Post by alyadmirer on Jul 15, 2015 22:23:39 GMT
The Lightweight title...
While other championships in FAWN might have more grandeur or prestige, there was little denying that the Lightweight championship was among the favorites of the FAWNatics. The reason for that is simple: as many in the division lacked the brawn of, say, a Pandora or a Maggie Connor, they often compensated with speed to burn, and with acrobatics that could put even the most stern of traditionalists’ jaws on the floor.
The two women set to compete for the title tonight being a case in point...
“Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer declares, “the following contest is scheduled for one fall, with a thirty minute time limit... and is for the FAWN Lightweight championship!”
The crowd responds heartily... which only ebbs slightly at the first stirrings of an unfamiliar beat--namely, Sumo Cyco’s “My Name is Rock ‘N’ Roll”...
MY NAME IS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHbdGnZHXw4
“Introducing first, the challenger... Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, she stands at five feet two inches tall and weighs in tonight at one hundred and seventeen pounds. She is the Backyard Highlight Reel… RIIILLLEEEYYY SHHHAAAYYYNNNEEE!”
RILEY SHAYNE:
With the words still coming out of his mouth, the young FAWN star becomes a blonde, tan and aquamarine blur of motion, sprinting toward the ring. The wins were finally starting to come for the youngster--more so alongside AJ than on her own, but singles success was beginning to come as well. Diving under the bottom rope and springing back to her feet quickly, the Orlando denizens get a better chance to appreciate this adorable little scrapper. Ready to do battle in her favorite aquamarine two-piece, white pads and matching boots, the death-defying blonde throws up both hands, as well as shouts an enthusiastic “YOU READY FOR A FIGHT, ORLANDO?!”
That battle cry, along with a beaming smile was enough to get Shayne another round of enthusiastic cheering from the Orlando denizens. Just as the Backyard Highlight Reel springs onto the middle turnbuckle, the blonde shrugs her shoulders as guitarist Matt Drake poses the question, “What will it take...”
A female voice concludes, “... to become free?”
“Let go of yourself...” comes the gruff masculine response, before Riley shouts along with the song...
“I’M GONNA MAKE YOU BELIEVE!!!”
As Riley continued to fire up the crowd, the Announcer raised his mic a second time. “And introducing her opponent, hailing from Stovington, Vermont, she stands at five feet two inches tall and weighs in at one hundred and ten pounds! She is the Star Strider and the FAWN Lightweight Champion… LILY BURLINGAME!”
COMEBACK KID:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U3ns3_KvSg
Eager to see if they could fly alongside the Interstellar Angel, those assembled sprang up and roared for all they were worth when the lights went out. From within that swirling, anticipatory gloom came a thumping drum and a matched set of snapping fingers, the two bits of percussion bouncing to and fro in a rat-a-tat riff. A keening guitar note joined the beat and a few seconds later the situation got brighter in no small part due to the tongue of flame that licked at the base of the ramp. As the note held steady, the fire set off on a beeline for the top of the ramp.
The wick shrank in time with the arrival of more guitars and an Earth-shattering KA-BOOM of red pyro that almost swallowed the first verse of ’Comeback Kid’. From the center of this flash and flame a figure emerged, shooting up from the floor to land flawlessly before the capacity crowd.
LILY BURLINGAME:
Launching herself from that brand spankin‘ new crater, Lily Burlingame pumped a fist for the crowd, then smacked the belt snapped around her waist and flew down the ramp in a blur of black, red and white. For tonight’s row with the Backyard Brawler she wore gleaming black bottoms accented by swirling galaxies of stars done in red and white. Her top was halter-style sports bra done in an identical scheme, the red and white seeming to shimmer and twine with her every move. Kneepads were matching black and also sported the galaxy motif, white on the left and red on the right. Her hair, though free of the mask, was still pulled back in a long, sweeping ponytail.
Seeming to move that much faster now that she‘d doffed her disguise, the Girl That Gravity Forgot leapt from the floor to the apron to the top rope in the blink of an eye. Bouncing from it as casually as the terminally grounded stepped off the curb, Lily hooked a sharp turn to the left, hit the adjoining set of strands and went soaring into a gorgeous back flip that set her back in the center of the ring. Then she was off again, the Meteor Mite rounding on one heel to sprint to the far side of the squared circle. At the ropes in an instant, she caught the top and middle in both hands, leapt and twirled over the third strand in a Tiger Feint Kick that ’swicked’ through the air.
Back in the ring a heartbeat later, the youngest Burlingame sister strode to the middle of the ring and undid the belt. Holding it level with one shoulder, she thumbed an invisible detonator in the other hand and raised her gold to correspond to the thunderous ‘BOOOOOOOM!’ from her fans. “From backyards to black holes, I’ll defend this title anywhere!” Slinging the strap to the official, she backed into her corner to await the final inspection.
Riley was out of her corner the instant the bell sounded, not because she meant to launch a blitzkrieg on the champion, but because she simply couldn’t contain her excitement over appearing so high on the card, and with a chance at Lightweight Gold to boot! Lily strode out to meet her just as quickly and though she was more than ready to grapple or toss punches, the brunette didn’t hesitate in reciprocating the handshake Shayne thrust her way.
“ThankyouforthisLily!” Riley tried not to sound like she was gushing and almost succeeded. “I’vealwayswantedtocompetefor--” the Coloradical Kid took a deep breath, then resumed speaking at a more normal pace. “Wrestling in the FAWN arena’s been a dream of mine since I was nine. Wrestling in the FAWN Arena for a championship? I wanted that since I landed my first Moonsault off Mr. McGregor’s roof.”
Burlingame knew the rush, though she hadn’t done any dives from neighbor’s roofs (at least none that’d been caught on tape). “Right there with you, Riley. I can’t wait to tear this place down, but know one thing. If you want the belt I brought to the ring you’re gonna have to dive off every damned thing you can find. And probably more than once.”
Shayne broke the handshake and offered the champ a bright, competitive smile. “Never been afraid of heights, ‘Lil. Not afraid to sweat, hurt or to bust my ass either. How ‘bout you?”
Lily backed off, crouched slightly and started to circle. “Add bleed, fight, claw and suffer to that list and you’re getting somewhere. C’mon girl. You wanna wrestle? Let’s wres--”
Riley pounced, caught the brunette in a sturdy Collar & Elbow Lock-Up and immediately laid out on her right hip to sling Burlingame across the mat with a tumbling Arm Drag. Lily rolled through, popped to one knee and nodded appreciatively as Shayne bounced to full verticality. Up shortly thereafter, Lily started forward a second time but drew back when the blonde darted in to meet her. Pivoting toward the challenger, Burlingame slipped her left arm under Riley’s right bicep and popped her hips smartly to fling the other woman up ‘n over with a gorgeous Steamboat-style Arm Drag. Riley landed on her hip and shoulder, rolled through and pushed up much the same way Lily had done moments prior.
The champ said nothing, only crouched a little deeper and crooked one finger to beckon the challenger forward. Forcing herself to dial the speed back a little, Riley righted herself and joined Burlingame for a little circling. The clench that followed actually stayed that way for a good ten seconds as blonde and brunette shoved one another back n’ forth in search of an advantage. That changed when Lily felt her foe trying to swing around for a Go-Behind. Rather than give up her back, Burlingame flicked an arm around the base of Shayne’s neck and pulled her into a grinding temple-on-hip Side Headlock.
Hands clasped against her opponent’s cheek, the Interstellar Angel gave her rival’s noggin a few healthy squeezes to see what she might do and was impressed with how quickly Riley started peppering her ribs with punches. “Good work, Ri.” Burlingame noted as she applied more pressure with her surprisingly brawny arms. “But lets see how you do on the mat!” She thrust a hip into Shayne’s belly and tossed her over with a Headlock Takedown that shivered the canvas with the weight of their landing. “C’mon, I know you can get out of this!” Burlingame continued to put pressure on Shayne’s skull, making it the center of a triangle that included her forearm, bicep and right breast.
Riley knew she could too, but she didn’t waste her breath confirming it. Rather she kept at Burlingame’s hands until she decided they were too tightly locked. Then she got a hand up under Lily’s chin and pushed her back. The angle wasn’t all that painful, but the little bit of separation allowed the blonde to thum-thum-THUMP a trio of quick Kneelifts into her attacker’s upper back.
Lily grunted and jostled the Headlock hard enough to elicit a pained yelp from her opponent. “I know how fast you can move, Ri,” she admonished. “Don’t tell me I grounded you with nothing but a HeadWHOAHGUUUFFFHH!”
Shayne kicked her knees up, ‘smecked’ both legs around Lily’s neck and locked her ankles all in a single heartbeat. One hard squeeze was all it took to break the Headlock and then it was Lily down on her back while Riley rested on her left shoulder and hip. “That fast enough for ya, Lil’?” Shayne chirped as she extended her legs full length and squeeeeeeeeeeeeezed. “Well, howzat feel, champ? Like my squeeze?” She reached out and patted / swatted Lily’s gulping tummy, much to the brunette’s displeasure.
“How you doing, Lily?” Craig Long had closed in when the action went to ground, but he hadn’t bothered to make a query until Shayne turned the tables. “Need me to call for it?”
“She better not!” Riley looked stricken, championship on the line or not!” “I didn’t come here to win the belt on a cakewaHEY!”
Lily cupped her foe’s thighs and twisted sharply. This didn’t free her from Shayne’s clutches, it did however put her knees on the canvas and the increased leverage was vital for what she had planned. Braced on both hands and the crown of her skull, Lily pushed off and landed with both feet to right of her foe’s legs. Then she did it again but landed on the left. On and on it went, Burlingame gradually picking up speed until ‘PWOP!’ she launched herself straight up and burst free of the Headscissors to land on her feet directly in front of the startled battler.
Riley had just enough time to raise her eyebrows before Burlingame sprang yet again and PWAAAKED her heels into opposing chest with a flawless Short Dropkick. Shayne went down on her back and sucked wind, giving Burlingame more than enough time to scramble into place beside her. Back to the gasping grappler, Lily looked over one shoulder, smiled and swatted her tush, then peeled off a flawless back-flip that brought her THWHUMPING down on Shayne’s midriff. Riley’s legs popped up on impact so the brunette pulled both of ‘em into a tight bundle and nodded along with the count of…
STANDING MOONSAULT:
ONE…
The Coloradical Kid shoved loose and turned onto her stomach to prevent another pin. Fat lot of good that did, Burlingame swooped into a seat on her lower back and strapped Riley’s arms across her thighs like she was going for a Camel Clutch. But instead of hooking her chin, Lily pressed down on the back of her head, thus forcing Riley’s chin into the top of her decolletage. Then she slid forward onto her hands and knees, a move that rolled Shayne onto the back of her head and shoulders. Upended quite neatly by the Gedo Clutch, Riley kicked and squirmed while the official started his second count…
ONE…
TWO…
Shayne kicked out, flopped to all fours and crawled away as quick as she could in hopes of putting some distance between herself and the champion. Lily could’ve followed her but didn’t, choosing instead to hang around near the middle of the ring and flick her togs back into place. Working hard to steady her nerves, Shayne took a deep breath before getting to her feet. “Got a lot of ways to pin a girl, don’t you, Lily?”
Burlingame nodded. “Got more than a few ways to make ‘em tap out too. Like I said, this isn’t going to be easy, Ri.”
“I don’t want it to be easy. I want it to be--” she dashed forward, snatched the brunette’s wrist in both hands and sent her racing to the ropes with an Irish Whip. Or not. Digging in her heels when the tether ran out, Shayne yanked Lily back the way she’d came, then her loose and leapt straight up. Her legs ‘smecked’ around Burlingame’s noggin again and Riley torqued back as hard as she could to flip Lucy over onto her back with resounding speed. More importantly, the challenger landed high astride her rival’s chest and when Lily’s legs popped up she collected them under her armpits to complete a perfect matchbook. Snug as her perch was, that didn’t stop Riley from leaaaaaaaaaaning forward until her forehead nearly touched the canvas. That meant Burlingame had nothing to look at but blonde navel as the ref counted…
ONE…
TWO…
Lily wrenched her legs loose, the strength of her escape dumping Shayne on her chest with a full second to spare. Up a half second before the challenger, Lily fired off a Haymaker only to have Riley block it with a forearm. In the next instant she pounded the broad side of her spring-tanned thigh into the brunette’s belly to double her up but good. Shayne grinned when she saw Burlingame’s back. She was still smiling when she brought both hands up, then down in a ringing SMACK that echoed as loudly as any Bloodwind Chop.
It slowed Lily down in much the same fashion too, giving the Backyard Brawler plenty of time to snatch a wrist and toss the heiress toward a far corner courtesy an Irish Whip. Burlingame crossed the canvas quickly, unfortunately her innate speed meant she barely had enough time to twist around before bouncing spine-first into the buckles. She jolted hard but kept enough of her wits to hook both arms over the top rope. While this kept her safe from all sorts of moves with words like ’Bronco’ or ’Stink’ in their names, it did not protect her from Shayne’s next piece of offense, a high speed, no jump body on body Avalanche Splash that looked like it might’ve come straight from the Cassandra Vale playbook.
Riley backed off immediately, knowing full well that the force of the Splash would knock the brunette on her butt or send her staggering out of the corner, either of which was fine by her. Turned out to be the latter, Lily shambling away from the crash site like a drunk in search of a good place to sit down. Sitting didn’t seem quite restful enough in Shayne’s opinion, which was probably why she slipped one arm through Burlingame’s gams and the other around one shoulder. Then she boosted her up, spun her over in a half circle and laid out on her belly to THWHAM the Star Strider against the mat with an emphatic Power Slam.
CORNER SPLASH & POWER SLAM:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AzKt5t_Vks
Both ladies bounced noticeably on impact, but Riley settled down quickly enough and since she already had a leg hooked she pulled it that much tighter in search of the…
ONE…
TWO…
Burlingame shoved her loose again and Shayne showed Long three fingers more out of instinct than any real belief that he’d change the count. He didn’t and so Riley hopped back to boot leather. Noting her foe’s relative proximity to the nearest corner, she almost went to the third floor, but decided against it. The brunette was almost as quick (if not quicker) than she was and the last thing Riley wanted was to dive from on high into an empty pool. So instead she jumped straight up, then jumped a second and a third time, getting a little higher with each outing. At the apex of her third leap she raised her knees to chest level, curled into a ball and spun through one and a quarter full rotations before stretching out full length and THWHUMPING down on Lily’s tummy.
STANDING 450 SPLASHl
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p4ZjPgxZ2M
The Standing 450 Splash popped the crowd huge and sent Burlingame’s legs shooting up, but Shayne didn’t go for a cover. NOW she scrambled to the corner and made her way to the top. “MINE DOESN’T HAVE A LOT OF FANCY TWIRLING!” Riley shouted to the FAWNatics. “BUT IT’S MORE THAN ENOUGH TO MAKE ME A CHAMPION!”
Looking to back up that claim, the blue-clad blonde dipped her knees, swung her arms forward and hurled herself out into the void with that peculiar inside out back flip that was the hallmark of any good Shooting Star Press. And Riley’s wasn’t just good, it was damned great, which explained why she was able to pull through and land on her feet when Lily rolled clear in mid-flight. Staggering forward until she caught her balance, Shayne rounded on the champ and shook her head when she saw Burlingame already upright. “Should’ve known it wouldn’t be that quick.”
“Can’t blame you for trying.” Lily replied. “Come on babe, lets see what else you’ve got.”
Riley answered with a lightning-fast sprint and spring that probably would’ve turned into another Hurricanrana if the Girl that Gravity Forgot hadn’t shot her hands through those slightly parted thighs, pressed ‘em to the swell of Shayne’s backside and shoved her up n’ over her target’s head. Remarkably unperturbed by the sudden change in flight plan, Riley adjusted in mid-air and landed easily with both feet on the second rope. She’d just grabbed the top rope for a bit of extra support when Lily closed in and CRAAACKED a huge overhand smack between her shoulders. Riley cried out and stood up straight, leaving her vulnerable when Burlingame hopped onto the second rope and immediately somersaulted clear. Slapping on a Waistlock when she all but upside down behind the challenger, Lily landed on her knees and shins while Shayne was THWHAMMED down flat on her back as the victim of a flawless Springboard Sunset Flip Powerbomb.
SPRINGBOARD SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZHRaisNYCQ
Breaking the Waistlock so she could put brace her hands against the mat, Lily forced her shoulders into the pits of Riley’s knees and pushed onto her toes, all the better to fold the blonde in half while Craig counted…
ONE…
TWO…
Riley pushed free and slopped onto her belly. Didn’t stop there though, she also reached out a hand and grabbed the bottom rope to make sure the brunette couldn’t trap her in another of her myriad cradles. Lily saw this and smiled. “Good call, Ri. But that’s not going to work right now.”
It didn’t work because Burlingame grabbed her opponent’s ankle and wrist and draaaaaaaaaaagged her almost to the center of the squared circle. Once there was no chance of escape she tossed the limbs aside, positioned herself off Shayne’s left shoulder and peeled off a vertical leap of her own. It didn’t have the height of Riley’s latest attempt, but whereas the challenger’s ended in an evasion the champ’s truncated Shooting Star Press met with nothing but success in the form of a THWHUMPING chest on chest collision. Hooking the far leg as she put her back against Riley’s tits, Burlingame cradled her up for the…
STANDING SSP:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aztHiyZM4UY
ONE…
TWO…
The Coloradical Kid kicked out at ‘TWO!’ and sat up with a dark look on her face. “You’re not gonna beat me with my own move, LilNNNGGGGHH!”
The Star Strider was already vertical and she made Shayne pay for the sass with a short, sharp Soccer Kick between the shoulders. “Not trying to beat you, Ri. Just softening you up for later. If I was trying to beat you I would’ve done something like this.” Hoisting the blonde up alongside with a double handful of hair, Lily twisted around back to back with Riley and slipped her arms around her biceps, Backslide-style. But instead of going for a pin she ‘hupped’ Shayne off her feet and bent her legs so that the challenger’s shins got hooked in place atop her thighs. Then she leaaaaaaaaaned forward until she was practically doubled over, Lily looking at the canvas while Riley blinked into the overhead lights, her back wrenched at an unpleasant angle via the Gory Special.
GORY SPECIAL:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDcB0ZHmero
Craig, who’d seen ladies of all shapes and sizes surrender to this particular stretch, was quick to check on the blonde’s status. “How’re you doing, Riley? Need me to call for the bell? Just say the word and I’ll end it.”
“NO!” Riley shook her head to emphasize the point. “I DON’T GIVE UP! I GOT THIS!”
Lily heard her challenger’s pronouncement and took her at her word. Standing up fast, she tossed Riley’s arms away, then grabbed hold of her shins and dropped to her tush, so that the Backyard Brawler THWHUMPED down on her face, chest and belly via an impressive Gory Bomb. Lily rolled onto her knees at once, sidled into place beside Shayne and pulled her onto her back to better seek out the…
GORY SPECIAL BOMB:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJIM_wCqioE
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Riley fought loose of the champ and started to roll. Lily went after her, then backed off when she understood the blonde was meant to climb the ropes rather than slide under them. Slowing down when she bumped into the bottom strand, Shayne grabbed a hold and pulled herself to one knee. Her other arm stayed tight against her chest, the pressure took away the worst of the ache induced by the Gory Bomb. When she felt a bit better, Riley lifted her head and looked at Burlingame, who’d kept a respectful distance during the brief reprieve.
“Take five if you need it, Ri.” Lily said without a trace of snark. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The Coloradical Kid clambered her way to verticality, then rolled her shoulders and raised her fists to chest-level. “Thanks Lil, but as a good friend of mine is known to say, intermission’s over. It’s time to rock. Now put up your dukes and come get yourself some.”
Lily matched her foe’s stance and grinned. “Oh girl, I don’t want some. I want it ALL.”
Ready to get herself all she could, Burlingame stormed into the breach and reared back with a saloon-quality Haymaker that SMECKED off Riley’s forearm a half-second before it would’ve clipped the challenger’s jaw. Lily started for half a whisper and Shayne made her pay for it with Forearm Smash that caught her across the left cheek. The Star Strider reeled back on her heels and while Riley could’ve landed a second and third shot she chose to grab Burlingame by the shoulders and spin her in a half circle that smeared her against the ropes.
Her head cleared by the feel of rubber-coated steel on her back, Lily surged forward and took a stubby little hook to the breadbasket for her troubles. “Not goin’ anywhere yet, champ!” Shayne grabbed her foe’s elbows and threaded ‘em over the top rope, then she pressed a cupping palm to Burlingame’s chin and forced her head back at a sharp angle. “Gotta tune you up first!”
THWHAP! Riley clouted Lily across the tits with a Forearm Smash. And then another. And another. And another. And another. And another. And there would’ve been another if Craig hadn’t hurried over and tapped her on the shoulder. “Enough of that, Riley. Back off or get her out of the ropes.”
Shayne didn’t throw another Forearm but she didn’t relinquish control on the champion’s chin either. “Don’t I get a count, Craig?” she asked in a tone of beatific sweetness.
“You know that you do.”
“Then I think I’m going to use it.”
With that she put the crown of her skull against Burlingame’s sternum and unleashed a flurry of lefts and rights that pwak-pwak-pwak-pwak-pwak-pwak-PWAAAKED against her rival’s tummy. Craig did indeed start his count and Riley backed off at ‘FOUR!’ without so much as a peep. Didn’t mean the Interstellar Angel was out of the woods though. Shayne charged from halfway across the ring and drew back her right arm for a Clothesline aimed for Burlingame’s clavic-’OOOOOHHHH!’
The FAWNatics let out an impressed cheer when Lily doubled over and lunged just enough to force a shoulder into the blonde’s belly. Hands braced against Riley’s upper thighs, Burlingame straightened up to launch Shayne up, up, up and dow-’OOOOOOOHHHHH!’
More cheers from the crowd when Riley adjusted in mid-descent and landed on the apron. Thinking offense even before her feet touched down, Shayne reached for Lily’s noggin and got a faceful of feet for her troubles. The Dropkick sent Riley tumbling from the apron to the floor where she hit hard on her right shoulder and hip.
Elsewhere, Lily crowded the ropes but made no move one way or another until Riley started to rise. “She’s pretty good at throwin’ hands.” Burlingame admitted to the floor-seat fans. “Me? I like my fireworks a little bigger.” Case in point, she rounded on her heel and raced to the far side of the squared circle.
Still fighting off the worst of the impact from her meeting with the floor, Shayne looked up when the fans let loose with a thunderous cheer. “Oh crap.” Lily hopped, landed with one foot on the second rope and launched herself so high that Riley actually lost her in the lights. The champ reappeared immediately thereafter, plunging down onto her adversary in a chest-to-chest Suicide Dive that sent the blonde BWAAANGING into the barrier before she slopped to a woozy seat.
STRATOSPHERIC SPEAR @ 00:10
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_EVOjNa5KM&feature=plcp
Lily rolled clear, bounced up and threw both hands overhead. “THAT’S PRETTY DAMNED LOUD, FAWN!” she roared at the top of her lungs. “LOOKS LIKE I HAVEN’T QUITE TAKEN YOUR BREATH AWAY! JUST WAIT, IT’S COMING!”
Promise made, the Star Strider returned her attention to Riley and hauled her up with a double handful of hair. “Kinda beat me down in the ropes there, Ri.” Burlingame noted. “I’m not mad, but I am gonna square that tab.”
Shayne braced one arm against Lily’s chest and tried to shove her away without much success. “Not gonna get anything done just talkin’ about it, LiNNNNGGHHH!”
Lily agreed with her on that regard, so she curled her left arm around the back of the blonde’s head, then pulled her head down and THWHAPPED her chin with a flawless European Uppercut. Riley rocked back on her heels, bounced against the barricade and probably would’ve tumbled into the front row if Lily hadn’t grabbed a handful of hair and reeled her back in. THWHAP! Lily tagged her a second time and again she snagged the blonde’s locks to keep her from tumbling ending up in the fans. “Lemme hear that count, Craig!” she called to the ref without taking her eyes off the Backyard Brawler.
“TEN!”
That was more than enough time, so Burlingame measured her shot, stepped in and really twisted her hips before landing the third European Uppercut. She didn’t bother to catch the challenger this time and Shayne spilled over the guardrail, just as the brunette suspected. But give the FAWNatics credit, they got their hands up to catch Riley in a bit of impromptu crowd surfing that kept her more or less vertical. Lily arched an eyebrow, then smiled and clapped her hands. “Ok that was pretty cool guys. Can you push her to me?”
They could and did, allowing Lily to curl an arm around the back of her head. No Uppercut this time, Burlingame only helped herself to a handful of waistband and marched her across the narrow aisle to sling Shayne under the bottom ro-- Riley slid around on the point of hip, dropped back to the floor and THWHAPPED Lily with a short, powerful Clothesline.
Burlingame went down like she’d been Powerbombed, landing hard on the back of her head and shoulders with both feet popped straight into the air. Riley almost dropped into a pin before she remembered they were on the outside. Rather than waste another second peeling her foe off the floor, she slid under the bottom rope, then dipped back onto the floor with a refreshed twenty count.
“You’ve had your fun out here Lil, now it’s time I got to show you what I can do. And how I got the attention of FAWN scouts in the first place.” Burlingame didn’t have much in the way of a cogent answer to that, so Shayne helped herself to a handful of hair and hauled the champ to her feet. From there she took control of Lily’s skull with a Side Headlock, which she used to march the woozy champion over to, and then up, the steel steps. Positioning herself on the brunette’s left side, Shayne crooked her right arm around the back of Burlingame’s head and threaded her right leg around the Star Strider’s left gam. “Learned to do this on a trampoline.” she said to no one in particular. “This version hurt more, but I like it better.” Then she leaned ‘em both forward and snapped backward to send the pair flying off the steps and into a THWHUMPING collision with the barely-padded concrete floor.
SIDE RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh2Zjc9wJRA
Sure as hell wasn’t a pleasant landing for either, but Lily seemed to get the worst of it as she rolled over to clutch at her lower back while Riley forced her way to one knee after only a brief grimace. “How’s that for diving off stuff, baby?” Shayne chirped once she’d made it back to her feet. She marched over to the flattened brunette, grabbed her by the ankles and used the grip to roll Burlingame onto her back. Tucking those captured ankles under her armpits, Riley twisted ‘em both around so her back was to the ringpost at the top of the steel steps. “Know what else we did a lot of in the ol’ Extreme Backyard League?” Riley asked with a twinkle in her eye. “Tossed each other into a lot of stuff we probably shouldn’t have. I liked doing this against the wall of our garden shed.”
With that she pushed onto her toes and dropped out flat on her back. Shayne’s spacing was perfect, the crown of her head fell short of the post by less than three inches. Lily alas wasn’t nearly so lucky. Oh, she managed to get a hand between her face and the steel, but that t’wasn’t nearly enough buffer to stop her forehead from BWUNKING against the post. Bouncing off with her feet still in Shayne’s possession, Burlingame’s troubles intensified when she tumbled down and landed with her lower back directly atop the points of Riley’s cleverly raised knees. Lily keened and jolted free of her foe’s clutches, not that she did much more than come to on her belly with both hands pressed to her aching spine.
Riley sat up, reached for the champ’s hair then paused to gauge her position as it related to the ring. Pleased with what she found, the Coloradical Kid got up and hopped onto the apron. “What’s that count at, Craig?” she asked after taking several big steps in the opposite direction.
The ref sighed, he already knew what was coming. “FOURTEEN!” he called loud enough for Lily to hear.
“Mmmmmmh, that’s ALMOST enough time, but just in case.” Riley slipped through the strands, waved to Craig, then went back out with another twenty seconds to play with.
“Stop taking advantage of my generosity, Riley.” Long said before starting his new count.
“Yes dad.” she replied with the ‘grown-ups are dolts’ voice she’d perfected shortly after taking her first table bump in tenth grade. Perched at the far end of the apron, Shayne flipped hair out of her face and grinned to the FAWNatics. “This isn’t the highest one you’ll see from me tonight, but it’s still pretty cool!” No one doubted her, indeed there was a strong ‘RI-LEY!’ chant echoing in the rafters when the blonde ingénue raced down the apron. Going airborne when she was still several feet shy of Burlingame, Riley peeled off that head-first back flip and THWHUMPED down with all her weight across Lily’s back in her second Shooting Star Press of the evening.
SSP FROM THE APRON:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5tsI3-gs58
The Girl That Gravity Forgot sucked in a near silent gasp and rolled onto her side only because Shayne saw fit to rear back on her haunches. “Guess we should go inside.” Riley said with obvious reluctance. “Maybe when I give you your return match I’ll make it falls count anywhere.” Lily only grunted, so Shayne snagged her by togs and tresses, hauled her upright and slung her under the bottom rope before Craig reached ‘TEN!’
Riley followed immediately thereafter and though she was pleased with her work on the outside she didn’t attempt a cover. Rather she filled her hands with the brunette’s battle-damp hair and peeled her off the mat. A Toe Kick doubled Burlingame over nicely and a Standing Headscissors kept her from escaping the Waistlock Shayne snugged around her midsection. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Lil’.” Riley’s lips were turned up in a tuff little winner’s smile. “But I’m about to defuse this Cherry Bomb.” She dipped her knees, whipped the heiress up onto her shoulders and then THWHAMMED her down with a Powerbomb that bounced Lily’s head and aching back against the thinly-sheathed plywood. Burlingame tried to twist to her left after the impact, but Shayne had dropped into an almost perfect squat thrust that kept her chest pressed tight to the champion’s upturned haunches. That meant Lily wouldn’t go anywhere unless she could beat the count of…
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Burlingame did indeed get a shoulder off the mat, unfortunately Riley used the escape to roll the brunette over onto her stomach. Still in control of her foe’s upper thighs, Shayne stepped over and dropped into another deep crouch, thus putting that much more pressure on Lily’s spine with the Colorado Crab.
POWERBOMB TO COLORADO CRAB @ 00:42
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aME_HP9weLs&feature=plcp
“ASK HER!” Riley demanded of the ref after less than ten seconds. “SEE IF SHE GIVES!”
Long didn’t need to be told twice, he knelt beside the suffering battler and said, “How you doin’, Lily? You want to give it up?”
Lily, who had her right hand and left shoulder planted against the mat, shook her head ‘no’ as best she could. “Don’t call it, Craig. I got this.” she grunted.
“She’s hanging in there, Riley.” the zebra told the challenger.
Shayne scowled. “How ‘bout now?” She sank that much lower, the determined little blonde edging right up to the limits of balance in hopes of exhausting the Star Strider’s reserves.
But Lily still didn’t give. In fact she drew in a deep breath and shouted, “You’ll hafta do better than that, Ri!” “You’ll be singing a different tune when your boots are over your ears, sweetie.”
Riley pushed up to reset her footing in anticipation of yet enough spine-wrenching crouch. Imagine her surprise then when Burlingame puuuuuuuuuushed up, tucked her chin against her chest and swung through the challenger’s legs to take all the pressure off her traumatized vertebrae.
This show of resourcefulness didn’t free her from the blonde’s clutches entirely, but Lily felt much better now that she knew her spine wasn’t going to crumple at any moment. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed hold of her shoulder (left hand on right shoulder and vice-versa) and pulled herself up in an impressive show of strength made all the more startling considering the punishment she’d absorbed.
Just as surprised by Burlingame’s tenacity as everyone else, Riley reared back for a Headbutt only to eat a Forearm Smash to the chin. Lily piled on two more, then wrapped her rival’s noggin in a Front Facelock and jerked her down in an impromptu Guillotine Choke. “This Bomb’s not out yet, baby!” Burlingame chirped as she poured on the pressure. “What about you? You ready to call in a night, RilWHOOOOAAAHH!”
Shayne shambled / ran toward a far corner, clearly meaning to pound the brunette’s back against the buckles. Desperate to keep that from happening, Lily broke the Facelock and just rained Elbow Strikes to the back of the blonde’s skull. Riley didn’t stop, but Burlingame did wrench a leg free and that was all the escape hatch she needed. Kicking out behind her, she stuffed her foot against the middle buckle and brought both of ‘em to a stop heartbeats before impact.
“Leggo of my leg, Riley. I said LET GO!”
The heiress reapplied her Front Facelock and bore down like a woman possessed. Shayne squealed and finally relinquished the last of her control so she could hammer at the champ’s ribs. Burlingame grit her teeth and dealt with the sock, she was too busy getting her other foot on that second buckle. Then she dipped down until her knees were touching her chest and pushed off with all the power of a highly motivated sixty-two inch spring. Lily twisted in a sharp half circle and laid out on her back, the pained grunt of her own landing completely obliterated by the THWHUNK of Riley’s forehead bouncing off the mat. The unconventional Tornado DDT flopped Shayne onto her back in a picture perfect starfish, a pose that would’ve gone undisturbed for quite some time if the Lightweight Champion hadn’t crawled across her chest and hooked the far leg for…
ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOO!
Riley powered her right shoulder off the mat to keep those championship aspirations alive for at least another three seconds. Feeling like a woman with something to prove, Lily pushed off the woozy challenger, slapped on a Wristlock and used it to haul Shayne to her feet. No fancy acrobatics now, Burlingame just stepped off, sank into a deep crouch and hurled Riley toward the far corner with all the power she could muster.
Only vaguely aware that she was upright after the thunderous DDT, Riley noted the buckles rushing up to meet her and somehow managed a sloppy half turn an instant before her spine BWUUUNGED against the buckles. Shayne jolted hard, yet still hooked her arms over the top rope to stay clear of a Stink Face or Bronco Buster. This tenacity proved quite detrimental immediately thereafter when Burlingame sped in, hopped onto the bottom rope with her left foot and THWHUMPED her right knee into the challenger’s sternum.
RUNNING KNEE IN THE CORNER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2esmLTvvoaY
Lily dropped to her feet, backed away from the corner on the double and beckoned Riley forward, hoping the blonde’s sturdy legs weren’t going to give out in the next few seconds. Turned out they were more than strong enough to hold, as Shayne stumbled into the middle of the ring with one arm pressed protectively against her chest.
Understandable, alas, not the best of defenses for what Lily had in store. Arms spread in a wide ‘C’, she slipped the bottom half through Riley’s legs and threaded the other over her shoulder, all the better to scoop the stumbling Lightweight onto the point of her right shoulder. The Star Strider spun in a quarter circle and angled her burden down like she was going for a Body Slam, but instead she kicked a leg forward and dropped to her tush to THWHUMP Riley’s noggin into the mat with a brutally sheer Michinoku Driver 2.
MICHINOKU DRIVER 2:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dplvkrDkwE
The crowd called for a cover and buzzed in surprise when Burlingame popped up without even attempting one. Their puzzlement vanished as soon as the champ started toward the nearest corner. Gripping the top rope in both hands, Lily sprang up and twisted in mid-air to land on the third floor facing the ring. Satisfied with all the angles and vectors by the time she straightened up, Lily raised her arms overhead, then snapped them down as she leapt out into the void. Knees pulled to her chest, Burlingame wrapped both arms across her shins and twirled like a buzz saw through 450 beautiful degrees of ‘OOOOOOOHHHHH!’
Riley rolled clear and Lily made a last second adjustment to land on her feet instead of flat on her face. Lily shambled several steps, almost went to one knee before smoothing things over. “Hope that wasn’t your quickest!” called a voice from over her shoulder. The champ whirled and saw Riley watching her with bright, competitive eyes. “Because it’s not quick enough to catch me, Lil’.”
“We’ll see about that, flatfoot.” Burlingame charged and fired off a Clothesline which Shayne ducked on her way to the ropes. Twisting around to go into the ropes, Lily bounced clear and was more than a little surprised to find Shayne all up in her business! Turned out the Backyard Brawler had slammed on the brakes and gone down her own back trail to surprise the champ. In that she succeeded wildly, as Lily mustered no answer when the blonde snatched her around the biceps and hoisted her high into the sky. Pushed all the way onto her tiptoes, Shayne spun a half pirouette, then sat out and THAWHAMMED her foe spine-first into the mat courtesy a Rydeen Bomb.
RYDEEN BOMB:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrrQQi7QCG8
Riley could’ve gone for a cover yet elected not to, she didn’t want the brunette to kick out and end up on her side or belly, which would only waste more time. On her feet before the ring stopped shivering, Riley sped around to Lily’s head, took possession of her wrists and used them to draaaaaaaaaaaaag the Girl That Gravity Forgot into the middle of the ring. Shayne tossed Burlingame’s wrists aside once her crash-pad was in place, Riley bustled to the corner Lily so recently vacated and claimed it for her own with a nearly identical leap.
“YOU’VE SEEN A LOT OF COOL STUFF TONIGHT!” Shayne bellowed to the capacity crowd. “BUT NOTHING AS COOL AS A ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH!”
The roar of thousands of voices sent Riley Shayne soaring into the stratosphere, the blue-clad battler almost vanishing into the lights as she seemed float through the first half of her highest SSP yet. Time resumed its normal flow when she started down, her descent forcing most of the FAWNatics to hold their breath until they knew one way or the oth--’OOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!’
Lily barreled closer to the corner, forcing Riley to make the same last second adjustment that’d saved the Star Strider from disaster a little earlier. “Damn!” Shayne pounded a fist against the mat, pushed to her full height and rounded on Burlingame, who was getting to her feet using the corner for assistance. Charging without thinking, the blonde PWAAAKED a Forearm Smash against the back of Lily’s head to keep her smudged chest-first against the buckles.
“So you don’t want a taste of the Mountains?” Riley grumbled in the midst of lifting / boosting / shoving her brunette adversary into a perch on the middle rope. “I suppose that’s ok. But you’re still gettin’ caught in an Avalanche.”
A second Forearm Smash across the lower back kept Lily from making a break for it in the brief interval it took Shayne to slip out onto the apron and mount the corner from the opposite side. Balanced in a deep squat on the top buckle, Riley reached under her foe’s biceps Double Underhook style and locked her hands. Then she stood up, forced Lily’s head between her legs and “HUUUUFFFHHH!” Riley doubled over because the heiress wrenched free of her grasp and slammed a Headbutt into her tummy. This was followed by half a dozen body shots, each connecting with or immediately adjacent to the challenger’s tummy. The Coloradical Kid doubled over and started down to a lower elevation, but Burlingame put a stop to that by forcing her head between opposing thighs.
Hands braced against Shayne’s knees, Lily rose up and shoved off to send the blonde hurtling up, over and down, down, dowNOOOOOOOOO! Riley tumbled through the monstrous Back Body Drop to land on her feet before collapsing to one knee. “YEAH!” Shayne got to her feet with a roar and the FAWNatics did the same. “LILY’S GOOD BUT SHE CAN’T NNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGHH!”
Whatever Lily could or couldn’t do was wiped out by what she could do, which was, in this case, a gorgeous Moonsault from the middle rope. Catching Riley’s noggin in a loose Front Facelock as she soared by, Burlingame came down on her back while Shayne was THWHONKED onto the crown of her skull like a lawn dart.
CHERRY'S JUBILEE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkyTqkvYH54
Lily rolled through onto her knees, crawled over to her starfished foe and planted her tush on Riley’s chest. Figuring she’d rather be safe than sorry, the brunette slipped her arms behind Shayne’s kegs from the inside and folded her in half with a Reverse Matchbook that held firm through the…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
Lily tossed Riley’s legs down when the bell sounded so she could raise both fists to the rafters. She was still seated on her blonde’s chest when the Announcer called, “Ladies and gentlemen, your winner via pin-fall and STILL the FAWN Lightweight Champion… LILY BURLINGAME!”
The Interstellar Angel got to her feet, stepped away from Riley and let Craig raise her hand. “Good work, Lily.” the ref said almost at once. “You two really put on a clinic tonight.”
“Thanks Craig. Check on Riley, huh? I dropped her pretty hard, wanna make sure she’s ok.” The ref said her would, so Burlingame set out to visit each corner and take in the view from the middle turnbuckle. Accepting her belt from a tech near the tail end, she snapped it around her waist and padded back to Riley Shayne as the blonde was getting to her feet.
Rubbing what was sure to be a nasty bruise on her forehead, the blue-clad blonde caught sight of the gold winking around Lily’s waist and sighed. “Made a dumb mistake.” she said to the champ. “Got so caught up in sticking that landing I forgot you were still up there.” Riley thought for a moment, then extended her hand. “Good match, Lily. I am gonna Splash you sooner or later, though. Don’t care how quick you are, no one in FAWN Splashes harder than me.”
Lily, who was pretty damned proud of her Splash technique, not to mention the first faint suggestion of a six pack she’d developed, debated the issue minimally. “Any time, any place. Ri’. I’d love to show you how the Warhead feels when it’s coming off the top of Mr. McGregor’s roof.”
Riley’s jaw dropped, then she grinned. “Oh girl, it is ON! Next time FAWN goes west, you and I are gonna rumble in the backyard, I don’t even care if there’s cameras to see. I just want YOU to see.”
Burlingame used the handshake to pull Riley into a one-armed hug. “See you there, Riley. Try to stay in one piece ‘til then, ok?”
The Backyard Brawler nodded, then backed off. “You too, Lily. I want that,” she pointed to the belt, “and I want to take it from you.”
Lily almost said ‘you and everyone else’ but she settled for a smile and a wink. “Catch ya round, ‘Ri.” With that she turned around and slipped out of the ring, leaving
Riley to watch the champ clapping hands on the aisle as she made her way up the ramp. “Gonna be me someday, Lily.” Shayne murmured. “You can bet your fortune on that. Gonna be me someday.”
While other championships in FAWN might have more grandeur or prestige, there was little denying that the Lightweight championship was among the favorites of the FAWNatics. The reason for that is simple: as many in the division lacked the brawn of, say, a Pandora or a Maggie Connor, they often compensated with speed to burn, and with acrobatics that could put even the most stern of traditionalists’ jaws on the floor.
The two women set to compete for the title tonight being a case in point...
“Ladies and gentlemen," the announcer declares, “the following contest is scheduled for one fall, with a thirty minute time limit... and is for the FAWN Lightweight championship!”
The crowd responds heartily... which only ebbs slightly at the first stirrings of an unfamiliar beat--namely, Sumo Cyco’s “My Name is Rock ‘N’ Roll”...
MY NAME IS ROCK ‘N’ ROLL:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHbdGnZHXw4
“Introducing first, the challenger... Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, she stands at five feet two inches tall and weighs in tonight at one hundred and seventeen pounds. She is the Backyard Highlight Reel… RIIILLLEEEYYY SHHHAAAYYYNNNEEE!”
RILEY SHAYNE:
With the words still coming out of his mouth, the young FAWN star becomes a blonde, tan and aquamarine blur of motion, sprinting toward the ring. The wins were finally starting to come for the youngster--more so alongside AJ than on her own, but singles success was beginning to come as well. Diving under the bottom rope and springing back to her feet quickly, the Orlando denizens get a better chance to appreciate this adorable little scrapper. Ready to do battle in her favorite aquamarine two-piece, white pads and matching boots, the death-defying blonde throws up both hands, as well as shouts an enthusiastic “YOU READY FOR A FIGHT, ORLANDO?!”
That battle cry, along with a beaming smile was enough to get Shayne another round of enthusiastic cheering from the Orlando denizens. Just as the Backyard Highlight Reel springs onto the middle turnbuckle, the blonde shrugs her shoulders as guitarist Matt Drake poses the question, “What will it take...”
A female voice concludes, “... to become free?”
“Let go of yourself...” comes the gruff masculine response, before Riley shouts along with the song...
“I’M GONNA MAKE YOU BELIEVE!!!”
As Riley continued to fire up the crowd, the Announcer raised his mic a second time. “And introducing her opponent, hailing from Stovington, Vermont, she stands at five feet two inches tall and weighs in at one hundred and ten pounds! She is the Star Strider and the FAWN Lightweight Champion… LILY BURLINGAME!”
COMEBACK KID:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U3ns3_KvSg
Eager to see if they could fly alongside the Interstellar Angel, those assembled sprang up and roared for all they were worth when the lights went out. From within that swirling, anticipatory gloom came a thumping drum and a matched set of snapping fingers, the two bits of percussion bouncing to and fro in a rat-a-tat riff. A keening guitar note joined the beat and a few seconds later the situation got brighter in no small part due to the tongue of flame that licked at the base of the ramp. As the note held steady, the fire set off on a beeline for the top of the ramp.
The wick shrank in time with the arrival of more guitars and an Earth-shattering KA-BOOM of red pyro that almost swallowed the first verse of ’Comeback Kid’. From the center of this flash and flame a figure emerged, shooting up from the floor to land flawlessly before the capacity crowd.
LILY BURLINGAME:
Launching herself from that brand spankin‘ new crater, Lily Burlingame pumped a fist for the crowd, then smacked the belt snapped around her waist and flew down the ramp in a blur of black, red and white. For tonight’s row with the Backyard Brawler she wore gleaming black bottoms accented by swirling galaxies of stars done in red and white. Her top was halter-style sports bra done in an identical scheme, the red and white seeming to shimmer and twine with her every move. Kneepads were matching black and also sported the galaxy motif, white on the left and red on the right. Her hair, though free of the mask, was still pulled back in a long, sweeping ponytail.
Seeming to move that much faster now that she‘d doffed her disguise, the Girl That Gravity Forgot leapt from the floor to the apron to the top rope in the blink of an eye. Bouncing from it as casually as the terminally grounded stepped off the curb, Lily hooked a sharp turn to the left, hit the adjoining set of strands and went soaring into a gorgeous back flip that set her back in the center of the ring. Then she was off again, the Meteor Mite rounding on one heel to sprint to the far side of the squared circle. At the ropes in an instant, she caught the top and middle in both hands, leapt and twirled over the third strand in a Tiger Feint Kick that ’swicked’ through the air.
Back in the ring a heartbeat later, the youngest Burlingame sister strode to the middle of the ring and undid the belt. Holding it level with one shoulder, she thumbed an invisible detonator in the other hand and raised her gold to correspond to the thunderous ‘BOOOOOOOM!’ from her fans. “From backyards to black holes, I’ll defend this title anywhere!” Slinging the strap to the official, she backed into her corner to await the final inspection.
Riley was out of her corner the instant the bell sounded, not because she meant to launch a blitzkrieg on the champion, but because she simply couldn’t contain her excitement over appearing so high on the card, and with a chance at Lightweight Gold to boot! Lily strode out to meet her just as quickly and though she was more than ready to grapple or toss punches, the brunette didn’t hesitate in reciprocating the handshake Shayne thrust her way.
“ThankyouforthisLily!” Riley tried not to sound like she was gushing and almost succeeded. “I’vealwayswantedtocompetefor--” the Coloradical Kid took a deep breath, then resumed speaking at a more normal pace. “Wrestling in the FAWN arena’s been a dream of mine since I was nine. Wrestling in the FAWN Arena for a championship? I wanted that since I landed my first Moonsault off Mr. McGregor’s roof.”
Burlingame knew the rush, though she hadn’t done any dives from neighbor’s roofs (at least none that’d been caught on tape). “Right there with you, Riley. I can’t wait to tear this place down, but know one thing. If you want the belt I brought to the ring you’re gonna have to dive off every damned thing you can find. And probably more than once.”
Shayne broke the handshake and offered the champ a bright, competitive smile. “Never been afraid of heights, ‘Lil. Not afraid to sweat, hurt or to bust my ass either. How ‘bout you?”
Lily backed off, crouched slightly and started to circle. “Add bleed, fight, claw and suffer to that list and you’re getting somewhere. C’mon girl. You wanna wrestle? Let’s wres--”
Riley pounced, caught the brunette in a sturdy Collar & Elbow Lock-Up and immediately laid out on her right hip to sling Burlingame across the mat with a tumbling Arm Drag. Lily rolled through, popped to one knee and nodded appreciatively as Shayne bounced to full verticality. Up shortly thereafter, Lily started forward a second time but drew back when the blonde darted in to meet her. Pivoting toward the challenger, Burlingame slipped her left arm under Riley’s right bicep and popped her hips smartly to fling the other woman up ‘n over with a gorgeous Steamboat-style Arm Drag. Riley landed on her hip and shoulder, rolled through and pushed up much the same way Lily had done moments prior.
The champ said nothing, only crouched a little deeper and crooked one finger to beckon the challenger forward. Forcing herself to dial the speed back a little, Riley righted herself and joined Burlingame for a little circling. The clench that followed actually stayed that way for a good ten seconds as blonde and brunette shoved one another back n’ forth in search of an advantage. That changed when Lily felt her foe trying to swing around for a Go-Behind. Rather than give up her back, Burlingame flicked an arm around the base of Shayne’s neck and pulled her into a grinding temple-on-hip Side Headlock.
Hands clasped against her opponent’s cheek, the Interstellar Angel gave her rival’s noggin a few healthy squeezes to see what she might do and was impressed with how quickly Riley started peppering her ribs with punches. “Good work, Ri.” Burlingame noted as she applied more pressure with her surprisingly brawny arms. “But lets see how you do on the mat!” She thrust a hip into Shayne’s belly and tossed her over with a Headlock Takedown that shivered the canvas with the weight of their landing. “C’mon, I know you can get out of this!” Burlingame continued to put pressure on Shayne’s skull, making it the center of a triangle that included her forearm, bicep and right breast.
Riley knew she could too, but she didn’t waste her breath confirming it. Rather she kept at Burlingame’s hands until she decided they were too tightly locked. Then she got a hand up under Lily’s chin and pushed her back. The angle wasn’t all that painful, but the little bit of separation allowed the blonde to thum-thum-THUMP a trio of quick Kneelifts into her attacker’s upper back.
Lily grunted and jostled the Headlock hard enough to elicit a pained yelp from her opponent. “I know how fast you can move, Ri,” she admonished. “Don’t tell me I grounded you with nothing but a HeadWHOAHGUUUFFFHH!”
Shayne kicked her knees up, ‘smecked’ both legs around Lily’s neck and locked her ankles all in a single heartbeat. One hard squeeze was all it took to break the Headlock and then it was Lily down on her back while Riley rested on her left shoulder and hip. “That fast enough for ya, Lil’?” Shayne chirped as she extended her legs full length and squeeeeeeeeeeeeezed. “Well, howzat feel, champ? Like my squeeze?” She reached out and patted / swatted Lily’s gulping tummy, much to the brunette’s displeasure.
“How you doing, Lily?” Craig Long had closed in when the action went to ground, but he hadn’t bothered to make a query until Shayne turned the tables. “Need me to call for it?”
“She better not!” Riley looked stricken, championship on the line or not!” “I didn’t come here to win the belt on a cakewaHEY!”
Lily cupped her foe’s thighs and twisted sharply. This didn’t free her from Shayne’s clutches, it did however put her knees on the canvas and the increased leverage was vital for what she had planned. Braced on both hands and the crown of her skull, Lily pushed off and landed with both feet to right of her foe’s legs. Then she did it again but landed on the left. On and on it went, Burlingame gradually picking up speed until ‘PWOP!’ she launched herself straight up and burst free of the Headscissors to land on her feet directly in front of the startled battler.
Riley had just enough time to raise her eyebrows before Burlingame sprang yet again and PWAAAKED her heels into opposing chest with a flawless Short Dropkick. Shayne went down on her back and sucked wind, giving Burlingame more than enough time to scramble into place beside her. Back to the gasping grappler, Lily looked over one shoulder, smiled and swatted her tush, then peeled off a flawless back-flip that brought her THWHUMPING down on Shayne’s midriff. Riley’s legs popped up on impact so the brunette pulled both of ‘em into a tight bundle and nodded along with the count of…
STANDING MOONSAULT:
ONE…
The Coloradical Kid shoved loose and turned onto her stomach to prevent another pin. Fat lot of good that did, Burlingame swooped into a seat on her lower back and strapped Riley’s arms across her thighs like she was going for a Camel Clutch. But instead of hooking her chin, Lily pressed down on the back of her head, thus forcing Riley’s chin into the top of her decolletage. Then she slid forward onto her hands and knees, a move that rolled Shayne onto the back of her head and shoulders. Upended quite neatly by the Gedo Clutch, Riley kicked and squirmed while the official started his second count…
ONE…
TWO…
Shayne kicked out, flopped to all fours and crawled away as quick as she could in hopes of putting some distance between herself and the champion. Lily could’ve followed her but didn’t, choosing instead to hang around near the middle of the ring and flick her togs back into place. Working hard to steady her nerves, Shayne took a deep breath before getting to her feet. “Got a lot of ways to pin a girl, don’t you, Lily?”
Burlingame nodded. “Got more than a few ways to make ‘em tap out too. Like I said, this isn’t going to be easy, Ri.”
“I don’t want it to be easy. I want it to be--” she dashed forward, snatched the brunette’s wrist in both hands and sent her racing to the ropes with an Irish Whip. Or not. Digging in her heels when the tether ran out, Shayne yanked Lily back the way she’d came, then her loose and leapt straight up. Her legs ‘smecked’ around Burlingame’s noggin again and Riley torqued back as hard as she could to flip Lucy over onto her back with resounding speed. More importantly, the challenger landed high astride her rival’s chest and when Lily’s legs popped up she collected them under her armpits to complete a perfect matchbook. Snug as her perch was, that didn’t stop Riley from leaaaaaaaaaaning forward until her forehead nearly touched the canvas. That meant Burlingame had nothing to look at but blonde navel as the ref counted…
ONE…
TWO…
Lily wrenched her legs loose, the strength of her escape dumping Shayne on her chest with a full second to spare. Up a half second before the challenger, Lily fired off a Haymaker only to have Riley block it with a forearm. In the next instant she pounded the broad side of her spring-tanned thigh into the brunette’s belly to double her up but good. Shayne grinned when she saw Burlingame’s back. She was still smiling when she brought both hands up, then down in a ringing SMACK that echoed as loudly as any Bloodwind Chop.
It slowed Lily down in much the same fashion too, giving the Backyard Brawler plenty of time to snatch a wrist and toss the heiress toward a far corner courtesy an Irish Whip. Burlingame crossed the canvas quickly, unfortunately her innate speed meant she barely had enough time to twist around before bouncing spine-first into the buckles. She jolted hard but kept enough of her wits to hook both arms over the top rope. While this kept her safe from all sorts of moves with words like ’Bronco’ or ’Stink’ in their names, it did not protect her from Shayne’s next piece of offense, a high speed, no jump body on body Avalanche Splash that looked like it might’ve come straight from the Cassandra Vale playbook.
Riley backed off immediately, knowing full well that the force of the Splash would knock the brunette on her butt or send her staggering out of the corner, either of which was fine by her. Turned out to be the latter, Lily shambling away from the crash site like a drunk in search of a good place to sit down. Sitting didn’t seem quite restful enough in Shayne’s opinion, which was probably why she slipped one arm through Burlingame’s gams and the other around one shoulder. Then she boosted her up, spun her over in a half circle and laid out on her belly to THWHAM the Star Strider against the mat with an emphatic Power Slam.
CORNER SPLASH & POWER SLAM:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AzKt5t_Vks
Both ladies bounced noticeably on impact, but Riley settled down quickly enough and since she already had a leg hooked she pulled it that much tighter in search of the…
ONE…
TWO…
Burlingame shoved her loose again and Shayne showed Long three fingers more out of instinct than any real belief that he’d change the count. He didn’t and so Riley hopped back to boot leather. Noting her foe’s relative proximity to the nearest corner, she almost went to the third floor, but decided against it. The brunette was almost as quick (if not quicker) than she was and the last thing Riley wanted was to dive from on high into an empty pool. So instead she jumped straight up, then jumped a second and a third time, getting a little higher with each outing. At the apex of her third leap she raised her knees to chest level, curled into a ball and spun through one and a quarter full rotations before stretching out full length and THWHUMPING down on Lily’s tummy.
STANDING 450 SPLASHl
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1p4ZjPgxZ2M
The Standing 450 Splash popped the crowd huge and sent Burlingame’s legs shooting up, but Shayne didn’t go for a cover. NOW she scrambled to the corner and made her way to the top. “MINE DOESN’T HAVE A LOT OF FANCY TWIRLING!” Riley shouted to the FAWNatics. “BUT IT’S MORE THAN ENOUGH TO MAKE ME A CHAMPION!”
Looking to back up that claim, the blue-clad blonde dipped her knees, swung her arms forward and hurled herself out into the void with that peculiar inside out back flip that was the hallmark of any good Shooting Star Press. And Riley’s wasn’t just good, it was damned great, which explained why she was able to pull through and land on her feet when Lily rolled clear in mid-flight. Staggering forward until she caught her balance, Shayne rounded on the champ and shook her head when she saw Burlingame already upright. “Should’ve known it wouldn’t be that quick.”
“Can’t blame you for trying.” Lily replied. “Come on babe, lets see what else you’ve got.”
Riley answered with a lightning-fast sprint and spring that probably would’ve turned into another Hurricanrana if the Girl that Gravity Forgot hadn’t shot her hands through those slightly parted thighs, pressed ‘em to the swell of Shayne’s backside and shoved her up n’ over her target’s head. Remarkably unperturbed by the sudden change in flight plan, Riley adjusted in mid-air and landed easily with both feet on the second rope. She’d just grabbed the top rope for a bit of extra support when Lily closed in and CRAAACKED a huge overhand smack between her shoulders. Riley cried out and stood up straight, leaving her vulnerable when Burlingame hopped onto the second rope and immediately somersaulted clear. Slapping on a Waistlock when she all but upside down behind the challenger, Lily landed on her knees and shins while Shayne was THWHAMMED down flat on her back as the victim of a flawless Springboard Sunset Flip Powerbomb.
SPRINGBOARD SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZHRaisNYCQ
Breaking the Waistlock so she could put brace her hands against the mat, Lily forced her shoulders into the pits of Riley’s knees and pushed onto her toes, all the better to fold the blonde in half while Craig counted…
ONE…
TWO…
Riley pushed free and slopped onto her belly. Didn’t stop there though, she also reached out a hand and grabbed the bottom rope to make sure the brunette couldn’t trap her in another of her myriad cradles. Lily saw this and smiled. “Good call, Ri. But that’s not going to work right now.”
It didn’t work because Burlingame grabbed her opponent’s ankle and wrist and draaaaaaaaaaagged her almost to the center of the squared circle. Once there was no chance of escape she tossed the limbs aside, positioned herself off Shayne’s left shoulder and peeled off a vertical leap of her own. It didn’t have the height of Riley’s latest attempt, but whereas the challenger’s ended in an evasion the champ’s truncated Shooting Star Press met with nothing but success in the form of a THWHUMPING chest on chest collision. Hooking the far leg as she put her back against Riley’s tits, Burlingame cradled her up for the…
STANDING SSP:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aztHiyZM4UY
ONE…
TWO…
The Coloradical Kid kicked out at ‘TWO!’ and sat up with a dark look on her face. “You’re not gonna beat me with my own move, LilNNNGGGGHH!”
The Star Strider was already vertical and she made Shayne pay for the sass with a short, sharp Soccer Kick between the shoulders. “Not trying to beat you, Ri. Just softening you up for later. If I was trying to beat you I would’ve done something like this.” Hoisting the blonde up alongside with a double handful of hair, Lily twisted around back to back with Riley and slipped her arms around her biceps, Backslide-style. But instead of going for a pin she ‘hupped’ Shayne off her feet and bent her legs so that the challenger’s shins got hooked in place atop her thighs. Then she leaaaaaaaaaned forward until she was practically doubled over, Lily looking at the canvas while Riley blinked into the overhead lights, her back wrenched at an unpleasant angle via the Gory Special.
GORY SPECIAL:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDcB0ZHmero
Craig, who’d seen ladies of all shapes and sizes surrender to this particular stretch, was quick to check on the blonde’s status. “How’re you doing, Riley? Need me to call for the bell? Just say the word and I’ll end it.”
“NO!” Riley shook her head to emphasize the point. “I DON’T GIVE UP! I GOT THIS!”
Lily heard her challenger’s pronouncement and took her at her word. Standing up fast, she tossed Riley’s arms away, then grabbed hold of her shins and dropped to her tush, so that the Backyard Brawler THWHUMPED down on her face, chest and belly via an impressive Gory Bomb. Lily rolled onto her knees at once, sidled into place beside Shayne and pulled her onto her back to better seek out the…
GORY SPECIAL BOMB:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJIM_wCqioE
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Riley fought loose of the champ and started to roll. Lily went after her, then backed off when she understood the blonde was meant to climb the ropes rather than slide under them. Slowing down when she bumped into the bottom strand, Shayne grabbed a hold and pulled herself to one knee. Her other arm stayed tight against her chest, the pressure took away the worst of the ache induced by the Gory Bomb. When she felt a bit better, Riley lifted her head and looked at Burlingame, who’d kept a respectful distance during the brief reprieve.
“Take five if you need it, Ri.” Lily said without a trace of snark. “I’m not going anywhere.”
The Coloradical Kid clambered her way to verticality, then rolled her shoulders and raised her fists to chest-level. “Thanks Lil, but as a good friend of mine is known to say, intermission’s over. It’s time to rock. Now put up your dukes and come get yourself some.”
Lily matched her foe’s stance and grinned. “Oh girl, I don’t want some. I want it ALL.”
Ready to get herself all she could, Burlingame stormed into the breach and reared back with a saloon-quality Haymaker that SMECKED off Riley’s forearm a half-second before it would’ve clipped the challenger’s jaw. Lily started for half a whisper and Shayne made her pay for it with Forearm Smash that caught her across the left cheek. The Star Strider reeled back on her heels and while Riley could’ve landed a second and third shot she chose to grab Burlingame by the shoulders and spin her in a half circle that smeared her against the ropes.
Her head cleared by the feel of rubber-coated steel on her back, Lily surged forward and took a stubby little hook to the breadbasket for her troubles. “Not goin’ anywhere yet, champ!” Shayne grabbed her foe’s elbows and threaded ‘em over the top rope, then she pressed a cupping palm to Burlingame’s chin and forced her head back at a sharp angle. “Gotta tune you up first!”
THWHAP! Riley clouted Lily across the tits with a Forearm Smash. And then another. And another. And another. And another. And another. And there would’ve been another if Craig hadn’t hurried over and tapped her on the shoulder. “Enough of that, Riley. Back off or get her out of the ropes.”
Shayne didn’t throw another Forearm but she didn’t relinquish control on the champion’s chin either. “Don’t I get a count, Craig?” she asked in a tone of beatific sweetness.
“You know that you do.”
“Then I think I’m going to use it.”
With that she put the crown of her skull against Burlingame’s sternum and unleashed a flurry of lefts and rights that pwak-pwak-pwak-pwak-pwak-pwak-PWAAAKED against her rival’s tummy. Craig did indeed start his count and Riley backed off at ‘FOUR!’ without so much as a peep. Didn’t mean the Interstellar Angel was out of the woods though. Shayne charged from halfway across the ring and drew back her right arm for a Clothesline aimed for Burlingame’s clavic-’OOOOOHHHH!’
The FAWNatics let out an impressed cheer when Lily doubled over and lunged just enough to force a shoulder into the blonde’s belly. Hands braced against Riley’s upper thighs, Burlingame straightened up to launch Shayne up, up, up and dow-’OOOOOOOHHHHH!’
More cheers from the crowd when Riley adjusted in mid-descent and landed on the apron. Thinking offense even before her feet touched down, Shayne reached for Lily’s noggin and got a faceful of feet for her troubles. The Dropkick sent Riley tumbling from the apron to the floor where she hit hard on her right shoulder and hip.
Elsewhere, Lily crowded the ropes but made no move one way or another until Riley started to rise. “She’s pretty good at throwin’ hands.” Burlingame admitted to the floor-seat fans. “Me? I like my fireworks a little bigger.” Case in point, she rounded on her heel and raced to the far side of the squared circle.
Still fighting off the worst of the impact from her meeting with the floor, Shayne looked up when the fans let loose with a thunderous cheer. “Oh crap.” Lily hopped, landed with one foot on the second rope and launched herself so high that Riley actually lost her in the lights. The champ reappeared immediately thereafter, plunging down onto her adversary in a chest-to-chest Suicide Dive that sent the blonde BWAAANGING into the barrier before she slopped to a woozy seat.
STRATOSPHERIC SPEAR @ 00:10
www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_EVOjNa5KM&feature=plcp
Lily rolled clear, bounced up and threw both hands overhead. “THAT’S PRETTY DAMNED LOUD, FAWN!” she roared at the top of her lungs. “LOOKS LIKE I HAVEN’T QUITE TAKEN YOUR BREATH AWAY! JUST WAIT, IT’S COMING!”
Promise made, the Star Strider returned her attention to Riley and hauled her up with a double handful of hair. “Kinda beat me down in the ropes there, Ri.” Burlingame noted. “I’m not mad, but I am gonna square that tab.”
Shayne braced one arm against Lily’s chest and tried to shove her away without much success. “Not gonna get anything done just talkin’ about it, LiNNNNGGHHH!”
Lily agreed with her on that regard, so she curled her left arm around the back of the blonde’s head, then pulled her head down and THWHAPPED her chin with a flawless European Uppercut. Riley rocked back on her heels, bounced against the barricade and probably would’ve tumbled into the front row if Lily hadn’t grabbed a handful of hair and reeled her back in. THWHAP! Lily tagged her a second time and again she snagged the blonde’s locks to keep her from tumbling ending up in the fans. “Lemme hear that count, Craig!” she called to the ref without taking her eyes off the Backyard Brawler.
“TEN!”
That was more than enough time, so Burlingame measured her shot, stepped in and really twisted her hips before landing the third European Uppercut. She didn’t bother to catch the challenger this time and Shayne spilled over the guardrail, just as the brunette suspected. But give the FAWNatics credit, they got their hands up to catch Riley in a bit of impromptu crowd surfing that kept her more or less vertical. Lily arched an eyebrow, then smiled and clapped her hands. “Ok that was pretty cool guys. Can you push her to me?”
They could and did, allowing Lily to curl an arm around the back of her head. No Uppercut this time, Burlingame only helped herself to a handful of waistband and marched her across the narrow aisle to sling Shayne under the bottom ro-- Riley slid around on the point of hip, dropped back to the floor and THWHAPPED Lily with a short, powerful Clothesline.
Burlingame went down like she’d been Powerbombed, landing hard on the back of her head and shoulders with both feet popped straight into the air. Riley almost dropped into a pin before she remembered they were on the outside. Rather than waste another second peeling her foe off the floor, she slid under the bottom rope, then dipped back onto the floor with a refreshed twenty count.
“You’ve had your fun out here Lil, now it’s time I got to show you what I can do. And how I got the attention of FAWN scouts in the first place.” Burlingame didn’t have much in the way of a cogent answer to that, so Shayne helped herself to a handful of hair and hauled the champ to her feet. From there she took control of Lily’s skull with a Side Headlock, which she used to march the woozy champion over to, and then up, the steel steps. Positioning herself on the brunette’s left side, Shayne crooked her right arm around the back of Burlingame’s head and threaded her right leg around the Star Strider’s left gam. “Learned to do this on a trampoline.” she said to no one in particular. “This version hurt more, but I like it better.” Then she leaned ‘em both forward and snapped backward to send the pair flying off the steps and into a THWHUMPING collision with the barely-padded concrete floor.
SIDE RUSSIAN LEG SWEEP:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yh2Zjc9wJRA
Sure as hell wasn’t a pleasant landing for either, but Lily seemed to get the worst of it as she rolled over to clutch at her lower back while Riley forced her way to one knee after only a brief grimace. “How’s that for diving off stuff, baby?” Shayne chirped once she’d made it back to her feet. She marched over to the flattened brunette, grabbed her by the ankles and used the grip to roll Burlingame onto her back. Tucking those captured ankles under her armpits, Riley twisted ‘em both around so her back was to the ringpost at the top of the steel steps. “Know what else we did a lot of in the ol’ Extreme Backyard League?” Riley asked with a twinkle in her eye. “Tossed each other into a lot of stuff we probably shouldn’t have. I liked doing this against the wall of our garden shed.”
With that she pushed onto her toes and dropped out flat on her back. Shayne’s spacing was perfect, the crown of her head fell short of the post by less than three inches. Lily alas wasn’t nearly so lucky. Oh, she managed to get a hand between her face and the steel, but that t’wasn’t nearly enough buffer to stop her forehead from BWUNKING against the post. Bouncing off with her feet still in Shayne’s possession, Burlingame’s troubles intensified when she tumbled down and landed with her lower back directly atop the points of Riley’s cleverly raised knees. Lily keened and jolted free of her foe’s clutches, not that she did much more than come to on her belly with both hands pressed to her aching spine.
Riley sat up, reached for the champ’s hair then paused to gauge her position as it related to the ring. Pleased with what she found, the Coloradical Kid got up and hopped onto the apron. “What’s that count at, Craig?” she asked after taking several big steps in the opposite direction.
The ref sighed, he already knew what was coming. “FOURTEEN!” he called loud enough for Lily to hear.
“Mmmmmmh, that’s ALMOST enough time, but just in case.” Riley slipped through the strands, waved to Craig, then went back out with another twenty seconds to play with.
“Stop taking advantage of my generosity, Riley.” Long said before starting his new count.
“Yes dad.” she replied with the ‘grown-ups are dolts’ voice she’d perfected shortly after taking her first table bump in tenth grade. Perched at the far end of the apron, Shayne flipped hair out of her face and grinned to the FAWNatics. “This isn’t the highest one you’ll see from me tonight, but it’s still pretty cool!” No one doubted her, indeed there was a strong ‘RI-LEY!’ chant echoing in the rafters when the blonde ingénue raced down the apron. Going airborne when she was still several feet shy of Burlingame, Riley peeled off that head-first back flip and THWHUMPED down with all her weight across Lily’s back in her second Shooting Star Press of the evening.
SSP FROM THE APRON:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5tsI3-gs58
The Girl That Gravity Forgot sucked in a near silent gasp and rolled onto her side only because Shayne saw fit to rear back on her haunches. “Guess we should go inside.” Riley said with obvious reluctance. “Maybe when I give you your return match I’ll make it falls count anywhere.” Lily only grunted, so Shayne snagged her by togs and tresses, hauled her upright and slung her under the bottom rope before Craig reached ‘TEN!’
Riley followed immediately thereafter and though she was pleased with her work on the outside she didn’t attempt a cover. Rather she filled her hands with the brunette’s battle-damp hair and peeled her off the mat. A Toe Kick doubled Burlingame over nicely and a Standing Headscissors kept her from escaping the Waistlock Shayne snugged around her midsection. “Don’t take this the wrong way, Lil’.” Riley’s lips were turned up in a tuff little winner’s smile. “But I’m about to defuse this Cherry Bomb.” She dipped her knees, whipped the heiress up onto her shoulders and then THWHAMMED her down with a Powerbomb that bounced Lily’s head and aching back against the thinly-sheathed plywood. Burlingame tried to twist to her left after the impact, but Shayne had dropped into an almost perfect squat thrust that kept her chest pressed tight to the champion’s upturned haunches. That meant Lily wouldn’t go anywhere unless she could beat the count of…
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Burlingame did indeed get a shoulder off the mat, unfortunately Riley used the escape to roll the brunette over onto her stomach. Still in control of her foe’s upper thighs, Shayne stepped over and dropped into another deep crouch, thus putting that much more pressure on Lily’s spine with the Colorado Crab.
POWERBOMB TO COLORADO CRAB @ 00:42
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aME_HP9weLs&feature=plcp
“ASK HER!” Riley demanded of the ref after less than ten seconds. “SEE IF SHE GIVES!”
Long didn’t need to be told twice, he knelt beside the suffering battler and said, “How you doin’, Lily? You want to give it up?”
Lily, who had her right hand and left shoulder planted against the mat, shook her head ‘no’ as best she could. “Don’t call it, Craig. I got this.” she grunted.
“She’s hanging in there, Riley.” the zebra told the challenger.
Shayne scowled. “How ‘bout now?” She sank that much lower, the determined little blonde edging right up to the limits of balance in hopes of exhausting the Star Strider’s reserves.
But Lily still didn’t give. In fact she drew in a deep breath and shouted, “You’ll hafta do better than that, Ri!” “You’ll be singing a different tune when your boots are over your ears, sweetie.”
Riley pushed up to reset her footing in anticipation of yet enough spine-wrenching crouch. Imagine her surprise then when Burlingame puuuuuuuuuushed up, tucked her chin against her chest and swung through the challenger’s legs to take all the pressure off her traumatized vertebrae.
This show of resourcefulness didn’t free her from the blonde’s clutches entirely, but Lily felt much better now that she knew her spine wasn’t going to crumple at any moment. Gritting her teeth, she grabbed hold of her shoulder (left hand on right shoulder and vice-versa) and pulled herself up in an impressive show of strength made all the more startling considering the punishment she’d absorbed.
Just as surprised by Burlingame’s tenacity as everyone else, Riley reared back for a Headbutt only to eat a Forearm Smash to the chin. Lily piled on two more, then wrapped her rival’s noggin in a Front Facelock and jerked her down in an impromptu Guillotine Choke. “This Bomb’s not out yet, baby!” Burlingame chirped as she poured on the pressure. “What about you? You ready to call in a night, RilWHOOOOAAAHH!”
Shayne shambled / ran toward a far corner, clearly meaning to pound the brunette’s back against the buckles. Desperate to keep that from happening, Lily broke the Facelock and just rained Elbow Strikes to the back of the blonde’s skull. Riley didn’t stop, but Burlingame did wrench a leg free and that was all the escape hatch she needed. Kicking out behind her, she stuffed her foot against the middle buckle and brought both of ‘em to a stop heartbeats before impact.
“Leggo of my leg, Riley. I said LET GO!”
The heiress reapplied her Front Facelock and bore down like a woman possessed. Shayne squealed and finally relinquished the last of her control so she could hammer at the champ’s ribs. Burlingame grit her teeth and dealt with the sock, she was too busy getting her other foot on that second buckle. Then she dipped down until her knees were touching her chest and pushed off with all the power of a highly motivated sixty-two inch spring. Lily twisted in a sharp half circle and laid out on her back, the pained grunt of her own landing completely obliterated by the THWHUNK of Riley’s forehead bouncing off the mat. The unconventional Tornado DDT flopped Shayne onto her back in a picture perfect starfish, a pose that would’ve gone undisturbed for quite some time if the Lightweight Champion hadn’t crawled across her chest and hooked the far leg for…
ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOO!
Riley powered her right shoulder off the mat to keep those championship aspirations alive for at least another three seconds. Feeling like a woman with something to prove, Lily pushed off the woozy challenger, slapped on a Wristlock and used it to haul Shayne to her feet. No fancy acrobatics now, Burlingame just stepped off, sank into a deep crouch and hurled Riley toward the far corner with all the power she could muster.
Only vaguely aware that she was upright after the thunderous DDT, Riley noted the buckles rushing up to meet her and somehow managed a sloppy half turn an instant before her spine BWUUUNGED against the buckles. Shayne jolted hard, yet still hooked her arms over the top rope to stay clear of a Stink Face or Bronco Buster. This tenacity proved quite detrimental immediately thereafter when Burlingame sped in, hopped onto the bottom rope with her left foot and THWHUMPED her right knee into the challenger’s sternum.
RUNNING KNEE IN THE CORNER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2esmLTvvoaY
Lily dropped to her feet, backed away from the corner on the double and beckoned Riley forward, hoping the blonde’s sturdy legs weren’t going to give out in the next few seconds. Turned out they were more than strong enough to hold, as Shayne stumbled into the middle of the ring with one arm pressed protectively against her chest.
Understandable, alas, not the best of defenses for what Lily had in store. Arms spread in a wide ‘C’, she slipped the bottom half through Riley’s legs and threaded the other over her shoulder, all the better to scoop the stumbling Lightweight onto the point of her right shoulder. The Star Strider spun in a quarter circle and angled her burden down like she was going for a Body Slam, but instead she kicked a leg forward and dropped to her tush to THWHUMP Riley’s noggin into the mat with a brutally sheer Michinoku Driver 2.
MICHINOKU DRIVER 2:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dplvkrDkwE
The crowd called for a cover and buzzed in surprise when Burlingame popped up without even attempting one. Their puzzlement vanished as soon as the champ started toward the nearest corner. Gripping the top rope in both hands, Lily sprang up and twisted in mid-air to land on the third floor facing the ring. Satisfied with all the angles and vectors by the time she straightened up, Lily raised her arms overhead, then snapped them down as she leapt out into the void. Knees pulled to her chest, Burlingame wrapped both arms across her shins and twirled like a buzz saw through 450 beautiful degrees of ‘OOOOOOOHHHHH!’
Riley rolled clear and Lily made a last second adjustment to land on her feet instead of flat on her face. Lily shambled several steps, almost went to one knee before smoothing things over. “Hope that wasn’t your quickest!” called a voice from over her shoulder. The champ whirled and saw Riley watching her with bright, competitive eyes. “Because it’s not quick enough to catch me, Lil’.”
“We’ll see about that, flatfoot.” Burlingame charged and fired off a Clothesline which Shayne ducked on her way to the ropes. Twisting around to go into the ropes, Lily bounced clear and was more than a little surprised to find Shayne all up in her business! Turned out the Backyard Brawler had slammed on the brakes and gone down her own back trail to surprise the champ. In that she succeeded wildly, as Lily mustered no answer when the blonde snatched her around the biceps and hoisted her high into the sky. Pushed all the way onto her tiptoes, Shayne spun a half pirouette, then sat out and THAWHAMMED her foe spine-first into the mat courtesy a Rydeen Bomb.
RYDEEN BOMB:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrrQQi7QCG8
Riley could’ve gone for a cover yet elected not to, she didn’t want the brunette to kick out and end up on her side or belly, which would only waste more time. On her feet before the ring stopped shivering, Riley sped around to Lily’s head, took possession of her wrists and used them to draaaaaaaaaaaaag the Girl That Gravity Forgot into the middle of the ring. Shayne tossed Burlingame’s wrists aside once her crash-pad was in place, Riley bustled to the corner Lily so recently vacated and claimed it for her own with a nearly identical leap.
“YOU’VE SEEN A LOT OF COOL STUFF TONIGHT!” Shayne bellowed to the capacity crowd. “BUT NOTHING AS COOL AS A ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH!”
The roar of thousands of voices sent Riley Shayne soaring into the stratosphere, the blue-clad battler almost vanishing into the lights as she seemed float through the first half of her highest SSP yet. Time resumed its normal flow when she started down, her descent forcing most of the FAWNatics to hold their breath until they knew one way or the oth--’OOOOOOOOHHHHHHH!’
Lily barreled closer to the corner, forcing Riley to make the same last second adjustment that’d saved the Star Strider from disaster a little earlier. “Damn!” Shayne pounded a fist against the mat, pushed to her full height and rounded on Burlingame, who was getting to her feet using the corner for assistance. Charging without thinking, the blonde PWAAAKED a Forearm Smash against the back of Lily’s head to keep her smudged chest-first against the buckles.
“So you don’t want a taste of the Mountains?” Riley grumbled in the midst of lifting / boosting / shoving her brunette adversary into a perch on the middle rope. “I suppose that’s ok. But you’re still gettin’ caught in an Avalanche.”
A second Forearm Smash across the lower back kept Lily from making a break for it in the brief interval it took Shayne to slip out onto the apron and mount the corner from the opposite side. Balanced in a deep squat on the top buckle, Riley reached under her foe’s biceps Double Underhook style and locked her hands. Then she stood up, forced Lily’s head between her legs and “HUUUUFFFHHH!” Riley doubled over because the heiress wrenched free of her grasp and slammed a Headbutt into her tummy. This was followed by half a dozen body shots, each connecting with or immediately adjacent to the challenger’s tummy. The Coloradical Kid doubled over and started down to a lower elevation, but Burlingame put a stop to that by forcing her head between opposing thighs.
Hands braced against Shayne’s knees, Lily rose up and shoved off to send the blonde hurtling up, over and down, down, dowNOOOOOOOOO! Riley tumbled through the monstrous Back Body Drop to land on her feet before collapsing to one knee. “YEAH!” Shayne got to her feet with a roar and the FAWNatics did the same. “LILY’S GOOD BUT SHE CAN’T NNNNNNGGGGGGGGGGHH!”
Whatever Lily could or couldn’t do was wiped out by what she could do, which was, in this case, a gorgeous Moonsault from the middle rope. Catching Riley’s noggin in a loose Front Facelock as she soared by, Burlingame came down on her back while Shayne was THWHONKED onto the crown of her skull like a lawn dart.
CHERRY'S JUBILEE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkyTqkvYH54
Lily rolled through onto her knees, crawled over to her starfished foe and planted her tush on Riley’s chest. Figuring she’d rather be safe than sorry, the brunette slipped her arms behind Shayne’s kegs from the inside and folded her in half with a Reverse Matchbook that held firm through the…
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
Lily tossed Riley’s legs down when the bell sounded so she could raise both fists to the rafters. She was still seated on her blonde’s chest when the Announcer called, “Ladies and gentlemen, your winner via pin-fall and STILL the FAWN Lightweight Champion… LILY BURLINGAME!”
The Interstellar Angel got to her feet, stepped away from Riley and let Craig raise her hand. “Good work, Lily.” the ref said almost at once. “You two really put on a clinic tonight.”
“Thanks Craig. Check on Riley, huh? I dropped her pretty hard, wanna make sure she’s ok.” The ref said her would, so Burlingame set out to visit each corner and take in the view from the middle turnbuckle. Accepting her belt from a tech near the tail end, she snapped it around her waist and padded back to Riley Shayne as the blonde was getting to her feet.
Rubbing what was sure to be a nasty bruise on her forehead, the blue-clad blonde caught sight of the gold winking around Lily’s waist and sighed. “Made a dumb mistake.” she said to the champ. “Got so caught up in sticking that landing I forgot you were still up there.” Riley thought for a moment, then extended her hand. “Good match, Lily. I am gonna Splash you sooner or later, though. Don’t care how quick you are, no one in FAWN Splashes harder than me.”
Lily, who was pretty damned proud of her Splash technique, not to mention the first faint suggestion of a six pack she’d developed, debated the issue minimally. “Any time, any place. Ri’. I’d love to show you how the Warhead feels when it’s coming off the top of Mr. McGregor’s roof.”
Riley’s jaw dropped, then she grinned. “Oh girl, it is ON! Next time FAWN goes west, you and I are gonna rumble in the backyard, I don’t even care if there’s cameras to see. I just want YOU to see.”
Burlingame used the handshake to pull Riley into a one-armed hug. “See you there, Riley. Try to stay in one piece ‘til then, ok?”
The Backyard Brawler nodded, then backed off. “You too, Lily. I want that,” she pointed to the belt, “and I want to take it from you.”
Lily almost said ‘you and everyone else’ but she settled for a smile and a wink. “Catch ya round, ‘Ri.” With that she turned around and slipped out of the ring, leaving
Riley to watch the champ clapping hands on the aisle as she made her way up the ramp. “Gonna be me someday, Lily.” Shayne murmured. “You can bet your fortune on that. Gonna be me someday.”