Post by bigfan on Apr 5, 2017 16:22:57 GMT
An expert at finding the tiniest lull in which to work his magic, the Announcer abruptly cut through the din. “Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for our Main Event! Before I introduce the combatants, please welcome to the Commentary Table… JENNY JACOBS!”
JENNY JACOBS:
Surprise, intrigue and pleasure flooded the FAWN arena in equal measure as ‘Jenny Says’ hit the speakers and the woman in question appeared shortly thereafter. Dressed in tight, frayed jeans and the latest ‘Excellent of Innovation’ tank-top, the leader of the Jacobites offered the double J’s to her legions of supporters, then started down the ramp. Genial as ever, Jacobs zigged and zagged across the aisle to slap the hands extended in her direction, but at no point did she ever offer an explanation for her presence at ringside. Not that anyone had to wonder too hard, considering the champ’s opposition on this particular night. Clearly nonplussed by any tremor her presence might have caused, Jenny made a circuit around the ring before coming to a stop beside Joanna and Gordy. Following a hug with the former and an ‘eyes up here, buddy’ handshake with the latter, she slipped on a headset and settled in to watch the action unfold.
With Jacobs in position, the Announcer went about his regular duties. “Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty minute time limit and it is for the FAWN World Championship! Introducing first, she is the challenger, hailing from the Red Hook Section of Brooklyn New York, she weighs one hundred and twenty five pounds and stands at five feet five inches tall. She is the Queen of the Facebusters Tribe, the Happy Anarchist, the Glad Bomber, this is MADDY CRANE!”
MADDY CRANE:
FAWNatics all over the arena sprang to their feet and cheered their guts out as Shinedown’s ‘Cut The Cord’ grumbled to life. Maddy appeared with her music and threw a salute to the throng but didn‘t slow down as she headed for the ring, if anything she picked up the pace a bit. For her first Main Event in the almost eight years she’d been with the company, the ballistic redhead wore a black sports bra top and matching bikini bottoms crisscrossed with thin red belts worn bandolier style while her boots and pads were done in a shiny red. On most nights, Crane went straight from the aisle to the apron, but tonight she made a circuit of the ring and very deliberately came to a stop in front of the Announce Table. Never once actually looking at Jenny, Mads hopped onto the apron, grabbed the top rope in both hands and waggled her hips to better show off the message on the seat of her togs. It read:
‘TOP O’ THE WORLD, MA!’
Message delivered, the Sultana of Slapstick vaulted over the strands and strode to the center of the ring. Back to the hard camera, Maddy kept her eyes trained on the entryway as she awaited the champion’s arrival. “Hope you’re taking good notes, JJ. This is the perfect opportunity to see how a future champion gets shyt done.”
The Innovator and everyone else got the opportunity mere heartbeats later when Machine Gun Blues hit the speakers and the Treymane Gang honored their mastermind and golden girl with a bellow that sounded like a safecracker’s bomb. Alongside the grayscale came the grinding opening riff of ‘Machine Gun Blues’, chosen anthem for current World Champ. “And introducing her opponent, hailing from Bridgeport California she stands at five feet eight inches tall and weighs in at one hundred and thirty-four pounds, she is the FAWN World Champion… VERONICA TREYMANE!”
VERONICA TREYMANE:
The woman in question blew through the curtain and took up residence center stage. Armored in the black edition of her usual trench-coat and fedora, Veronica Treymane looked out over the sea of phones and cameras, then said, “No jokin’ around tonight, you’se mugs. We got us a serious fight on our hands.”
Serious or not, Treymane hadn’t lost her flare for the theatrical, as evidenced when she whipped the coat aside to reveal not just the ten pounds of leather and gold strapped around her waist, but the replica Thompson’s resting against one strong, lightly-tanned thigh. In the next instant she hoisted the barking iron overhead and unleashed a fire of blazing pyro into the rafters. After a good ten seconds the clip hit empty so Treymane put the barrel to her lips and blew the smoke away before setting on her shoulder and heading to ringside.
For her first official encounter with one of her most intense Hellhole sparring partners, the Pinstripe Powerhouse sported her ‘championship’ togs, boy-cut trunks in dark blue with white pinstripes. Her top was a matching one-third length bustier with small buttons running up the center and white edging atop the cups. These halves were connected thin gray suspenders, while her pads at knee and elbow were the same dark blue. The outfit was finished with matte-black boots that rose to mid-shin.
Handing the Thompson off to a FAWN tech when she reached the foot of the ramp, Treymane made a quick circuit of the aisle to exchange high fives and pre-fight hype with all her supporters. Slowing ever so slightly as she passed by Jenny, Veronica was back to full speed by the time she reached the base of the steps. On the apron in two long strides, the champ doffed her fedora and set it on the turnbuckle before shrugging the coat from her shoulders. Through the ropes before the garment reached the floor, Treymane stormed the squared circle, popped the belt from around her waist and held it high for all (especially Maddy) to see. Lowering her prize only after the latest round of cheers died down, Veronica tossed the belt to Nick Castle and tipped a jaunty little salute to Crane before backing into her corner.
Considering the start of her last two title defenses, Veronica Treymane was delighted to not rush out of the corner or brace for a sneak attack the second the bell CLANGED. The crowd, already buzzing quite loudly, kicked up the decibels that much more when the Pinstripe Powerhouse raised both hands over her head and began to clap. “Yeah, that’s what I wanted to hear.” Veronica murmured as she moved toward the center of the squared circle. “Bring the noise, you’se mugs.”
Over on her side of the ring, Maddy didn’t clap, but she bobbed her head in time with the beat, both to show her appreciation for the response and to shake the nagging weight of Jenny’s gaze on the back of her neck. “Settle in and watch me work, JJ.” the redhead whispered. “Next time I beat you there’ll be a title on the line.” Promise made, Crane clapped her hands once, then strode out to meet the World Champion.
They’d already talked backstage and at the Hellhole more than two weeks prior, but that didn’t stop Veronica and Maddy from offering their hands one more time. “Ready to do this, Maddy?” Treymane asked without a trace of snark.
“My whole life, Veronica. I hope you’re at the top of your game tonight, because this is the best I’ve ever been. Don’t underestimate me, champ. I promise I’m not underestimating you.”
The Dangerous Dame backed off and settled into a loose, springy crouch. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Mads. Now bring it on.”
Crane nodded, dropped into a crouch of her own and began to circle. Treymane turned with her, the big blonde occasionally reaching out with one hand, an invitation to lock-up if ever there was one. Maddy didn’t take the bait though, at least not at first. Good as she was, the redhead knew she couldn’t match ‘Ronnie in a straight up power game, so she tested her defenses for several more seconds, then abruptly grabbed her foe’s left wrist and gave it a great up n’ down tug, like a woman trying to snap a heavy towel.
Treymane grimaced at the twinge in her elbow and shoulder, put her free hand against the challenger’s chest and was treated to a quick Arm Ringer for her troubles. Bending the taller woman’s hand back toward her elbow to keep the pressure on, Crane rose onto her toes and pushed up. The increased torque forced Veronica to bend over to alleviate the worst of the pangs, a tactic that worked until Maddy halved the Wristlock and jammed the point of one elbow into Treymane’s bicep!
The champ moaned and tried to pull away only to have the Sultana of Slapstick reel her right back to start. Wedging the trapped limb under her right armpit, Crane stretched it out full length even as she turned in a circle, the smooth motion of it working to bring the champion to her belly with Mads still in control of her wing. Veronica had given plenty of arms to both Susan and Sydney during the course of her training and she had no interest in letting Crane have one tonight. Well versed in defending a Fujiwara Armbar, she tucked her chin against her chest and pressed the crown of her skull to the canvas. A somersault was heartbeats away when Maddy put one hand between the champ’s shoulders and shoved down, forcing Treymane down flat with a breathy grunt.
Now controlling the Neo-Noir Knockout at shoulder and wrist, Crane set her feet and pushed into a gorgeous handstand that held just long enough to get an ‘oooohhh’ from the crowd. Then she tucked her knees and swung back the way she’d come to THWHUMP both joints into Treymane’s bicep!
“OW! DAMMIT!” Veronica pounded a fist against the mat, reached for the ropes and ran into even more trouble when the Sultana of Slapstick snatched that wrist in her right hand! Careful to keep her left knee on the blonde’s left bicep, Crane quickly folded Veronica’s right arm up between her shoulders in a Hammerlock, then kept it there by planting her right knee atop the champ’s vulnerable forearm. With the right arm effectively neutralized at the moment, Maddy doubled down on Veronica’s left wrist and slooooowly wrenched it up and back at an increasingly unpleasant angle.
Quick to note the torque on Veronica’s arm and the pain etched on her face, Nick Castle stepped up to the action, but backed off when Maddy shook her head ‘no’. “I’m not going to insult either of us by having Nick ask if you quit, ‘Ronnie.” Crane explained. “But I will tell you that you’ll have to wrestle your way out or get to the ropes, because I’m not going to let go until you make me.”
The struggling champion nodded once, appreciating the challenger’s stance despite her unpleasant circumstances. “I know, Mads. And don’t worry, I plan to make y--”
The Glad Bomber got another pained hiss when she cupped Treymane’s fingers and bent them backward. Denied her arms for the moment, Veronica stretched her right leg out full length just to see if she could reach the ropes. She couldn’t, but that was ok, it also confirmed that the whole of her lower body was free of the redhead’s control. Teeth clenched to fight off the worst of the hurt, Treymane slowly got her knees up under her torso and twisted her hips so that--there! Veronica slid onto her right side, thus freeing that arm from Crane’s control. Tenacious as ever despite her shrinking control, Maddy kept right on cranking the Armbar until the Pinstripe Powerhouse scrambled to her knees and pwak-pwak-PWAAAKED a trio of heavy Forearm Smashes across her shoulders.
That last one convinced Maddy to let loose, but when she stood up to clear off, Treymane snatched a handful of Waistband and jerked her into a THWHUMPING Forearm Smash to the small of her back. “UUNGGGH!” Crane stumbled hard, her hands thrown up to claw the air after the heavy shot gummed up her gears. Always happy to help herself to the gift of an opponent’s back, Veronica stood up and cinched her arms around Maddy’s waist. Hands locked, she squeeeeeeeezed hard, ‘hupped’ the Sultana off her feet, then twisted around and dropped to her knees to bring Crane down on all fours.
Clearing her head in mere heartbeats, Mads twisted her way to a seat and fired an elbow over one shoulder in the hopes of catching Treymane in the chin. ‘Ronnie was too good for such a simple counter and she made Crane pay for it with another rough constriction on the Bear Hug. “C’mon Daisy, you’re not sit there and let me squeeze ya, right?” the Dangerous Dame bore down again to emphasize the point. “I’ve seen you squirm out of Vale’s Hug enough to know--”
Maddy flattened her right hand into a paddle, pressed it against her own chest and started working it beneath the coil of the champion’s arms. As she’d noted, Treymane knew damned well that Maddy would be out in a matter of seconds, so rather than wait around she released the Waistlock and slipped her hands under the redhead’s armpits. “Nnnngggggghhhh!” Crane couldn’t stifle a grunt when Veronica laced her fingers and forced the point of the smaller woman’s chin into the top of her own cleavage.
“Not gonna be that easy, Mads.” Treymane huffed after pouring some power into the hold. “You want the prize? You’ll have to match me every step of the WHOAH!”
Maddy would’ve helped herself to a double fistful of hair if it’d been Jenny administering the Nelson. Since it wasn’t she fought her way to one knee, then carefully powered to near verticality. Once there she drew her hips forward and thrust them back to SMECK the medicine ball of her glutes into Veronica’s tummy. Treymane ‘oofffhed’ but didn’t relinquish her grip. “What else ya got, Dai--”
Maddy forced her arms up as high as they could before dropping to her butt to escape the Nelson neat as you please. Sliding back between the champion’s legs, Maddy popped to boot leather and would’ve taken Veronica’s head off with a Crane Kick if the big blonde hadn’t pulled her head back with a heartbeat to spare. “There’s a whole LOT more to show you, my fedora loving friend.” Maddy spoke louder than usual so Veronica could hear her over the roar of the crowd. “And you’ll see every bit of it before the night is over!”
If Crane had produced that kind of brag during one of the Hellhole’s sparring sessions, Veronica would have just rolled her eyes and ignored it. But this wasn’t a private gym, it was the Heartbroken main event, and on that kind of stage she couldn’t just let the snark slide. Spreading her arms out wide, the Dangerous Dame busted out an impressive double bicep flex and felt the audience noise increase again as she shouted over it. “Bring out everything ya got, Daisy, you need all that and more to match this firepower!”
Up to now the match had been even, technical, and close quarters, as might be expected from two fighters who trained together under the vaunted Technical Marvel. The crowd were showing their appreciation, but now with the verbal stakes raised and a little bit of clear air between them, Maddy felt it was time to time to start reminding everyone exactly why Gladiatrix Magazine was calling her the most improved wrestler on the roster. She knew that she was giving up size and strength to the Pinstripe Powerhouse but her consolation was that she was definitely the quickest woman in the ring tonight, and that made her dangerous.
Taking the very rare decision to forgo a verbal comeback, she instead bent her knees and launched off both feet, rotating her entire bodyweight behind a huge flying Forearm Smash which sent the Dangerous Dame staggering backwards. With ‘Ronnie still reeling Crane landed smoothly and set off past the big blonde to the ropes, returning at full pace. Treymane had just regained a secure footing when she felt an arm hook around her neck, Maddy’s full bodyweight pulling her own forwards and down at speed thanks to a rapid Running Bulldog!
RUNNING BULLDOG:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-DlvZjnzxc
Veronica landed chest first, her undefended face whiplashing down into a nasty impact. One hand automatically came up to rub some life back into her nose, the other flattened onto the mat and pushed up, aiming to regain a vertical base as quickly as possible. Unfortunately Maddy Crane was faster, scrambling straight up from the landing on her tush and bouncing into a Leg Drop which drove the propped-up Dame straight back down onto her front again.
This time Veronica was slower to rise, keen to avoid being caught in the same trap a second time. But Maddy had different ideas anyway, jogging off in a circuit which gained speed and momentum before charging back into a low angle dropkick. One boot slammed into Treymane’s shoulder, the other into the bicep which had already had a thorough working over at the start of the match. The dual impact rolled ‘Ronnie over onto her back with the Sultana of Snark scurrying over to hook both legs and fold her into a matchbook for…
ONE
T…
Veronica put both hands on the mat by her head and pushed out with her core, that strength sending the smaller girl rolling back off her. “No chance, Daisy!” the Dame spoke whilst rolling back to her front to avoid a follow-up pin, “Didn’t I already tell you this wasn’t going go easOW!” Interrupting the blonde with two kicks to the back of her thighs, the Sultana of Snark felt that she’d earned the chance to run her mouth a little more.
“You’re sure spending a lot of time facedown, ‘Ronnie. How’s the view down there?” she began, threading her feet between the Neo-Noir Knockout’s legs. “Just watch a little longer and you might see me walking out with your title.” Veronica was once again trying to make it up to vertical and was just about to form a response when she felt Maddy pulling her ankles apart and sliding her body into the V formed by her legs. The blonde had a split second to remember she was up against the Queen of the Facebusters Tribe and try to protect herself before Maddy’s arms wrapped around her waist, hauled up, then forced her straight back down on her nose.
WHEELBARROW FACEBUSTER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHDOt4O4U5k
Her face drilled with the second heavy drop in as many minutes, Veronica abandoned her immediate plans of getting back to her feet and focused on checking her nose and lips for blood. Finding none, she had almost blinked away the spots in her vision when she felt those hands again around her ankles. The Happy Anarchist quickly bent one leg and tucked the foot behind the pit of the opposite knee and was only a second or two away from cinching in her Red Hook Cloverleaf when Treymane sprang into action.
Veronica crunched up her body and pulled herself into a forward roll, acting more on ring instinct than any thought-out plan and taking a surprised Crane along for the ride. The force of the impromptu Victory Roll broke the Glad Bomber’s grip on those captive legs and she was left on her back with ‘Ronnie kneeling above her as Castle slid in to count
ONE
TW…
The instant she’d regained her bearings Maddy powered through her legs and pushed her way out from under the impromptu pin. “What the hell ‘Ronnie?” she exclaimed, pushing to her haunches and rising to vertical, “You talk this big game and then bring that cheap shyt in here? And people say I’m the one with a ‘tude.”
Pleased to be back on her feet for the first time in a few minutes, Treymane turned to face her opponent and growled “Champions take their opportunities, Daisy. Maybe that’s why you’re not onWHHHHOAH!”
Feeling disproportionately angry that her night could have been ended by a rollup, Maddy charged back in at full speed and juuuust managed to duck under the boot Treymane had thrown out in response! Having missed the bolt of Chicago Lightning by inches she carried on past the bigger girl, BWUNGing off the ropes and returning with a Crooked Elbow cocked and all her momentum behind it.
Unfortunately for Crane she had underestimated the champ’s preternatural ring awareness. As soon as the lightning had missed its target the Dangerous Dame swung that same leg down, back and out into a mule kick which caught the charging redhead completely by surprise and poleaxed her stomach around the outstretched boot. Left standing but doubled over and capable of little more than coughing out all her air, Maddy was easy prey for what Veronica had planned next.
And ‘Ronnie had plenty of plans, starting with showing the smaller girl how a champion focused on a body part. With the Glad Bomber still bent forwards, Treymane reached down to hook one wrist and twisted it up and behind her back, switching her grip to secure the hammerlock. Maddy immediately recognized the danger of this situation and started trying to pull away, but with no leverage she was helpless to prevent Veronica from spinning sideways to torque the arm out and falling backwards to drive her shoulder hard into the mat courtesy of a Hammerlock Armbreaker.
The redhead let out a yowl as her shoulder was forcibly twisted into the canvas, but the pain was quickly displaced by worry as she realized that the champ still had a grip on her wrist. Rising to a crouch, Veronica re-secured the hammerlock and used it to haul a struggling Crane up to standing in front of her. Not wanting to give a second for a counter, the Pinstripe Powerhouse ducked under Maddy’s free arm, stepped alongside her and put one leg behind before sweeping it forward, dropping to her back as she did to drive the Happy Anarchist to the mat back first, the trapped arm sandwiched brutally in-between!
HAMMERLOCK RUSSIAN LEGSWEEP:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y1Q7h1-ZBI
Within the space of a minute Maddy’s arm had gone from being fine to feeling like it might literally be on fire, and she tried desperately to haul it in and attempt to quell the flames. Unfortunately the Dangerous Dame had decided that she wanted to keep possession of it, one hand still clamped on Crane’s wrist and the other looping around her bicep to control the shoulder. With the difference in size and leverage there was only ever going to be one winner of that battle.
With both girls prone on the mat Veronica patiently tugged on the captured limb until she had it outstretched and then used it as a pivot to roll them both over. Maddy tried her hardest to just keep on rolling, reaching out towards ropes which didn’t look to be too far away, but the champ had other plans. Spiderwalking her body through ninety degrees, Treymane planted her feet flat, snaked one arm underneath and around Crane’s, and bridged back to bring hellacious torque to bear.
FUJIWARA ARMBAR:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANFf3JdGxCA
“What do you say, Maddy?” Castle was already in close to the action, though the senior official made sure to keep clear of the challenger’s potential path to the ropes. “You need me to call for the bell?”
“NO!” Crane waggled a finger in the ref’s face to make sure he got the point. “Don’t waste my time with that stupid shyt, NIIICCKEERRRAAAHHH F*CK!”
Treymane pushed up on her toes and leaned back, planting even more weight on the challenger as she tried to hyperextend the elbow. “Yeah, Nick.” Veronica chided after she blew some hair off her eyes. “Maddy will submit when she’s good and ready.” She paused for a moment. “Hopefully before I have to give her a third elboWNNNGGHH!” Speaking of elbows, the Sultana of Slapstick brought hers into play by driving the point of the bony joint into the crown of her attacker’s skull. Veronica growled, reset her feet and bore down on the joint-lock again. “This isn’t sparring, Mads.” she muttered. “It’s gonna take more than one shot if you want me to let you GRRHHNNNGGHHH!”
Maddy angled her free arm back a second time, only now she hooked it over the champion’s jaw. Drawing it as tight as she dared, Crane leaned to her right and jerked down with her arm to THUMP the back of Veronica’s skull against the mat over and over again! Still in control of the redhead’s arm despite the punishment, the Neo-Noir Knockout reefed back on Maddy’s wrist, then shifted forward far enough to slip free of that encroaching arm. The adjustment meant sacrificing some of the torque on the Armbar, but Treymane figured it was worth it to keep the grinding hold in--”DAMMIT!”
Granted a little more room to maneuver, the Princess of the Punchline pushed up on her free hand and tucked the point of her chin against her chest. Bracing the top of her head against the canvas, Maddy rolled / flopped forward onto her back. Veronica still had control of her left arm, but with pressure gone it was little more than a Wristlock and the redhead quickly scooted to the ropes. “Break!” she demanded once she’d locked her ankles around the bottom strand. “Get off me, Veronica, I’m in the OOOOWWWWW!”
Not about to let the motor-mouth off without a little sass of her own, Treymane stretched the trapped limb out full length, then put a boot on Crane’s wrist to keep it pinned in place. Soon as she was on her feet she hopped up, stretched out full length and THWHAMMED down on Maddy’s elbow with a big Splash! Maddy pulled her arm in close to her chest and curled into a ball, removing her feet from the ropes in the process. That little detail meant Veronica was perfectly within her rights to snatch a handful of hair and haul her to boot leather.
SPLASH TO ARM:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_7EuVNAgwA
“Snuuuuhhh…. sneaky crap, ‘Ronnie.” Maddy huffed even as the big blonde once again laid claim to her left wrist. “I always thought you were supposed to be a femme fatale, not a Cheap-Shot ArtiNNNGGHHH!”
Treymane pounded a stiff Kneelift into Maddy’s midsection, then spun around behind her back and dipped under the challenger’s left arm to slap on another Hammerlock. The torque of the simple maneuver forced Maddy to lean forward, making her easy pickin’s for the champion’s Front Facelock. “Don’t whine, Daisy.” Veronica planted her right leg just behind the redhead’s gam. “It makes you sound like Jenny.”
“Low blow, ref.” Crane grunted. “Call for the--” Treymane leaned forward then snapped back, kicking Maddy’s leg out from underneath in the process to add even more force to the DDT that PLANTED her smaller foe in the center of the ring! Maddy flopped over onto her back and the Dangerous Dame was right there to cover her, Veronica sliding atop her in a domineering straddle that saw her plant both hands on Crane’s shoulders. Castle checked ‘em anyway, then slapped the mat…
HAMMERLOCK DDT:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZicmVW-zag
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Crane grabbed the blonde’s biceps and rolled her hips, throwing Veronica from the mount with a half second to spare. “Now’s not the time to run your mouth, Mads.” Treymane noted as she made a minor adjustment to her trunks. “Now’s the time to let your actions show these people why you’re the kind of girl who gets to close pay-per-views.”
The Happy Anarchist was still too busy cradling her aching skull to respond with either words or actions, so Treymane cupped her chin in both hands and hauled her to boot leather. Snuggling in against the redhead’s left side, Veronica stuffed a short Kneelift into Crane’s gut, doubling her over. The rough exhalation hadn’t even finished puffing Maddy’s cheeks when the champ grabbed her foe’s left wrist and stuffed it between her thighs. An already rambunctious crowd got that much louder as the Pinstripe Powerhouse leaned forward, slipped her left arm under Maddy’s right bicep and cranked it back at a sharp angle to complete the Pumphandle. Hard work done, Veronica flipped some hair off her face, then winked at the hard camera. “Let’s go on a ride, you’se mugs.”
All set for this Journey Into Fear, Treymane gathered her strength and muscled / flipped Maddy off her feet and… offered up a decidedly modern curse when Crane wriggled loose and landed on her six! Granted a very small window to reclaim control of the contest, the Sultana of Slapstick clamped down on Veronica’s left bicep in one hand and palmed the side of her head in the other. Pushing the blonde’s head to the right, Mads hopped up and THWHUMPED a stiff Headbutt into the soft flesh between her opponent’s neck and shoulder!
Treymane cried out and stumbled, her strong legs almost buckling as the shot reignited the fire Crane set in her shoulder earlier in the match. But concerns of mere verticality were forced from her mind by more pressing matters when Maddy straightened her up and pinned the Dame’s arms overhead with a Full Nelson. No snark from the notoriously lippy challenger, she merely kicked her left leg forward, then slashed it back like a scythe to sweep Treymane’s legs and THAWHUMP her down flat on her face, chest and belly! Segueing to a Half Nelson as soon as the Facebuster connected, Maddy shoveled Veronica over, drew both legs into a bundle and folded her in half with a back-press that had the audience roaring along with Castle for the…
FULL NELSON FACEBUSTER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4SnXmzl36g
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Veronica powered over onto her stomach with half a second to spare, unfortunately any relief she or her fans might’ve garnered from this escape was immediately negated when Crane clamped a five-fingered manacle on her left wrist. Holding ‘Ronnie’s arm away from her torso, Mads hooked her right leg around it Figure Four style, then dropped to one knee, effectively trapping the champ’s forearm in the pit of her knee. In the next breath she slung her left leg over top of Veronica’s head, all the better to plant that foot inches from the blonde’s nose. Then she bent down, hooked her left arm around the Dangerous Dame’s right arm and CRAAAAAAAAAANKED it back at an agonizing angle! “How’s this for actions, Veronica?” Crane braced her left hand against the champion’s glutes to keep the squirming under control. “Is that loud enough for ya?” Rather than wait for an answer she added more pressure, the challenger damn near lifting Treymane’s upper body off the mat with nothing but torque.
OMOPLATA ARMBAR:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdWatQwsTMs
Grim with the knowledge that her reign was jeopardy, Veronica fought like hell to keep from sobbing aloud in those first several seconds. Nick, bless his heart, didn’t help the situation when he rushed in and asked, “How you doing, Veronica? You hanging in there?”
“Just fine, Shamus. Now back off and shut your face so I can figure a way out of thisSSERRRGGGHHH FAAAAAAAAAHHK!”
Maddy crooked her right hand into a claw and jammed it against the blonde’s ribs, adding another element to the torture. She didn’t ask Veronica to quit however, she left that to Nick. No, Maddy’s eyes were trained on the blonde watching her from commentary. After several long seconds, Crane blew Jenny a kiss and mouthed, “Wish you were her.”
Jacobs answered with a withering glare and nothing else, so she honed in on Veronica and jostled the Armbar a little harder. “Got you trapped in the middle of the ring, babe. Give it up so you can call in your rematch tomorrow night.”
Treymane shook her head ‘no’ for the benefit of everyone in the arena, including herself. “I’m down, Mads. Not out. It’s not gonna be that easy to EEERRRRGGGGHHHHH!”
Maddy wrenched the Armbar, flattened her left hand into a paddle and lit into the champion’s abs with a wicked series of CRACKING slaps. “Does any of this feel easy to you, Veronica, huh?” Crane demanded over the sounds of punishment. “Because it doesn’t to me! It feels like I’ve been in a dogfight ever since the bell rang! But if you think I’m taking it easy on you…” the redhead curled her slappin’ hand into a claw and gouged it into the exposed meat of Veronica’s tummy, making sure to work the point of her index finger into the blonde’s navel.
Sensing Treymane’s anguish, fans of the challenger started a ‘TAP!’ chant which was immediately answered by ‘PLEASE DON’T TAP!’ from the Treymane gang.
Mads paid no attention to either, she was too busy trying to wring the last of the determination from her notoriously stubborn friend. “It’s over, ‘Ronnie.” she said quietly. “There’s no shame in tapping out to me, so please don’t act like there is. I’ve worked too hard for that.”
Pretty face twisted with torment, Treymane shifted her hips, slowly but surely putting more weight on her left side. “Nuuuhhhh…. not ashamed to lose, Mads…. especially not to you. I’m just…. just not done fighting tonight!” The assertion was still reaching Crane’s ears when the Neo-Noir Knockout brought her right knee up and in to land an awkward shot to the challenger’s right bicep. It wasn’t much more than a glancing blow, but she followed it up with two more and when Maddy shifted her footing to better deflect, Veronica finally pulled her left arm loose and flopped onto her back! Breathing a huge sigh of relief as the firestorm in her right shoulder finally faded to manageable levels,
Veronica started to sit up, only to ‘ooofffhh!’ in surprise when Crane climbed onto her waist and stuffed a palm against her chin. Forcing the taller woman flat, Maddy stretched out atop her, hooked her ankles behind Treymane’s calves and stretched her legs wide. A pair of identical grips on Veronica’s wrists completed the Double Leg Grapevine and kept her glued to the mat for…
ONE…
TWO…
The Pinstripe Powerhouse muscled a shoulder up, but didn’t have the strength to dislodge the redhead from her mount. Still in firm control, Mads wrenched the Grapevine a little wider, slid up the vulnerable grappler’s frame and pressed her chest into Treymane’s face! The abrupt application of Jugg was so unexpected it got cheers from all corners of the fandom, even as Castle delivered another count…
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Veronica bucked her hips and twisted her head to the side, once again disrupting the pin without actually breaking it. Galvanized rather than frustrated by the repeated denials, the Sultana of Slapstick relinquished the Grapevine, boosted herself into a seat on the champ’s chest and sat down with all her weight. It wasn’t a Face Sit, but her thighs made a snug frame for the blonde’s cheeks and the fork of her crotch was tight against Veronica’s chin. Louder than ever as the near-falls continued to stack up, the FAWNatics bellowed along for the…
ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOO!
Treymane inched a shoulder off the canvas just long enough for Castle to stop the count. Then Maddy forced it right back down and the Dame’s position grew all the worse because her foe swung around in a half circle and sat on her face! Putting every bit of her weight behind the smother, Maddy hooked Veronica’s kicking legs behind the knees and leaned back, pointing the Dangerous Dame’s wriggling backside at the rafters for the….
ONE…
TWO….
THRENOOOOOOOOOO!
Veronica popped her hips only this time she didn’t just escape, she somersaulted backward and landed heavily atop Crane’s chest! Mere inches away from a Reverse Face Sit of her own, the vengeful champion wriggled backward to treat her opposition to a taste of those domineering pinstripes for yet another…
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Maddy tore loose and finally they rolled away from one another, blonde and redhead scrambling to boot leather to avoid another cover. “Really, Maddy?” Treymane asked in between deep breaths. “You’re gonna try to win it with your UUUNNNNGGGHHH!”
Crane pivoted and buried her right foot in Veronica’s belly with a Side Kick that doubled her over in a single stroke. Burying her fingers in the blonde’s hair with no small amount of pleasure, Maddy reeled Treymane into a Standing Headscissors and quickly slipped her hands under opposing biceps to complete the Double Underhook. Hands locked, she let out a groan and hoisted the Neo-Noir Knockout upside down! Many of the assembled thought Crane was looking for a Deschain Driver, but no, Maddy twisted around in a half circle and dropped to her tush while simultaneously slinging Treymane back the way she’d came. THWHUMP! Veronica landed flat on her face, chest and tummy, the impact more than enough to roll her onto her back in the seconds before Mads glued her to the canvas with a Crossbody.
SIT-OUT DOUBLE UNDERHOOK FACEBUSTER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ4kXZ0kOLE
ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOO!
Veronica slithered loose yet again and this time she kept rolling, the overwhelmed champion deciding it was time for a powder on the outside of the ring. The strategic exit deposited her right beside the apron, Treymane holding herself up with one arm wrapped around the second rope. “Sorry ‘Ronnie.” the Happy Anarchist muttered as she got to her feet. “I’m too close to take my boot off your throat now.” With that she charged, dropped into a high speed baseball slide and DRILLED both feet into Veronica’s side!
The Dropkick sent Treymane reeling across the aisle to pinball against the edge of the Announce Desk, the aggrieved gangster crying out in pain as she was hip checked against the unforgiving wood. Even then Veronica didn’t leave her feet, in fact she pushed herself away to get that much closer to the ring and the challenger lurking therein. “You want my title, Daisy?” she huffed. “Then come and get--” Maddy did just that, racing to the opposite set of strands before making her return in flat out sprint that ended with a headlong dive between the top and middle ropes! Far too slow to simply dodge the Suicide Dive, Treymane raised her arms to catch the ginger missile, tumbled back and then twisted her hips to sling Crane clear across the Announce Desk! Joanna and Gordy had been trained for just such an occasion and they dodged out of the way with half a heartbeat to spare. The same could not be said of their guest however, and poor Jenny found herself obliterated by the snark-powered missile.
Only acknowledging the havoc she’d caused until the ‘HOLY SHIT!’ chants started, Veronica sagged against the apron and ran a hand through her hair. On the other side of the ropes, Nick Castle stepped up and cleared his throat. “Don’t even think about it, Nick.” the champ said without looking at him. “We’ve both fought too hard to let this end in a count out. I’ll get her back in the ring.” Steeling herself for the final leg of this grueling battle, Treymane pushed herself off the apron and trudged over to the spot where Crane and Jacobs were just starting to pull away from one another. “Sorry to cut in, Jenny.” Veronica muttered as she helped herself to a lot of Maddy’s hair. “But you were never supposed to have this danNNCCCNNNGGGHHH!”
Still doubled over, Maddy wrapped her arms around the blonde’s waist, stuffed a shoulder into her belly and plowed forward until Veronica’s spine TWHUNKED against the edge of the apron! Treymane gaped as her back curved in a violent arch, but rather than slide to a seat at the feet of her challenger, the blonde dug in her heels and punished Maddy’s lower back with a Double Axehandle! The shot loosened Crane’s Waistlock considerably, so Veronica wrapped the shorter woman’s noggin in a Front Facelock and punished her chest with half a dozen quick Kneelifts, the last of which broke Maddy’s grip entirely.
One more shot to the sternum rocked Mads back on her heels and offered up the perfect target for the Forearm Smash Treymane stapled to her jaw. The Princess of the Punchline reeled, stepping in fencepost holes that hadn’t been there a moment before, yet she still didn’t go down, an observation Veronica made with no small amount of admiration. Even so, it didn’t stop the Dangerous Dame from stepping forward, spinning on her left heel and hopping up to finally catch the stubborn challenger across the chin with a bolt of Chicago LightNOOOOOO!”
Maddy dipped aside at the last possible second, leaving Veronica’s boot aimed at the recently risen Jenny Jacobs! Thankfully for Treymane Gang and Jacobites alike, both blondes were quick on their feet and Veronica pulled her strike one way while Jenny rolled the other. Catching her balance after a single rough step, Treymane flipped hair off her face and glared at the Innovator. “What the hell, Jenny?”
“The hell yourself, Veronica. I was just trying to stay clear of the action and you two keep heading my way!” The Pinstripe Powerhouse frowned, shook her head. “Just stay behind the table, I’ve got enough to handle without worrying about you toNNNNNNGGGGGGHHHHHH!”
Veronica turned away from Jenny partway through the demand, just in time to offer her chin up for a pinpoint accurate Crane Kick from the challenger! Treymane’s head snapped back in a tangle of sweaty flaxen locks, her long legs freezing up with a nearly audible ‘creak’ as she timbered backward onto the incredulous Innovator! Not aware of the two’fer on her shot until the crowd let loose with a delighted roar, Maddy dropped out of the ‘Crane’ pose and didn’t bother to suppress a smirk. “Sheesh JJ, watch where you’re going. You’d think ‘ducking’ would be at least one of the millions of moves at your disposal.”
Jacobs offered a rather unprintable string of nouns and adjectives by way of response, on any other night the redhead would’ve fired off some choice barbs of her own, but it wasn’t like any other night. It was a FAWN World Title Match. HER FAWN World Title Match and she wasn’t about to ease up on one of the best talents on the goddamned planet (not that she’d tell Veronica any such thing) just because Little Miss Jenny got caught flatfooted wandering somewhere she shouldn’t have been wandering. Quietly proud that she’d set aside an opportunity for trash-talk with barely any thought at all, the Glad Bomber stooped over the wreckage, cupped her hands around Treymane’s ears and pulled her to boot leather in fits and starts.
“C’mon ya big scofflaw,” Crane grunted as she switched one hand to the champ’s waistband for easier transport, “time to get you back to the Hoosegow!” No answer from Treymane as the challenger hustled her across the narrow aisle and bundled her under the bottom rope. Residual momentum deposited the Neo-Noir Knockout near the center of the squared circle, meaning Mads had more than enough room for her next move. Going from floor to apron in a single nimble bound, Crane grabbed the top rope, set her feet wide and began swinging her hips back n’ forth, a simple two-part beat that soon had the crowd clapping along with every move. “C’mon ‘Ronnie.” Maddy’s voice was lost to everyone but herself. “You asked for my best so stand up and take it.”
There was no way Treymane heard the order, yet she promptly rolled onto her stomach and clambered to all fours. Falling silent as the champ rose to her full height, Maddy leaned back as far as the ropes would allow, then dipped her knees and leapt-- hands grabbed her right ankle and YANKED down! Caught totally unawares, Crane went straight down and THWHUNKED her chin against the apron hard enough to split it from one side to the other!
Nick Castle, who’d breathed a sigh of relief when Maddy got Veronica back in the ring, blinked several times as he processed what he’d just seen. “What the hell, Jenny? I mean…. what the hell?”
Down on the outside, Jacobs did some blinking of her own as the stunned silence seemed to bring her back to herself. She ran a hand through her hair, looked from Maddy to Veronica to Nick and back again. “Sorry.” it was soft at first, the second time was louder. “Sorry. I didn’t mean….. I mean I wasn’t trying to--”
The CLANG of the bell cut her off and Jenny’s shoulders slumped as the Announcer confirmed, “Ladies and gentlemen, Veronica Treymane has been disqualified, therefore your winner of the match is MADDY CRANE!” Any cheers following this proclamation gave way to boos in light of what came next. “However, the World Title cannot change hands on a Count Out or Disqualification, therefore Veronica Treymane is still the FAWN World Champion!”
Just as disappointed as the rest of the crowd, Nick took the belt from a tech and tried to offer it to the champ, but Veronica waved him off, as her eyes were still locked on Jenny. After a moment’s indecision she stormed to the ropes, dropped to the floor and got in Jenny’s face just as the NorCal Sensation was starting to slink up the ramp. “What the f*ck was that, Jenny? You of all people know how hard it is to get title shots, what the hell were you thinking?”
“I didn’t think, all right?” Jacobs barked. “All I know is I got asked to do commentary for this match and I was doing a damned fine job of it right until you decided you were a bit too fragile to soak up a Suicide Dive.”
“That’s not how it happ--”
“AND THEN!” the smaller blonde interrupted. “I do my best to get out of the way and what happens? You almost kick my teeth in, then knock me down again when you’re too goddamned slow to avoid that stupid kick!”
Veronica stepped forward, not so subtly chesting in on the other blonde. “You’ve got an awful lot to say for someone who just ruined a hell of a Main Event.”
“Back off, Veronica. We both know Crane was less than ten seconds from taking the World Title. You owe me, not that you’ll ever admit it… or give me a shot.”
Treymane’s eyes narrowed to slots. “You want a shot, Daisy? Try EARNING it. That’s what Maddy--”
“UUUUNNNNNNGGGGGGHHHH!”
A furious red and black blur broadsided Jenny with enough force to BWAAANG the unsuspecting Innovator into barricade, bruising the shins of several front row fans in the process. “YOU ARROGANT BYTCH!” Maddy had her rival smeared against the steel and just rained short, furious punches down on her forehead. “THIS WAS MY NIGHT! MY FIRST TITLE SHOT EVER AND YOU F*CKING SHYT ON IT!” She filled her hands with the blonde’s hair, wrenched her head back at a savage angle and leaned in so they were nose to nose. “You know I was going to give you the first shot, right? If I won tonight, you were gonna get the first shot. How could I give it to anybody else? But no, you just couldn’t STAND the idea that I touched the World Title before you. Well f*ck you, JJ. As far as I’m concerned you cost us the Main Event at March to War.” She pushed Jenny back, rolled her shoulders and sighed in disgust.
“Maddy,” Jacobs called after her as the redhead turned away. “Maddy I didn’t mean to--”
Crane rounded on her and CRAAAACKED Jenny across the mouth with a Bytch Slap so savage it split the former IC champ’s bottom lip. “Screw your apologies, Jenny. They don’t mean a thing.”
Jenny held her tongue as the frustrated challenger stormed up the ramp, but eventually anger got the better of her and she called out, “You get that one for free, Maddy, I owe you that much. But the next time you slap me I’m gonna break your arm.” Crane just flipped her off, leaving Jenny with a very strong urge to do the same. When the redhead was gone, Jacobs looked to Veronica and muttered, “Not a word, ‘Ronnie. Not unless you want to throw down right now.”
“It can wait. Not long though. Not after what you pulled tonight.”
“I’d worry more about what happens on the night you finally decide to step to me.” Jenny snapped before wheeling around to head up the ramp.”
Veronica watched her go without saying a word and when Nick laid the strap on her shoulder it felt far heavier than it did at the beginning of the night. “I don’t like this, Nick.” she said softly. “Doesn’t feel right. Doesn’t feel fair.”
“It’s not, but you know one of the perks of being a champion?”
“Tell me.” “You can offer to put the title on the line whenever you want and no one can say a damned thing about it.” Veronica smiled, the belt felt a lot lighter.
JENNY JACOBS:
Surprise, intrigue and pleasure flooded the FAWN arena in equal measure as ‘Jenny Says’ hit the speakers and the woman in question appeared shortly thereafter. Dressed in tight, frayed jeans and the latest ‘Excellent of Innovation’ tank-top, the leader of the Jacobites offered the double J’s to her legions of supporters, then started down the ramp. Genial as ever, Jacobs zigged and zagged across the aisle to slap the hands extended in her direction, but at no point did she ever offer an explanation for her presence at ringside. Not that anyone had to wonder too hard, considering the champ’s opposition on this particular night. Clearly nonplussed by any tremor her presence might have caused, Jenny made a circuit around the ring before coming to a stop beside Joanna and Gordy. Following a hug with the former and an ‘eyes up here, buddy’ handshake with the latter, she slipped on a headset and settled in to watch the action unfold.
With Jacobs in position, the Announcer went about his regular duties. “Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty minute time limit and it is for the FAWN World Championship! Introducing first, she is the challenger, hailing from the Red Hook Section of Brooklyn New York, she weighs one hundred and twenty five pounds and stands at five feet five inches tall. She is the Queen of the Facebusters Tribe, the Happy Anarchist, the Glad Bomber, this is MADDY CRANE!”
MADDY CRANE:
FAWNatics all over the arena sprang to their feet and cheered their guts out as Shinedown’s ‘Cut The Cord’ grumbled to life. Maddy appeared with her music and threw a salute to the throng but didn‘t slow down as she headed for the ring, if anything she picked up the pace a bit. For her first Main Event in the almost eight years she’d been with the company, the ballistic redhead wore a black sports bra top and matching bikini bottoms crisscrossed with thin red belts worn bandolier style while her boots and pads were done in a shiny red. On most nights, Crane went straight from the aisle to the apron, but tonight she made a circuit of the ring and very deliberately came to a stop in front of the Announce Table. Never once actually looking at Jenny, Mads hopped onto the apron, grabbed the top rope in both hands and waggled her hips to better show off the message on the seat of her togs. It read:
‘TOP O’ THE WORLD, MA!’
Message delivered, the Sultana of Slapstick vaulted over the strands and strode to the center of the ring. Back to the hard camera, Maddy kept her eyes trained on the entryway as she awaited the champion’s arrival. “Hope you’re taking good notes, JJ. This is the perfect opportunity to see how a future champion gets shyt done.”
The Innovator and everyone else got the opportunity mere heartbeats later when Machine Gun Blues hit the speakers and the Treymane Gang honored their mastermind and golden girl with a bellow that sounded like a safecracker’s bomb. Alongside the grayscale came the grinding opening riff of ‘Machine Gun Blues’, chosen anthem for current World Champ. “And introducing her opponent, hailing from Bridgeport California she stands at five feet eight inches tall and weighs in at one hundred and thirty-four pounds, she is the FAWN World Champion… VERONICA TREYMANE!”
VERONICA TREYMANE:
The woman in question blew through the curtain and took up residence center stage. Armored in the black edition of her usual trench-coat and fedora, Veronica Treymane looked out over the sea of phones and cameras, then said, “No jokin’ around tonight, you’se mugs. We got us a serious fight on our hands.”
Serious or not, Treymane hadn’t lost her flare for the theatrical, as evidenced when she whipped the coat aside to reveal not just the ten pounds of leather and gold strapped around her waist, but the replica Thompson’s resting against one strong, lightly-tanned thigh. In the next instant she hoisted the barking iron overhead and unleashed a fire of blazing pyro into the rafters. After a good ten seconds the clip hit empty so Treymane put the barrel to her lips and blew the smoke away before setting on her shoulder and heading to ringside.
For her first official encounter with one of her most intense Hellhole sparring partners, the Pinstripe Powerhouse sported her ‘championship’ togs, boy-cut trunks in dark blue with white pinstripes. Her top was a matching one-third length bustier with small buttons running up the center and white edging atop the cups. These halves were connected thin gray suspenders, while her pads at knee and elbow were the same dark blue. The outfit was finished with matte-black boots that rose to mid-shin.
Handing the Thompson off to a FAWN tech when she reached the foot of the ramp, Treymane made a quick circuit of the aisle to exchange high fives and pre-fight hype with all her supporters. Slowing ever so slightly as she passed by Jenny, Veronica was back to full speed by the time she reached the base of the steps. On the apron in two long strides, the champ doffed her fedora and set it on the turnbuckle before shrugging the coat from her shoulders. Through the ropes before the garment reached the floor, Treymane stormed the squared circle, popped the belt from around her waist and held it high for all (especially Maddy) to see. Lowering her prize only after the latest round of cheers died down, Veronica tossed the belt to Nick Castle and tipped a jaunty little salute to Crane before backing into her corner.
Considering the start of her last two title defenses, Veronica Treymane was delighted to not rush out of the corner or brace for a sneak attack the second the bell CLANGED. The crowd, already buzzing quite loudly, kicked up the decibels that much more when the Pinstripe Powerhouse raised both hands over her head and began to clap. “Yeah, that’s what I wanted to hear.” Veronica murmured as she moved toward the center of the squared circle. “Bring the noise, you’se mugs.”
Over on her side of the ring, Maddy didn’t clap, but she bobbed her head in time with the beat, both to show her appreciation for the response and to shake the nagging weight of Jenny’s gaze on the back of her neck. “Settle in and watch me work, JJ.” the redhead whispered. “Next time I beat you there’ll be a title on the line.” Promise made, Crane clapped her hands once, then strode out to meet the World Champion.
They’d already talked backstage and at the Hellhole more than two weeks prior, but that didn’t stop Veronica and Maddy from offering their hands one more time. “Ready to do this, Maddy?” Treymane asked without a trace of snark.
“My whole life, Veronica. I hope you’re at the top of your game tonight, because this is the best I’ve ever been. Don’t underestimate me, champ. I promise I’m not underestimating you.”
The Dangerous Dame backed off and settled into a loose, springy crouch. “Wouldn’t dream of it, Mads. Now bring it on.”
Crane nodded, dropped into a crouch of her own and began to circle. Treymane turned with her, the big blonde occasionally reaching out with one hand, an invitation to lock-up if ever there was one. Maddy didn’t take the bait though, at least not at first. Good as she was, the redhead knew she couldn’t match ‘Ronnie in a straight up power game, so she tested her defenses for several more seconds, then abruptly grabbed her foe’s left wrist and gave it a great up n’ down tug, like a woman trying to snap a heavy towel.
Treymane grimaced at the twinge in her elbow and shoulder, put her free hand against the challenger’s chest and was treated to a quick Arm Ringer for her troubles. Bending the taller woman’s hand back toward her elbow to keep the pressure on, Crane rose onto her toes and pushed up. The increased torque forced Veronica to bend over to alleviate the worst of the pangs, a tactic that worked until Maddy halved the Wristlock and jammed the point of one elbow into Treymane’s bicep!
The champ moaned and tried to pull away only to have the Sultana of Slapstick reel her right back to start. Wedging the trapped limb under her right armpit, Crane stretched it out full length even as she turned in a circle, the smooth motion of it working to bring the champion to her belly with Mads still in control of her wing. Veronica had given plenty of arms to both Susan and Sydney during the course of her training and she had no interest in letting Crane have one tonight. Well versed in defending a Fujiwara Armbar, she tucked her chin against her chest and pressed the crown of her skull to the canvas. A somersault was heartbeats away when Maddy put one hand between the champ’s shoulders and shoved down, forcing Treymane down flat with a breathy grunt.
Now controlling the Neo-Noir Knockout at shoulder and wrist, Crane set her feet and pushed into a gorgeous handstand that held just long enough to get an ‘oooohhh’ from the crowd. Then she tucked her knees and swung back the way she’d come to THWHUMP both joints into Treymane’s bicep!
“OW! DAMMIT!” Veronica pounded a fist against the mat, reached for the ropes and ran into even more trouble when the Sultana of Slapstick snatched that wrist in her right hand! Careful to keep her left knee on the blonde’s left bicep, Crane quickly folded Veronica’s right arm up between her shoulders in a Hammerlock, then kept it there by planting her right knee atop the champ’s vulnerable forearm. With the right arm effectively neutralized at the moment, Maddy doubled down on Veronica’s left wrist and slooooowly wrenched it up and back at an increasingly unpleasant angle.
Quick to note the torque on Veronica’s arm and the pain etched on her face, Nick Castle stepped up to the action, but backed off when Maddy shook her head ‘no’. “I’m not going to insult either of us by having Nick ask if you quit, ‘Ronnie.” Crane explained. “But I will tell you that you’ll have to wrestle your way out or get to the ropes, because I’m not going to let go until you make me.”
The struggling champion nodded once, appreciating the challenger’s stance despite her unpleasant circumstances. “I know, Mads. And don’t worry, I plan to make y--”
The Glad Bomber got another pained hiss when she cupped Treymane’s fingers and bent them backward. Denied her arms for the moment, Veronica stretched her right leg out full length just to see if she could reach the ropes. She couldn’t, but that was ok, it also confirmed that the whole of her lower body was free of the redhead’s control. Teeth clenched to fight off the worst of the hurt, Treymane slowly got her knees up under her torso and twisted her hips so that--there! Veronica slid onto her right side, thus freeing that arm from Crane’s control. Tenacious as ever despite her shrinking control, Maddy kept right on cranking the Armbar until the Pinstripe Powerhouse scrambled to her knees and pwak-pwak-PWAAAKED a trio of heavy Forearm Smashes across her shoulders.
That last one convinced Maddy to let loose, but when she stood up to clear off, Treymane snatched a handful of Waistband and jerked her into a THWHUMPING Forearm Smash to the small of her back. “UUNGGGH!” Crane stumbled hard, her hands thrown up to claw the air after the heavy shot gummed up her gears. Always happy to help herself to the gift of an opponent’s back, Veronica stood up and cinched her arms around Maddy’s waist. Hands locked, she squeeeeeeeezed hard, ‘hupped’ the Sultana off her feet, then twisted around and dropped to her knees to bring Crane down on all fours.
Clearing her head in mere heartbeats, Mads twisted her way to a seat and fired an elbow over one shoulder in the hopes of catching Treymane in the chin. ‘Ronnie was too good for such a simple counter and she made Crane pay for it with another rough constriction on the Bear Hug. “C’mon Daisy, you’re not sit there and let me squeeze ya, right?” the Dangerous Dame bore down again to emphasize the point. “I’ve seen you squirm out of Vale’s Hug enough to know--”
Maddy flattened her right hand into a paddle, pressed it against her own chest and started working it beneath the coil of the champion’s arms. As she’d noted, Treymane knew damned well that Maddy would be out in a matter of seconds, so rather than wait around she released the Waistlock and slipped her hands under the redhead’s armpits. “Nnnngggggghhhh!” Crane couldn’t stifle a grunt when Veronica laced her fingers and forced the point of the smaller woman’s chin into the top of her own cleavage.
“Not gonna be that easy, Mads.” Treymane huffed after pouring some power into the hold. “You want the prize? You’ll have to match me every step of the WHOAH!”
Maddy would’ve helped herself to a double fistful of hair if it’d been Jenny administering the Nelson. Since it wasn’t she fought her way to one knee, then carefully powered to near verticality. Once there she drew her hips forward and thrust them back to SMECK the medicine ball of her glutes into Veronica’s tummy. Treymane ‘oofffhed’ but didn’t relinquish her grip. “What else ya got, Dai--”
Maddy forced her arms up as high as they could before dropping to her butt to escape the Nelson neat as you please. Sliding back between the champion’s legs, Maddy popped to boot leather and would’ve taken Veronica’s head off with a Crane Kick if the big blonde hadn’t pulled her head back with a heartbeat to spare. “There’s a whole LOT more to show you, my fedora loving friend.” Maddy spoke louder than usual so Veronica could hear her over the roar of the crowd. “And you’ll see every bit of it before the night is over!”
If Crane had produced that kind of brag during one of the Hellhole’s sparring sessions, Veronica would have just rolled her eyes and ignored it. But this wasn’t a private gym, it was the Heartbroken main event, and on that kind of stage she couldn’t just let the snark slide. Spreading her arms out wide, the Dangerous Dame busted out an impressive double bicep flex and felt the audience noise increase again as she shouted over it. “Bring out everything ya got, Daisy, you need all that and more to match this firepower!”
Up to now the match had been even, technical, and close quarters, as might be expected from two fighters who trained together under the vaunted Technical Marvel. The crowd were showing their appreciation, but now with the verbal stakes raised and a little bit of clear air between them, Maddy felt it was time to time to start reminding everyone exactly why Gladiatrix Magazine was calling her the most improved wrestler on the roster. She knew that she was giving up size and strength to the Pinstripe Powerhouse but her consolation was that she was definitely the quickest woman in the ring tonight, and that made her dangerous.
Taking the very rare decision to forgo a verbal comeback, she instead bent her knees and launched off both feet, rotating her entire bodyweight behind a huge flying Forearm Smash which sent the Dangerous Dame staggering backwards. With ‘Ronnie still reeling Crane landed smoothly and set off past the big blonde to the ropes, returning at full pace. Treymane had just regained a secure footing when she felt an arm hook around her neck, Maddy’s full bodyweight pulling her own forwards and down at speed thanks to a rapid Running Bulldog!
RUNNING BULLDOG:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-DlvZjnzxc
Veronica landed chest first, her undefended face whiplashing down into a nasty impact. One hand automatically came up to rub some life back into her nose, the other flattened onto the mat and pushed up, aiming to regain a vertical base as quickly as possible. Unfortunately Maddy Crane was faster, scrambling straight up from the landing on her tush and bouncing into a Leg Drop which drove the propped-up Dame straight back down onto her front again.
This time Veronica was slower to rise, keen to avoid being caught in the same trap a second time. But Maddy had different ideas anyway, jogging off in a circuit which gained speed and momentum before charging back into a low angle dropkick. One boot slammed into Treymane’s shoulder, the other into the bicep which had already had a thorough working over at the start of the match. The dual impact rolled ‘Ronnie over onto her back with the Sultana of Snark scurrying over to hook both legs and fold her into a matchbook for…
ONE
T…
Veronica put both hands on the mat by her head and pushed out with her core, that strength sending the smaller girl rolling back off her. “No chance, Daisy!” the Dame spoke whilst rolling back to her front to avoid a follow-up pin, “Didn’t I already tell you this wasn’t going go easOW!” Interrupting the blonde with two kicks to the back of her thighs, the Sultana of Snark felt that she’d earned the chance to run her mouth a little more.
“You’re sure spending a lot of time facedown, ‘Ronnie. How’s the view down there?” she began, threading her feet between the Neo-Noir Knockout’s legs. “Just watch a little longer and you might see me walking out with your title.” Veronica was once again trying to make it up to vertical and was just about to form a response when she felt Maddy pulling her ankles apart and sliding her body into the V formed by her legs. The blonde had a split second to remember she was up against the Queen of the Facebusters Tribe and try to protect herself before Maddy’s arms wrapped around her waist, hauled up, then forced her straight back down on her nose.
WHEELBARROW FACEBUSTER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHDOt4O4U5k
Her face drilled with the second heavy drop in as many minutes, Veronica abandoned her immediate plans of getting back to her feet and focused on checking her nose and lips for blood. Finding none, she had almost blinked away the spots in her vision when she felt those hands again around her ankles. The Happy Anarchist quickly bent one leg and tucked the foot behind the pit of the opposite knee and was only a second or two away from cinching in her Red Hook Cloverleaf when Treymane sprang into action.
Veronica crunched up her body and pulled herself into a forward roll, acting more on ring instinct than any thought-out plan and taking a surprised Crane along for the ride. The force of the impromptu Victory Roll broke the Glad Bomber’s grip on those captive legs and she was left on her back with ‘Ronnie kneeling above her as Castle slid in to count
ONE
TW…
The instant she’d regained her bearings Maddy powered through her legs and pushed her way out from under the impromptu pin. “What the hell ‘Ronnie?” she exclaimed, pushing to her haunches and rising to vertical, “You talk this big game and then bring that cheap shyt in here? And people say I’m the one with a ‘tude.”
Pleased to be back on her feet for the first time in a few minutes, Treymane turned to face her opponent and growled “Champions take their opportunities, Daisy. Maybe that’s why you’re not onWHHHHOAH!”
Feeling disproportionately angry that her night could have been ended by a rollup, Maddy charged back in at full speed and juuuust managed to duck under the boot Treymane had thrown out in response! Having missed the bolt of Chicago Lightning by inches she carried on past the bigger girl, BWUNGing off the ropes and returning with a Crooked Elbow cocked and all her momentum behind it.
Unfortunately for Crane she had underestimated the champ’s preternatural ring awareness. As soon as the lightning had missed its target the Dangerous Dame swung that same leg down, back and out into a mule kick which caught the charging redhead completely by surprise and poleaxed her stomach around the outstretched boot. Left standing but doubled over and capable of little more than coughing out all her air, Maddy was easy prey for what Veronica had planned next.
And ‘Ronnie had plenty of plans, starting with showing the smaller girl how a champion focused on a body part. With the Glad Bomber still bent forwards, Treymane reached down to hook one wrist and twisted it up and behind her back, switching her grip to secure the hammerlock. Maddy immediately recognized the danger of this situation and started trying to pull away, but with no leverage she was helpless to prevent Veronica from spinning sideways to torque the arm out and falling backwards to drive her shoulder hard into the mat courtesy of a Hammerlock Armbreaker.
The redhead let out a yowl as her shoulder was forcibly twisted into the canvas, but the pain was quickly displaced by worry as she realized that the champ still had a grip on her wrist. Rising to a crouch, Veronica re-secured the hammerlock and used it to haul a struggling Crane up to standing in front of her. Not wanting to give a second for a counter, the Pinstripe Powerhouse ducked under Maddy’s free arm, stepped alongside her and put one leg behind before sweeping it forward, dropping to her back as she did to drive the Happy Anarchist to the mat back first, the trapped arm sandwiched brutally in-between!
HAMMERLOCK RUSSIAN LEGSWEEP:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Y1Q7h1-ZBI
Within the space of a minute Maddy’s arm had gone from being fine to feeling like it might literally be on fire, and she tried desperately to haul it in and attempt to quell the flames. Unfortunately the Dangerous Dame had decided that she wanted to keep possession of it, one hand still clamped on Crane’s wrist and the other looping around her bicep to control the shoulder. With the difference in size and leverage there was only ever going to be one winner of that battle.
With both girls prone on the mat Veronica patiently tugged on the captured limb until she had it outstretched and then used it as a pivot to roll them both over. Maddy tried her hardest to just keep on rolling, reaching out towards ropes which didn’t look to be too far away, but the champ had other plans. Spiderwalking her body through ninety degrees, Treymane planted her feet flat, snaked one arm underneath and around Crane’s, and bridged back to bring hellacious torque to bear.
FUJIWARA ARMBAR:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANFf3JdGxCA
“What do you say, Maddy?” Castle was already in close to the action, though the senior official made sure to keep clear of the challenger’s potential path to the ropes. “You need me to call for the bell?”
“NO!” Crane waggled a finger in the ref’s face to make sure he got the point. “Don’t waste my time with that stupid shyt, NIIICCKEERRRAAAHHH F*CK!”
Treymane pushed up on her toes and leaned back, planting even more weight on the challenger as she tried to hyperextend the elbow. “Yeah, Nick.” Veronica chided after she blew some hair off her eyes. “Maddy will submit when she’s good and ready.” She paused for a moment. “Hopefully before I have to give her a third elboWNNNGGHH!” Speaking of elbows, the Sultana of Slapstick brought hers into play by driving the point of the bony joint into the crown of her attacker’s skull. Veronica growled, reset her feet and bore down on the joint-lock again. “This isn’t sparring, Mads.” she muttered. “It’s gonna take more than one shot if you want me to let you GRRHHNNNGGHHH!”
Maddy angled her free arm back a second time, only now she hooked it over the champion’s jaw. Drawing it as tight as she dared, Crane leaned to her right and jerked down with her arm to THUMP the back of Veronica’s skull against the mat over and over again! Still in control of the redhead’s arm despite the punishment, the Neo-Noir Knockout reefed back on Maddy’s wrist, then shifted forward far enough to slip free of that encroaching arm. The adjustment meant sacrificing some of the torque on the Armbar, but Treymane figured it was worth it to keep the grinding hold in--”DAMMIT!”
Granted a little more room to maneuver, the Princess of the Punchline pushed up on her free hand and tucked the point of her chin against her chest. Bracing the top of her head against the canvas, Maddy rolled / flopped forward onto her back. Veronica still had control of her left arm, but with pressure gone it was little more than a Wristlock and the redhead quickly scooted to the ropes. “Break!” she demanded once she’d locked her ankles around the bottom strand. “Get off me, Veronica, I’m in the OOOOWWWWW!”
Not about to let the motor-mouth off without a little sass of her own, Treymane stretched the trapped limb out full length, then put a boot on Crane’s wrist to keep it pinned in place. Soon as she was on her feet she hopped up, stretched out full length and THWHAMMED down on Maddy’s elbow with a big Splash! Maddy pulled her arm in close to her chest and curled into a ball, removing her feet from the ropes in the process. That little detail meant Veronica was perfectly within her rights to snatch a handful of hair and haul her to boot leather.
SPLASH TO ARM:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_7EuVNAgwA
“Snuuuuhhh…. sneaky crap, ‘Ronnie.” Maddy huffed even as the big blonde once again laid claim to her left wrist. “I always thought you were supposed to be a femme fatale, not a Cheap-Shot ArtiNNNGGHHH!”
Treymane pounded a stiff Kneelift into Maddy’s midsection, then spun around behind her back and dipped under the challenger’s left arm to slap on another Hammerlock. The torque of the simple maneuver forced Maddy to lean forward, making her easy pickin’s for the champion’s Front Facelock. “Don’t whine, Daisy.” Veronica planted her right leg just behind the redhead’s gam. “It makes you sound like Jenny.”
“Low blow, ref.” Crane grunted. “Call for the--” Treymane leaned forward then snapped back, kicking Maddy’s leg out from underneath in the process to add even more force to the DDT that PLANTED her smaller foe in the center of the ring! Maddy flopped over onto her back and the Dangerous Dame was right there to cover her, Veronica sliding atop her in a domineering straddle that saw her plant both hands on Crane’s shoulders. Castle checked ‘em anyway, then slapped the mat…
HAMMERLOCK DDT:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZicmVW-zag
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Crane grabbed the blonde’s biceps and rolled her hips, throwing Veronica from the mount with a half second to spare. “Now’s not the time to run your mouth, Mads.” Treymane noted as she made a minor adjustment to her trunks. “Now’s the time to let your actions show these people why you’re the kind of girl who gets to close pay-per-views.”
The Happy Anarchist was still too busy cradling her aching skull to respond with either words or actions, so Treymane cupped her chin in both hands and hauled her to boot leather. Snuggling in against the redhead’s left side, Veronica stuffed a short Kneelift into Crane’s gut, doubling her over. The rough exhalation hadn’t even finished puffing Maddy’s cheeks when the champ grabbed her foe’s left wrist and stuffed it between her thighs. An already rambunctious crowd got that much louder as the Pinstripe Powerhouse leaned forward, slipped her left arm under Maddy’s right bicep and cranked it back at a sharp angle to complete the Pumphandle. Hard work done, Veronica flipped some hair off her face, then winked at the hard camera. “Let’s go on a ride, you’se mugs.”
All set for this Journey Into Fear, Treymane gathered her strength and muscled / flipped Maddy off her feet and… offered up a decidedly modern curse when Crane wriggled loose and landed on her six! Granted a very small window to reclaim control of the contest, the Sultana of Slapstick clamped down on Veronica’s left bicep in one hand and palmed the side of her head in the other. Pushing the blonde’s head to the right, Mads hopped up and THWHUMPED a stiff Headbutt into the soft flesh between her opponent’s neck and shoulder!
Treymane cried out and stumbled, her strong legs almost buckling as the shot reignited the fire Crane set in her shoulder earlier in the match. But concerns of mere verticality were forced from her mind by more pressing matters when Maddy straightened her up and pinned the Dame’s arms overhead with a Full Nelson. No snark from the notoriously lippy challenger, she merely kicked her left leg forward, then slashed it back like a scythe to sweep Treymane’s legs and THAWHUMP her down flat on her face, chest and belly! Segueing to a Half Nelson as soon as the Facebuster connected, Maddy shoveled Veronica over, drew both legs into a bundle and folded her in half with a back-press that had the audience roaring along with Castle for the…
FULL NELSON FACEBUSTER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4SnXmzl36g
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Veronica powered over onto her stomach with half a second to spare, unfortunately any relief she or her fans might’ve garnered from this escape was immediately negated when Crane clamped a five-fingered manacle on her left wrist. Holding ‘Ronnie’s arm away from her torso, Mads hooked her right leg around it Figure Four style, then dropped to one knee, effectively trapping the champ’s forearm in the pit of her knee. In the next breath she slung her left leg over top of Veronica’s head, all the better to plant that foot inches from the blonde’s nose. Then she bent down, hooked her left arm around the Dangerous Dame’s right arm and CRAAAAAAAAAANKED it back at an agonizing angle! “How’s this for actions, Veronica?” Crane braced her left hand against the champion’s glutes to keep the squirming under control. “Is that loud enough for ya?” Rather than wait for an answer she added more pressure, the challenger damn near lifting Treymane’s upper body off the mat with nothing but torque.
OMOPLATA ARMBAR:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdWatQwsTMs
Grim with the knowledge that her reign was jeopardy, Veronica fought like hell to keep from sobbing aloud in those first several seconds. Nick, bless his heart, didn’t help the situation when he rushed in and asked, “How you doing, Veronica? You hanging in there?”
“Just fine, Shamus. Now back off and shut your face so I can figure a way out of thisSSERRRGGGHHH FAAAAAAAAAHHK!”
Maddy crooked her right hand into a claw and jammed it against the blonde’s ribs, adding another element to the torture. She didn’t ask Veronica to quit however, she left that to Nick. No, Maddy’s eyes were trained on the blonde watching her from commentary. After several long seconds, Crane blew Jenny a kiss and mouthed, “Wish you were her.”
Jacobs answered with a withering glare and nothing else, so she honed in on Veronica and jostled the Armbar a little harder. “Got you trapped in the middle of the ring, babe. Give it up so you can call in your rematch tomorrow night.”
Treymane shook her head ‘no’ for the benefit of everyone in the arena, including herself. “I’m down, Mads. Not out. It’s not gonna be that easy to EEERRRRGGGGHHHHH!”
Maddy wrenched the Armbar, flattened her left hand into a paddle and lit into the champion’s abs with a wicked series of CRACKING slaps. “Does any of this feel easy to you, Veronica, huh?” Crane demanded over the sounds of punishment. “Because it doesn’t to me! It feels like I’ve been in a dogfight ever since the bell rang! But if you think I’m taking it easy on you…” the redhead curled her slappin’ hand into a claw and gouged it into the exposed meat of Veronica’s tummy, making sure to work the point of her index finger into the blonde’s navel.
Sensing Treymane’s anguish, fans of the challenger started a ‘TAP!’ chant which was immediately answered by ‘PLEASE DON’T TAP!’ from the Treymane gang.
Mads paid no attention to either, she was too busy trying to wring the last of the determination from her notoriously stubborn friend. “It’s over, ‘Ronnie.” she said quietly. “There’s no shame in tapping out to me, so please don’t act like there is. I’ve worked too hard for that.”
Pretty face twisted with torment, Treymane shifted her hips, slowly but surely putting more weight on her left side. “Nuuuhhhh…. not ashamed to lose, Mads…. especially not to you. I’m just…. just not done fighting tonight!” The assertion was still reaching Crane’s ears when the Neo-Noir Knockout brought her right knee up and in to land an awkward shot to the challenger’s right bicep. It wasn’t much more than a glancing blow, but she followed it up with two more and when Maddy shifted her footing to better deflect, Veronica finally pulled her left arm loose and flopped onto her back! Breathing a huge sigh of relief as the firestorm in her right shoulder finally faded to manageable levels,
Veronica started to sit up, only to ‘ooofffhh!’ in surprise when Crane climbed onto her waist and stuffed a palm against her chin. Forcing the taller woman flat, Maddy stretched out atop her, hooked her ankles behind Treymane’s calves and stretched her legs wide. A pair of identical grips on Veronica’s wrists completed the Double Leg Grapevine and kept her glued to the mat for…
ONE…
TWO…
The Pinstripe Powerhouse muscled a shoulder up, but didn’t have the strength to dislodge the redhead from her mount. Still in firm control, Mads wrenched the Grapevine a little wider, slid up the vulnerable grappler’s frame and pressed her chest into Treymane’s face! The abrupt application of Jugg was so unexpected it got cheers from all corners of the fandom, even as Castle delivered another count…
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Veronica bucked her hips and twisted her head to the side, once again disrupting the pin without actually breaking it. Galvanized rather than frustrated by the repeated denials, the Sultana of Slapstick relinquished the Grapevine, boosted herself into a seat on the champ’s chest and sat down with all her weight. It wasn’t a Face Sit, but her thighs made a snug frame for the blonde’s cheeks and the fork of her crotch was tight against Veronica’s chin. Louder than ever as the near-falls continued to stack up, the FAWNatics bellowed along for the…
ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOO!
Treymane inched a shoulder off the canvas just long enough for Castle to stop the count. Then Maddy forced it right back down and the Dame’s position grew all the worse because her foe swung around in a half circle and sat on her face! Putting every bit of her weight behind the smother, Maddy hooked Veronica’s kicking legs behind the knees and leaned back, pointing the Dangerous Dame’s wriggling backside at the rafters for the….
ONE…
TWO….
THRENOOOOOOOOOO!
Veronica popped her hips only this time she didn’t just escape, she somersaulted backward and landed heavily atop Crane’s chest! Mere inches away from a Reverse Face Sit of her own, the vengeful champion wriggled backward to treat her opposition to a taste of those domineering pinstripes for yet another…
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Maddy tore loose and finally they rolled away from one another, blonde and redhead scrambling to boot leather to avoid another cover. “Really, Maddy?” Treymane asked in between deep breaths. “You’re gonna try to win it with your UUUNNNNGGGHHH!”
Crane pivoted and buried her right foot in Veronica’s belly with a Side Kick that doubled her over in a single stroke. Burying her fingers in the blonde’s hair with no small amount of pleasure, Maddy reeled Treymane into a Standing Headscissors and quickly slipped her hands under opposing biceps to complete the Double Underhook. Hands locked, she let out a groan and hoisted the Neo-Noir Knockout upside down! Many of the assembled thought Crane was looking for a Deschain Driver, but no, Maddy twisted around in a half circle and dropped to her tush while simultaneously slinging Treymane back the way she’d came. THWHUMP! Veronica landed flat on her face, chest and tummy, the impact more than enough to roll her onto her back in the seconds before Mads glued her to the canvas with a Crossbody.
SIT-OUT DOUBLE UNDERHOOK FACEBUSTER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJ4kXZ0kOLE
ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOO!
Veronica slithered loose yet again and this time she kept rolling, the overwhelmed champion deciding it was time for a powder on the outside of the ring. The strategic exit deposited her right beside the apron, Treymane holding herself up with one arm wrapped around the second rope. “Sorry ‘Ronnie.” the Happy Anarchist muttered as she got to her feet. “I’m too close to take my boot off your throat now.” With that she charged, dropped into a high speed baseball slide and DRILLED both feet into Veronica’s side!
The Dropkick sent Treymane reeling across the aisle to pinball against the edge of the Announce Desk, the aggrieved gangster crying out in pain as she was hip checked against the unforgiving wood. Even then Veronica didn’t leave her feet, in fact she pushed herself away to get that much closer to the ring and the challenger lurking therein. “You want my title, Daisy?” she huffed. “Then come and get--” Maddy did just that, racing to the opposite set of strands before making her return in flat out sprint that ended with a headlong dive between the top and middle ropes! Far too slow to simply dodge the Suicide Dive, Treymane raised her arms to catch the ginger missile, tumbled back and then twisted her hips to sling Crane clear across the Announce Desk! Joanna and Gordy had been trained for just such an occasion and they dodged out of the way with half a heartbeat to spare. The same could not be said of their guest however, and poor Jenny found herself obliterated by the snark-powered missile.
Only acknowledging the havoc she’d caused until the ‘HOLY SHIT!’ chants started, Veronica sagged against the apron and ran a hand through her hair. On the other side of the ropes, Nick Castle stepped up and cleared his throat. “Don’t even think about it, Nick.” the champ said without looking at him. “We’ve both fought too hard to let this end in a count out. I’ll get her back in the ring.” Steeling herself for the final leg of this grueling battle, Treymane pushed herself off the apron and trudged over to the spot where Crane and Jacobs were just starting to pull away from one another. “Sorry to cut in, Jenny.” Veronica muttered as she helped herself to a lot of Maddy’s hair. “But you were never supposed to have this danNNCCCNNNGGGHHH!”
Still doubled over, Maddy wrapped her arms around the blonde’s waist, stuffed a shoulder into her belly and plowed forward until Veronica’s spine TWHUNKED against the edge of the apron! Treymane gaped as her back curved in a violent arch, but rather than slide to a seat at the feet of her challenger, the blonde dug in her heels and punished Maddy’s lower back with a Double Axehandle! The shot loosened Crane’s Waistlock considerably, so Veronica wrapped the shorter woman’s noggin in a Front Facelock and punished her chest with half a dozen quick Kneelifts, the last of which broke Maddy’s grip entirely.
One more shot to the sternum rocked Mads back on her heels and offered up the perfect target for the Forearm Smash Treymane stapled to her jaw. The Princess of the Punchline reeled, stepping in fencepost holes that hadn’t been there a moment before, yet she still didn’t go down, an observation Veronica made with no small amount of admiration. Even so, it didn’t stop the Dangerous Dame from stepping forward, spinning on her left heel and hopping up to finally catch the stubborn challenger across the chin with a bolt of Chicago LightNOOOOOO!”
Maddy dipped aside at the last possible second, leaving Veronica’s boot aimed at the recently risen Jenny Jacobs! Thankfully for Treymane Gang and Jacobites alike, both blondes were quick on their feet and Veronica pulled her strike one way while Jenny rolled the other. Catching her balance after a single rough step, Treymane flipped hair off her face and glared at the Innovator. “What the hell, Jenny?”
“The hell yourself, Veronica. I was just trying to stay clear of the action and you two keep heading my way!” The Pinstripe Powerhouse frowned, shook her head. “Just stay behind the table, I’ve got enough to handle without worrying about you toNNNNNNGGGGGGHHHHHH!”
Veronica turned away from Jenny partway through the demand, just in time to offer her chin up for a pinpoint accurate Crane Kick from the challenger! Treymane’s head snapped back in a tangle of sweaty flaxen locks, her long legs freezing up with a nearly audible ‘creak’ as she timbered backward onto the incredulous Innovator! Not aware of the two’fer on her shot until the crowd let loose with a delighted roar, Maddy dropped out of the ‘Crane’ pose and didn’t bother to suppress a smirk. “Sheesh JJ, watch where you’re going. You’d think ‘ducking’ would be at least one of the millions of moves at your disposal.”
Jacobs offered a rather unprintable string of nouns and adjectives by way of response, on any other night the redhead would’ve fired off some choice barbs of her own, but it wasn’t like any other night. It was a FAWN World Title Match. HER FAWN World Title Match and she wasn’t about to ease up on one of the best talents on the goddamned planet (not that she’d tell Veronica any such thing) just because Little Miss Jenny got caught flatfooted wandering somewhere she shouldn’t have been wandering. Quietly proud that she’d set aside an opportunity for trash-talk with barely any thought at all, the Glad Bomber stooped over the wreckage, cupped her hands around Treymane’s ears and pulled her to boot leather in fits and starts.
“C’mon ya big scofflaw,” Crane grunted as she switched one hand to the champ’s waistband for easier transport, “time to get you back to the Hoosegow!” No answer from Treymane as the challenger hustled her across the narrow aisle and bundled her under the bottom rope. Residual momentum deposited the Neo-Noir Knockout near the center of the squared circle, meaning Mads had more than enough room for her next move. Going from floor to apron in a single nimble bound, Crane grabbed the top rope, set her feet wide and began swinging her hips back n’ forth, a simple two-part beat that soon had the crowd clapping along with every move. “C’mon ‘Ronnie.” Maddy’s voice was lost to everyone but herself. “You asked for my best so stand up and take it.”
There was no way Treymane heard the order, yet she promptly rolled onto her stomach and clambered to all fours. Falling silent as the champ rose to her full height, Maddy leaned back as far as the ropes would allow, then dipped her knees and leapt-- hands grabbed her right ankle and YANKED down! Caught totally unawares, Crane went straight down and THWHUNKED her chin against the apron hard enough to split it from one side to the other!
Nick Castle, who’d breathed a sigh of relief when Maddy got Veronica back in the ring, blinked several times as he processed what he’d just seen. “What the hell, Jenny? I mean…. what the hell?”
Down on the outside, Jacobs did some blinking of her own as the stunned silence seemed to bring her back to herself. She ran a hand through her hair, looked from Maddy to Veronica to Nick and back again. “Sorry.” it was soft at first, the second time was louder. “Sorry. I didn’t mean….. I mean I wasn’t trying to--”
The CLANG of the bell cut her off and Jenny’s shoulders slumped as the Announcer confirmed, “Ladies and gentlemen, Veronica Treymane has been disqualified, therefore your winner of the match is MADDY CRANE!” Any cheers following this proclamation gave way to boos in light of what came next. “However, the World Title cannot change hands on a Count Out or Disqualification, therefore Veronica Treymane is still the FAWN World Champion!”
Just as disappointed as the rest of the crowd, Nick took the belt from a tech and tried to offer it to the champ, but Veronica waved him off, as her eyes were still locked on Jenny. After a moment’s indecision she stormed to the ropes, dropped to the floor and got in Jenny’s face just as the NorCal Sensation was starting to slink up the ramp. “What the f*ck was that, Jenny? You of all people know how hard it is to get title shots, what the hell were you thinking?”
“I didn’t think, all right?” Jacobs barked. “All I know is I got asked to do commentary for this match and I was doing a damned fine job of it right until you decided you were a bit too fragile to soak up a Suicide Dive.”
“That’s not how it happ--”
“AND THEN!” the smaller blonde interrupted. “I do my best to get out of the way and what happens? You almost kick my teeth in, then knock me down again when you’re too goddamned slow to avoid that stupid kick!”
Veronica stepped forward, not so subtly chesting in on the other blonde. “You’ve got an awful lot to say for someone who just ruined a hell of a Main Event.”
“Back off, Veronica. We both know Crane was less than ten seconds from taking the World Title. You owe me, not that you’ll ever admit it… or give me a shot.”
Treymane’s eyes narrowed to slots. “You want a shot, Daisy? Try EARNING it. That’s what Maddy--”
“UUUUNNNNNNGGGGGGHHHH!”
A furious red and black blur broadsided Jenny with enough force to BWAAANG the unsuspecting Innovator into barricade, bruising the shins of several front row fans in the process. “YOU ARROGANT BYTCH!” Maddy had her rival smeared against the steel and just rained short, furious punches down on her forehead. “THIS WAS MY NIGHT! MY FIRST TITLE SHOT EVER AND YOU F*CKING SHYT ON IT!” She filled her hands with the blonde’s hair, wrenched her head back at a savage angle and leaned in so they were nose to nose. “You know I was going to give you the first shot, right? If I won tonight, you were gonna get the first shot. How could I give it to anybody else? But no, you just couldn’t STAND the idea that I touched the World Title before you. Well f*ck you, JJ. As far as I’m concerned you cost us the Main Event at March to War.” She pushed Jenny back, rolled her shoulders and sighed in disgust.
“Maddy,” Jacobs called after her as the redhead turned away. “Maddy I didn’t mean to--”
Crane rounded on her and CRAAAACKED Jenny across the mouth with a Bytch Slap so savage it split the former IC champ’s bottom lip. “Screw your apologies, Jenny. They don’t mean a thing.”
Jenny held her tongue as the frustrated challenger stormed up the ramp, but eventually anger got the better of her and she called out, “You get that one for free, Maddy, I owe you that much. But the next time you slap me I’m gonna break your arm.” Crane just flipped her off, leaving Jenny with a very strong urge to do the same. When the redhead was gone, Jacobs looked to Veronica and muttered, “Not a word, ‘Ronnie. Not unless you want to throw down right now.”
“It can wait. Not long though. Not after what you pulled tonight.”
“I’d worry more about what happens on the night you finally decide to step to me.” Jenny snapped before wheeling around to head up the ramp.”
Veronica watched her go without saying a word and when Nick laid the strap on her shoulder it felt far heavier than it did at the beginning of the night. “I don’t like this, Nick.” she said softly. “Doesn’t feel right. Doesn’t feel fair.”
“It’s not, but you know one of the perks of being a champion?”
“Tell me.” “You can offer to put the title on the line whenever you want and no one can say a damned thing about it.” Veronica smiled, the belt felt a lot lighter.