaker pausing just long enough to wipe her fingers on Shea’s rump before pushing up to her feet.

Claiming a helping of hair, Sue pulled London up, before shifting her grip to the wrist of the ragged, sweat-soaked blonde. But as Burlingame attempted to launch the Sensational One toward the ropes, Shea demonstrated just a little of that legendary heart when she slammed on the brakes and reversed the whip…

No.

MORE than a little.

Instead of sending Sue on her merry way, London abruptly and forcefully tugged the defending champion back toward her. This was it! All Shea had to do was pivot, grab Burlingame’s head and pull her jaw over the Brit’s shoulder, and London would Call for a NEW, FOUR TIME champion!

LONDON CALLING:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6NCPRcQVtKE&feature=youtu.be&t=347

Alas, Shea never got to pivot. It’s not that Burlingame fought off London’s efforts to reel her in—quite the reverse. As soon as she felt the Sensational One tug back on one arm, Sue charged forward and raised the other, slamming that scythe into the British blonde’s clavicle with enough force to send Shea’s feet flying out from underneath her, dropping her to the mat in a starfished heap.

RAINMAKER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9damVJyb71M

“Like I said, Shea,” Sue mused, reaching down to hair-haul the blasted blonde to verticality. “I know exactly how you think.”

The Rainmaker then wrenched the challenger’s right arm in a cruel Chickenwing. Placing her free hand against the back of London’s neck, Sue pushed down, spinning the blonde around so Burlingame could collect a Front Facelock. The Bankable Bombshell reached down with her left arm, caught Shea’s right leg behind the knee and lifted it off the canvas in an unpleasant cradle. Lifting the Sensational One off her feet, Susan braced the near breathless Briton against one hip.

“It’s been real, bytch.”

Burlingame then spun through one, two, and even three full rotations. The final one culminated in Sue rising onto her toes and dropping to a seat, SPIKING Shea’s skull into the unforgiving canvas!

SPIRIT CRUSHER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOMWRvdJ7Og

Under most circumstances, Sue would simply swing a leg over her insensate victim and promptly settle into a seat atop their hapless face. But not tonight.

Not at Mania.

Not with Shea London.

Oh, the Sensational One would DEFINITELY be introduced to the Best Seat in the House. But that would be a special moment in its own right. So, almost casually, Susannah draped herself across London’s torso in a Back Press, gathering and hooking a limp leg for…

ONE…
TWO…
THREENOOOOOOFUGGGHHHIIINNNWAAAYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

London THRUST a balled right fist into the air, raising her shoulder off the mat, just before Castle’s hand could make the outcome final.

Susannah remained reclined against her opponent, though her usually smug features now sported a look of utter shock. Both she and a suddenly thunderous crowd were hard pressed to remember the last time someone kicked out of the Spirit Crusher. “The f*ck, Nick?” she snapped at the official, outraged and incredulous.

“Honestly, Sue?” an equally disbelieving Castle replied. “Right there with you. I thought she was done.”

But Shea London wasn’t done. She might not be moving, that balled fist remaining raised in defiance notwithstanding. But she wasn’t done.

Climbing to her feet, Burlingame began to pull Shea’s near deadweight up as well. Outside the ring, London’s Legion of fans took it upon themselves to rally their heroine, launching a chant of, “LET’S GO, LON-DON!”

While not nearly as loud, a few contrarian voices in the audience countered with, “RAIN-MAY-KER!”

“LET’S GO, LON-DON!” Shea’s fans called back.

“RAIN-MAY-KER!” Susannah’s replied again.

And so it continued, all the way through the Ace getting the Sensational One upright once again, and even through Burlingame tucking Shea’s noggin under her left arm. Only the Snap Brainbuster that DRILLED the Brit’s cranium into the canvas caused Shea’s fans to relent, and brought satisfaction to Sue’s.

SNAP BRAINBUSTER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCGX7DvbDXA

As Shea’s broken and battered body settled into a boneless spreadeagle, it appeared that Sue could simply roll over and cover her, and she would collect the three count that the Sensational One had so stubbornly denied her. But when the Rainmaker noticed her opponent’s position relative to the near ring-post, she forced that thought out of her head. Instead, Sue rose and moved toward the ropes, slipping out onto the apron. Given the gimmick infringement that had been a theme of the contest, most of the crowd had worked out what Burlingame had in mind halfway through her ascent to the top rope.

But when the Bankable Bombshell launched herself to the heavens and extended her shapely legs in front of her, any doubt was removed.

BANKABLE LEGDROP:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=q23b0EQbM7A

Her flight might not have been Sensational, but it was impressive. Unfortunately for the reigning and defending champ, her landing proves excruciating when the Best Seat in the House landed against the Most Unforgiving Surface in the Arena, Shea having rolled clear at the last instant to leave Sue to crash and burn, not to mention bounce on the bankable backside a couple of times before at last coming to a halt.

Across the ring, lying on her stomach, Shea gave the canvas a couple of quick, emphatic slaps. Partly, it was self-motivation, but it also served to rally the FAWNatics behind her. Not that they needed any encouraging, just a little bit of direction. Sure enough, London’s Legion began clapping to the tempo that London herself had established, while the Sensational One draws herself up to her feet with the aid of the ropes.

How many times had they seen it?

Shea London, denying the odds, denying the punishment she had endured…

In the case of this evening, Shea London denying time itself to claw her way back into a fight she was badly losing, and claim victory with one of those ‘London Runs.’

How many MORE times would they be fortunate enough to witness one?

Only a moment or so after Shea had regained her footing, so too had the Rainmaker, although Susannah’s back was toward the living legend. It was just the sort of opening that London needed, and she began to charge the champ even before Burlingame began her turn. By the time the Ace had corrected her positioning, the Sensational One was already off her feet, her knees landing against Sue’s shoulders. Shea then rode the brunette down to the mat, her backside landing heavily atop Sue’s chest, knocking the wind out of her as London reached back to gather and hook the champion’s legs…

LONDON BLITZ:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2Iu6_EU_3k

ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sue bucked loose, sending Shea toward the near ropes. Landing on her knees, the Sensational One fell to her side and used her momentum to roll under the bottom rope. Rising, London claiming the top rope with both hands, allowing her weight to sag against the cables as she waited for Burlingame to pick herself up. And once the Rainmaker began to rise, the British blonde rocked back and vaulted herself over the top rope. Catching Sue around the neck with one arm, Shea swung her back toward the canvas and allowed gravity to do the rest of the work for her, as she drilled the crown of Burlingame’s skull into the mat a Slingshot DDT.

SLINGSHOT DDT:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeZVt5vznyE

Shea’s momentum sent her tumbling away from the splattered champion, denying the blonde a quick follow-up pin. Instead of wasting the energy to crawl over and cover, figuring that Sue would have been able to recover enough of her wits in that time to kick out, London instead claws her way to her feet along the ropes. Burlingame, meanwhile, groggily worked her way up to a seated position. And as the Ace shook out some of the cobwebs, the Sensational One lowered herself into a tensed crouch.

And, once Sue Burlingame had climbed to her feet and turned toward her, Sensational Shea London EXPLODED out of that crouch, her Super Kick catching the Bankable Bombshell flush under the jaw, snapping her head back and sending her staggering in a drunken semicircle. With Burlingame’s back to her once again, London didn’t afford her the luxury of turning around this time. Instead, she charged toward her foe as quickly as her increasingly fatigued legs could carry her. Jumping, Shea grabbed hold of Sue’s shoulders with both hands, drawing her knees up against the Rainmaker’s shoulderblades before falling back, her Lungblower knocking a considerable amount of wind out of Sue’s sails.

LUNGBLOWER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=UnzutlHH2L8

And now, it was Shea’s turn to notice that Sue’s carcass had been left right in the drop zone…

Pushing up from her knees, the Sensational One slid out onto the apron and marched to the near ring-post. After giving the uppermost turnbuckle a couple of swats, the ‘THWAP!’ of her palm against the leather ringing throughout the FAWN Arena, London began to climb. Reaching her perch, the British Bombshell paused to steady herself, tired legs showing an uncharacteristic tremble…

… but they still propelled her toward the heavens. Maybe not to the “Sensational” heights they had done that night in September 2003, when she had won the title for the first time. But it was high enough. And, unlike moments ago, Susannah Burlingame did NOT roll out of the way, her neck and sternum taking the full force of London’s succulent thigh dropping across them. Shea quickly rolled over, covered, and hooked a leg, an unruly mass of euphoric FAWNatics rising to mark history as Nick Castle slapped off the…

ONE…
TWO…
THREENOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Susannah Burlingame got a shoulder up!

In spite of everything Shea had thrown at her in the last couple of minutes, the Ace wasn’t about to relinquish her grip on that title. Not on this stage. Whatever issues the Sensational One had with Burlingame’s attitude or her tactics, she had to respect that. Which is why she refused to pout, or to rest. Instead, Shea forced herself back to her feet, pulling Sue up as well and leading the reeling champion into the corner that London had just launched herself from. After a trio of violent smashes of the Rainmaker’s mug into the leather turnbuckle, Shea spun her around and started to whip her toward the opposite corner…

… but the Rainmaker reversed it. For just an instant, Shea’s fans held their breath, having seen their beloved heroine counter an Irish whip reversal into the Calling on a number of occasions in the past. But not this time. London lumbers into the corner on leaden legs, turning her back into a spine-rattling collision. Sue didn’t hesitate before following her in…

… only for Shea to step forward and meet the hard-charging champion, catching her with an arm across the chest, leaning forward only to rock back and toss the Rainmaker into a face first collision with the middle turnbuckle. As the Sensational One sauntered wearily back toward her previous location, Burlingame began to gingerly pull herself up, both arms spilled over the middle rope, the back of her head hovering just underneath that middle buckle, her stems parted in a broad stance…

… and that vaunted backside swaying tauntingly in the breeze.

Shea London couldn’t resist.

She raced across the ring, not quite able to reach her usual top speed but still at a considerable pace. Leaping into the air, London drove both boots into the so-called “Best Seat in the House” with a Dropkick that jammed the back of the brunette’s neck against the turnbuckle.

CORNER REAR DROPKICK:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=94MzhSVIUcI

In another testament to the Rainmaker’s stubbornness, Sue Burlingame STILL didn’t go down. Instead, she straightened up… though her arms hung nearly limp at her sides, her legs straining under the ordeal of supporting her weight, apparently ready to be knocked over by the first stiff breeze that struck her. What caught her instead was Shea’s arm, turning her back toward the center of the ring before wrapping around her neck. Again, London’s tiring legs carried her at a gallop across the mat, the Brit leaping to SLAM Sue’s face into the canvas with a running bulldog.

RUNNING BULLDOG:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S-1w9QNSik

Shoveling the Bankable Bombshell to her back, London covered, hooking the outside leg and scoring the…

ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Ace got a shoulder up.

Though a groan of frustration and disappointment initially worked its way through the capacity crowd, the FAWNatics couldn’t help but appreciate the determination and resiliency of BOTH women, each of whom even now began struggling up to their knees. From those unsteady perches, Shea and Sue began to trade forearms, the crowd cheering each blow landed by the Sensational One and booing each strike from the Rainmaker. Still firing their “bombs”, both blonde and brunette fought their way to their feet, quite literally. Finally, Shea connected with a forearm that rocked the Rainmaker, and London quickly turned toward the near ropes…

By the time the blonde Brit rebounded off those cables, Burlingame was ready, unloading with a backhand Chop… which met only air, as London ducked underneath it. Continuing on toward the opposite ropes, Shea knew it was now or never. And so, instead of turning her back into the cables, the blonde dove forward into a handstand, rocking back until her legs met the top rope and propelled her back the other way. Her feet had barely touched down on the mat before they had launched London airborne toward her foe, the Sensational One’s back to Susannah. Reaching over her shoulder, Shea claimed Susan’s skull, pulling the Rainmaker’s jaw over her shoulder before she kicked her legs toward the rafters!

MANCHESTER CALLING:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8WNEHdBwkM

It was the most incredible rendition of the Calling the FAWNatics could ever recall witnessing, and it had cost the Sensational One nearly every ounce of energy she had left.

But she got ALL of it, the champion dropped with extreme prejudice.

Perhaps she had even gotten TOO MUCH of it, as either the force of the impact or perhaps merely survival instinct sent Burlingame first flopping onto her back, and then rolling toward the ropes. Maybe the Ace had hoped to spill out to the floor, where she couldn’t lose the championship. But she comes to a rest just shy of the ropes, flat on her back, arms and legs splayed. Scraping the bottom of her tank, Shea scampered toward her opponent, throwing herself into a final lunge that allowed her to drop an arm across Sue’s chest, Shea turning her head to allow her left cheek to fall across Burlingame’s limp left bicep. And again, the FAWNatics rise, shouting along with Nick Castle’s count toward history…

“ONE…
TWO…
THREEUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Shea barely had the strength left to lift her head, and turn to look across Sue’s heaving chest to see why the bell hadn’t rung.

Burlingame hadn’t kicked out.

She had barely even spasmed.

But that one spasm had been enough to drop Burlingame’s right ankle across the bottom rope.

The title was still hers, at least for the moment.

And, somehow, Shea London had to dig just a little deeper.

Dipping her head in a show of grim determination, the Sensational One rolled to one knee and laid claim to Sue’s left wrist and ankle. Twenty minutes ago, hell, even ten minutes ago, she could’ve muscled the Ace across the canvas like it was no big deal. Now however Burlingame felt like she was made of wet cement and Shea was huffing and puffing by the time she’d lugged the brunette to center ring. Even so, there was a hardworking smile on her face when she dropped to her knees and shoveled the Courtier onto her back.

“Ya… ya know the ol’ saying, we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it?” London sighed as she slid her knees onto Susan’s back and deftly crossed the champ’s right shin into the pit of her left knee. “Well duchess, we’re just about there.”

Folding Burlingame’s lower leg up over her trapped shin, the Briton hooked her left hand beneath Sue’s chin and roc-- London got Burlingame’s tummy maybe half an inch off the mat before she settled back with a damp thud. Shea sighed, hunched down and rolled back that much har-- the Rainmaker rocked in place, but otherwise stayed glued to the mat.

“I don’t bloody think so, luv.” London grunted. “It’s time yer pampered arse looked at the lights!” She leaned down, braced her forehead against the mat, then pushed off hard enough to roll onto her back with Sue pulled up n’ onto those posted knees courtesy of London’s Brid-NO!

Sue rolled through, landed hard on the smaller wrestler’s chest and immediately collected the far leg in a snug pin! Galled at the idea of their heroine finished by a simple Crossbody, London’s Legions roared at the top of their lungs while Castle and Burlingame’s Backer’s counted off the…

ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOO!

Shea didn’t so much kick out as she did slide free, the Sensational One tumbling onto her belly but still otherwise pinned beneath the Bankable Bombshell. Shea’s fans were still celebrating the last-second escape when Susan cinched her right arm around the blonde’s left bicep, grabbed that wrist in her left hand and CRAAAAAAAAANKED back on a vicious Fujiwara Armbar!

FUJIWARA ARMBAR:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cZw3PoVaqE

“TAP!” Susan demanded even as she gripped her own left forearm for extra leverage. “TAP THAT MAT BYTCH, YOU’RE FINISHED!”

Shea’s free hand wavered dangerously, seeming to shudder with a mind of its own while London screamed some sort of incomprehensible denial. “What do you say, Shea?” Nick asked quietly. “Need me to call it? You gotta tell me some--”

“NOOOOOOOOOO!” Shea grabbed a fistful of her own hair and pulled until her eyes watered. “NO, I DON’T BLOODY TAPPPAAAAAAAAARRRRRRHHHHHH GAAAAAAAAAHD!”

Sue planted her feet and bridged up as high as she could go, the Rainmaker more than happy to take Shea all the way to her breaking point. “The f*ck you won’t.” she growled. “You’re mine now old woman.”

But Shea didn’t give up. In fact she pulled the hand from her hair, smacked it against the mat and began to drag their combined weight toward the ropes. Scrabbling and sliding alongside the crippled Englishwoman, Burlingame sat up without warning and-- Shea pushed up the instant Sue’s weight shifted and threw herself into a desperate somersault that put her on her back. It meant her arm was still in the brunette’s clutches, but the torque on her shoulder was entirely gone and she wasted no time scrambling to one knee. Burlingame did the same, the infuriated World Champ using her free hand to crank Shea’s head back at a merciless angle as they made their way to boot-leath---“NNNNGGGHHH!”

London repaid the hair-pull with a foot stomp, the Sensational One just mashing her rival’s toes beneath the heel of one boot! Sue yelped and reeled backward only to get caught tight when Shea leapt and wrapped her noggin in a Three Quarters Facelock! London yanked for all she was worth and laid out full force to bring the Ace down flat on her fa-NO!

Sue threw herself into a desperate sort of handstand, the Courtier bracing her palms against the mat and pushing off to kip back to her feet while a discombobulated Shea sat-- THWHACK!

Burlingame pivoted on her plant (left) foot, hopped forward and unleashed a shotgun-blast Super Kick to the back of her opponent’s skull! London snapped forward and reeled back, the blonde Briton completely oblivious to Sue rushing the ropes on her six. This proved a mercy of sorts as it meant she was effectively relaxed when Susan hopped up and SLAMMED her right knee into same spot she’d planted the Super Kick.

ENZU SHINING WIZARD:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tRQhTBKTHg

Shea slumped onto her side in an insensate sprawl, but Burlingame went for the hair instead of a pin. Jerking the challenger upright with a few savage tugs, Sue switched over to a Wristlock and slung her blonde burden at the ropes in an Irish Wh-- Burlingame hit the brakes and reeled her back in, the Rainmaker relinquishing her grip just in time to stuff both hands into Shea’s tummy and shoot her straight into the lights! Whipping ‘round once the Briton was off her hands, Sue didn’t wait for London to come to her, she sprang up and caught the Sensational One in a Three Quarters Facelock.

POP-UP ACE CRUSHER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=h70TK_AzEcU

The Ace Crusher landed with a ring-shivering THAWHAM, not that the FAWNatics had more than a heartbeat to acknowledge it before Burlingame tumbled into a mount atop her foe’s back and secured her head under one arm in a spine-wrenching Inverted Facelock! Hooking Shea’s left arm over the post of her knee immediately thereafter, Sue sat down and reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeefed back on the Root of All Evil!

Feet planted flat, Burlingame bounced in place on her saddle, just driving every bit of her weight into the small of Shea’s back over and over and over again. “GIVE IT UP!” the Rainmaker screamed. “TAP THAT MAT, HAG!”

With one arm draped over Sue’s thigh and the other planted to alleviate the worst of the pressure, Shea could barely move, though that didn’t stop her legs from bicycling fitfully. She raked at Sue’s thigh too, but it didn’t seem to do anything more than anger the champion. “Yuuuhhh… you wanna scratch, bytch?” the heiress rasped. “I can play that game too.” To prove it she reached up with her left hand, slipped it beneath the scooped neckline of Shea’s one-piece and secured a hard-hearted pincer on her right nipple.

“OOOOOOOHHHHH FAAAAAHK!” London pulled up her braced hand to grasp at Sue’s wrist, but it was only a matter of seconds before she’d replanted it to ease the growing numbness in her neck.

“Tap that mat.” Sue demanded in a ferocious whisper. “Sign it over to me, baby. You KNOW it’s mine!”

Instead Shea grabbed at her wrist one more time, then reeeeeeeeeeeeeached for the ropes while trying to slide her way across the merciless canvas. The blonde journeyed no more than six inches when she let out a weary, bone-deep sigh and went limp in the Ace’s grasp. “Oh no you don’t, bytch.” Sue dropped her butt onto Shea’s and slid back as far as physics and human anatomy would allow. “You don’t get to do that. Not here, not tonight!”

But the call wasn’t Susan’s to make.

That duty fell to Nick Castle and the Senior Official was quick to raise London’s right arm. It fell like a downed power line when he released his grip. “ONE!”

Castle repeated the process with the same result. “TWO!”

Everyone was on their feet now, the whole arena a deafening cacophony as Shea’s arm went up…. and returned to the mat without so much as a twitch. “THREE! SHE’S OUT, RING THE BELL!”

Sue released the hold with a disgusted shove, powered to her feet and threw a fist overhead while the Announcer confirmed, “Ladies and gentlemen, your winner via knock-out… and STILL the FAWN World Champion… SUSANNAH BURLINGAME!”

The Ace drew away when Castle approached with the title in hand, apparently she wasn’t quite ready to claim it just yet. Honing in on something in the far corner, she strode over, bent down and picked up the challenger’s shades. Raising them high in needlessly dramatic fashion, the Courtier strode back to the middle of the squared circle and gripped the shades in both hands. A brittle snap seemed inevitable, but after a moment Sue flicked ‘em open, put ‘em on… and planted a foot on either side of the Sensational One’s insensate noggin.

“I *might* have let this go if you’d tapped out.” Sue sighed. “You are Lily’s favorite, after all. But this is ‘Mania. And if you won’t quit with dignity then you don’t deserve to leave the ring with it.”

Eyes fluttering ever so slightly, Shea muttered, “Kuuuuuhhhhh…. kiss my arse, Suzie. Not my fault yer’ not strong enough to MMMMRRRRRPPPPPPPPHHHHHHH!”

Sue dropped to a splay-kneed seat that set the full weight of her bronzed buttocks firmly atop the Sensational One’s upturned face! “I’m not what?” Burlingame asked in the midst of snuggling the soles of her boots in against the sides of Shea’s skull. “Could you repeat that, babe? Sounded like you had something in your mouth.”

Shea did as Sue damned well knew, the evidence was all over her face as she began to pull her undercarriage along the topography of the challenger’s mug in long, sweeping strokes. Offering muffled shrieks into the humid confines of those conquering glutes, London reached up and shoved at her opponent’s tush before grabbing hold with a white-knuckle claw. Sue grimaced, spread her knees wider and ground a little more forcefully. “Oh, so you DO have claws. Too bad you didn’t unsheathe them until it was too late. You might’ve had a chance. Here, let me show you how it’s done.”

The Bankable Bombshell placed her hands on Shea’s sternum and slid them forward until she was cupping the Englishwoman’s modest bounty. From there she hooked her thumbs inside that defenseless neckline and for a moment it looked like she was going to give the world a glimpse of that Sensational bust. Instead Sue pulled her hands back, then slid both under the sweat-slicked lyrca. Oh, the subsequent clawing was as thorough as it was merciless, but the crowd had to judge based on the blonde’s increasingly faint shrieks and the ripples and bulges raised by those kneading talons.

“You’re mine. You’re mine. Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine.”

Sue repeated this like a mantra, her pace rock solid and pleasingly consistent in comparison to the erratic chirps and warbles smothered beneath her cheeks. T’was unknown if London could even hear her at this point, the Sensational One’s desperate claws had long since crumpled to the mat and the only signs of life were the soft flutter of her tummy and an occasional twitch that ran down the inside of her right--

Sue arched her back and raised her face to the overhead lights as her climax washed over her and subsequently Shea. Letting out a deep, satisfied sigh as the tremors and aftershocks rippled their way from her center to Shea’s slumbering features, the Rainmaker swept both hands through her hair, then got to her feet and casually ‘snapped’ her waistband against her hips.

“Was that really necessary?” Castle asked when he handed over the World Title.

“Didn‘t you see the sign?” Burlingame answered once the prize was strapped around her waist. “Little rain never bothered a Bombshell. Besides, bytch managed to escape this ring without submitting all because you’re a soft touch. No f*cking way was I going to give her ANY excuse to demand a rematch. Passing out in a hold after thirty minutes of hard wrestling makes you a valid contender. Waking up with a mouthful of rain makes you a loser. There’s no spinning that, Castle.”

The referee offered no response to that, so Burlingame planted a boot on Shea’s chest and treated the ‘Mania throng to a double bicep flex that was still lingering when the FAWN logo popped up in the bottom left corner and the feed faded to black.