Post by alyadmirer on May 15, 2018 2:11:59 GMT
The video package finished and cut back to the ring, where the Announcer stood with his mic already raised. “Ladies and gentlemen, the following contest is scheduled for one fall with a thirty minute time limit. Introducing first, hailing from Tokyo Japan, she stands at one point seven meters tall and weighs in at fifty-nine point eight kilograms. She is the Gaijin Extraordinaire, the Joshi Kicking Machine, THIS IS… AUTUMN SAMMAIN!”
CLAP FOR THE KILLERS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=el_yvuqJtY0
Her name served as a harbinger for ‘Clap for the Killers’ which in turn brought Autumn through the curtain shortly thereafter. Slowing to a stop at the top of the ramp, Sammain nodded ever so slightly before launching into a lightning-fast array of punches, chops, elbows, knee strikes and finally kicks, all of which made dangerous little ’whicking’ sounds as they cut the air. Settling back to a zen-like stillness when the kata was finished, Sammain raised her left thumb to her throat and drew it across in a slow slash. With that the lights came up and she started toward the ring.
AUTUMN SAMMAIN:
Hands reached for her at every step and while Autumn was careful to swat as many as she could, the astute observer noted that her attention was focused solely on the squared circle. Because while tonight’s bout wasn’t for a title and didn’t carry any official golden stakes, she was certain that defeating a highly touted new hire would return her to consideration for a shot against the Superlative Soprano. For this Spring Break showdown she wore a black sports bra and matching bottoms which were all but obscured by the Joshi style ‘skirt’ that ended well above the knee. This garment was also dead black, save for several electric green slashes running from north to south. The rest of her outfit consisted of black kneepads, matching boots and fingerless green gloves that reached to just below her elbows.
Exploding into a flat out run as she drew closer to her destination, Sammain bypassed the steps in favor of reaching the apron in a single nimble leap. In the next instant she’d leapt to the corner and from there vaulted to a spot near the center of the squared circle. Then and only then did she raise her fist and rend the air with her war cry, a shrill, brutal sound that earned streamers from the FAWNatics from the front row to the upper deck. Lowering her sigil once the storm of black and green trailed off, Autumn retreated to the far corner so she could watch the entryway while Al Carpenter and a few ringside techs worked to clear the canvas.
Autumn’s anthem died away a few seconds later, but the Announcer let silence reign for several seconds before he raised the mic again. “And introducing her opponent. Hailing from Seattle Washington, she stands at five feet seven inches tall and weighs in tonight at one hundred and thirty five pounds. Tonight marks her debut in the FAWN Arena, Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Green Queen, DAPHNE DUFRESNE!”
VICTORIOUS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=agG-yNlFwCY
Every light in the arena went out and gloom held sway until a glowing green light appeared near the top of the ‘tron. A moment later it blasted down a whole planetarium’s worth of green beams that formed a spotlight of sorts in the center of the dark stage. Then the speakers kicked into ‘Victorious’ and the spotlights blazed on to illuminate the debuting indy star front and center, her arms spread wide. Already smarking so hard their little nerdy hearts could barely take it, the sold out crowd found another gear when Dufresne urged them to get as loud as they could. Nodding in appreciation as they broke into a cacophonous ‘DAPHNE!’ chant, the Abdominator thanked them with a brawny double bicep flex, then made her first walk down the aisle as a FAWN superstar.
DAPHNE DUFRESNE:
For her internationally televised debut against a woman who hit just as hard, if not harder, than anyone she’d battled in the Independents, D² sported her trademark emerald green one-piece with an hour glass shaped piece of mesh across the chest (the negative space of which created a sort of bikini top look) and an identical shape, albeit turned on its side, across her tummy to better show off her sculpted torso. Her boots and wrist tape were a matching green while her boots were gleaming black.
Clearly overjoyed to once again ply her trade in friendly territory, Daphne zigged and zagged as she made her way to the ring so she could slap hands and pose for pictures with anyone who asked (though she studiously avoided those few trolls that tried to bring up the bad behavior that’d marked her feud with none other than Emily West). Breaking off as she reached the foot of the ramp, Dufresne turned her attention to the apron and gained it with a single feline leap. From there she sprang onto the top rope and launched into a 450 spin that brought her down in a perfect landing in the middle of the ring. Satisfied with the landing, she made a show of brushing some invisible dust off those dangerous abs, then winked to the camera and made her way to the corner opposite Autumn.
“Pleased to meet you, Daphne.” Al offered his hand to the new hire before carrying out final inspections. “Been wanting to officiate one of your matches for a long time, so this is kind of a big deal for me.” Dufresne returned the handshake and added another beaming smile to boot. “Big deal for me too, Al. Let’s hope I can make it exciting enough for the both of us.”
Loud since introductions, the Spring Breakers grew all the more raucous when the bell CLANGED a start to the match. Eager to see what one of the indy’s most vaunted stars could do against arguably the most dangerous striker in FAWN, the capacity crowd filled the arena with dueling cheers of ‘LET’S GO DAPHNE!’ and ‘LET’S GO AUTUMN!’
Most wrestlers would’ve felt at least some twinge of intimidation in such a situation, but as a certain Black Queen could tell you, Daphne Dufresne was NOT most wrestlers. Indeed the Green Queen didn’t bother to hide a smile as she listened to a crowd of several thousand urging her into battle. A flicker of motion from the other side of the ring drew her attention to the Dragon of Tokyo, who’d started forward a heartbeat prior. Still smiling, Dufresne pushed out of the corner on a beeline aimed straight at Autumn Sammain.
Simultaneously intrigued by and wary of Anciline’s newest hire, the Joshi Phenom raised her fists to shoulder level and began to circle when she reached the center of the ring. Daphne noted the shift and adjusted her own course, the limber battler settling into a low relaxed crouch to defend against any potential encroachment. Autumn didn’t bother to encroach, though she did probe the other brunette’s defenses with a quick leg kick that Dufresne soaked up without complaint. She promptly followed with another leg kick which Daphne blocked, and a much heavier shot to the tyro’s ribs that she did not.
Daph grunted, but brought her right arm snug against her torso to capture Sammain’s shin, an accomplishment that would’ve meant more if the veteran hadn’t laced both hands behind Dufresne’s neck and boosted herself up for a Kneelift that THWHONKED her opponent’s forehead! Daphne let loose and stumbled to one side, the hardbody’s defenses shaken just enough for Autumn to whip around in a circle and come off the far side with her right arm lashing out in a wicked--
A roar of applause from Daphne’s fans when their heroine dipped beneath the Uraken to end up sidled in against Sammain’s left flank. Head wedged beneath the Dragon’s arm, Dufresne locked her hands around Autumn’s waist and popped her hips to THWHUMP Sammain down on the back of her head and shoulders with a perfect Saito Suplex.
SAITO SUPLEX:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=twbDgrML50w
Daphne relinquished the Waistlock on impact, knowing damned well there was no way she’d keep Sammain down with a single move, yet she second-guessed the decision when Autumn rolled through the landing and bounced to her feet! The FAWN newcomer was up just as quickly and offered a second test of her rival’s resolve in the form of a Big Boot aimed straight for Sammain’s NO! Autumn sidestepped the blow, caught Dufresne in a Waistlock and took her up, over and down with a German Suplex that turned the Green Queen inside out… so you could understand Sammain’s surprise when Daphne scrambled to boot leather without so much as a groan!
GERMAN SUPLEX:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OjaaLqUZsI
The pair of athletic bendybacks squared off amidst a growing fervor, indeed they might’ve locked up on the spot if they hadn’t noticed Al Carpenter nodding along with all the cheers. Unable (or perhaps unwilling) to keep a smile off her face, Daphne Dufresne smoothed her hair back, then offered a hand to the other brunette. “Guess now is as good a time as any for introductions. I’m Daphne and I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.”
The crowd called ‘SPORTSMANSHIP!’ and was thusly disappointed when Autumn knocked Dufresne’s hand aside with a swiping kick. “Don’t think for one second I didn’t watch your series with Emily.” the Dragon said. “And every other match you’ve had in the last year and a half. You’re good, Dufresne. Anyone can see that. But I don’t trust you enough to accept a handshake.”
Daphne frowned, then nodded her head as they resumed circling. “I’m proud of my work in those matches, if not my attitude. You don’t trust me? That’s fine. But Autumn? You’re going to respect me by the time that bell rings again. Trust me on that, if nothing else.”
Now it was Sammain who smiled. “You want my respect, Dufresne? Shake off another Suplex and we’ll see what happens.”
Daphne snorted, beckoned the veteran in. “You’ll have to catch me with another one first, baby.”
Autumn was happy to oblige her in this regard and Dufresne stepped in to meet the Dragon in a strong Collar & Elbow Lock-Up that put both ladies up on their tiptoes with less than half an inch of clearance between those washboard tummies. They settled down a moment later and it was Daphne who snatched the Side Headlock, drawing Sammain’s temple down to the point of her left hip so she could grrrrrrrrriiind it against the bony joint. “C’mon!” Dufresne demanded as she bounced in place to exacerbate the pressure. “C’mon Autumn, show me what you’ve got!”
Anyone who’d shared a ring with Autumn Sammain could’ve told the tyro that asking for her best was a good way to collect new bruises, but experience was the best teacher as Daph learned when the Gaijin Extraordinaire twisted loose of the Headlock and went low, threading her feet between Dufresne’s ankles in the process. A single quick flex of the brunette’s legs dropped the Green Queen flat on the mat, the simple Drop Toe Holding stunning her long enough for Autumn to secure a Headlock of her own. “You really don’t have to ask so loudly, Dufresne.” Sammain noted as she wrenched back on Dufresne’s straining noggin. “Just stepping through those ropes was enough to ensure you’d get my WHOOAAAHH!”
Daphne didn’t have the leverage to wrest out of the Headlock, so she cinched her arms around Autumn’s waist and rolled over onto her back, thus stacking the veteran on her shoulders for a count of…
ONE…
TWO…
The Joshi Phenom rolled back to start with a full second to spare but apparently the Headlock had lost its appeal because she immediately snatched the other brunette’s near arm and trapped it between her thighs. In the same breath Sammain locked on a Crossface grip over her opponent’s nose and CRAAAAAAAAAAAAANKED back on the brutal submission!
CROSSFACE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhCViSIhtEw
“What do you say, Daphne?” Al asked over Dufresne’s pained moan. “Need me to call for the bell?”
“NO!” Daphne cried out, hating the nasal quality of her voice. “NO, I WON’T SUMNNNNGGGGGGHHHHHH!”
Autumn poured on the pressure, forcing another loud wail from the trapped rookie. “Never say never, Dufresne.” Sammain advised. “It’s a good way to get injured, especially when you’re tied up in a hold like--
Daphne wriggled her trapped arm just enough to curl it into a hook. That combined with the torque of the Crossface allowed her roll Autumn into an improvised cradle, one that saw her land stacked in the startled woman’s lap. Drawing that trapped leg as close as she could, Dufresne bore down with all her weight while Carpenter slapped off…
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Autumn tore loose before ‘THREE!’ but in freeing herself from the cover she opened herself to new troubles, namely the Fujiwara Armbar she hooked on the Dragon’s left wing! Feet planted flat, lower back braced against the other brunette’s ribs, Daphne pushed up and back to put tremendous pressure on her opponent’s shoulder and elbow.
FUJIWARA ARMBAR:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=idQ2jXhtdrE
Startled by how quickly these two had gone from zero to ‘torture test’, the ref dropped down beside the action to check on Sammain. “How you doing, Autumn?”
“I’m afraid she’s a little preoccupied at the moment.” Daphne said with a smirk. “She’s trying to figure out how she can escape this hold without submitting or losing an elbHEEEYYY!”
Autumn Sammain enjoyed a low key reputation as one of, if not thee best mat wrestler in all of FAWN and Dufresne found herself on the receiving end of the brunette’s credentials when Sammain abruptly pushed up, tucked her head and somersaulted forward to alleviate the pressure on her shoulder. A nimble bit of business to be sure, unfortunately for Daphne it was also a cagey offensive maneuver that saw Autumn seize the newcomer’s left wrist and stretch the limb away from her opponent’s torso.
CROSS ARMBREAKER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bTbkpRO13Q
No stranger to the Cross Armbreaker, Daph rolled to one knee even as Sammain swung her legs into place, the Green Queen locking her hands in a white-knuckle S-grip a split second before Autumn cranked the hold full force. Pretty face pinched in concentration, Dufresne shifted her weight from one knee to the other, then back again in hopes of finding the steadiest perch. Sammain didn’t try to stop her, instead she focused on prizing the newcomer’s fingers apart so she could-- happy surprise from the Daphne contingent when their heroine surged forward far enough to stack Autumn on her shoulders for…
ONE…
TWO…
The Dragon twisted a shoulder clear of the canvas to break the pin, then drew her right leg away from Dufresne’s captive arm only to bring that heel smashing down on the other brunette’s clasped fingers! Daphne yelped, tried to adjust her grip and endured another sharp kick for the trouble. “That’s pretty cheap, Sammain.” Dufresne grunted. “Why don’t you just admit you’re not strong enough to break my RGH! RGH! RRRRGGGHHH AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!”
In no mood for sass from a woman with crumbling defenses, the Gaijin Extraordinaire braced her right heel against Daphne’s cheek and skidded the side of her boot across opposing features once, twice, three times! Third time proved the charm and a bloody one at that, as Sammain split her rival’s bottom lip en route to breaking the S-grip and finally bearing down on the Cross Armbreaker.
“NO!” Daphne barked before Castle could move into position to question about surrender. “She’s gonna have to break it if she wants me to tap!”
Autumn heard this, arched an eyebrow. “You’re welcome to your opinion Dufresne, even if it’s wrong. I don’t need to break anything to make you quit. Scuffing that pretty face should be more than enough to get the job done.” To prove it she once again pressed her right heel to Daphne’s cheek and scraped her boot across the other brunette’s mouth half a dozen times in short order.
It was a stiff tactic, one that earned more than a few boos from Daphne’s fans. However the Abdominator never complained, choosing instead to endure the rough welcome until she could THERE! Dufresne caught Sammain’s heel in her left hand and pushed it away from her stinging face. Displeased by the loss of torque, Autumn halved the grip on Daphne’s wrist to focus on her fingers, which she attempted to touch to the other woman’s forearm! Keening through clenched teeth as she endured these tortures, Dufresne suddenly lifted her head and paid back rough with rough by sinking her teeth into Sammain’s calf! Autumn didn’t complain about the toothy counter, but she certainly didn’t like it so she redoubled her efforts on Daphne’s fing-- the Green Queen surged back to her knees, the force of it putting Sammain on her shoulders again. But Daphne wasn’t looking for a quick pin, she crooked her left arm into a narrow ‘V’ and THWHUMPED Forearm Bombs onto the Dragon’s face until Autumn was forced to abandon the Armbar and regroup several feet away.
Set on one knee while she tried to roll the kinks out of her right arm, Dufresne licked her lips and tasted copper. “I don’t appreciate having my face used as a doormat, Sammain.” she muttered.
Autumn, who’d been tending to a small gash at the corner of her left eyebrow, offered her rival a baleful smile. “And I don’t like seeing a chick throw elbows with the intent to cut, but I’ll tolerate it because I don’t want anyone saying you didn’t leave everything in this ring when I hang that loss around your neck.”
Daphne snorted, turned her head to the side and spat pink on the canvas. “You’re not hanging anything around my neck, Autumn. Bad as you are, you’re just a gatekeeper. And me?” She stood up and made a small show of sweeping her hands down those washboard abs. “I’m the Gatecrasher.”
Sammain stood up and though she was courteous enough to not roll her eyes, Dufresne could see the skepticism stamped all over the veteran’s face. “I’m sure that’ll look great on the back of a tee-shirt, Dufresne. Maybe you can wear it to the ring next month when they feed you a cupcake.”
“Look at these abs, sweetie. You think I eat cupcakes?” “The feeding habits of Instagram models don’t interest me in the slightest.” Autumn deadpanned. “Though it looks like you COULD use more boot leather in your diet.”
Daphne answered with a red tinged smile that might’ve unnerved someone who hadn’t participated in some of the most brutal grudge matches of the last ten years. As it was she merely dabbed a bit of blood away from the corner of her eye and beckoned Dufresne forward. The Green Queen did as bade, in fact she cut the distance faster than Sammain anticipated so the Gaijin Extraordinaire THWHACKED her right thigh with a stern Leg Kick. Daphne cringed but didn’t back off, indeed she hooked her left arm around the back of Autumn’s head and pulled her down into a lightning-fast European Uppercut that put the other bendyback on the mat! Sammain hit the deck with stars in her eyes, so Dufresne dropped atop her chest in a Lateral Press for…
EUROPEAN UPPERCUT:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwHJjnRUmRU
ONE…
TWO…
Sammain bridged on her heels and the crown of her skull, an effortless show of athleticism rewarded by a CRAAACKING overhand slap to the navel! “Get that out of my face.” Daphne sniffed. “Seriously, it’s like you’ve never heard of cruncNGH!”
The Joshi Phenom tagged her with a stiff slap that did nothing for the new hire’s lower lip. Angered by the targeted offense, Dufresne countered with half a dozen quick punches to her foe’s abs, then plunged her hands into Autumn’s dark hair and scraped her off the mat. Al was already close to the action, meaning he wasted no time chiding Daphne about the hair hold, which in turn meant D² gave it up for what would’ve been a Waistlock if she hadn’t reached around to snag Sammain’s right wrist. Bracing her free hand between the Dragon’s shoulders, Dufresne pushed her away before yanking on the Wristlock to spin Autumn around for a jaw-breaking Ripcord Forearm SmaNO!
Autumn went low to evade the strike, took Daphne’s back for her own and caught the tyro in the same Ripcord set-up she’d just escaped. Sammain mirrored the earlier shove as well, but where Dufresne tried to reel her rival back in, the black-clad battler dropped Daph where she stood courtesy of a Roundhouse that THWHACKED off the side of her opponent’s skull.
RIPCORD ROUNDHOUSE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa-j22Ogljc
Dufresne went down with her right wrist still in Sammain’s possession, a development that would’ve alarmed her if not for the kick induced stupor. Regarding Daphne’s arm the same way Wile E. Coyote regarded a palette of TNT, Autumn moved around to high noon and dropped to a seat without relinquishing her grip on Dufresne’s wrist. “Not really wise to criticize my fitness regimen when you can’t even remember where you parked, don’t you think?” Sammain chided as she used a handful of hair to lift Daphne’s head off the mat. “But we can talk about how to improve your gains after you’ve regained consciousness.” With that Autumn drew Dufresne’s arm across her throat, then slipped her legs around the other brunette’s head and crossed her ankles.
“NNNNGGGGGHHHHHHHH!” Daph let out a choked gurgle as Sammain put every ounce of gam strength into spoiling Dufresne’s FAWN debut with those vicious Cutthroat Headscissors. The fog between Daphne’s ears burned away in seconds, alas what came in its place was infinitely more painful, as she could feel every pulse and squeeze of Autumn’s stems with near eidetic clarity. And if things weren’t bad enough, the coil of her own trapped arm meant Dufresne couldn’t so much as draw a breath without making a horrible teakettle wheeze.
“Carpenter’s going to ask if you want to submit in less than ten seconds.” Sammain mused as the other brunette’s face flushed from pink to red. “I wouldn’t suggest wasting oxygen on a response, waving a finger should suffice.” She trailed off, pulled back on Daphne’s wrist and bore down on the Scissors until the indy darling’s heels beat a desperate tattoo against the canvas. “However, when you decide you’ve had enough, please tap out on my thigh or my hip. Otherwise I’m liable not to notice until--”
Dufresne, who’d been worrying at the manacle clamped on her wrist, curled her free hand into a claw and raaaaaaaaaaaaked it up the length of Autumn’s thigh. “Nuuuhhhhhh…NOT gonna… tap out.” she grunted through clenched teeth. “Deal with it.”
“You’ve been trapped less than a minute, new girl.” Autumn said contemplatively. “Let’s see how you feel after three.”
Dufresne scored her tormentor’s thigh again, then tried to slip her fingers beneath Sammain’s kneepad only for Autumn to disrupt the effort with a single quick Elbow Strike to the forehead! The Gatecrasher grunted, reached up to defend her face and hissed in disgust when the Dragon hooked that arm and wrenched it away from her torso. The arm trap raised a murmur of concern from Daphne’s fans as well as those FAWNatics that’d seen Sammain’s legs finish some of the most dangerous women on the roster and their worry only increased as the Green Queen’s struggles subsided.
“Not your best play, Dufresne.” Autumn broke the silence after another thirty seconds. “Now you can’t even tap out. You’ll have you croak something intelligible for Carpenter to register it as a submiss--”
“You’re the one tapping out.” Daphne rasped. “You’re gonna BEG me to let you goAAAAAARRRHHHHHHH!”
Never one to endure threats from those that couldn’t defend themselves, Sammain tossed away the other brunette’s left arm (the Cutthroat remained snug as ever, much to Dufresne’s chagrin) so she could take her foe’s defenseless nose between thumb and forefinger and twissssssssssst like she meant to keep it as a prize. “Hey, c’mon Autumn, there’s no call for that!” Al Carpenter said of the nasal nastiness. “Don’t make me count, ok?”
“You’re welcome to do whatever you please.” Autumn answered without looking up from her prey’s beet-red features. “But be so kind to ask her if she submits before you--”
Daphne reached up with her left hand and grabbed Sammain’s forearm so tight her knuckles showed white. It wasn’t an escape tactic, at least not directly. Rather she used the impromptu coil to keep Autumn distracted while she angled her hips to the left, then twisted right as hard as she could! It didn’t break the Scissors so much as it did reposition them, both brunettes turned onto their stomachs by the power of Dufresne’s barrel roll. At first glance it wasn’t much of an improvement for the Green Queen, in fact with her right arm still out of the equation it might’ve been even worse, however this new arrangement finally let Daphne bring her own stems to bear and she was on her knees in a matter of seconds.
Aware that her own position was now far more precarious, Sammain continued to work the Headscissors, doggedly grinding her thighs against Dufresne’s cheek and jaw in hopes of breaking her spirit before NO! A roar from Daphne and the FAWNatics as the former finally tore her way free of that gammy torture cell! Scrambling into a seat on the small of her opponent’s back, D² planted her left hand atop the back of Autumn’s skull and got some revenge for her right arm by THWHUMPING half a dozen brutal Forearm Smashes across her foe’s shoulders!
Another round was in the offering, at least until Sammain swatted the rookie’s hand away and crossed both arms over the back of her noggin to protect against further shelling. Above her, Daphne Dufresne dug her knees into Joshi flanks and grabbed hold of Autumn’s wrists. “Don’t even think turtling is going to save you, baby. Not after the shyt you just pulled.” Shifting from wrists to hair, Daph helped herself to a double handful and puuuuuuuuulled back, thus straining Autumn’s neck at an awkward angle.
More irritated by the nature of her predicament than the actual pain it caused, Sammain scrabbled at her attacker’s wrists and muttered, “You managed to take my back and all you’re going to do is pull hair? I thought you were supposed to impress NNGGHH! EEEERRRRGGGGHHHHH!”
Dufresne bounced the other brunette’s face against the thinly-sheathed plywood, then leaned down and in, making sure to keep all her weight in place as she scrubbed Autumn’s features back and forth! Sensing the shift in tone between his charges, Carpenter didn’t bother with a warning, he simply let the face erasing carry on for five full seconds before starting his count. “ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!”
Daphne released at once, lifting her hands high overhead to confirm the clean break. She didn’t give up her mount though, in fact she slid back and leaned down, all the better to whisper in whisper in Sammain’s ear. “Pulling your hair was just the start, sweetums. I promised to make you scream, remember?”
Her claim far was easier said than done, but never let it be said that Dufresne didn’t approach the task with obvious enthusiasm. On her feet after a final Forearm Smash to keep the veteran docile, Daphne took hold of Autumn’s ankles and raised her lower legs like she was searching for a Romero Special or perhaps an STF. Turned out it was neither, though the end result certainly started like the latter, with Dufresne threading her right leg around Sammain’s left calf before she dropped to one knee, effectively trapping the limb between her thighs. Immediately thereafter she grabbed a handful of hair and the Joshi Phenom’s left wrist, D² dipping her head under Autumn’s exposed limb to secure it at a remarkably unpleasant angle. After that she abandoned the hair hold and looped her arms around the grounded grappler’s head, finally locking her hands to craaaaaaaaannk back on a hold FAWN would soon come to know as the _______________.
CHICKENWING CROSSFACE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2lapU3n_3c
Autumn groaned, a low, distressed noise that would’ve pleased the Gatecrasher to no end if she hadn’t had her heart set on a scream. Looking from Sammain to the fans and back again, Dufresne cinched the hold a little tighter and said, “You don’t have to play tough for me, Autumn. Or for them. Everyone knows you’re a legit bad ass, so why don’t you show them MY credentials by tapping that mat?”
With her left side effectively tied up, Sammain should’ve been bound to one spot, but damned if she didn’t use her right elbow and knee to drag their combined bulk a few inches closer to the ropes. “Your technique is impressive.” Autumn huffed once she’d gained a little more ground. “There’s no way I’m not sore as hell in the morning, especially my shoulder. But I’ll endure that just like I’ll endure this, because I already know you don’t have what it takes to make me submit.”
Already faint, Daphne’s smile faded to nothing as she absorbed the Dragon’s words. She twisted her wrists a little, making sure Sammain felt her knuckles grinding against her cheek. “You sure about that, Autumn? There’s still about two feet between your hand and the bottom rope and who knows what might happen before you reach it.”
Autumn replied by dragging them another four or five inches closer. Then she did it again, a silent show of defiance that made the newcomer’s blood boil. “I get it.” Dufresne taunted. “You’re the veteran and a perennial threat to just about every title in this promotion. You’ve got a reputation and you don’t want to shriek in the clutches of the new chick, even if she is one of the biggest hires of the last twenty years. I get that, Autumn, I really do. Here’s the thing though. I hate being ignored. So if I tell you to scream? Honey, you’re going to SCREAM!” Daphne broke the S-grip but retained her control over Sammain’s noggin by cupping the other brunette’s chin in her right hand. Her other hand stayed close too, Dufresne pressing the back of her wrist against Autumn’s face and vigorously rubbing it back n’ forth to scrape her wrist tape across her opponent’s eyes!
The Spring Breakers greeted Daphne’s tactics with a mixed reaction, some cheering what they considered a shrewd ploy from a mat tactician while others jeered it as simply cheap. As for Autumn herself, she snarled in obvious distress but resumed her slog to the ropes after only a few seconds of indecision. Far less stoic about these developments was Algernon Carpenter, who’d grown quite concerned over the increasingly mean-spirited tenor of this contest. “C’mon Daphne, don’t scrape her eyes!” he pleaded. “You’re better than that!”
Dufresne halted her abrasive assault, but made no effort to remove her wrist from Sammain’s reddened eyes. “Start a count if it’s illegal.” she told the official. “Otherwise stay out of the way.”
It was, and Al started to tell her why, only to remain silent when Autumn finally closed the gap and wrapped her right hand around the bottom rope. “Good work, new girl.” the Dragon huffed. “More than enough to make me work up a sweat… just not enough to make me screaNNNNNNNGGGGGGGHHHH!”
Daphne slipped out from under Sammain’s arm without releasing the Chinlock, thus turning her trap into something that was almost a Camel Clutch. Submission wasn’t the goal however, she only wanted access to Autumn’s upturned face so she could THWHUNK the point of her left elbow into the bridge of the other brunette’s nose!
Eyes welling up in the wake of the undefended shot, Autumn did her best to twist free of the Gatecrasher’s clutches, alas Dufresne treated herself to a double handful of hair and used it to scrape the Gaijin Extraordinaire off the mat. In no mood for a controversial finish, Daphne marched her prey out to center ring, then dipped a shoulder and muscled Autumn up in a Fireman’s Carry. With her left arm wrapped around Sammain’s near thigh and her right hand braced against Autumn’s chest, Dufresne turned in a slow circle, letting everyone in the crowd get a good view of her control over the established star, Daphne came to a stop facing the hard camera and tossed Sammain into a knock-kneed landing just to her left. Hardly the worst possible outcome, at least until D² pivoted into a pinpoint Roundhouse that THWHACKED against the side of her skull!
STARRY EYED:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W8mKYDtxUM
Sammain swooned in a drunken half circle and stumbled away only for Dufresne to grab a handful of waistband and reel her back into a Half Nelson. Strengthening her hooks with a half Waistlock, Daphne got low a heartbeat before she popped her hips for a Half Nelson Suplex PLANTED Sammain on the back of her skull with more than enough momentum left over to tumble the battered bendyback to a slump-shouldered penance.
HALF NELSON SUPLEX:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em7LxxgItoY
On her feet in the blink of an eye, Dufresne raced at the stunned Joshi and lea--THWHUMP! Autumn came off the canvas like she’d been fired from a cannon and just buried her right knee in Daphne’s vaunted midsection. Her world reduced to nothing more than the nausea roiling in her guts, Dufresne didn’t feel the canvas against her back when she landed, which probably explained how she made it to back to verticality without knowing it.
KITCHEN SINK:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xgWKb7bZ74
Behind her, Autumn Sammain raised both hands high overhead and brought them whistling down to CRAAAAAAACK against Dufresne’s bare back! The Green Queen split the air with a surprised wail, her usually strong legs almost buckling in the wake of Sammain’s brutal resurgence. In the end she managed to keep her feet, though she might’ve wished she hadn’t when Autumn snuggled in behind and secured a tight Full Nelson. Driven to a nearly mindless battle lust by the painful exchanged with her adversary, the Dragon of Tokyo didn’t bother with theatrics or camera position, she merely dropped her hips and peeled off a high speed bridge that put the back of Daphne’s skull against the deck with sickening force.
SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay21ZbUo4Ro
Sammain usually maintained the Nelson and her bridge after impact in search of a three count, but tonight she let Dufresne roll through to a weary looking stop on all fours. This meant the newcomer’s noggin was practically on a silver platter when Autumn got to her feet and laid claim to her foe’s ears. The Standing Headscissors that followed lasted a bit longer than the Full Nelson that preceded it, meaning Daphne actually had a moment to register the other woman’s arms coiling around her midsection. Hands locked, Sammain spun the Gatecrasher up onto her shoulders and immediately dropped to her tush to THA-WHAM Dufresne down full force on the thinly-sheathed plywood! The Sit-Out Powerbomb wasn’t one of Autumn’s officially recognized finishers, but the FAWNatics were well-versed enough to recognize a match-ender when they saw one, thus they were on their feet long before Carpenter swooped in to count the…
SIT-OUT POWERBOMB:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO6UBYTA3Lo
ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOO!
Daphne twitched a shoulder off the mat with less than a whisper between her and a most ignominious debut. The newcomer’s wherewithal seemed to confound everyone save Autumn, who hauled the younger woman to boot-leather amidst a round of ‘THAT WAS THREE!’ chants. Taking her rival’s back before D² even knew she was there, Sammain threaded her head under Daph’s right arm and hooked her left arm over Dufresne’s left shoulder to press that palm against her opposing chest. Another loud round of cheers from those assembled when Autumn hoisted Daphne into the air and flipped her upside down, the lissome lovely transforming a Backdrop Suplex into the skull crushing Piledriver known as Autumn RaNOOOOOO!
Dufresne flipped out of Sammain’s grasp just as the Dragon began her descent, meaning Autumn came down on her butt with no burden in tow! As for Daphne, she landed in an awkward crouch, hopped forward on her left foot and THWHACKED a low Super Kick to Autumn’s face!
BASEMENT SUPER KICK:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvJZNpa1Sj0
Sammain’s head snapped backward and the rest of her soon followed into a boneless facedown sprawl. Eyes wild following her escape from certain defeat, Daphne stomped over to Autumn, buried her hands in the flattened fighter’s hair and scraped her off the mat in stages. “I already… already let a FAWN star ruin one career milestone.” Dufresne panted as she muscled Sammain onto her shoulders for a second Fireman’s Carry. “I’m not going to let it happen again.”
On the heels of that promise she drew Autumn’s head down a little lower and drove her right knee into the crown of Sammain’s skull. Half a dozen blows earned nothing by way of response from the Joshi Phenom, but Dufresne never lost the sense of urgency when she shifted the limp-limbed battler from the Fireman’s Carry to a gut-down position over her left shoulder. With one arm curled around Autumn’s lower back and her other hand cupping the back of her neck, Daphne pushed onto her toes and dropped to her butt, a near straight up n’ down descent that put Sammain’s head on the canvas with a disgusting THWHUNK! Autumn tumbled free and slopped onto her side, where she might’ve stayed for quite some time if Dufresne hadn’t pulled the Phenom onto her back and pointed her rump at the rafters with a Back Press good for…
DAPHNE FINISHER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSAjypn3ypQ
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
Daphne sat up with the clang of the bell, the former indy star putting her head in her hands as the Announcer confirmed, “Ladies and gentlemen, your winner via pin-fall… DAPHNE DUFRESNE!”
She was still processing when Al Carpenter came over and offered his hand. “C’mon Daph, time to greet your public.”
Dufresne nodded, accepted the offer and had to lean on the lanky ref when her knees almost buckled at the sound of several thousand fans chanting her name. Al waited until she was steady, then took her wrist and raised it high to another thunderous ovation. “This is just the beginning.” she told the sold out crowd. “I’m going to prove I belong with the best in the world, one match at a time.”
But that was for tomorrow. Tonight was all about celebrating her first win on an internationally televised pay-per-view and the Green Queen wasted no time heading for the nearest corner to mount the second rope and salute the sea of roaring humanity. Two more corners followed in the next minute or so and Dufresne was on her way to the fourth when she noticed Carpenter helping Autumn to her feet. Pausing on her journey, she watched in silence while the ref and her opponent exchanged words. Their conversation with an ‘I’m ok’ sort of nod from Sammain, who then turned away en route to the ropes. Daphne stepped after her and called “Autumn!”
The Dragon looked over her shoulder but offered nothing more than a slightly expectant look. Dufresne hesitated for a second, then walked over and extended her hand. “They say you only get one chance at a first impression. Thank you for helping me make the best one possible.”
Autumn studied the newcomer before she returned the handshake. “You’re welcome. And welcome to the roster, I think you’ll make a valuable addition. But don’t think for a second I’m going to let this end at one match. Management won’t be keen to have their new hire wrestle the same opponent on consecutive shows, but I’ll get a rematch and there will be a different outcome.”
Galvanized at the prospect of teaching the hard-hitting veteran another tough lesson, Dufresne slapped Autumn on the shoulder and replied, “Doesn’t matter if it’s next week or next year. Streak will still be intact next time we meet. And the time after…” Daphne trailed off, her focus shifting to something behind the other brunette. “Friends of yours?”
Frowning, Autumn turned around and somehow wasn’t surprised to see Lucy Harker and Mina Murray strutting down the aisle.
LUCY HARKER:
MINA MURRAY:
“Get gone, Dufresne.” Sammain muttered as she backed away from the ropes. “They’re not after you.”
Daphne shook her head and lined up alongside the Gaijin Extraordinaire. “Right, like I’m going to let my first night in FAWN end with me slinking away from the ring.”
Autumn didn’t look at her, she was honed in on Scandalous, who’d hopped onto the apron despite Carpenter’s protestations. “Look at you, Sammy.” Lucy tittered. “You actually made a friend.”
“And what about you, new meat?” Mina asked Daphne. “Is this really the smartest play right now?”
Daphne smirked, daring the pair of interlopers forward with a beckoning finger. “Oh, I don’t know. Between the three of us I think we’ll do all right.”
Sammain rounded on Dufresne with surprise in those dark ey--THWHACK!
The Gatecrasher caught her flush on the cheek with a Forearm Smash that spun Autumn back the way she came. Catching the Half Nelson as soon as she had Sammain’s back, D² grabbed a handful of Waistband and turned her prey inside out with a Half Nelson Suplex that Autumn slumped on her knees near the far side of the ring. As surprised as Autumn and the rest of the FAWNatics, Al barked, “Daphne, what the hellNNNNNGGHHHH!”
Murray ended his indignation with a hateful Low Blow that left the poor dope curled up in the fetal position. “Remember what I said about the numbers game, bytch?” Lucy taunted the blindsided battler as she and Mina closed in. “This is exactly what I was talking about.”
Dimly aware that the odds were even worse than she’d originally thought, Autumn Sammain slowly struggled to verticality and raised her hands. “Uuuuuuhhh….uuuuuhhh… only wish I’d kicked your asses earlier.” she rasped. “Always a mistake to let the cockroaches NNNNGGGGGHHH!”
Scandalous caught her in the gut with stereo Back Kicks that left the exhausted brunette doubled over and retching. “Good work, Daphne.” Lucy grinned at Dufresne while Mina turned her back on Sammain and caught her in a one-armed Three Quarter Facelock. “West was right, you really do make a convincing babyface. Oh, excuse me for a moment.” Sidling into place next to her partner, Harker dipped her knees and wrapped her right arm around Murray’s waist like she meant to hit a Backdrop Suplex, but instead she provided a boost for the blonde’s liftoff when Mina launched herself up and over, the Scandalous lass landing stretched out flat on her belly to PLANT Autumn on the deck with a murderous Shiranui!
A SCANDALOUS TURN OF EVENTS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgZEqb4KLBk
Murray popped up, smoothed back her hair and made a point of stepping on Sammain’s midsection as she strutted over to Lucy and the new hire. “That was as fun as I’d imagined. But ol’ Dragon Breath had a little too much sass left for my taste. You down to teach her one more lesson?”
Delighted to finally share a ring with her friends, the Gatecrasher slapped Mina on the shoulder and said, “I could go all night, Meen. Let’s show that sorry piece of shyt what she turned down.”
Moving as one, the domineering trio circled around Autumn with Dufresne taking point. Peeling the Dragon off the mat with a double handful of hair, Daphne drew her in close and murmured, “You’re never going to beat me, hag. Not tomorrow, not next week, not ever. We’re the future of FAWN and you? You’re just a bit of trivia for the keyboard commandos.”
Damned if Autumn didn’t try to clinch, so Dufresne gutted her with a Low Blow before handing her off to Lucy and Mina. Happy to accept this gift, Scandalous turned to one side and slipped an arm through Autumn’s legs, all the better to boost her onto their shoulders in a tandem Electric Chair. Arms spread wide, Daphne called, “Give her here, ladies. I got this.” Harker and Murray obliged, hurling the defenseless Phenom down in a Powerbomb that grew infinitely worse when Dufresne leapt up and braced her both knees against Autumn’s back. Gravity brought them down a heartbeat later, Sammain utterly demolished by the three on one Powerbomb / Lungblower combination.
With Sammain shoved off her knees like so much smoldering garbage, Daphne stood up and strolled over to the ropes to snag a mic from a quavering FAWN technician. “I’m sure you idiots have questions, but frankly we’re too f*cking good to answer to the likes of you. You want something to tweet about? Here’s all you need to know.” She walked back to Autumn and planted a boot on her softly rising chest. Flanked by Lucy and Mina, the domineering brunette went on. “This right here? This wanton destruction of a woman you hold dear? She’s just the beginning. Anyone who steps to us is getting beaten and humiliated, maybe not in that order. Because the three of us? We’re not just Scandalous.”
Daphne crossed her middle and ring fingers, stretched pinkie and index wide and tucked her thumb behind her palm to create a ‘W’, which she raised to chest level. Sharing a glance with Harker and Murray (who’d raised identical sigils) Dufresne looked straight and the camera and explained, “We’re Wicked. See ya soon, sheep.”
CLAP FOR THE KILLERS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=el_yvuqJtY0
Her name served as a harbinger for ‘Clap for the Killers’ which in turn brought Autumn through the curtain shortly thereafter. Slowing to a stop at the top of the ramp, Sammain nodded ever so slightly before launching into a lightning-fast array of punches, chops, elbows, knee strikes and finally kicks, all of which made dangerous little ’whicking’ sounds as they cut the air. Settling back to a zen-like stillness when the kata was finished, Sammain raised her left thumb to her throat and drew it across in a slow slash. With that the lights came up and she started toward the ring.
AUTUMN SAMMAIN:
Hands reached for her at every step and while Autumn was careful to swat as many as she could, the astute observer noted that her attention was focused solely on the squared circle. Because while tonight’s bout wasn’t for a title and didn’t carry any official golden stakes, she was certain that defeating a highly touted new hire would return her to consideration for a shot against the Superlative Soprano. For this Spring Break showdown she wore a black sports bra and matching bottoms which were all but obscured by the Joshi style ‘skirt’ that ended well above the knee. This garment was also dead black, save for several electric green slashes running from north to south. The rest of her outfit consisted of black kneepads, matching boots and fingerless green gloves that reached to just below her elbows.
Exploding into a flat out run as she drew closer to her destination, Sammain bypassed the steps in favor of reaching the apron in a single nimble leap. In the next instant she’d leapt to the corner and from there vaulted to a spot near the center of the squared circle. Then and only then did she raise her fist and rend the air with her war cry, a shrill, brutal sound that earned streamers from the FAWNatics from the front row to the upper deck. Lowering her sigil once the storm of black and green trailed off, Autumn retreated to the far corner so she could watch the entryway while Al Carpenter and a few ringside techs worked to clear the canvas.
Autumn’s anthem died away a few seconds later, but the Announcer let silence reign for several seconds before he raised the mic again. “And introducing her opponent. Hailing from Seattle Washington, she stands at five feet seven inches tall and weighs in tonight at one hundred and thirty five pounds. Tonight marks her debut in the FAWN Arena, Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome the Green Queen, DAPHNE DUFRESNE!”
VICTORIOUS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=agG-yNlFwCY
Every light in the arena went out and gloom held sway until a glowing green light appeared near the top of the ‘tron. A moment later it blasted down a whole planetarium’s worth of green beams that formed a spotlight of sorts in the center of the dark stage. Then the speakers kicked into ‘Victorious’ and the spotlights blazed on to illuminate the debuting indy star front and center, her arms spread wide. Already smarking so hard their little nerdy hearts could barely take it, the sold out crowd found another gear when Dufresne urged them to get as loud as they could. Nodding in appreciation as they broke into a cacophonous ‘DAPHNE!’ chant, the Abdominator thanked them with a brawny double bicep flex, then made her first walk down the aisle as a FAWN superstar.
DAPHNE DUFRESNE:
For her internationally televised debut against a woman who hit just as hard, if not harder, than anyone she’d battled in the Independents, D² sported her trademark emerald green one-piece with an hour glass shaped piece of mesh across the chest (the negative space of which created a sort of bikini top look) and an identical shape, albeit turned on its side, across her tummy to better show off her sculpted torso. Her boots and wrist tape were a matching green while her boots were gleaming black.
Clearly overjoyed to once again ply her trade in friendly territory, Daphne zigged and zagged as she made her way to the ring so she could slap hands and pose for pictures with anyone who asked (though she studiously avoided those few trolls that tried to bring up the bad behavior that’d marked her feud with none other than Emily West). Breaking off as she reached the foot of the ramp, Dufresne turned her attention to the apron and gained it with a single feline leap. From there she sprang onto the top rope and launched into a 450 spin that brought her down in a perfect landing in the middle of the ring. Satisfied with the landing, she made a show of brushing some invisible dust off those dangerous abs, then winked to the camera and made her way to the corner opposite Autumn.
“Pleased to meet you, Daphne.” Al offered his hand to the new hire before carrying out final inspections. “Been wanting to officiate one of your matches for a long time, so this is kind of a big deal for me.” Dufresne returned the handshake and added another beaming smile to boot. “Big deal for me too, Al. Let’s hope I can make it exciting enough for the both of us.”
Loud since introductions, the Spring Breakers grew all the more raucous when the bell CLANGED a start to the match. Eager to see what one of the indy’s most vaunted stars could do against arguably the most dangerous striker in FAWN, the capacity crowd filled the arena with dueling cheers of ‘LET’S GO DAPHNE!’ and ‘LET’S GO AUTUMN!’
Most wrestlers would’ve felt at least some twinge of intimidation in such a situation, but as a certain Black Queen could tell you, Daphne Dufresne was NOT most wrestlers. Indeed the Green Queen didn’t bother to hide a smile as she listened to a crowd of several thousand urging her into battle. A flicker of motion from the other side of the ring drew her attention to the Dragon of Tokyo, who’d started forward a heartbeat prior. Still smiling, Dufresne pushed out of the corner on a beeline aimed straight at Autumn Sammain.
Simultaneously intrigued by and wary of Anciline’s newest hire, the Joshi Phenom raised her fists to shoulder level and began to circle when she reached the center of the ring. Daphne noted the shift and adjusted her own course, the limber battler settling into a low relaxed crouch to defend against any potential encroachment. Autumn didn’t bother to encroach, though she did probe the other brunette’s defenses with a quick leg kick that Dufresne soaked up without complaint. She promptly followed with another leg kick which Daphne blocked, and a much heavier shot to the tyro’s ribs that she did not.
Daph grunted, but brought her right arm snug against her torso to capture Sammain’s shin, an accomplishment that would’ve meant more if the veteran hadn’t laced both hands behind Dufresne’s neck and boosted herself up for a Kneelift that THWHONKED her opponent’s forehead! Daphne let loose and stumbled to one side, the hardbody’s defenses shaken just enough for Autumn to whip around in a circle and come off the far side with her right arm lashing out in a wicked--
A roar of applause from Daphne’s fans when their heroine dipped beneath the Uraken to end up sidled in against Sammain’s left flank. Head wedged beneath the Dragon’s arm, Dufresne locked her hands around Autumn’s waist and popped her hips to THWHUMP Sammain down on the back of her head and shoulders with a perfect Saito Suplex.
SAITO SUPLEX:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=twbDgrML50w
Daphne relinquished the Waistlock on impact, knowing damned well there was no way she’d keep Sammain down with a single move, yet she second-guessed the decision when Autumn rolled through the landing and bounced to her feet! The FAWN newcomer was up just as quickly and offered a second test of her rival’s resolve in the form of a Big Boot aimed straight for Sammain’s NO! Autumn sidestepped the blow, caught Dufresne in a Waistlock and took her up, over and down with a German Suplex that turned the Green Queen inside out… so you could understand Sammain’s surprise when Daphne scrambled to boot leather without so much as a groan!
GERMAN SUPLEX:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OjaaLqUZsI
The pair of athletic bendybacks squared off amidst a growing fervor, indeed they might’ve locked up on the spot if they hadn’t noticed Al Carpenter nodding along with all the cheers. Unable (or perhaps unwilling) to keep a smile off her face, Daphne Dufresne smoothed her hair back, then offered a hand to the other brunette. “Guess now is as good a time as any for introductions. I’m Daphne and I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.”
The crowd called ‘SPORTSMANSHIP!’ and was thusly disappointed when Autumn knocked Dufresne’s hand aside with a swiping kick. “Don’t think for one second I didn’t watch your series with Emily.” the Dragon said. “And every other match you’ve had in the last year and a half. You’re good, Dufresne. Anyone can see that. But I don’t trust you enough to accept a handshake.”
Daphne frowned, then nodded her head as they resumed circling. “I’m proud of my work in those matches, if not my attitude. You don’t trust me? That’s fine. But Autumn? You’re going to respect me by the time that bell rings again. Trust me on that, if nothing else.”
Now it was Sammain who smiled. “You want my respect, Dufresne? Shake off another Suplex and we’ll see what happens.”
Daphne snorted, beckoned the veteran in. “You’ll have to catch me with another one first, baby.”
Autumn was happy to oblige her in this regard and Dufresne stepped in to meet the Dragon in a strong Collar & Elbow Lock-Up that put both ladies up on their tiptoes with less than half an inch of clearance between those washboard tummies. They settled down a moment later and it was Daphne who snatched the Side Headlock, drawing Sammain’s temple down to the point of her left hip so she could grrrrrrrrriiind it against the bony joint. “C’mon!” Dufresne demanded as she bounced in place to exacerbate the pressure. “C’mon Autumn, show me what you’ve got!”
Anyone who’d shared a ring with Autumn Sammain could’ve told the tyro that asking for her best was a good way to collect new bruises, but experience was the best teacher as Daph learned when the Gaijin Extraordinaire twisted loose of the Headlock and went low, threading her feet between Dufresne’s ankles in the process. A single quick flex of the brunette’s legs dropped the Green Queen flat on the mat, the simple Drop Toe Holding stunning her long enough for Autumn to secure a Headlock of her own. “You really don’t have to ask so loudly, Dufresne.” Sammain noted as she wrenched back on Dufresne’s straining noggin. “Just stepping through those ropes was enough to ensure you’d get my WHOOAAAHH!”
Daphne didn’t have the leverage to wrest out of the Headlock, so she cinched her arms around Autumn’s waist and rolled over onto her back, thus stacking the veteran on her shoulders for a count of…
ONE…
TWO…
The Joshi Phenom rolled back to start with a full second to spare but apparently the Headlock had lost its appeal because she immediately snatched the other brunette’s near arm and trapped it between her thighs. In the same breath Sammain locked on a Crossface grip over her opponent’s nose and CRAAAAAAAAAAAAANKED back on the brutal submission!
CROSSFACE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhCViSIhtEw
“What do you say, Daphne?” Al asked over Dufresne’s pained moan. “Need me to call for the bell?”
“NO!” Daphne cried out, hating the nasal quality of her voice. “NO, I WON’T SUMNNNNGGGGGGHHHHHH!”
Autumn poured on the pressure, forcing another loud wail from the trapped rookie. “Never say never, Dufresne.” Sammain advised. “It’s a good way to get injured, especially when you’re tied up in a hold like--
Daphne wriggled her trapped arm just enough to curl it into a hook. That combined with the torque of the Crossface allowed her roll Autumn into an improvised cradle, one that saw her land stacked in the startled woman’s lap. Drawing that trapped leg as close as she could, Dufresne bore down with all her weight while Carpenter slapped off…
ONE…
TWO…
THRNOOOO!
Autumn tore loose before ‘THREE!’ but in freeing herself from the cover she opened herself to new troubles, namely the Fujiwara Armbar she hooked on the Dragon’s left wing! Feet planted flat, lower back braced against the other brunette’s ribs, Daphne pushed up and back to put tremendous pressure on her opponent’s shoulder and elbow.
FUJIWARA ARMBAR:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=idQ2jXhtdrE
Startled by how quickly these two had gone from zero to ‘torture test’, the ref dropped down beside the action to check on Sammain. “How you doing, Autumn?”
“I’m afraid she’s a little preoccupied at the moment.” Daphne said with a smirk. “She’s trying to figure out how she can escape this hold without submitting or losing an elbHEEEYYY!”
Autumn Sammain enjoyed a low key reputation as one of, if not thee best mat wrestler in all of FAWN and Dufresne found herself on the receiving end of the brunette’s credentials when Sammain abruptly pushed up, tucked her head and somersaulted forward to alleviate the pressure on her shoulder. A nimble bit of business to be sure, unfortunately for Daphne it was also a cagey offensive maneuver that saw Autumn seize the newcomer’s left wrist and stretch the limb away from her opponent’s torso.
CROSS ARMBREAKER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bTbkpRO13Q
No stranger to the Cross Armbreaker, Daph rolled to one knee even as Sammain swung her legs into place, the Green Queen locking her hands in a white-knuckle S-grip a split second before Autumn cranked the hold full force. Pretty face pinched in concentration, Dufresne shifted her weight from one knee to the other, then back again in hopes of finding the steadiest perch. Sammain didn’t try to stop her, instead she focused on prizing the newcomer’s fingers apart so she could-- happy surprise from the Daphne contingent when their heroine surged forward far enough to stack Autumn on her shoulders for…
ONE…
TWO…
The Dragon twisted a shoulder clear of the canvas to break the pin, then drew her right leg away from Dufresne’s captive arm only to bring that heel smashing down on the other brunette’s clasped fingers! Daphne yelped, tried to adjust her grip and endured another sharp kick for the trouble. “That’s pretty cheap, Sammain.” Dufresne grunted. “Why don’t you just admit you’re not strong enough to break my RGH! RGH! RRRRGGGHHH AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!”
In no mood for sass from a woman with crumbling defenses, the Gaijin Extraordinaire braced her right heel against Daphne’s cheek and skidded the side of her boot across opposing features once, twice, three times! Third time proved the charm and a bloody one at that, as Sammain split her rival’s bottom lip en route to breaking the S-grip and finally bearing down on the Cross Armbreaker.
“NO!” Daphne barked before Castle could move into position to question about surrender. “She’s gonna have to break it if she wants me to tap!”
Autumn heard this, arched an eyebrow. “You’re welcome to your opinion Dufresne, even if it’s wrong. I don’t need to break anything to make you quit. Scuffing that pretty face should be more than enough to get the job done.” To prove it she once again pressed her right heel to Daphne’s cheek and scraped her boot across the other brunette’s mouth half a dozen times in short order.
It was a stiff tactic, one that earned more than a few boos from Daphne’s fans. However the Abdominator never complained, choosing instead to endure the rough welcome until she could THERE! Dufresne caught Sammain’s heel in her left hand and pushed it away from her stinging face. Displeased by the loss of torque, Autumn halved the grip on Daphne’s wrist to focus on her fingers, which she attempted to touch to the other woman’s forearm! Keening through clenched teeth as she endured these tortures, Dufresne suddenly lifted her head and paid back rough with rough by sinking her teeth into Sammain’s calf! Autumn didn’t complain about the toothy counter, but she certainly didn’t like it so she redoubled her efforts on Daphne’s fing-- the Green Queen surged back to her knees, the force of it putting Sammain on her shoulders again. But Daphne wasn’t looking for a quick pin, she crooked her left arm into a narrow ‘V’ and THWHUMPED Forearm Bombs onto the Dragon’s face until Autumn was forced to abandon the Armbar and regroup several feet away.
Set on one knee while she tried to roll the kinks out of her right arm, Dufresne licked her lips and tasted copper. “I don’t appreciate having my face used as a doormat, Sammain.” she muttered.
Autumn, who’d been tending to a small gash at the corner of her left eyebrow, offered her rival a baleful smile. “And I don’t like seeing a chick throw elbows with the intent to cut, but I’ll tolerate it because I don’t want anyone saying you didn’t leave everything in this ring when I hang that loss around your neck.”
Daphne snorted, turned her head to the side and spat pink on the canvas. “You’re not hanging anything around my neck, Autumn. Bad as you are, you’re just a gatekeeper. And me?” She stood up and made a small show of sweeping her hands down those washboard abs. “I’m the Gatecrasher.”
Sammain stood up and though she was courteous enough to not roll her eyes, Dufresne could see the skepticism stamped all over the veteran’s face. “I’m sure that’ll look great on the back of a tee-shirt, Dufresne. Maybe you can wear it to the ring next month when they feed you a cupcake.”
“Look at these abs, sweetie. You think I eat cupcakes?” “The feeding habits of Instagram models don’t interest me in the slightest.” Autumn deadpanned. “Though it looks like you COULD use more boot leather in your diet.”
Daphne answered with a red tinged smile that might’ve unnerved someone who hadn’t participated in some of the most brutal grudge matches of the last ten years. As it was she merely dabbed a bit of blood away from the corner of her eye and beckoned Dufresne forward. The Green Queen did as bade, in fact she cut the distance faster than Sammain anticipated so the Gaijin Extraordinaire THWHACKED her right thigh with a stern Leg Kick. Daphne cringed but didn’t back off, indeed she hooked her left arm around the back of Autumn’s head and pulled her down into a lightning-fast European Uppercut that put the other bendyback on the mat! Sammain hit the deck with stars in her eyes, so Dufresne dropped atop her chest in a Lateral Press for…
EUROPEAN UPPERCUT:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwHJjnRUmRU
ONE…
TWO…
Sammain bridged on her heels and the crown of her skull, an effortless show of athleticism rewarded by a CRAAACKING overhand slap to the navel! “Get that out of my face.” Daphne sniffed. “Seriously, it’s like you’ve never heard of cruncNGH!”
The Joshi Phenom tagged her with a stiff slap that did nothing for the new hire’s lower lip. Angered by the targeted offense, Dufresne countered with half a dozen quick punches to her foe’s abs, then plunged her hands into Autumn’s dark hair and scraped her off the mat. Al was already close to the action, meaning he wasted no time chiding Daphne about the hair hold, which in turn meant D² gave it up for what would’ve been a Waistlock if she hadn’t reached around to snag Sammain’s right wrist. Bracing her free hand between the Dragon’s shoulders, Dufresne pushed her away before yanking on the Wristlock to spin Autumn around for a jaw-breaking Ripcord Forearm SmaNO!
Autumn went low to evade the strike, took Daphne’s back for her own and caught the tyro in the same Ripcord set-up she’d just escaped. Sammain mirrored the earlier shove as well, but where Dufresne tried to reel her rival back in, the black-clad battler dropped Daph where she stood courtesy of a Roundhouse that THWHACKED off the side of her opponent’s skull.
RIPCORD ROUNDHOUSE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aa-j22Ogljc
Dufresne went down with her right wrist still in Sammain’s possession, a development that would’ve alarmed her if not for the kick induced stupor. Regarding Daphne’s arm the same way Wile E. Coyote regarded a palette of TNT, Autumn moved around to high noon and dropped to a seat without relinquishing her grip on Dufresne’s wrist. “Not really wise to criticize my fitness regimen when you can’t even remember where you parked, don’t you think?” Sammain chided as she used a handful of hair to lift Daphne’s head off the mat. “But we can talk about how to improve your gains after you’ve regained consciousness.” With that Autumn drew Dufresne’s arm across her throat, then slipped her legs around the other brunette’s head and crossed her ankles.
“NNNNGGGGGHHHHHHHH!” Daph let out a choked gurgle as Sammain put every ounce of gam strength into spoiling Dufresne’s FAWN debut with those vicious Cutthroat Headscissors. The fog between Daphne’s ears burned away in seconds, alas what came in its place was infinitely more painful, as she could feel every pulse and squeeze of Autumn’s stems with near eidetic clarity. And if things weren’t bad enough, the coil of her own trapped arm meant Dufresne couldn’t so much as draw a breath without making a horrible teakettle wheeze.
“Carpenter’s going to ask if you want to submit in less than ten seconds.” Sammain mused as the other brunette’s face flushed from pink to red. “I wouldn’t suggest wasting oxygen on a response, waving a finger should suffice.” She trailed off, pulled back on Daphne’s wrist and bore down on the Scissors until the indy darling’s heels beat a desperate tattoo against the canvas. “However, when you decide you’ve had enough, please tap out on my thigh or my hip. Otherwise I’m liable not to notice until--”
Dufresne, who’d been worrying at the manacle clamped on her wrist, curled her free hand into a claw and raaaaaaaaaaaaked it up the length of Autumn’s thigh. “Nuuuhhhhhh…NOT gonna… tap out.” she grunted through clenched teeth. “Deal with it.”
“You’ve been trapped less than a minute, new girl.” Autumn said contemplatively. “Let’s see how you feel after three.”
Dufresne scored her tormentor’s thigh again, then tried to slip her fingers beneath Sammain’s kneepad only for Autumn to disrupt the effort with a single quick Elbow Strike to the forehead! The Gatecrasher grunted, reached up to defend her face and hissed in disgust when the Dragon hooked that arm and wrenched it away from her torso. The arm trap raised a murmur of concern from Daphne’s fans as well as those FAWNatics that’d seen Sammain’s legs finish some of the most dangerous women on the roster and their worry only increased as the Green Queen’s struggles subsided.
“Not your best play, Dufresne.” Autumn broke the silence after another thirty seconds. “Now you can’t even tap out. You’ll have you croak something intelligible for Carpenter to register it as a submiss--”
“You’re the one tapping out.” Daphne rasped. “You’re gonna BEG me to let you goAAAAAARRRHHHHHHH!”
Never one to endure threats from those that couldn’t defend themselves, Sammain tossed away the other brunette’s left arm (the Cutthroat remained snug as ever, much to Dufresne’s chagrin) so she could take her foe’s defenseless nose between thumb and forefinger and twissssssssssst like she meant to keep it as a prize. “Hey, c’mon Autumn, there’s no call for that!” Al Carpenter said of the nasal nastiness. “Don’t make me count, ok?”
“You’re welcome to do whatever you please.” Autumn answered without looking up from her prey’s beet-red features. “But be so kind to ask her if she submits before you--”
Daphne reached up with her left hand and grabbed Sammain’s forearm so tight her knuckles showed white. It wasn’t an escape tactic, at least not directly. Rather she used the impromptu coil to keep Autumn distracted while she angled her hips to the left, then twisted right as hard as she could! It didn’t break the Scissors so much as it did reposition them, both brunettes turned onto their stomachs by the power of Dufresne’s barrel roll. At first glance it wasn’t much of an improvement for the Green Queen, in fact with her right arm still out of the equation it might’ve been even worse, however this new arrangement finally let Daphne bring her own stems to bear and she was on her knees in a matter of seconds.
Aware that her own position was now far more precarious, Sammain continued to work the Headscissors, doggedly grinding her thighs against Dufresne’s cheek and jaw in hopes of breaking her spirit before NO! A roar from Daphne and the FAWNatics as the former finally tore her way free of that gammy torture cell! Scrambling into a seat on the small of her opponent’s back, D² planted her left hand atop the back of Autumn’s skull and got some revenge for her right arm by THWHUMPING half a dozen brutal Forearm Smashes across her foe’s shoulders!
Another round was in the offering, at least until Sammain swatted the rookie’s hand away and crossed both arms over the back of her noggin to protect against further shelling. Above her, Daphne Dufresne dug her knees into Joshi flanks and grabbed hold of Autumn’s wrists. “Don’t even think turtling is going to save you, baby. Not after the shyt you just pulled.” Shifting from wrists to hair, Daph helped herself to a double handful and puuuuuuuuulled back, thus straining Autumn’s neck at an awkward angle.
More irritated by the nature of her predicament than the actual pain it caused, Sammain scrabbled at her attacker’s wrists and muttered, “You managed to take my back and all you’re going to do is pull hair? I thought you were supposed to impress NNGGHH! EEEERRRRGGGGHHHHH!”
Dufresne bounced the other brunette’s face against the thinly-sheathed plywood, then leaned down and in, making sure to keep all her weight in place as she scrubbed Autumn’s features back and forth! Sensing the shift in tone between his charges, Carpenter didn’t bother with a warning, he simply let the face erasing carry on for five full seconds before starting his count. “ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!”
Daphne released at once, lifting her hands high overhead to confirm the clean break. She didn’t give up her mount though, in fact she slid back and leaned down, all the better to whisper in whisper in Sammain’s ear. “Pulling your hair was just the start, sweetums. I promised to make you scream, remember?”
Her claim far was easier said than done, but never let it be said that Dufresne didn’t approach the task with obvious enthusiasm. On her feet after a final Forearm Smash to keep the veteran docile, Daphne took hold of Autumn’s ankles and raised her lower legs like she was searching for a Romero Special or perhaps an STF. Turned out it was neither, though the end result certainly started like the latter, with Dufresne threading her right leg around Sammain’s left calf before she dropped to one knee, effectively trapping the limb between her thighs. Immediately thereafter she grabbed a handful of hair and the Joshi Phenom’s left wrist, D² dipping her head under Autumn’s exposed limb to secure it at a remarkably unpleasant angle. After that she abandoned the hair hold and looped her arms around the grounded grappler’s head, finally locking her hands to craaaaaaaaannk back on a hold FAWN would soon come to know as the _______________.
CHICKENWING CROSSFACE:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2lapU3n_3c
Autumn groaned, a low, distressed noise that would’ve pleased the Gatecrasher to no end if she hadn’t had her heart set on a scream. Looking from Sammain to the fans and back again, Dufresne cinched the hold a little tighter and said, “You don’t have to play tough for me, Autumn. Or for them. Everyone knows you’re a legit bad ass, so why don’t you show them MY credentials by tapping that mat?”
With her left side effectively tied up, Sammain should’ve been bound to one spot, but damned if she didn’t use her right elbow and knee to drag their combined bulk a few inches closer to the ropes. “Your technique is impressive.” Autumn huffed once she’d gained a little more ground. “There’s no way I’m not sore as hell in the morning, especially my shoulder. But I’ll endure that just like I’ll endure this, because I already know you don’t have what it takes to make me submit.”
Already faint, Daphne’s smile faded to nothing as she absorbed the Dragon’s words. She twisted her wrists a little, making sure Sammain felt her knuckles grinding against her cheek. “You sure about that, Autumn? There’s still about two feet between your hand and the bottom rope and who knows what might happen before you reach it.”
Autumn replied by dragging them another four or five inches closer. Then she did it again, a silent show of defiance that made the newcomer’s blood boil. “I get it.” Dufresne taunted. “You’re the veteran and a perennial threat to just about every title in this promotion. You’ve got a reputation and you don’t want to shriek in the clutches of the new chick, even if she is one of the biggest hires of the last twenty years. I get that, Autumn, I really do. Here’s the thing though. I hate being ignored. So if I tell you to scream? Honey, you’re going to SCREAM!” Daphne broke the S-grip but retained her control over Sammain’s noggin by cupping the other brunette’s chin in her right hand. Her other hand stayed close too, Dufresne pressing the back of her wrist against Autumn’s face and vigorously rubbing it back n’ forth to scrape her wrist tape across her opponent’s eyes!
The Spring Breakers greeted Daphne’s tactics with a mixed reaction, some cheering what they considered a shrewd ploy from a mat tactician while others jeered it as simply cheap. As for Autumn herself, she snarled in obvious distress but resumed her slog to the ropes after only a few seconds of indecision. Far less stoic about these developments was Algernon Carpenter, who’d grown quite concerned over the increasingly mean-spirited tenor of this contest. “C’mon Daphne, don’t scrape her eyes!” he pleaded. “You’re better than that!”
Dufresne halted her abrasive assault, but made no effort to remove her wrist from Sammain’s reddened eyes. “Start a count if it’s illegal.” she told the official. “Otherwise stay out of the way.”
It was, and Al started to tell her why, only to remain silent when Autumn finally closed the gap and wrapped her right hand around the bottom rope. “Good work, new girl.” the Dragon huffed. “More than enough to make me work up a sweat… just not enough to make me screaNNNNNNNGGGGGGGHHHH!”
Daphne slipped out from under Sammain’s arm without releasing the Chinlock, thus turning her trap into something that was almost a Camel Clutch. Submission wasn’t the goal however, she only wanted access to Autumn’s upturned face so she could THWHUNK the point of her left elbow into the bridge of the other brunette’s nose!
Eyes welling up in the wake of the undefended shot, Autumn did her best to twist free of the Gatecrasher’s clutches, alas Dufresne treated herself to a double handful of hair and used it to scrape the Gaijin Extraordinaire off the mat. In no mood for a controversial finish, Daphne marched her prey out to center ring, then dipped a shoulder and muscled Autumn up in a Fireman’s Carry. With her left arm wrapped around Sammain’s near thigh and her right hand braced against Autumn’s chest, Dufresne turned in a slow circle, letting everyone in the crowd get a good view of her control over the established star, Daphne came to a stop facing the hard camera and tossed Sammain into a knock-kneed landing just to her left. Hardly the worst possible outcome, at least until D² pivoted into a pinpoint Roundhouse that THWHACKED against the side of her skull!
STARRY EYED:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-W8mKYDtxUM
Sammain swooned in a drunken half circle and stumbled away only for Dufresne to grab a handful of waistband and reel her back into a Half Nelson. Strengthening her hooks with a half Waistlock, Daphne got low a heartbeat before she popped her hips for a Half Nelson Suplex PLANTED Sammain on the back of her skull with more than enough momentum left over to tumble the battered bendyback to a slump-shouldered penance.
HALF NELSON SUPLEX:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em7LxxgItoY
On her feet in the blink of an eye, Dufresne raced at the stunned Joshi and lea--THWHUMP! Autumn came off the canvas like she’d been fired from a cannon and just buried her right knee in Daphne’s vaunted midsection. Her world reduced to nothing more than the nausea roiling in her guts, Dufresne didn’t feel the canvas against her back when she landed, which probably explained how she made it to back to verticality without knowing it.
KITCHEN SINK:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xgWKb7bZ74
Behind her, Autumn Sammain raised both hands high overhead and brought them whistling down to CRAAAAAAACK against Dufresne’s bare back! The Green Queen split the air with a surprised wail, her usually strong legs almost buckling in the wake of Sammain’s brutal resurgence. In the end she managed to keep her feet, though she might’ve wished she hadn’t when Autumn snuggled in behind and secured a tight Full Nelson. Driven to a nearly mindless battle lust by the painful exchanged with her adversary, the Dragon of Tokyo didn’t bother with theatrics or camera position, she merely dropped her hips and peeled off a high speed bridge that put the back of Daphne’s skull against the deck with sickening force.
SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ay21ZbUo4Ro
Sammain usually maintained the Nelson and her bridge after impact in search of a three count, but tonight she let Dufresne roll through to a weary looking stop on all fours. This meant the newcomer’s noggin was practically on a silver platter when Autumn got to her feet and laid claim to her foe’s ears. The Standing Headscissors that followed lasted a bit longer than the Full Nelson that preceded it, meaning Daphne actually had a moment to register the other woman’s arms coiling around her midsection. Hands locked, Sammain spun the Gatecrasher up onto her shoulders and immediately dropped to her tush to THA-WHAM Dufresne down full force on the thinly-sheathed plywood! The Sit-Out Powerbomb wasn’t one of Autumn’s officially recognized finishers, but the FAWNatics were well-versed enough to recognize a match-ender when they saw one, thus they were on their feet long before Carpenter swooped in to count the…
SIT-OUT POWERBOMB:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=uO6UBYTA3Lo
ONE…
TWO…
THRENOOOOOOOO!
Daphne twitched a shoulder off the mat with less than a whisper between her and a most ignominious debut. The newcomer’s wherewithal seemed to confound everyone save Autumn, who hauled the younger woman to boot-leather amidst a round of ‘THAT WAS THREE!’ chants. Taking her rival’s back before D² even knew she was there, Sammain threaded her head under Daph’s right arm and hooked her left arm over Dufresne’s left shoulder to press that palm against her opposing chest. Another loud round of cheers from those assembled when Autumn hoisted Daphne into the air and flipped her upside down, the lissome lovely transforming a Backdrop Suplex into the skull crushing Piledriver known as Autumn RaNOOOOOO!
Dufresne flipped out of Sammain’s grasp just as the Dragon began her descent, meaning Autumn came down on her butt with no burden in tow! As for Daphne, she landed in an awkward crouch, hopped forward on her left foot and THWHACKED a low Super Kick to Autumn’s face!
BASEMENT SUPER KICK:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EvJZNpa1Sj0
Sammain’s head snapped backward and the rest of her soon followed into a boneless facedown sprawl. Eyes wild following her escape from certain defeat, Daphne stomped over to Autumn, buried her hands in the flattened fighter’s hair and scraped her off the mat in stages. “I already… already let a FAWN star ruin one career milestone.” Dufresne panted as she muscled Sammain onto her shoulders for a second Fireman’s Carry. “I’m not going to let it happen again.”
On the heels of that promise she drew Autumn’s head down a little lower and drove her right knee into the crown of Sammain’s skull. Half a dozen blows earned nothing by way of response from the Joshi Phenom, but Dufresne never lost the sense of urgency when she shifted the limp-limbed battler from the Fireman’s Carry to a gut-down position over her left shoulder. With one arm curled around Autumn’s lower back and her other hand cupping the back of her neck, Daphne pushed onto her toes and dropped to her butt, a near straight up n’ down descent that put Sammain’s head on the canvas with a disgusting THWHUNK! Autumn tumbled free and slopped onto her side, where she might’ve stayed for quite some time if Dufresne hadn’t pulled the Phenom onto her back and pointed her rump at the rafters with a Back Press good for…
DAPHNE FINISHER:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSAjypn3ypQ
ONE…
TWO…
THREE!
Daphne sat up with the clang of the bell, the former indy star putting her head in her hands as the Announcer confirmed, “Ladies and gentlemen, your winner via pin-fall… DAPHNE DUFRESNE!”
She was still processing when Al Carpenter came over and offered his hand. “C’mon Daph, time to greet your public.”
Dufresne nodded, accepted the offer and had to lean on the lanky ref when her knees almost buckled at the sound of several thousand fans chanting her name. Al waited until she was steady, then took her wrist and raised it high to another thunderous ovation. “This is just the beginning.” she told the sold out crowd. “I’m going to prove I belong with the best in the world, one match at a time.”
But that was for tomorrow. Tonight was all about celebrating her first win on an internationally televised pay-per-view and the Green Queen wasted no time heading for the nearest corner to mount the second rope and salute the sea of roaring humanity. Two more corners followed in the next minute or so and Dufresne was on her way to the fourth when she noticed Carpenter helping Autumn to her feet. Pausing on her journey, she watched in silence while the ref and her opponent exchanged words. Their conversation with an ‘I’m ok’ sort of nod from Sammain, who then turned away en route to the ropes. Daphne stepped after her and called “Autumn!”
The Dragon looked over her shoulder but offered nothing more than a slightly expectant look. Dufresne hesitated for a second, then walked over and extended her hand. “They say you only get one chance at a first impression. Thank you for helping me make the best one possible.”
Autumn studied the newcomer before she returned the handshake. “You’re welcome. And welcome to the roster, I think you’ll make a valuable addition. But don’t think for a second I’m going to let this end at one match. Management won’t be keen to have their new hire wrestle the same opponent on consecutive shows, but I’ll get a rematch and there will be a different outcome.”
Galvanized at the prospect of teaching the hard-hitting veteran another tough lesson, Dufresne slapped Autumn on the shoulder and replied, “Doesn’t matter if it’s next week or next year. Streak will still be intact next time we meet. And the time after…” Daphne trailed off, her focus shifting to something behind the other brunette. “Friends of yours?”
Frowning, Autumn turned around and somehow wasn’t surprised to see Lucy Harker and Mina Murray strutting down the aisle.
LUCY HARKER:
MINA MURRAY:
“Get gone, Dufresne.” Sammain muttered as she backed away from the ropes. “They’re not after you.”
Daphne shook her head and lined up alongside the Gaijin Extraordinaire. “Right, like I’m going to let my first night in FAWN end with me slinking away from the ring.”
Autumn didn’t look at her, she was honed in on Scandalous, who’d hopped onto the apron despite Carpenter’s protestations. “Look at you, Sammy.” Lucy tittered. “You actually made a friend.”
“And what about you, new meat?” Mina asked Daphne. “Is this really the smartest play right now?”
Daphne smirked, daring the pair of interlopers forward with a beckoning finger. “Oh, I don’t know. Between the three of us I think we’ll do all right.”
Sammain rounded on Dufresne with surprise in those dark ey--THWHACK!
The Gatecrasher caught her flush on the cheek with a Forearm Smash that spun Autumn back the way she came. Catching the Half Nelson as soon as she had Sammain’s back, D² grabbed a handful of Waistband and turned her prey inside out with a Half Nelson Suplex that Autumn slumped on her knees near the far side of the ring. As surprised as Autumn and the rest of the FAWNatics, Al barked, “Daphne, what the hellNNNNNGGHHHH!”
Murray ended his indignation with a hateful Low Blow that left the poor dope curled up in the fetal position. “Remember what I said about the numbers game, bytch?” Lucy taunted the blindsided battler as she and Mina closed in. “This is exactly what I was talking about.”
Dimly aware that the odds were even worse than she’d originally thought, Autumn Sammain slowly struggled to verticality and raised her hands. “Uuuuuuhhh….uuuuuhhh… only wish I’d kicked your asses earlier.” she rasped. “Always a mistake to let the cockroaches NNNNGGGGGHHH!”
Scandalous caught her in the gut with stereo Back Kicks that left the exhausted brunette doubled over and retching. “Good work, Daphne.” Lucy grinned at Dufresne while Mina turned her back on Sammain and caught her in a one-armed Three Quarter Facelock. “West was right, you really do make a convincing babyface. Oh, excuse me for a moment.” Sidling into place next to her partner, Harker dipped her knees and wrapped her right arm around Murray’s waist like she meant to hit a Backdrop Suplex, but instead she provided a boost for the blonde’s liftoff when Mina launched herself up and over, the Scandalous lass landing stretched out flat on her belly to PLANT Autumn on the deck with a murderous Shiranui!
A SCANDALOUS TURN OF EVENTS:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgZEqb4KLBk
Murray popped up, smoothed back her hair and made a point of stepping on Sammain’s midsection as she strutted over to Lucy and the new hire. “That was as fun as I’d imagined. But ol’ Dragon Breath had a little too much sass left for my taste. You down to teach her one more lesson?”
Delighted to finally share a ring with her friends, the Gatecrasher slapped Mina on the shoulder and said, “I could go all night, Meen. Let’s show that sorry piece of shyt what she turned down.”
Moving as one, the domineering trio circled around Autumn with Dufresne taking point. Peeling the Dragon off the mat with a double handful of hair, Daphne drew her in close and murmured, “You’re never going to beat me, hag. Not tomorrow, not next week, not ever. We’re the future of FAWN and you? You’re just a bit of trivia for the keyboard commandos.”
Damned if Autumn didn’t try to clinch, so Dufresne gutted her with a Low Blow before handing her off to Lucy and Mina. Happy to accept this gift, Scandalous turned to one side and slipped an arm through Autumn’s legs, all the better to boost her onto their shoulders in a tandem Electric Chair. Arms spread wide, Daphne called, “Give her here, ladies. I got this.” Harker and Murray obliged, hurling the defenseless Phenom down in a Powerbomb that grew infinitely worse when Dufresne leapt up and braced her both knees against Autumn’s back. Gravity brought them down a heartbeat later, Sammain utterly demolished by the three on one Powerbomb / Lungblower combination.
With Sammain shoved off her knees like so much smoldering garbage, Daphne stood up and strolled over to the ropes to snag a mic from a quavering FAWN technician. “I’m sure you idiots have questions, but frankly we’re too f*cking good to answer to the likes of you. You want something to tweet about? Here’s all you need to know.” She walked back to Autumn and planted a boot on her softly rising chest. Flanked by Lucy and Mina, the domineering brunette went on. “This right here? This wanton destruction of a woman you hold dear? She’s just the beginning. Anyone who steps to us is getting beaten and humiliated, maybe not in that order. Because the three of us? We’re not just Scandalous.”
Daphne crossed her middle and ring fingers, stretched pinkie and index wide and tucked her thumb behind her palm to create a ‘W’, which she raised to chest level. Sharing a glance with Harker and Murray (who’d raised identical sigils) Dufresne looked straight and the camera and explained, “We’re Wicked. See ya soon, sheep.”