SECOND FALL:
Frank was halfway out of his seat on his way to stop
the fight when Mitzi backed into the side ropes and then sprang
off them, tackling Rita and driving her shoulder into the Puerto
Rican firecracker's belly as she came rushing forward. The impact
of their combined weights as they came together folded Rita's
lithe body over Mitzi's shoulder. Mitzi heaved Rita up off her
feet and toppled backward, hammering Rita's head into the mat.
Frank stopped and sat back down on the edge of his seat, ready
to spring into action if Mitzi showed the slightest signs of quitting
or even embarrassing him any further.
Mitzi rolled off of Rita and sat up, looking back
over her shoulder at Rita who had slowly turned over on her side
holding her head in both hands. Both women looked surprised at
the success of Mitzi's counterattack but Mitzi was in better shape
to take advantage than Rita who was still groggy and disoriented
after landing on her head. Mitzi grabbed a handful of Rita's hair
and pulled her to a sitting position, then squatted in front of
her, draped Rita's arm over her shoulder and hoisted her up with
one hand shoved between Rita's legs.
Mitzi staggered as she struggled to lift the deadweight,
getting Rita only chest high before she had to drop her on her
back again as the crowd began to mutter and mumble. Once more
Frank edged forward nervously in his chair, glancing around to
try and judge the tenor of the crowd. Satisfied things weren't
yet at the critical stage, he leaned on his knees and watched
as Mitzi got to her feet and moved around behind Rita. She sat
down and wrapped her legs around Rita's waist, then grabbed Rita
under the armpits and rocked back, lifting the dark-haired woman
into the air above her. Then Mitzi rocked back forward and ...
SLAMMED
Rita's butt into the mat using the ancient Greek
kiester bounce! Rita's head snapped forward on impact, nearly
hitting her forehead on the mat between her spread legs. Her body
rag-dolled until Mitzi grabbed her under the armpits again and
then rocked back to repeat it. Again, Rita was thrown upward and
driven back down. She let out a long, loud wail,, then her butt
SLAMMED
into the mat. She groaned and in desperation swung
an elbow back against the side of Mitzi's head, jarring her but
not stopping her from wrapping her arms under Rita's, pulling
her up and rocking back to do it a third time. This time, however,
Rita flung her legs back over her head when Mitzi had her at the
top of her swing. Mitzi's shoulders were on the mat and referee
Doris Day quickly slapped her hand on the mat for a one count.
Mitzi struggled mightily to push up and get Rita's body moving
forward, but she just couldn't do it. When Doris slapped the mat
a second time, Mitzi had no choice but to open her legs and turn
to the side, raising her shoulder and barely avoiding a humiliating
pinfall loss as Rita escaped.
Mitzi scrambled to her knees while Rita did a nifty
backward roll and popped to her feet to loud cheers from a large
majority of the sell-out crowd. Mitzi was still on one knee when
Rita stepped forward and kicked her in the chest. As Rita's boot
flattened the tender, sensitive orb, Mitzi's body pivoted around
on her knee, then she crumpled to the mat on her right side holding
her chest.
Rita strutted around Mitzi's body as the blonde wrestler
writhed in pain, struggling to roll over on her back as she tried
to keep a wary eye on what Rita was up to. Rita suddenly jumped
in the air and came down with her knee smashing into Mitzi's chest.
At least that was her intention! Just as Rita left her feet, Mitzi
rolled toward her and Rita not only missed Mitzi entirely, but
as she came down her feet hit Mitzi's body and as her feet were
pulled out from under her by Mitzi's momentum, Rita's knees both
crashed into the mat. Rita was thrown off balance and as she fell
she landed awkwardly. The impact re-injured the same knee that
Sheree North had damaged in Rita's last fight.
Rita lay on the mat holding her knee as Mitzi got
to her knees and looked around in confusion, wondering what had
happened when her back was turned. Rather than crawl over and
ask, Mitzi decided that it would be a good idea to take advantage
before Rita recovered and resumed beating on her. Mitzi scrambled
over to Rita on her hands and knees, slugged her across the face
with her forearm. Rita fell backward stunned and Mitzi went to
work.
Mitzi picked up Rita's ankle and straightened her
leg stepped over it and spun around, bending Rita's knee around
her leg. Then she folded that leg over the other and around her
and dropped her other leg over the top of it. With the figure
four leg lock almost completed, Rita jerked upright, her hands
clawing at Mitzi's thigh as she realized what the blonde was about
to do. Then Mitzi threw her body backward onto the mat, snapping
her legs as she tugged Rita's foot down into her groin. As one
of Rita's legs was bent over the other, the fiesty Puerto Rican
screamed, grabbed her head with both hands and started tearing
at her hair as her screams intensified in volume.
Mitzi raised her hips and then slammed her butt back
down, wrenching on Rita's legs a second time. Mitzi gritted her
teeth as Rita cried out once and then dropped unconscious on her
back. Referee Doris quickly dropped to her knees beside Mitzi
and ordered her to release Rita's leg, "Immediately!"
Mitzi sighed and let the hold go as she slumped limp and breathing
heavily on her back.
Mitzi had tied the match at one fall apiece. For
the first time since the match began, she began to think she had
a real chance to take the title from Rita. Her leg would HAVE
to still be hurting in the third fall since she had passed out
in Mitzi's figure four submission hold. Mitzi sat up and watched
as Doris and the doctor carefully untangled their legs and dragged
Rita toward her corner.
Mitzi got up and stumbled to her corner where a beaming
Cyd was waiting to congratulate her. But as Cyd started to pat
Mitzi on the back, Nikki shoved Cyd aside, threw her arms around
Mitzi and kissed her on the mouth right there in front of the
entire crowd although nobody was looking at Mitzi and Nikki. Everyone
was watching Rita as Doris and the doctor revived her and Rita
sat clutching her knee. The pain was still so bad they could see
the tears in her eyes.
Doris walked to the middle of the ring and called
for the microphone. As it was lowered, Mitzi and Nikki looked
at each other and wondered what was going on. Then they heard
Doris say, "The doctor has advised Rita not to continue due
to her injury. They have completed two falls and one woman is
unable to continue. Under the rules, therefore, Mitzi Gaynor is
declared the winner and new champion!"
Mitzi stood and stared at Doris for a moment, not
really comprehending what the referee had said. Then, with a scream,
she leaped in the air with her arms raised. When Mitzi turned
around to hug Cyd and Nikki they both looked as stunned by the
announcement as the spectators. Then, to a chorus of boos, many
fans started pelting Mitzi and her retinue with wadded up paper,
cups, programs and even a few articles of clothing!
Frank came running to the ring along ahead of two
men dressed in white coats who were carrying a stretcher. While
the men quickly bundled Rita up for transportation to the hospital
for examination and treatment of her injuries, Frank tried desperately
to calm the unruly fans. It was obvious from some of the things
being screamed at him, Doris and Mitzi that a LOT of money had
changed hands in what would be remembered even decades later as
one of the most stunning upsets in the history of Franks Celebrity
Wrestling League!
Frank grabbed Mitzi by the arm and began to push
she, Cyd and Ethel toward the aisle leading to Mitzi's dressing
room. Nikki was left behind in the crush of the crowd and if it
hadn't been for Gretchen and another woman who grabbed her under
the arms and hustled her off in a different direction, she could
easily have been trampled in the crush of irate fans hurrying
after Frank to lodge a complaint about the outcome of the match.
It wasn't until she was safely in the hallway on the opposite
side of the arena that she was able to catch her breath and turned
to thank her rescuers. Then Nikki was slapped across the face
so hard her body was slammed up against the wall.
"You bitch!" Shirley MacLaine screamed.
"That should have been ME in there beating that one-legged
cripple, not that tramp Gaynor!"
Gretchen pulled Shirley away as she raised her hand
to hit Nikki again.
"That's enough Shirley," Gretchen yelled
at her fighter. "It's not Nikki's fault. Leave her alone.
Go check on my nieces, make sure they weren't hurt by that mob
while I look after Nikki."
Gretchen put her arm protectively around Nikki's
shoulder and led her down the corridor. Nikki couldn't see what
was happening behind her; she didn't see Gretchen give Shirley
an "OK" signal or the grin on the redhead's face as
she chuckled.
"That's alright," Gretchen cooed as she
held Nikki firmly with an arm around her waist as she guided her
down the dark hallway to an empty dressing room. "Not everyone
understands that bitch Cyd Charisse stole Mitzi from you. It's
not your fault Cyd got Mitzi the title shot that should have been
Shirley's. Anyway, I'm almost glad she won that fight. You've
worked hard and Mitzi was overdue for a lucky break. I'm so proud
of the way you thought on your feet out there," Gretchen
said, grabbing Nikki and kissing her hard and long. When they
finally broke their embrace, Nikki was breathing hard.
"You....you were really proud of me?" Nikki
gasped as she struggled to catch her breath.
"Why of course I was, don't be silly. Just because
I have no use for your girlfriend Mitzi doesn't mean I didn't
want her to win. And I always respect a manager who can think
quickly to protect her fighter. You did exactly the right thing,
don't doubt that for a second!"
"But.....but Cyd said...," Nikki began.
Gretchen put her fingers over Nikki's lips and hushed
her, "I don't care what that idiot said."
Gretchen put her hands on Nikki's shoulders and pulled
her head down onto her soft bosom and murmured, "Cyd's only
looking out for her own reputation and trying to keep Ethel happy.
They let Mitzi get beaten senseless, they'll just move on to some
other empty-headed blonde and start over again. I'm the only one
you can trust because I give a damn about you my darling. You
say you love Mitzi, so I don't want anything to happen to her
because it would hurt you. Those two couldn't care less what happens
to either of you - in fact, they might like to see Mitzi hurt
to make you feel guilty."
Nikki's sudden intake of breath told Gretchen she'd
struck a nerve.
"You know," Nikki said. "I wouldn't
be surprised. Cyd seems awfully eager to get me out of Mitzi's
life. Maybe you have something there. If Mitzi's hurt and they'd
make her think it was my fault. She'd bow to pressure from Ethel
and end our relationship - at the very least my management one."
"You better be careful around them," Gretchen
said as she hugged Nikki. "You know you can always call me
if you need someone to talk to. And I'll be here if you need a
shoulder or a sympathetic ear. I can't tell you what you've meant
to me Nikki. I'm as surprised as you must be, but I think our
friendship has become special."
Nikki blushed as she hugged Gretchen back, sighing
happily as Gretchen tongued her neck and kissed her as she gently
caressed the blondes small, firm, heaving breasts.
"I'd better go back and check on Mitzi,"
Nikki said as she pulled away from Gretchen. "I don't want
those two to take all the credit for her winning. After all, I
was the one who saved Mitzi in the first fall."
"Don't you forget it," Gretchen chuckled.
"And don't let anyone else forget it either, especially Mitzi.
Now," she swatted Nikki on the butt, "run along and
go take the credit you deserve."
As Nikki turned and walked rapidly, almost ran, down
the hall toward Mitzi's dressing room, Gretchen watched her firm
young butt as it jiggled. She sighed lustfully and licked her
full lips. As soon as Nikki was out of sight round the corner,
Shirley MacLaine stepped around the corner from the arena where
she'd been waiting until Nikki had gone.
Shirley smiled and asked, "Well, that went well.
Think she's gonna do what you want?"
"It was perfectly," the big redhead smiled.
"Sow seeds of distrust and dissension among your enemies
and you'll reap the harvest. A coupla more nights like this an
Nikki and Charisse will be at each other's throats. Even Mitzi
and Ethel won't be able to keep them apart. One of them will run
the other off and we'll be ready to scoop up the broken pieces
as Gaynor falls apart."
Shirley licked her lips and smiled, "Well, you've
been having plenty of fun with little miss Spade. I want equal
time with blondie when her time comes. You never let me finish
her off the way I wanted that night in the restaurant."
"Don't worry," Gretchen laughed as she
gave Shirley a hug. "Once you have the title you should have,
you can make her your valet, maid or slave. Whatever, just so's
she doesn't interfere with us winning the title."
"You mean ME winning the title," Shirley
corrected.
"Huh? Oh sure, you….," Gretchen's
chuckle at being corrected hardly sounded sincere, but she put
her arm around Shirley's shoulders and they headed to the hotel
room Frank had reserved in anticipation of celebrating another
Rita Moreno win. Now they'd be toasting Mitzi Gaynor as the 'new
champion' although nobody expected that to last longer than her
first title defense, two at the most!
While Nikki was leaving one side of the arena with
Gretchen, Mitzi was hustled out of the ring and led away to her
dressing room by Cyd and Ethel. When they arrived, Mitzi noticed
for the first time her girlfriend wasn't right behind her as she
had thought. When she started to go back out to look for Nikki,
Ethel blocked the door, telling her if she went out, "that
mob may kill you." Cyd assured Mitzi that Nikki was alright,
adding, "I saw her leaving with that redhead Gretchen. You
know, the one who was kissing her at ringside?" As Mitzi
argued with Ethel and Cyd, Frank came bursting in and slammed
the door behind him.
"Well," the singer said, smoothing his
rumpled hair as he leaned against the inside of the door as someone
pounded on it from outside. "I hope you're happy about all
the trouble you've caused." Mitzi was shocked by his attitude,
as if winning the title wasn't something she was supposed to have
done. She put her hands on her hips and haughtily announced, "For
your information, MR. Sinatra, I just won the championship out
there and I'll thank you to take a civil tone with me. Now that
I'm wearing the gold, I expect to get a little more respect from
you and your lackey's and hangers-on like Dean Martin and Joey
Bishop."
Frank rolled his eyes and looked at Ethel, pleading,
"Help me out here Ethel. Tell this bimbo she only won because
of blind luck and because that psycho bitch Sheree North almost
tore Rita's leg off in her last fight. I wish now I'd never pressured
Rita to take this match. Who knew Mitzi would stand up to her
and actually fight back. Jeezus K-ricst, what a mess you've made
of things now you stupid bimbo!"
When Ethel quickly stood up with her fists clenched,
Frank quickly pointed out his remark was directed at Mitzi, not
her. Ethel nodded and sat back down, mollified at least temporarily.
"I've got to think of something to get those
bettors off my back," Frank said, pacing nervously back and
forth, pounding one fist into the other hand. "Maybe there's
a way to get this thing reversed. Nah, that's too obvious."
As Frank fussed and fumed, Cyd and Ethel sat admiring
the championship belt they had rescued during their hectic flight
from the ring. Mitzi sat morosely in her chair, staring in her
make-up mirror and wondering where Nikki was and if she were alright
while several hundred feet away Nikki and Gretchen were kissing
hot and heavy. Mitzi's thoughts of Nikki were interrupted by a
sharp knock on the door and the voice of Brenda Starr pleading
with Frank to let the press in to talk to the new champ.
"What'll I tell them?" Frank asked Ethel.
"I gotta come up with a name for her first defense. Rita
was supposed to face Eva Gabor next, but nobody'll pay to watch
Mitzi and some over the hill old woman."
"I got just the girl for you, Frank," Cyd
spoke up. "She's young, eager and tough. And she don't have
a manager so you could assign her to Marge Danzer to take Rita's
spot. It'd set up a 'revenge fight' for Marge that you could milk
for publicity. She ain't bad looking either, once you get past
that ugly mole on her face."
"Yeah," Frank mused. "I've seen her
around. But is she really any good?"
"Oh yeah," Ethel offered. "We had
her in a couple times to spar with Mitzi, gave her quite a handful,
didn't she babe?"
"Huh?" Mitzi said, looking up from the
floor. "Oh yes, right. She's really strong. I like her, she
could really use the work, too."
"Oh great!" Frank said as he slammed his
fist on the door. "You want me to sell the fight that the
new champs first defense is with her old sparring partner? You
aren't serious!!"
Ethel stood up and put her hand on Frank's shoulder,
pulling him close. "Listen you two bit phony, I'm the one
running Mitzi's career now, so you make the matches I tell you.
You need something to satisfy the press, this is it. Marge will
be happy to have her, trust me. This Francis broad is OK. She'll
give the fans their money's worth and if Mitzi ain't careful,
you could have another new champ on your hands next month. Go
on and let those ink-stained wretches in so me and Cyd can get
our pitchers in the morning papers with my new champion. Leave
Mitzi's opponents to me and Cyd, we'll see you're taken care of."
Frank sighed and let the reporters in. Mitzi posed
between Cyd and Ethel who each held one end of her title belt.
Mitzi's hands were around their waists, she wasn't allowed to
touch the belt she'd suffered so much pain to win for them. After
a couple of answers about how difficult the match had been, Mitzi
voiced her concern for Rita's injuries and hoped that she'd have
a speedy recovery. "I want to give her a rematch as soon
as she's able," she added as Ethel and Cyd traded horrified
glances.
The press conference came to an abrupt end, however,
right after one of the reporters asked about the towel that was
thrown in at the end of the first fall. Ethel jumped up and blamed,
"An inexperienced assistant trainer who just got carried
away. We're going to deal with it when we get home, believe me,"
she snapped.
Cyd was equally direct, saying, "Somebody who
doesn't know fighting lost her head. She didn't understand the
situation, panicked and threw in the towel. Fortunately, Mitzi
was able to overcome her stupidity and won the match anyway."
But then the reporters asked what was next for Mitzi
and Frank dropped the bombshell about Anne Francis! The writers
went into a feeding frenzy, demanding to know why Eva Gabor was
being, "shoved aside" for some unknown bimbo. When Frank
tried to explain that Marge Danzer's stable would get the first
shot at reclaiming "her title" it only raised more suspicions.
None of the writers had heard of Francis and were suspicious why
an unknown in her first fight even deserved a title match.
Frank tried explaining, "It's tradition for
a new champ to get an easy fight for her first defense,"
but that didn't work. When he tried to puff up Anne Francis' resume
by saying what a tough time she'd given Mitzi when they sparred,
it only got worse. Finally, Frank threw all the reporters out,
slammed the door and sat down with his head in his hands.
Nikki arrived about five minutes later, shocked that
Mitzi was all alone in her dressing room without Ethel, Cyd or
reporters. Mitzi told her about the press conference, who her
next fight was with and all that had transpired - including how
Ethel and Cyd had talked about her behind her back to the press.
"In the morning," Nikki said as she slumped
in a chair, "everyone's going to think I'm an idiot instead
of the only one who cared enough about your health and well being
to throw that towel. Dammit, I saved you in there. If Rita had
kept beating on you, you'd never have been able to come out for
the next fall and win the fight. Gretchen was right….."
"Gretchen!!" Mitzi exploded. "So you
WERE with that cheap brassy redhead. Is that why you were late
getting here for my celebration? You had your tongue between her
legs again? I thought you said you were through with her!! I swear,
Nikki, if I can't trust my own lover, how the hell can I trust
anyone else?"
Next: Mitzi in Hollywood Chapter 23: The 'Victory'
Party
These stories are entirely fictitious accounts of
fights that may have taken place in an alternate universe in the
mid-1950's between Hollywood personalities. Contains descriptions
of nudity, lesbianism and violence.
****************
Mitzi in Hollywood: Chapter 22: Battle for the Belt
(Part 2) by Kim and Ginny
Rita bolted out her corner with her fists clenched
and threw an angry right at Mitzi trying to tear her head off!
Mitzi saw it at the last second and ducked. Rita's fist glanced
off the top of Mitzi's skull, but even so the blonde was rocked
her back on her heels by Rita's power. Rita shook her hand as
she gave chase while Mitzi backpedaled furiously away from the
enraged, on-rushing Puerto Rican. As Mitzi held her hands up,
the fans sensing her in panicky flight, began to boo and throw
wadded up paper cups and programs into the ring.